Mafia-style intimidation in North, priest warns

Peace campaigner and former Maze prison chaplain, Fr Denis Faul of Armagh this week warned against the "Mafia style" intimidation by the IRA.
Fr Faul's scathing attack on the republican paramilitaries followed the announcement last week by Fane Valley Dairies that it would no longer supply milk to the security forces following the attempted murder of its managing director.
"This tactic of intimidation and coercion could have horrific implications for the entire community," Fr Faul said. "Will they murder the priests and ministers who administer the last rites to soldiers or policemen left dying by IRA guru-men and bombers?" he asked.
IRA intimidation of firms whom they claim supply the security forces is a gross interference with the basic human right to work he said and will simply spread unemployment. "Maybe that's what they want to do, but they don't seem to understand the complexities of business. Some people are simply delivering, some people are manufacturing. Goods pass through many hands before they reach the consumer."
Twelve people have been killed by the IRA in its attacks on those in support services for the security forces in Northern Ireland, many of. them according to Fr Faul without proof that they were carrying out the work alleged.
"There can be no justification whatever for this type of punishment, but there have been quite a number of tragic incidents where men have been killed and where they were not doing the things that they were accused of."
Fr Faul called on the public to reject such Mafia type blackmail of every worker in the community. "This is monstrous in its implications and the community must examine the consequences and say no. It must say no in public and at the ballot box," he urged.