[NYTr] Bank Robbery: "I Hope the INLA Did It" -IRSP Man
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Derry Journal - 20 Auguat 2004
'I Hope The INLA Did It' -- Boasts IRSP Man
By Bernie Mullen
A leading IRSP member has openly boasted that he hopes the INLA
carried out a recent armed bank robbery in Strabane.
Willie Gallagher made the astonishing outburst after being released
without charge by detectives investigating last month's Ulster Bank
heist.
An INLA gang is suspected to have carried out the raid which netted
the robbers a massive cash haul believed to be in the region of
#300,000.
Three members of the IRSP -- the INLA's political wing -- were among
four men arrested by police investigating the hostagetaking incident.
All four, including IRSP Ard Comhairle representative Willie
Gallagher, were released by detectives later the same day without
charge.
Mr. Gallagher, a former INLA prisoner, contacted the 'Journal' on
Wednesday and castigated the PSNI in relation to the IRSP arrests.
"It was a propaganda exercise by the PSNI on behalf of the fat cats in
the bank," he alleged.
Mr. Gallagher insisted he had "no idea" if the INLA carried out the
robbery after a local bank official and his family were held hostage
overnight.
And when pressed on the matter, he commented: "If the INLA did carry
it out, good luck to them. I hope the INLA did it."
The IRSP man's controversial comments will provoke outrage from
mainstream political representatives. The INLA has been repeatedly
accused of being in breach of its ceasefire.
There is also ongoing concern about levels of criminal activity in
Strabane in recent years and previous armed robberies remain unsolved.
A number of people experienced a terrifying ordeal after being held
hostage at their homes in Strabane prior to the bank robbery on July
9.
The bank official and his family were held at gunpoint overnight. The
following morning he was ordered to go to the Abercorn Square branch
and then hand over a large sum of money to the robbery gang before
the hostages were freed unharmed.
Willie Gallagher said that two of the other men arrested, his brother
Kevin Gallagher and Andy Connolly, were also IRSP members.
Mr. Gallagher claimed that detectives conducted six interviews with
him, each lasting about 45 minutes in the presence of his solicitor
at Antrim Police Station.
"They brought me out and read over each individual witness statement
one at a time and alleged how bad and disgraceful the incident was.
My solicitor who was in with me agreed with the sentiments being made.
"During the whole time I was in custody I remained silent. They didn't
actually question me about the robbery," the IRSP man alleged.
"They said the basis I was arrested under was a description given that
one of the robbers was a person 5ft 8" in height, muscular build and
about 35. I am 47," he added.
Mr. Gallagher lambasted the PSNI for what he described as "very
aggressive house raids" at the homes of IRSP members.
"They assaulted me in front of my wains. During the course of the raid
they held me down and handcuffed me behind my back," he claimed.
Mr. Gallagher also claimed that police officers had seized his
computer, mobile phone and a flak jacket which he wore for personal
protection after the PSNI informed him last Christmas that his life
was under possible threat.
"Off tape they were talking about the flak jacket and said they were
aware I was under death threats from loyalist organisations and from
the Provisionals. They said it would give these people a better
opportunity to kill me," the IRSP man alleged.
Mr. Gallagher said police had also raided the home of a third brother,
Andy Gallagher, another IRSP member, but found he was not there.
Officers allegedly removed tickets for a family holiday to
Butlins, departing this Saturday, and refused to return them.
"He was at the barracks this morning (Wednesday). He said he had heard
they were looking to arrest him and was presenting himself. They
chased him out of the barracks saying they still had to make a
decision about arresting him. When he asked for the tickets back they
told him to go to his solicitor," he claimed.
Mr. Gallagher continued: "From the way they were doing the questioning
the police haven't got an idea who carried out the bank robbery. It
was a PR exercise. They waited five weeks to make arrests; they
haven't got a clue who did it.
"The IRSP will never support the PSNI who are no different from the
RUC's aggressive nature in the past. Yesterday (Tuesday) proved this
and any republican who even thinks of joining the Policing Board
should be ashamed of themselves.
"We believe Sinn Fein will join the Policing Board if the context is
right and if they do support the PSNI in any shape or form, they want
to hang their heads in shame," he claimed.
A police spokesman said four men were arrested on Tuesday morning "on
suspicion of robbery, unlawful imprisonment and kidnapping." Houses
were searched and a number of items were seized for forensic
examination.
Three of the men were arrested in Strabane and the fourth was picked
up in the nearby village of Sion Mills. They were released at around
11 p.m. on Tuesday.
*
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