City of Fear Spotlight

Turmoil on the streets of Londonderry. A battle that is

creating a new threat to the police. And a trail of victims whose lives

have been shattered. He fell to the floor. I couldn't feel my legs.

brutal impact of vigilantes today. We challenge the gunmen themselves.

They tell spoth spot They have to understand this, is terrible.

What's going on in Derry at the moment is absolutely disgrace.

Parts of this city are in the grip of fear. For four years, Derry's

estates are plagued by a vigilante group, in February, this year, they

claimed their first murder Vic dim. Andrew Allen was a 20-year-old

father of two from the Waterside area. He was on the radar of

republic and vigilantes for some time. Then one night in February,

this year, Andrew's enemies tracked him down to bun drana, where he was

living with his girlfriend Arlene. Arlene has never spoken publicly

before what happened that evening. We were lying in the bed, he was

playing the PlayStation, next hear I heard Big Bangs, I didn't know

what it was. The Big Bangs again, when I got out, I looked out the

window and there's this fellas, kicking and kicking at the door,

but I seen the gun. I said to Andi, there's a fella at the door with a

gun. He jumped out of bed, I was over beside the bedroom door, and

he shouted out to me to phone the guards. I had to run back to my

locker to get the phone, just as I was running back to the bedroom

door, the fella was kicking at the door. The next thing I looked over

and I heard a smash and shots being And a... He fell to the floor. He

shouted at me "Arlene I can't feel my legs". I phoned the guards, and

there was blood he was where. So, he slid eever beside me. I phoned

the guards. I was shouting for help. I was trying to hold his head out

because the blood was coming out. I tried and tried, I couldn't get him

over on his back. Arlene ran to get help from a neighbour. They came

over running with me And the man helped me get a hand on his back. I

started giving him CPR. But I knew, because I had to pull

the blood out of his mouth and away from his nose. I tried for as long

Minutes later, Andrew's mother, Donna had learnt what had happened.

I was sitting watching television and I got a phone call from my

sister to say that Andrew had been shot and within minutes she rang me

back to say they can't get a pulse, that Andrew's dead. I was here, and

I just fell to the ground. weeks later the killers reveal

themselves. RAAD said they had killed Andrew because he was a drug

dealer. Andrew was no big time drug dealer, Andrew never had a penny,

he was always borrowing money off people. Donna says Andrew was an

innocent victim. Taken from his family in cold blood. REPORTER: Can

you explain what it is like to have that taken away from your family?

Devastation. Complete devastation. So it is.

Like I've lost a son, and they've lost a brother and my two

grandchildren, they've lost their father now, they have to go the

rest of their life now without their father. When you hear your

grandson saying, he's six, to say that, he misses his daddy, and why

did these bad men do this. I have no answer for that, because I don't

know why. Andrew's family say they know who killed them. Everybody

knows who done it, the guards know who has done it, the PSNI knows who

done it. But four months later, the killers have still not been caught.

I don't know how they sleep at night. They have no conscience, and

the people... They've wives, you know what I mean like, and they've

mothers as well. They've got to understand, that this, this is

terrible, what's going on in Derry at the moment is absolutely a

disgrey. Since their formation, four years ago, RAAD have carried

out dozens of shootings and beatings, but Andrew Allen was the

first murder, it brought crowds on to the city, calling on RAAD to

stop. But RAAD responded with defiance. Within a month the group

unleashed a new form of ruthlessness, forcing parents to

participate of the shooting of their own parents. I'm still

stressed over it, and probably will be for the rest of my life. Ciaran

McFadden says his son and nephew Sean were among a group who got

into a fight with a well known RAAD member. A few days later, RAAD

presented Ciaran and his family with an appalling dilemma. I got

the message to be sent to my conto Creggan to get shot. And between

that, Sean was sent word through a third party, that if he didn't

present himself, that he would be shot. Ciaran is a former member of

the provisional member of the IRA and a well known figure. But for

him and his family, it seemed the only option was to meet the demand.

If.I said come and get him, they would have put a pipe bomb under my

car, or under my wife, killed my wife, me, my Sean or anybody

visiting. Word spread throughout the Creggan,

that RAAD were ordering parents to bring their parents to be shot.

That evening, people in the city again rallied in an effort to stop

the shootings. We are here for dissency and justice and peace. We

want to say no to RAAD. This expression of public anger, didn't

stop RAAD. We were sitting, a knock came to the door, about 10.30pm,

last man, take your son to the back of the garden square. The back of

my head, maybe they're going to scare him. I really thought this.

So I said do you really want to do this. He said let get it over and

done with. At 11pm, Ciaran brought his son a back street area in

Derry's Bogside. His cousin Sean was already there. Ciaran agreed to

show us what happened next. This is where Ciaran was sat and cousin

Sean. I was here for 15-20 minutes, I saw a guy stick his head. I

walked down, and I said guys, get this over and done with. They ran

past me, Ciaran was standing here, against the rail ilgs, Sean was

standing a few feet away. They came up behind, shot Ciaran in the left

calf and shot Sean twice in the ankles. Sean came through, no great

damage, and Ciaran is left with bullet wound in his calf. How far

were you. A few feet away. Towards the square, walking towards them on

the phone for an ambulance. So you literally phone the ambulance while

they're being shot? Yeah. Is that not crazy? It is crazy, but we live

in a crazy society. Do you know who they are is this I know. Two months

later, Ciaran and his family are tormented by the decision. How can

a father stand here and see his son getting shot. It is eating me away.

People ask me why didn't I go to the police. We don't live in a

normal society. I could have gone to the police, I could be burnt,

blew up, living in fear, I don't want to live like that. City of

culture, city of fear! So, what effect is all this having on Derry

now. Sn The impact of RAAD on Derry, can't be underestimated. Since

we've been here, we've met young men and their families who are

living constantly in fear. One of them agreed to be interviewed. His

words are spoken by an actor to protect his identity. He's also

asked us not to use his real name. So we've called him John. Well I'm

under threat because I was dabbleling in a bit of drugs, it

was not major, I was making �100 a week, even to do it, to feed his

own habit. This brought John to the attention of RAAD now he is living

in fear, since threatened by the vigilantes. But John refuses to

leave Derry, and now lives in a permanent state of terror, waiting

for the moment when RAAD will attack. I've machetes, swords,

anything pointy on them, I move house, every three months, I'm

moving today actually. I have drop boards made up, alarms off police

from the door, keep the light up, sitting up until 4 or 5 in the

morning. John says living this way has left him mentallytor tuerd.

was going to kill myself, but I don't want to do that. I have two

kids. We spoke to his mother who didn't want to be identified.

not only what they're doing to the young fellas, they're doing the

families. They'retor tuerd mothers, at the minute, I'm one of them.

Like John, his mother spends each night in her home. I take my

medication in the morning, that calms me down. I have to wait to my

next fix before my hands stop shaking, my body stops shaking.

is clear that John's mother is also being terrorised by RAAD's threats.

My worst fear is they pull up near somewhere in a car, van, getting

him into it, taking him away andtor touring him and murdering him, and

throwing his body away so I don't have it. What I might say, I would

go and stand at the bottom of the grave and talk to my son, than they

put their hands on him. Everywhere you go, people are talking about

RAAD so who are they and what are police doing to tackle them? They

are led by two former Provisional IRA members of some standing, and

the organisation, exists, almost exclusively of form era are a

members, with some new recruit, who weren't involved in that

organisation. What size of membership have this

group? I don't think it is helpful for me to get into range of numbers.

But I assure you they are a small group. The pist pist may know who

they are, but - PSNI may know, but there are four murders. We haven't

been as good as we should have been, and I'm disappoint. We have,

currently another man before the court in relation to RAAD-relate

actively, but it is not good enough. So, we recognise that, and we

recognise we need to do more. means more money, more manpower,

and more resources. Including, a new appeal Ejiofor information.

have spoken to the Chief Constable personally at length around RAAD

and I can assure you we are going to do everything we can, as an

organisation, to tackle RAAD in the coming weeks and months. But we

will be more successful if the community give us the information

that I need. I would urge them, urge them, please for the sake of

your community and Derry, help us to make RAAD go away, and give us

that information. The police appear to be oping the -- uping the

offensive but help is low. It means many those under threat look

elsewhere for help. Most of the meet in the community centre,

called the Rose Mount resource centre. It secured funding from the

International Red Cross, for its work with threat victims. I went

there to meet the man for many of those in RAAD's hit list as their

only hope. Since we began regarding our statistics in June last year,

we've dealt with up until today, 112 cases, for the individuals

coming in it here, it is seriously stressful. They're really concerned,

they think that their family member is going to be shot or hurt,

certainly. Within hours. Hugh is no ordinary community workers, he is a

former member of the Provisional IRA, and several of RAAD's members

are his former comrades. It gives them a level of RAAD that few have.

Whenever we are contacted by somebody under threat, then we

would contact RAAD. You then deal directly with RAAD? Yeah. So how do

they rationalise, shooting people, and acting in what many people say

is a barbaric fashion? They rationalise it easy, they're saying

they're preventing these people selling drugs to children in our

community. That's how they rationalise it. The Mubarakity of

their actions, I don't think they rationalise at all. Hugh's contact

with RAAD makes his work controversial, some accused him and

the centre, of being too close to the group, and as acting as RAAD's

messenger. But he says his purpose is simple. Our soul function is to

shop those shootings. Where we are intervened and unsuccessful, we

would be angry at ourselves that maybe we could have done something

else, that may have persuaded RAAD to prevent the shooting. Brady's

work takes place behind the scenes. There are those that believe the

best way to respond to RAAD is to challenge the group publicly, and

directly. For three months, one group of women has been at the

forefront of this campaign. They call themselves Move On. They

agreed to meet me. How much support to RAAD were other groups who carry

on punishment attacks, how much support do they have? RAAD do not

have the support of the majority of people of our communities. They

don't have any type of following, that it shows any type of

credibility. The women of Move On aren't the only ones challenging

RAAD publicly. Attacking RAAD's credibility has been a tactic of

the police, inity battle for hearts and minds. Well, you know, I don't

see any big time drug dealers, being targeted by RAAD. This is a

criminal gang who brutalise and shoot people. If you fall out with

them in a pub or street, they'll exile you and order you out of the

city. Some people have been allow today return, only when they paid

thousands of pounds, sometimes to RAAD. Or, maybe, RAAD have taken

their motor vehicle off them. This is pure criminality that is

inflicting horrible effects on the community. We want to challenge

RAAD ourselves about their violent activities. So we made contact with

the group, through an intermediary. We put a number of questions to

RAAD. They supplied us with a series of statements and

photographs. We began by asking RAAD why they were shooting people.

RAAD why they were shooting people. They alleged are drug dealers. They

RAAD believes it has support in this community. So does it? And if

it does, where does that support it does, where does that support

come from? While filming in Derry, we found people reluctant people

they support RAAD until this happened. Ten days ago, police

investigating RAAD mounted a search operation within cegdepan. Within

minutes a crowd gathered outside. Then this.

Bomb. Around the corner, a police vehicle was hit by a blast bomb.

So what do people here, think about RAAD? I support RAAD fully. I'd

probably be lifted for saying that, I support them, because I can see

what people do with drugs. Do RAAD have support? Only people are

afraid to say they pour RAAD because you're looked at as a bad

person. My heart and soul support RAAD. I would trust them. If my

grandson was involved in drugs, I would go straight to them and I

know they'd sort him out. Not shooting him but in other ways,

that's the last resort. This woman wasn't the only one here who agreed

to be interviewed by RAAD. Shortly afterwards, we spotted Gary

Donnelly, a hardline Republican, opposed to the peace process. We

asked him whether RAAD has support in the area. There's without doubt

support for RAAD in these communities. People, some people in

these communities would see RAAD at the forefront of the battle against

drugs. Could you agree with shooting people, that's barbaric?

When people look at that, it is a form of justice. It is barbaric, it

is not nice, but the drug problem in this community, there's people

who want swift just dis, and that's the way they look at it. Shortly

But these scenes in the Creggan were about something deeper and

more fundamental than RAAD. Police is not welcome in our community

this. Is not a normal police force that you would see in Ireland or

England, this is a paramilitary police force. RAAD claimed

responsibility for a blast bomb on the police. This is the first time

RAAD attacked on the pist pist, it put the group on an I - PSNI and

put it on another level. When RAAD emerged, it had no political agenda,

but of course, in recent years, RAAD are in conflict with the PSNI,

they're hunted by the PSNI, and denounced now by Sinn Fein, and all

that. I think it creates the potential at least an overlap of

interest with RAAD and people called dissident Republicans, one

question is how will that develop, in the next couple of years.

asked RAAD through the intermediary, if they work with dissent? They

refused to comment. What's clear is that RAAD is a new faction in an

already divided Republican family in Derry. So, where is Sinn Fein in

all of this and what is it doing about RAAD? We are voicing our

opposition to what they do. We have always said they have no meaningful

role to play with life in Derry. We highlighted what RAAD is about. We

said they're under Sinn Fein, under the peace process, and called on

the community to voice their opposition, to show their

opposition, be it in public demonstrations or co-operateing

with the PSNI. But how realistic are Sinn Fein's calls to co-operate

with the police? Sinn Fein is in a difficult position, it is their

line, publicly and I understand, privately to tell people, you have

problems with RAAD or generally, with illegal, or antisocial

behaviour, to go to the PSNI. That is not always welcome advice. So to

tell people to go to PSNI appear in court and give evidence against

particulars, that's easy to say, but difficult for people to do on

the ground. RAAD it seems has become the focus, of a battle for

the very soul of the community, within Republicanism in Derry.

Feign are attempting to get together, you know, people in the

community, many of whom will be associated with Sinn Fein, to form

community groups and give a voice who are oppose today RAAD. How

successful that is, remains to be seen., we got a phenomenonan now,

where community groups are emerging, some hostile ter raed, and some in

effect, defending RAAD or the dissident Republicans or both, so

you have a community which is split. What is the answer to RAAD? We've

learnted on the ground, quiet diplomacy has been going on. There

are conversations taking place, these have been taking place

formally and informally over a period of time. We have reacheded

understandings. Seamus is a social worker, and believes there are

circumstances in which RAAD will scale back their activities. RAAD

said if there was some other means of dealing effectively with the

drugs problem they would no longer be in existence. If we can get a

strong community voice in place, that says "we will take

responsibility for dealing with the issues, and no-one else, ""RAAD

will listen. There are people to take on that role. The women said

when it comes to takeling the social problems and drugs, they

have more to offer than RAAD. Throughout Northern Ireland there's

drug problems, alcohol problems, misuse of prescription drugs, we're

to different here in this city. But young people have to grow up, they

make mistakes, but they have to learn from them and being shot

won't learn them. Are you naive, that some people would say you'll

never solve the drug problem, if you're going to try and do it as a

community, there are a million xaxs it hasn't worked. Do you feel you

will make a difference? We wouldn't be here if we couldn't make a

difference. The community to us is everybody getting involved, the

whole community getting together. We are not superheroes, it won't

happen overnight. We need everybody together as one, regardless of who

you are, what you are, where you're fro, we want everybody to come

together, unite and sort out the problem together. What are your

hopes for the future, in terms of RAAD and Derry? My hope is that

RAAD disband and all other armed vigilante groups. Disband and

disarm, and go away, and let us be the community that we want to be.

So, will RAAD soften its position So, will RAAD soften its position

in response to these calls? We It is a sign that RAAD has no

intention of going away. It seems that there will be further

suffering at the hands of the vigilantes. I still wait for that

text or phone call, from Andrew. 24 years of age, a young man. Starting

to turn his life around. And they murder him. Where's the justice?

RAAD are a relic of repian parliamentarianism, apart from the

misery of their victims, it is hard to tell what they are trying to