Mayor of Derry's home raided by police

Published Friday, 13 July 2012

The Mayor of Derry has called for an explanation as to why his home was raided by police carrying out searches in the area.

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Police officers approached mayor and Sinn Féin Councillor Kevin Campbell's home in the Creggan estate on Thursday.

When police officers discovered the premises was the mayor's house, they waited for more than five hours before searching it.

A number of other properties were also searched as part of a crackdown on the vigilante group RAAD.

"They came in with a search warrant under the prevention of terrorism act 2000, and they took away two laptops, one belonging to my daughter, and one belonging to Derry City Council," Councillor Campbell explained.

"They took three mobile phones and they took away a handheld camera."

The necessity of these searches was properly and carefully considered.
PSNI spokesperson

Sinn Féin MLA Raymond McCartney said the incident was "totally inexplicable".

"Kevin is the Mayor of the city, for a civic policing service to be raiding the first citizen of a city and providing no explanation, hiding from any commentary this morning and indeed not coming out very clearly and saying this was wrong, is absolutely unacceptable and totally inexplicable," he said.

Police confirmed they carried out searches at houses in the city as part of an investigation into paramilitary-style assaults and shootings.

"The policing operation was fast moving and fluid and required police to actively pursue suspects believed to be involved", police said.

"Senior police commanders have met with Sinn Féin representatives in the city this afternoon to discuss police actions."

During the operation police recovered eight weapons and three men were arrested in the city.

The spokesperson said police remained "committed to tackling the scourge of paramilitary-style assaults and shootings".

Comments

16 Comments

Davy McFaul in South Derry wrote (306 days ago):

"When police officers discovered the premises was the mayor's house, they waited for more than five hours before searching it" Is it only me who finds this strange? The PSNI raided a house and they ddn't know who the house's oreccupant was? Great intelligence. @ Can't please you people. " five rifles ,three hand guns found, three so called raad suspects arrested and you come on here moaning?what would have happened if these weapons had been used on a member of your family or a friend?you would be on here asking what the police were doing, you cant plese people like you" All well and good except Mary was talking about the raid on the Mayor's house. Were any of these weapons or suspected arrested an the Mayor's house?

Tomc in Belfast wrote (308 days ago):

Impartial policing - no more no less - can't have impartial policing and then say they shouldn't search the home of a politician. "I'm the Lord Mayor, this is an insult!" And what? So you're the Lord Mayor...basically a joe nobody. Nothing to hide - no reason to object to a search. A non story.

dylan mcdaid in derry wrote (308 days ago):

When the PSNI/RUC raid an address that belongs to somebody who does not agree with the good friday agreement,Sinn Fein call them dissidents, and tell the people that the PSNI/RUC are only doing their jobs ,and we should support them.And now when a shinners address is raided there is absolute uproar from sinn fein about it.Why do sinn fein think they are immune from this,has there been a deal done that all sinn fein /provo members are not to be arrested ,questioned,homes raided or even charged with anything.Why are Sinn Fein expecting to be treated above the law and differently from everybody else? Has some secret deal been done? Was this some kind of clause for the surrendering of IRA weapons? It wouldnt suprise me.

lorna in limavady wrote (308 days ago):

johnie mac belfast. ALL POLICE FORCES HAS TO SEARCH IF THEY BELIEVE THERE IS A NEED TO. IF YOU WERE A VICTIM OF CRIME YOU WOULD BELIEVE THE POLICE ARE ONLY DOING THEIR JOB.

AndyinLurgan in Lurgan wrote (309 days ago):

Before anyone is so quick to jump to conclusions and blame the police, I would just remind them of times past when residents in both catholic and protestant estates no-matter what their job title were made to "keep' items hidden under duress from scum paramilitaries or face the consequences...as Joanne said, the police would have to have had a warrant and until it is shown otherwise then people cannot condemn them for this house search, no-matter who owned the premises and no-matter what their job title.

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