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30/07/2001
Protestant youth gunned down by loyalists
Loyalist paramilitary group the Red Hand Defenders has claimed responsibility for the murder of a Protestant teenager outside a GAA club in Glengormley.
Gavin Brett was standing with a group of his friends outside St Enda’s GAA Club on the Hightown Road on Sunday 29 July, when a gunman opened fire on the youths at around 11.30pm, seriously wounding the boy. Another youth, said to be the victim’s best friend, was hit in the leg.
Despite the best efforts of the teenager’s father - a specialist paramedic who helped treat the injured following the Omagh bombing - his son died at the scene.
Chief Constable of the RUC, Ronnie Flanagan has said he believes that the loyalists behind the shooting assumed that the young man was Catholic, while Sinn Fein councillor Martin Meehan has hit out at the attackers, describing them as “bigots” who have ended the life of a young man for purely sectarian reasons. He added: “They wear different hats, Red Hand Defenders, LVF. Does it really matter at the end of the day?”
The tragedy comes as GAA clubs throughout the province have experienced a spate of attacks ranging from pipe bombs to attempted arson, with yet another incendiary device discovered outside a clubhouse in Country Londonderry on Sunday 29 July. Meanwhile, a car abandoned outside a GAA club in Armoy, County Antrim on 7 July was found to have contained two pipe bombs, which had already exploded. British Army bomb disposal experts were called in to deal with the incident, which occurred on the Glenshesk Road, and they confirmed that two devices had gone off inside the car. A second vehicle found outside a Ballycastle GAA club was later declared a hoax, after police carried out a controlled explosion. (CL)
Gavin Brett was standing with a group of his friends outside St Enda’s GAA Club on the Hightown Road on Sunday 29 July, when a gunman opened fire on the youths at around 11.30pm, seriously wounding the boy. Another youth, said to be the victim’s best friend, was hit in the leg.
Despite the best efforts of the teenager’s father - a specialist paramedic who helped treat the injured following the Omagh bombing - his son died at the scene.
Chief Constable of the RUC, Ronnie Flanagan has said he believes that the loyalists behind the shooting assumed that the young man was Catholic, while Sinn Fein councillor Martin Meehan has hit out at the attackers, describing them as “bigots” who have ended the life of a young man for purely sectarian reasons. He added: “They wear different hats, Red Hand Defenders, LVF. Does it really matter at the end of the day?”
The tragedy comes as GAA clubs throughout the province have experienced a spate of attacks ranging from pipe bombs to attempted arson, with yet another incendiary device discovered outside a clubhouse in Country Londonderry on Sunday 29 July. Meanwhile, a car abandoned outside a GAA club in Armoy, County Antrim on 7 July was found to have contained two pipe bombs, which had already exploded. British Army bomb disposal experts were called in to deal with the incident, which occurred on the Glenshesk Road, and they confirmed that two devices had gone off inside the car. A second vehicle found outside a Ballycastle GAA club was later declared a hoax, after police carried out a controlled explosion. (CL)
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20 July 2001
CO DOWN GAA CLUB DESTROYED BY FIRE
A Gaelic Athletic Association club in Co Down has been destroyed in what is suspected to have been an arson attack. The fire service were alerted to the blaze at Attical Gaelic Football Club late on Thursday 20 July but were unable to halt the fire, which swept through the timber structured building, destroying its contents.
CO DOWN GAA CLUB DESTROYED BY FIRE
A Gaelic Athletic Association club in Co Down has been destroyed in what is suspected to have been an arson attack. The fire service were alerted to the blaze at Attical Gaelic Football Club late on Thursday 20 July but were unable to halt the fire, which swept through the timber structured building, destroying its contents.
09 July 2001
BALLYCASTLE BOMB ALERT DECLARED FALSE ALARM
POLICE have declared a suspicious device left outside a Ballycastle GAA club to be a hoax. Following a telephone warning, a vehicle was found outside the GAA Club on the Leyland Road. Police carried out a controlled explosion, and declared the device to be a false alarm.
BALLYCASTLE BOMB ALERT DECLARED FALSE ALARM
POLICE have declared a suspicious device left outside a Ballycastle GAA club to be a hoax. Following a telephone warning, a vehicle was found outside the GAA Club on the Leyland Road. Police carried out a controlled explosion, and declared the device to be a false alarm.
29 July 2002
Hundreds turn out to remember murdered teenager
One year on, and hundreds of people gathered yesterday to mark the anniversary of the murder of Protestant teenager Gavin Brett – killed by loyalist paramilitaries in north Belfast. People from across Northern Ireland came together to remember 18-year-old Gavin who was cut down by gunfire from a passing car on the Hightown Road.
Hundreds turn out to remember murdered teenager
One year on, and hundreds of people gathered yesterday to mark the anniversary of the murder of Protestant teenager Gavin Brett – killed by loyalist paramilitaries in north Belfast. People from across Northern Ireland came together to remember 18-year-old Gavin who was cut down by gunfire from a passing car on the Hightown Road.
05 July 2017
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19 June 2018
Paddy Jackson And Stuart Olding Could Play For Ireland In The Future
Former Ulster players Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding may play for Ireland in the future, the IRFU performance director David Nucifora has said. The players were found not guilty of rape at a trial earlier this year. However, their Ulster and Ireland contacts were revoked over Whatsapp and text messages that had been revealed in court.
Paddy Jackson And Stuart Olding Could Play For Ireland In The Future
Former Ulster players Paddy Jackson and Stuart Olding may play for Ireland in the future, the IRFU performance director David Nucifora has said. The players were found not guilty of rape at a trial earlier this year. However, their Ulster and Ireland contacts were revoked over Whatsapp and text messages that had been revealed in court.
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Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:Rain clearing away east by early evening with some clear spells but a few showers likely to affect the North coast and other areas towards dawn, remaining breezy and mild overnight. Minimum temperature 9 °C.
