The depth of hostility towards the RUC among nationalists was reinforced to the Patten Commission on Policing last night in north Belfast.
More than 100 people packed into St Silas's Hall on Cliftonville Road to voice their opinion on future policing. While the attendance was considerably smaller than at the previous night's public meeting in west Belfast, opposition to the RUC was no less in evidence, with most speakers insisting that the only recommendation by Mr Chris Patten should be the disbandment of the force, not further reforms.
Mr Patten apologised for the short notice of the meeting but thanked everyone for coming. "It's your night, and we want to hear what you have to say," he said, but not before expressing his condolences to the family and friends of Mr Brian Service, who was murdered in the area last Saturday.
The interest in the issue was strong, and Mrs Kate Duffy reflected the tone of the Commission's third public meeting. To loud cheers, Mrs Duffy, whose son Seamus was killed by a plastic bullet fired by police, said the RUC had "treated this small community" with contempt for the past 30 years. "They are not an accepted force, they were forced upon us at a time of civil unrest. People are saying it is time for change, but that change must come in the RUC. The RUC needs to be disbanded."
She said the commission had the opportunity to send a strong message to the community by recommending that the RUC be disbanded: "We want peace here, but we need it to be built on strong statements."
Mr Gerry O'Reilly, a community activist, said "no cosmetic inroads" on the RUC would be acceptable to the people in north Belfast. Mr Terry O'Neill, a facilitator with a local community group, the North Belfast Action Teams, said the RUC "has never been accepted in north Belfast and would never be". His son wants to be a policeman, but said that "wouldn't be an option for him unless there is a new police service".
He said it was not an option for his son to join the RUC as it was, since it was a force which had shown only "contempt" for Catholics.
"Policing is needed not to bolster the state but to look after the community, but as the RUC stands it does not represent us." There was no future in reform, he said. Throughout the meeting , speakers were passionate in their criticism of the RUC, with Mrs Mary Brady asking one of the commissioners, Ms Lucy Woods, if she had ever been pregnant and been on holiday. Ms Woods replied "yes". "I know what the RUC are like," Mrs Brady said. "I have the physical and emotional scars to prove it. I was seven months pregnant and when I came back from holiday the RUC had wrecked my home. One week later I went into labour, but thankfully my daughter, who is now nine, was OK. The force should be disbanded and that is the only message the Commission should be sending to nationalists." Earlier, Mr Patten stressed that the Commission was independent and had "no hidden agenda".
"We are keen to hear your views, and it is your night and we are hear to listen."