Ulster police chief ‘petty little fuehrer’

Press, 7 December 1981, Page 8

Ulster police chief ‘petty little fuehrer’

NZPA r Belfast The Protestant leader, lan Paisley, showed off a section of his “third force” at the week-end before calling Northern Ireland’s police chief “a petty little fuehrer.” He launched his attack on the head of the Royal Ulster Constabulary (Mr Jack Hermon) only a few hours after the R.U.C. had. said “third force” members who paraded illegally in paramilitary uniforms and masks would be dealt with under the law. Fewer than 500 men, only a small minority wearing balaclava helmets and combat jackets, took part in the rally at Enniskillen, in County Fermanagh. Mr ‘ Paisley recently set a

recruiting target of 100,000 for the force which he said was intended to back up the Army and police, and protect Protestants from “murderous attacks” by Irish Republican Army guerrillas. The I.R.A. has so far paid little attention to the new group. Mr Paisley told the meeting: “We.have at the head of the R.U;C, a chief who has Sainted throughout the world le Protestant as the real enemy. He conveniently passes over the murders of the I.R.A. Jack Hermon is a near-paid puppet of the British Government’s treachery.” Mr Paisley, a member of the British and European parliaments, has strongly criticised recent British Gov-

ernment moves towards closer collaboration with Dublin, saying London was trying to drive the province into union .'with' the mainly Catholic Irish Republic. In Coleraine, Northern Ireland, the British Right-wing politician, Enoch Powell, - alleged that British, American and Irish officials were working for the creation of an all-Ireland state within the North Atlantic' Treaty Organisation.? His allegations came immediately after visits to London and .Dublin by the American Deputy Secretary of State (Mr William Clark) who held talks on the Northern Ireland conflict in both capitals.