Sinn Fein leader O'Neill called on to condemn fuel laundering

Gareth Malachy Doris, 39, of Gortnaskea Place, Coalisland, had denied fraudulent evasion of duty but was found guilty at Dungannon Magistrates’ Court last week.

The charges followed the attendance of police and HM Customs officials at an incident at J & K coaches in Ardboe on March 19, 2014.

The court heard how Doris was connected to two fuel laundering sites in Armagh by DNA samples recovered at the premises.

Doris has a previous conviction for involvement in an IRA attack on police in 1997.

Ulster Unionist Sandra Overend said Mrs O’Neill has a responsibility, as the leader of a political party, to unequivocally condemn anyone involved in fuel laundering.

“Tens of millions of pounds have been lost to the public purse due to fuel laundering,” she said.

“This is money that is badly needed in our health service and our schools. Indeed as a former health minister, she should be all too aware of how vital it is that all revenue streams are maximised to help reduce waiting lists and recruit more staff.”

Mrs O’Neill is from Clonoe in Co Tyrone – from a family with a long history of republican activity.

Mrs O’Neill’s father Brendan Doris was an ex-IRA prisoner, while her uncle Paul Doris is president of republican fundraising group Noraid.

However, unlike some prominent Sinn Fein figures – such as Martin McGuinness and Gerry Kelly – Mrs O’Neill has had no direct involvement in the IRA.

Ms Overend, a UUP Assembly candidate in Mid Ulster, went on to say: “Genuine support for the rule of law means that you support the Police, the courts and due process no matter who the evidence may lead to.

“I have no hesitation in condemning all forms of criminality and in calling on the courts to impose the sternest possible sentences and I invite Michelle O’Neill to do likewise.”

DUP Mid Ulster candidate Keith Buchanan said Mrs O’Neill needs to “make it absolutely clear that criminality cannot be tolerated, no matter where it comes from,” and added: “We should also hear whether she shares Gerry Adams view that some individuals involved in crime can still be considered a ‘good republican.’

“Sinn Fein have talked a great deal about integrity during this election campaign. Convictions such as this, of a former IRA bomber involved in criminality demonstrate why republicans may have been keen to distract from the activities going on within their own midst.”

Last Thursday night, Mrs O’Neill addressed an event in Clonoe to commemoration four IRA men shot dead in 1992 by the SAS following a gun attack on Coalisland RUC station.

According to a report in yesterday’s Sunday Life, the scam involving Doris was being run by the dissident republicans behind the murder of PSNI officer Ronan Kerr in Omagh six years ago. A number of the IRA’s east Tyrone unit parted company with mainstream republicans when Sinn Fein began supporting the PSNI in 2007.

The court case involving Gareth Doris, and two other men also charged with duty evasion offences, has been adjourned for sentence next month.

Co-accused Kevin Quinn, 40, of Ardean Close in Cookstown and John Thomas O’Neill of Sandy Row in Coalisland will be sentenced on the same charge.

Mrs O’Neill “would not be drawn on the matter,” the paper reported, but a Sinn Fein spokesman said: “This case is a matter for the courts and it would be inappropriate to make any comment which could prejudice the outcome of these proceedings.

“Fuel laundering is wrong. Not only does it undermine the economy but there are detrimental environmental impacts to the processing of illegal fuel.”

The spokesman added: “Sinn Fein has condemned illegal fuel laundering and criminality and will continue to do so.”

Doris was jailed for ten years for possessing explosives following the 1997 attack on Coalisland RUC station, but was released early in 2000 under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement.