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Price: 75p (IR 1.05 EURO) Thursday, February 23, 2012

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Costs call on UVF trial
NORTH Belfast MP Nigel Dodds last night called on Justice Minister David Ford to comment on the cost to the taxpayer of a 71-day UVF supergrass trial which saw 12 defendants cleared of terrorist charges. It is perfectly clear from the judgment that this case should never have proceeded, he said. Mr Justice Gillen said he had grave dissatisfaction with the quality of the evidence. See page 4

Families delay Kingsmills walk

BY PHILIP BRADFIELD
p.bradfield@newsletter.co.uk

THE families of 10 Protestant textile workers murdered by the IRA in south Armagh have decided to postpone a controversial walk this Saturday which was to retrace the last journey of their loved ones. The walk, intended to press for justice for those killed in the Kingsmills Massacre in 1976, was to follow the 3.5-mile route from Glennane to Kingsmills, where the IRA singled them out by their religion and gunned them down. However, Sinn Fein and the SDLP opposed the procession going through the strongly nationalist village of Whitecross, one of the last sights seen by the 10 men. Tensions were mounting as the event approached. But last night Pastor Barrie Halliday, who had been given a death threat for representing the families in the matter, said the relatives had decided to postpone it. The families do not wish to have 20 of them forced through Whitecross by 20 Land Rovers, he said. Only when Whitecross welcomes them will they go. The families want to walk through with their heads held high in recognition of the equality of their suffering with everyone else on this island, and in recognition of 10 innocent men. He proposed that a victim, a clergyman and a politician from each side shake hands when the walk passes through. There has been no recognition of what unionists suffered down here in the Troubles, he said. We are postponing this march to give everyone a breathing space to think about these things. Turn to page 12

Comic legend Frank Carson dies at 85

Ulster comedian Frank Carson has died aged 85, after battling stomach cancer. He passed away at his home in Blackpool, Lancashire, yesterday See page 12
PICTURE: Ian West/PA

Tragedy at caravan park

A MAN who died yesterday after an accident at a caravan park was named locally as Thomas Houston, a father-ofthree. Shortly after 10.15am, a man in his 50s was found trapped under a caravan at the Leestone Road, Kilkeel, police said. Kilkeel councillor Henry Reilly said it was a tragic loss for such a tightly knit community and a highly regarded family.

8.5pc cut in gas tariffs

NATURAL gas supplier Phoenix today announces an 8.5 per cent cut in gas tariffs. The cut, which comes into effect from April 1, will help ease the burden of the 39 per cent increase imposed in May last year when the firm blamed soaring wholesale gas prices for the rise. Phoenix Supply managing director David Strahan said todays announcement comes as a result of those prices falling again. See Business

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