Neil Lennon 'murder' trial

[26th of foot 6,211]

The point of this post is NOT to diminish the gravity of events surrounding Neil Lennon, Paul McBride QC, and Trish Godman MSP last spring. It's more an attempt to highlight that a lack of accuracy in reporting leads to a lack of objectivity.

 

Both broadcast and print media were united in stating that the devices intercepted at various sorting offices were, "viable devices". A viable device is an assembly of explosive(plastique), accelerant, a detonator, detonator cord, detonator fuse, and a means of ignition(mercury, timer, battery, .... etc).

 

I watched last evening's news on BBC Scotland and STV, both reported the anti-terrorism police officer told the court that the first device intercepted contained putty, nails, wires, and a wrist watch. Further, he noted NO DETONATOR and that the wires were NOT fuse or cord. The device in his expert opininon was NOT viable.

 

Today, it's the turn of Kirkintilloch sorting office staff in court as witnesses. Again, the device is decribed as containing nails, wires, a vial of milky fluid, and a watch. The post office's security expert quickly established the device was NON VIABLE because it had NO DETONATOR and no fuse or cord. The device was placed outside until ATO(Amunition Technical Officer) arrived and confirmed the package as NON VIABLE.

 

Thus, where did all these reports of "viable devices" originate from?

 

Again, not to minimise the threats faced by Lennon, McBride, and Godman; however, there has been seriously inaccurate reporting on this story.

[GovanAllan 0]

In a word Parkhead.

[Juancornetto 1]

I'm guessing the hysterical public outcry wouldn't have been so intense if it was reported that some putty, a few nails and Casio watch was sent to Neil Lennon. It was noticeable how quickly and frequently that phrase "viable device" was used. The mind boggles.

[aweebluesoandso 290]

Propaganda on behalf the the perma victims, where would they be without their cottage industry of vicTIMisation.

[Zappa 0]

The whole thing always stank of bullshit, just like the manhunt in Ayrshire and the Rangers fans arrested on suspission of involvement, but never charged with anything.

 

All part of a cunning plan.

[Danny 0]

Not to rain on the parade here but one of the officers or whoever in court gave testimony that the 'average joe' would indeed have considered this package a bomb.

 

So in answer to the original question, well, it's only emerging now that on a technical sense they weren't 'viable devices' but at the time initial reaction suggested they were.

 

Sgt James Reid, 47, from Strathclyde Police, described the moment that the parcel was opened.

 

He said: "There was a quantity of nails, a small piece of putty, a small clock face which was digital and a wire like from a stereo connecting to the putty."

 

He said the sorting office was evacuated for four hours with the main concern being that it would "detonate and cause injury or damage".

 

Prosecutor Tim Niven-Smith asked him: "But, it had the appearance of being a viable device?"

 

Insp Ferguson replied: "If an individual had received that, their understanding may be that it was a bomb."

[Gazza_8 233]

Not to rain on the parade here but one of the officers or whoever in court gave testimony that the 'average joe' would indeed have considered this package a bomb.

 

To the untrained eye it would've looked like a bomb.

 

If I got a package in the post and it only contained nails, I'd still think it was a bomb!

[pete 2,511]

I am also not condoning what the guy's done in fact the opposite what were the stupid idiots thinking about? But what about the makers of plastic guns that are sold in our shops daily. Some of those are hard to distinguish from the real thing. I suppose the difference is nobody puts them in the post.

[26th of foot 6,211]

Danny,

 

I agree with your comments reference perception of the average Joe. However, the vwider perception is accrued through the reporting auspices of the media. Accurate reporting is fundamental to objective perception. The thrust of the post is about the journey.

 

There is a military maxim, 'always reinforce success'; I have seen and heard it put another way, 'keep up the scare'. Last spring, the latter was very much in play. The presented perception was of Neil Lennon et all receiving letter bombs. Now, the accuracy of court proceedure informs us, an envelope stuffed with nails, wires, and a watch was intercepted at the sorting office.

 

The reporting was akin to former Daily Record Chief Reporter, Anna Smith's notorious line on any fellow Sellik supporter involved in violence, "the police are refusing to rule out a sectarian motive for the attack". It would appear that the devices were as viable as the reporting.

[aweebluesoandso 290]

Not to rain on the parade here but one of the officers or whoever in court gave testimony that the 'average joe' would indeed have considered this package a bomb.

 

So in answer to the original question, well, it's only emerging now that on a technical sense they weren't 'viable devices' but at the time initial reaction suggested they were.

 

Clearing the immediate vicinity of any suspect package is the norm in these situations, how many time has a railways station or airport lounge been been cleared due to unattended luggage. However once the package has been established as harmless or indeed fake, everything quickly returns to normal and people are allowed to continue with their journeys.

 

People were understandably frightened by these 'suspect packages' but the police and authorities are generally quick to reassure the community. On these occasions the 'professionals' who knew these devices were ultimately "not viable" were negligent with their reassurances and allowed the perception to continue and worry people that the devices were viable. The bomb disposal men or counter terrorism expert's would have know within minutes of examination that they were in fact fake, maybe even good fakes but ultimately harmless. This vital piece of information would have been communicated to all press and relevant bodies to communicate to the public. Why was it this fact was allowed to be misconstrued?

 

I would ask who gained from the propaganda that was allowed to prevail that these 'viable devices' were aimed to harm the Celtic community rather than scare them?