A pro-independent Ireland group has admitted that its members put up the Tricolour over Stormont buildings last week.

The ‘1916 Societies’ said it breached security at Stormont in an effort to highlight the “continued British rule in Ireland”.

The incident is currently being investigated by the PSNI with seven detectives working on the case.

The DUP reacted with fury to the hoisting of the Tricolour and its sister flag over Stormont.

However, Sinn Fein chief Martin McGuinness described the unionist reaction as “much ado about nothing”.

In a statement, the ‘1916 Societies’ said: “On Wednesday 3rd of June, members of the 1916 Societies, taking advantage of lax security at the Stormont Assembly in Belfast, accessed the roof of the building, using the opportunity to raise the Irish National Flag and its sister flag, the flag of the Irish Republic.

“While only a symbolic gesture, nevertheless the actions concerned reflect the enduring reality that six Irish counties remain under foreign dominion, against the democratically-expressed wishes of the Irish people.

“Our intent was to further awareness of this matter at a time when the normalisation agenda of the British state, aided by local proxies of various political hue, continues unabated in its drive to legitimise the continuing occupation of Ireland.

“The political and media response, the extremities of some aside, points to a successful outcome, that the constitutional status of the Six Counties is far from resolved suitably reinforced.

“The Irish Flag at Stormont asserts that British rule is based on conquest, is without legitimacy, and usurps the sovereign will of the people.

“Britain has no democratic title in Ireland and should withdraw, leaving the Irish people in peace to determine their own future, together and without external impediment.

“Until the day full freedom is restored and the Tricolour flown over All Ireland, the 1916 Societies will continue to highlight the undemocratic British presence in our country and resist all efforts to normalise that presence.

“British rule, no matter its guise, remains unacceptable and will always be thus.

Actions such as last Wednesday’s, while only a small gesture, help empower that end. The work to achieve Irish freedom and a meaningful peace continues.”

The statement ends: “Beirigí bua (take victory).”

The 1916 Societies were formed in 2009 and believe in an “an independent and democratic republic of Ireland” as set out in the 1916 Proclamation, “that the Irish Nation is sovereign, and that the Irish people, free from external impediment, have an inalienable right to determine their own future”.

The group’s mission statement adds: “Our movement, though relatively young, is already at an advanced stage and among the fastest growing of its kind at present in Ireland.

“We are currently engaged in a wide range of work at the political, cultural and educational level and are beginning to see significant dividends arise from our efforts.

“It is clear to us an appetite for meaningful change exists in our country today.

“On that basis we seek a union of progressive forces to establish an All-Ireland Republic in line with our national rights.

“We believe our flagship ‘One Ireland One Vote’ initiative – our demand for a 32-County referendum on Irish Unity – offers a perfect conduit to secure that end.

“Britain’s illegal partition of Ireland and ongoing presence in the North is without mandate, usurps the will of the people and is in breach of natural law.

“Furthermore, any process that allows Britain to set the parameters of Irish democracy violates the principle of self-determination and should be rejected.

“Accordingly, we consider ‘One Ireland One Vote’ as a means to resolve the continuing crisis in Ireland, through restoring our inalienable right to national self-determination, itself a notion which rests at the heart of international law.”

POLICE are investigating a burglary at a supermarket in the early hours of this morning.

The break-in happened on Derry’s Culmore Road around 3 am, Wednesday, June 10.

A quantity of cigarettes and cash were stolen.

Detectives at Strand Road have appealed for anyone with information about the burglary to contact them on the non-emergency 101 number.

Husband of Sinn Fein Mayor Cllr Elisha McCallion faces court on assault charges

THE husband of the Sinn Fein Mayor of the new Derry and Strabane District Council Cllr Elisha McCallion has appeared in court his morning.

Declan McCallion, 34, of Elaghmore Park in Galliagh, faced four charges at Derry Magistrates’ Court following an incident last month.

He was charged with:

* unlawfully assaulting Patrick Harley;

* unlawfully assaulting Veronica Harley;

* disorderly behaviour in a public place, namely Academy Road, Derry,

* and resisting Constable Adrian Brogan in the execution of his public duty as a police officer.

All the offences were committed on the same date, May 19.

The court was told that McCallion may face further charges as other offences had since come to light.

The case was adjourned for one week, until June 17.

Sinn Fein says it will not comment the case as Mr McCallion is not a member of the party.

POLICE at Strand Road in Derry are appealing for information about a fire that destroyed a car.

The car was well alight when firefighters arrived at the scene at Glassagh Road at around 7am this morningy,Wednesday 10th.

The car is believed to have been an Audi.

However, police have not at this stage been able to identify ownership.

Information can be given on the police non-emergency number, 101, or by calling the Crimestoppers Charity anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Timothy Murphy previously fined for people smuggling, his trial hears

THE trial of a Derry lorry driver accused of being part of a people-smuggling gang has been told he had previously been fined for trying to transport illegal immigrants into the UK.

Timothy Murphy, 33, from Elmgrove, is on trial alongside three other men over an incident in which 35 Afghans were found in a shipping container at Tilbury Docks on August 16.

Funeral to be held today for sectarian victim Paul McCauley tragically died last wekend

THE funeral will take place this afternoon for UDA murder victim Paul McCauley who lost his fight for life last weekend after a nine year battle.

Hundreds of mourners are expected to turn out at the Requiem Mass to pay their respects for the 38-year-old civil servant was attacked by a loyalist gang in July 2006.

The Catholic father-of-one suffered a brain haemorrhage and a fractured skull during the vicious, sectarian and unprovoked assault.

Up to 15 loyalists were involved in the attack while Paul was attending a barbecue in the Waterside area of Derry.

Paul spent the past nine years rest of his life in a helpless state, in need of 24-hour nursing care.

The father died at a care home on Saturday morning in the city.

A post mortem was carried out earlier this week to determine his exact cause of death.

His funeral will be held in St Columb’s Church on Thursday afternoon.

The McCauley family, who spent every day at his bedside, will lead the mourners.

Speaking ahead of attending this afternoon’s funeral, SDLP Foyle MP Mark Durkan said:

“I know that Paul’s family have been able to take comfort and encouragement from the breadth and depth of sympathy which has been expressed following Paul’s death.

“While so much of Paul’s personality has been trapped inside his viciously imposed brokenness – leaving him unable to communicate for nine years – it is now as though his spirit is communicating in a way that makes the tragedy and travesty of his case reach people anew.

“People are reaching out their sympathy also in response to the courage and fortitude which has been raised by Paul’s family throughout their hard journey of love and their strong quest for justice.”

Jim McCauley believes the UDA was involved in the attack on his son.

Said heartbroken dad Jim: “Because the police have turned the investigation into a murder inquiry, there will be a post-mortem on Paul’s body, which has added to our stress, something Cathy, Paul’s mother is finding particularly difficult.

“We have never been separated for as much as a day from Paul since the attack.

“Every single day we spent with him, but now he will be with the coroner in Belfast until later this week and that is hard for us to accept.

“Police have to go through nine years of medical records to filter out what will be relevant to their investigation, so we are not sure yet when our son will be given back to us.”

Only one man – Daryl Proctor – was jailed for the violent assault at Chapel Road in the city, while 25 others were arrested and questioned.

Proctor was released from prison this year.

DETECTIVES are hunting a group of men have who attacked a house in Co Derry.

Police say the attack happened around 1.20 am this morning, Thursday, June 11.

Up to five men forced their way into a house in Loughanhill Park, just off the Atlantic Road in Coleraine.

Windows were smashed and a door was damaged.

A woman in her 40s and a teenage boy and girl were inside at the time.

A 47-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of aggravated burglary.

He is currently being detained at Coleraine PSNI station.

SDLP MLA John Dallat says truth needs to come out over State agents involved in murders

SDLP East Derry MLA John Dallat has said that the recent BBC Spotlight Programme on the involvement of double-agents in the Troubles makes it impossible for British agencies and paramilitaries to draw a line under the past.

Mr Dallat said that double-agents played a highly significant role in murders across Co Derry and it was essential for state agencies and paramilitaries to disclose the truth on the issue.

An MI5 agent was also involved in the murder of Sinn Fein Donegal councillor Eddie Fullerton.

He was shot dead at his Buncrana home in May 1991 by the UFF.

One of those involved was one of the Security Services high ranking agents inside the UFF and UDA.

He has also been linked to the murder of Bellaghy GAA boss Sean Brown.

John Paul Moore sentenced to three years for hijacking female taxi driver in the city

POLICE have welcomed the sentencing on Friday of thug John Paul Moore at Derry Crown Court over the attempted hijacking a local female taxi driver.

The terrifying incident happened on September, 10, 2014 when the 19-year-old from Ballymagroarty called a taxi to flats on Strand Road.

During the taxi ride, he put his arm around her throat and his other hand over her mouth before ordering her out of the cab.

Recorder of Derry Judge Philip Babington said that anyone who attacks tax drivers while they are working face going to jail.

He imposed a three year sentence on Moore, half of which will be spent in custody and the other half on supervised licence.

POLICE are investigating a shooting incident last night in the Creggan estate.

A man cheated injury after a number of shots were fired at him in Fanad Drive.

The area was cordoned off by police for a forensic examination.

Unconfirmed reports suggest the victim may have been shot at recently at the Telstar Bar.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact detectives at Strand Road on the 101 non-emergency number.

Alternatively information can be given confidentially through the freephone Crimestoppers number on 0800 555 111.

Cllr Kevin Camobell condemns last night’s shooting in the Creggan

A SINN Fein councillor has slammed those behind last night’s shooting in the Creggan estate.

A man cheated injury after a number of shots were fired at him in Fanad Drive around 7.30 pm.

The attack happened while children were playing in the street.

The victim is understood have been targeted in a gun attack recently near the Telstar Bar and again escaped uninjured.

Police sealed off the area for several hours during a forensic follow up search.

Councillor Kevin Campbell said the attack was “absolutely disgraceful” and said those behind it “need to give themselves a shake”.

“It’s absolutely disgraceful,” said the Sinn Fein politician on BBC Radio Foyle.

“You have children out playing, it’s a beautiful summer’s day, everyone’s enjoying themselves, and then we have someone coming along and firing shots.

“Where does this madness end? They’re way behind the times, they need to move on.

“Whatever is behind it, there’s no need for guns. “There’s no culture for guns in this community.”

POLICE are investigating the death of an elderly man found lying on a street.

As yet the death is being treated as unexplained.

A post-mortem examination is to be carried out to determine the cause of death of the 69-year-old in Limavady.

On Sunday at around 10pm a member of the public alerted police to the man on Connell Street close to commercial premises.

He was declared dead at the scene.

It is understood the man is originally from Derry and police have been in contact with his relatives.

Chief Inspector Catherine Magee said police are treating the death as unexplained, pending the outcome of the port-mortem examination.

She appealed for anyone who was in the area and has information that would be relevant to contact police in Limavady on the 101 non-emergency number.

Coke dealer Richard Callaghan sentenced to 32 months today at Derry Crown Court

DETECTIVES have welcomed a 32-month sentence handed down today to a Derry drug dealer.

And a senior officer has warned other dealers: “If you are caught you will go to prison”.

Richard Callaghan, 42, received a 2 year and 8 month sentence at Derry Crown Court for being concerned in the supply of cocaine and herbal cannabis.

Callaghan will serve one year and four months in prison and 1 year and 4 months on licence.

Callaghan was arrested in the Marlborough Road area of Derry on 13th June 2014.

The arrest followed the search of a green Audi car that he had been travelling in and a wheelie bin that was in the vicinity of the car. C

lass A and class B drugs with a value of approximately £130,000 were recovered by officers.

Welcoming the sentencing, Detective Inspector Tom McClure, from PSNI Reactive and Organised Crime Branch, said: “This sentence is the result of a substantial proactive investigation.

“Others have yet to come before the courts but the message from this sentence is clear: all those involved in the supply chain of large quantities of controlled drugs can expect to go to prison when they are caught.

“Police will work to ensure Northern Ireland remains a hostile environment for those who seek to benefit in any way from peddling the misery of drugs.”

Inspector McClure added: “I would ask that anyone with information relating to the use or supply of illegal drugs should contact police on 101. Alternatively reports can be made anonymously through independent charity Crimestoppers by ringing 0800 555 111.”

DETECTIVES are on the trail of a teenager who indecently exposed himself to a woman walking along a river path in Derry.

Police say the victim was walking near a supermarket at Strand Road at around 9.30 pm when she was confronted by the male youth.

Husband of Sinn Fein Mayor Cllr Elisha McCallion admits assaulting a couple last month

THE husband of the Sinn Fein mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council, Elisha McCallion, has avoided going to jail today.

Declin McCallion, 34, of Elaghmore Park in Galliagh, received a three month sentence suspended for two years at Derry Magistrates’ Court after he admitted assaulting the couple last month.

When he faced the same court last month, he was charged with:

* unlawfully assaulting Patrick Harley;

* unlawfully assaulting Veronica Harley;

* disorderly behaviour in a public place, namely Academy Road, Derry,

* and resisting Constable Adrian Brogan in the execution of his public duty as a police officer.

All the offences were committed on the same date, May 19, outside a pub.

Today, McCallion was also ordered to pay £750 by way of compensation to Patrick Harley.

Sinn Fein have refused to comment on the case saying Mr McCallion is not a member of the party.

The Mayor has resisted calls from some quarters in Derry for her to step down after her husband’s court appearance.

Others have supported her to stay on in her civic role saying the Sinn Fein Mayor she was not responsible for the actions of her husband.

Sinn Fein councillor Colly Kelly denies benefit fraud charges and is to fight the charges

SINN Fein councillor for Moor Colly Kelly is fight a charge that he was working while claiming benefits.

The 30-year-old’s case was listed this morning at Derry Magistrates’ Court.

He was formally charged last month with a total of five offences when he made his first appearance.

He denies the charges.

Mr Kelly is accused of obtaining Job Seekers’ Allowance while working as a Sinn Fein councillor and claiming Housing Benefit.

The offences are alleged to have taken place between November 2010 and March 2014.

The charges Mr Kelly faces are:

The case was adjourned until next month when his legal team will contest the charges.

A DERRY woman has been convicted of benefit fraud.

Pauline Barr (51) of Amelia Court,in the city, claimed Jobseekers Allowance and Housing Benefit totalling £2,397 while failing to declare employment.

She was fined £400 and ordered to pay an offenders levy of £15.

Barr is also required to repay the outstanding money wrongfully obtained to the Social Security Agency.

A Co Derry farmer has been convicted of three charges of failing to notify the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of the movement of bovine animals off his land.

He was also convicted of two charges of failing to notify DARD of the movement of bovine animals onto his holding in accordance with the Regulations.

James Francis Feeney, Nicholas Park, Greysteel, was convicted at Derry Magistrates’ Court yesterday..

Mr Feeney pleaded guilty and received a conditional discharge for two years.

This case arose from a number of discrepancies found at a cattle identification inspection carried out by Veterinary Service Enforcement Branch.

POLICE say a 23-year-old Derry man is due to appear in court today charged with having Class A cocaine with intent to supply.

The man, from the Waterside area of the city, is alleged to have committed the offence on August 7, last year.

He is due to appear at the local court this morning charged under the 1971 Misuse of Drugs Act.