South African link in Belfast murders

South African link in Belfast murders

By Denis Kevans

Alex Lundy, ex-prisoner and Sinn Fein activist, was shot dead outside the Andersonstown house of Sinn Fein councillor Alex Maskey two weeks ago.

His death bought to 13 the number of Sinn Fein members, including three councillors, killed since the last local government elections in 1989.

Maskey, who was the main target and who has already been twice severely wounded, survived the attack with his wife and children.

Pat McGeown, Sinn Fein councillor, said at the grave side that the death of Alan Lundy was "a terrible blow". Patrols of the Royal Ulster Constabulary identified Lundy at the Maskey house and phoned the information to the Ulster Volunteer Force death squads.

The weapons used were AK-47 rifles and 9 mm hand guns, supplied from South Africa to the loyalist murder gangs by British agent Brian Nelson.

Recently, Brian Smallwood, Ulster Defence Association (UDA) and chair of the Ulster Democratic Party, visited South Africa with Derry councillor Ken Kerr and a number of senior loyalists.

They had talks with Inkatha in South Africa, though a proposed meeting with Chief Buthelezi did not eventuate.

The UDA's other links include Combat 18, a group associated with the fascist British National Party. Combat 18 is a group of hit men who have carried out vicious beatings and fire bomb attacks against left wing activists and others in Britain.

From GLW issue 101