The Five Demands

Giunta la conferma della PSNI del coinvolgimento dell’UVF in quella che è stata definita una ‘pubblica esecuzione’

Erano in migliaia ai funerali di Bobby Moffett, 43 anni, barbaramente ucciso in pieno giorno a Shankill Road, il venerdì della settimana precedente.
Duemila persone hanno tributato il loro ultimo saluto a Moffett, sfidando le minacce ricevute dal gruppo paramilitare lealista che si è servito di sms come tecnica intimidatoria.
I funerali si sono svolti nello stesso giorno in cui il Police Service of Northern Ireland ha confermato il coinvolgimento dell’Ulster Volunteer Force nell’omicidio, definita dagli investigatori come ‘una pubblica esecuzione’.
“E’ opinione della polizia che Bobby Moffett sia stato ucciso a Shankill Road, venerdì scorso, nell’ambito di una controversia tra persone legate al UVF,” ha dichiarato l’ispettore capo John McVea.
“Credo che le persone che hanno organizzato e condotto questo omicidio vantino forti legami con l’UVF di Shankill”.
Il servizio funebre, presso la casa della madre della vittima, si è conclusa con l’inno ‘Amazing Grace‘, cantata da Jim Weir, che ha assistito alla sparatoria mortale e ha cercato subito dopo di rianimare Bobby Moffett.
Nigel Dodds, rappresentante DUP alla cerimonia, ha affermato che la così folta presenza della comunità ai funerali, è il messaggio chiaro che la popolazione dell’Irlanda del Nord vuole voltare pagina.

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UVF ‘execution’ victim laid to rest (U TV)
Thousands of Shankill mourners have attended the funeral of loyalist murder victim Bobby Moffett, on the day police confirmed the killing, which they branded a “public execution”, was linked to the UVF.
The 43-year-old former member of the Red Hand Commando was gunned down in broad daylight last Friday.
The Ulster Volunteer Force has been widely blamed by the family and the local community for the killing.
Police have now said they also believe that to be the case.
On Friday, the detective leading the investigation into the murder confirmed that members of the UVF, wearing dark clothing and balaclavas, shot Mr Moffett three times.
“This was a very public murder. I believe the time and the location was at the choosing of the gunmen,” Detective Chief Inspector John McVea said.
“This leads me to describe the murder as a public execution.
“It is the police view that Bobby Moffett was lured to his death on the Shankill last Friday as part of a dispute involving individuals linked to the UVF,” he added.
“I believe that the people that have organised and conducted this murder have strong links to the Shankill UVF.”
Police are now investigating whether UVF leaders sanctioned the killing.
On Friday, more than 2,000 people paid their respects to Bobby Moffett on the Shankill Road, despite paramilitary threats to stay away.
The service, held at the home of Mr Moffett’s mother, ended with the hymn ‘Amazing Grace’, sung by community worker Jim Weir, who witnessed the fatal shooting and tried to resuscitate Bobby Moffett at the scene.
There were sad scenes as mourners followed the funeral cortege from the family home towards the nearby Shankill Road and on to Carnmoney Cemetery.
DUP MP for the area Nigel Dodds said the huge turnout at the funeral sent a striking and powerful message to the paramilitaries.
“The large and dignified turn out at this funeral today and the manner in which it has been conducted and carried out sends a very powerful message right across not only the Shankill but across Belfast and Northern Ireland that people have had enough of violence, intimidation, threats,” Mr Dodds said.
“They want to move on, they have moved on and they want paramilitaries to get off their backs and get on with their lives.”
Intimidation
A text message purporting to be from the UVF calling on people to avoid protest in memory of murdered Shankill man Bobby Moffett
Earlier this week, UTV saw text messages allegedly sent by the paramilitary group and circulating in the local community.
Editor of the Sunday World Jim McDowell also told UTV known UVF members have been intimidating people at the nightly vigils which have been held on the Shankill.
“There have been groups of so-called volunteers walking up and down the streets at the vigils,” he said.
“They have been looking at people and making them aware that they knew they were at the vigil.”
Raymond McCord, whose son Raymond Jr was killed by the UVF, attended a vigil on Thursday and was critical of the intimidation.
“I’ll be watching to see who’s here to try to intimidate the people maybe afterwards – but are they going to drive everybody off the Shankill?” he asked.
The vigil was also attended by Mr Moffett’s sister Irene who said her brother would have been proud of the turnout.
The vigil came hours after Dawn Purvis stepped down as leader of the Progressive Unionist Party over its links with the UVF.
Police investigating the murder have made a number of arrests, but no one has yet been charged.
Detectives are keen to talk to people who saw activity in the Conway Street area immediately before the murder at 1pm last Friday or noticed men in high visibility workmen’s bibs.
Detective Chief Inspector McVea said: “This was a cold-blooded ruthless murder carried out in broad daylight on one of the busiest roads in our city.
“It was carried out in front of the ordinary decent people of the Shankill. It is to those people that I want to make a specific appeal.
“We are also trying to trace the movements of two cars – a silver/blue Skoda Octavia car we believe was in the Donegall Road area after the shooting and a blue or black Audi A4 in Conway Street that morning.
“These murderers wore masks, but not immediately before or after they killed Bobby Moffett. We need witnesses who saw these people to talk to us.”