'INLA murdered Emmett Shiels'
The INLA were responsible for the murder of Derry dad-to-be Emmett Shiels in Creggan, the Independent Monitoring Commission (IMC) announced yesterday.
In its latest report, the organisation set up to monitor the activities of paramilitary groups said it believes the INLA shot the 22-year-old in the Bligh's Lane area of the city on June 24.
The report states: "In the six months under review, members of the INLA were, we believe, responsible for the one paramilitary murder which was committed in Derry in June.
"The victim was apparently going to the aid of a man who might have been the intended target of the assailants."
In the aftermath of the murder, the INLA were blamed locally, despite a statement from the organisation's Derry brigade denying any involvement.
The murder was widely condemned in Derry and sparked a huge public response, culminating in hundreds of people signing a petition calling on the leaderships of paramilitary groups to call off their armed campaigns.
Elsewhere in the report, the small republican splinter group calling itself Oglaigh na h'ireann were blamed for an armed robbery in Strabane in March.
Overall, the report said dissidents had been more active than at any time in the last four and a half years.
Despite this the IMC also said it believes dissident republicans have not been recruiting new members. "We do not think that there has been any overall material increase in the number of dissident activists or in their access to weapons or explosives," it stated.
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Weather for Derry
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Heavy rain
Temperature: 3 C to 10 C
Wind Speed: 28 mph
Wind direction: South
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Light rain
Temperature: 6 C to 7 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
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