04/13/23 1

2

Life in Riyadh @Al- Romazian, Al-Shark and Al-Izdahar Compounds.

3

TWO RICK.gif

4

K.F.A.A. BATTERY & GRD. ELECTS.

ARGUEMENT.

I hope to show via this site, that British Aerospace Systems is a company that discriminates against 'Irish Born' Ex- Service Personnel and supports the shooting of unarmed civilians in Derry/Londonderry in the seventies by British paratroopers. It is a truly perfidious organization that withholds 'Due Moral Rights' to well earned and deserved 'Severance Payment.' I was employed by Aerospace for a period of 14 years in a Tech./ Supervisory role. The people I worked with on the bases were in general an excellent group. In the words of Paul Dugan the Base Manager describing them as:” THE MEN BEHIND THE WIRE", most probably some of the few words of truth ever uttered by him. In fact we were held captive by capricious management types who totally believed in the "I'm alright Jack" philosophy ruling from their lofty tower in Al-Bilad, Riyadh. For people who knew Riyadh in the eighties and nineties, I was chairperson of two of the best and biggest company compound clubs ‘The Al- Shark & The New Shark Al- Izdahar 4’ : if you were there you will remember the 'Libation and The Musak'!

5

In early November 1996, I had my contract with British Aerospace Systems Security and Defence terminated after being accused of an assault on another employee in a Company-Sponsored Bar whilst working in Riyadh: in ‘The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’. My belief is that I have been unfairly treated. I have had my good name and character criminalized by some elements within British Aerospace Management as well as members of the Military Survey Team in Riyadh. I accuse the company of not supplying a safe environment to protect employees from verbal racial abuse and attack from others who held anti Irish and racist view points. This was after a period of fourteen years of good and loyal service to the company in Saudi Arabia when on a number of occasions I had to suffer many anti Irish remarks and prejudices.

6

I was awarded a number of good shows for my endeavours as well

as recognition in the form of a company video of my involvement. I intend to have a copy of this formatted for placement on a website

to explain the extent of my endeavours in involving myself in the company’s interests, needs and requirements: pushing to have the job completed asking staff to go for that extra effort to complete the task in hand.

Some staff resistive at the time due to their wrongly perceived view of the USAF’s. attitudes regarding the seriousness of the onboard problems with its equipment and aircraft.

7

I believe that I was fundamental in creating a programme that may have saved at least one KC-135 aircraft if not others belonging to the United States Air Force. These aircraft were of great importance during and after the Gulf War 1: used in refuelling tasks supplying in flight A.W.A.C. Aircraft.

A serious problem existed (Vicious Cycling or Thermal Runaway of the aircraft's On-Board Ni Cad. battery Systems) that could have caused a catastrophic condition in a worst case scenario: if an aircraft had crashed in any of the populated areas surrounding the base at K.F.A.A.

This threat measured by a response from an American employed at R.S.A.A.F Headquarters: finally grasping the seriousness of the situation who then contacted me on a number of occasions introducing himself as an interested party.

8

My belief is if I had not acted (supported by my Senior Training and Maintenance Manager: Mr. Ian Crawford at the time) that there were a number of serious problems with the USAF KC-135's and other aircraft’s Ni-Cad. battery charging systems, a situation could have arisen that would have put Saudi /USA relations beyond repair if a serious incident had happened over the city.

The U.S.A.F. at the time unable to comprehend the danger of a major incident over Saudi Arabian territory: cities and towns that could have led to a Pre, 9/11 scenario.

'A Total Catastrophe' We were told not to allow the customer any information on what we were doing: a little difficult if you have Saudi Nationals working for you and surrounded in the workplace by Royal Saudi Arabian Air Force Personnel.

9

CONTINUED.

An issue I did push was with a similar fault condition on newly arrived Pilatus PC-9 Aircraft which superseded the old trainer aircraft we had at K.F.A.A. Pilots experienced problems during flight and had to return to base due to overheating battery conditions. At least one situation was quite serious resulting in a local Board Of Inquiry involving Senior Royal Saudi Arabian Officers representing the customer.

Of course this was the talk amongst the BAE staff on base and compound bars. Blame was automatically pointed at my bay personnel and myself by other sections of ‘The Avionics Section’: this I knew to be wrong and unfair as we produced only work of an excellent quality; as was our norm to do.

10

I investigated the situation and created a report that was

accepted by the Board Of Inquiry, who fully supported my finding as did BAE Head Quarters Bilad (Engineering). It transpired that during the Commissioning of the PC9 that the ‘Air Electrical Bay’: (Part of the Avionics Flight) had failed to adjust the on-board voltage control requirements to suit the high ambient temperature levels experienced in the 'Hot Climate' conditions: high temperatures an every day occurrence in Middle East. My then Senior Maintenance Manager: Mr. Fred Collins congratulated me. Nothing more was said as things were laid to rest: to avoid embarrassment to others who jumped the gun in the Blame Game.

11

12

As a closing note it is only recently I have been able to put together in writing my side of the story of this particular time in Riyadh. I can now clearly see this was a period when I experienced a type of house arrest and isolated unable to think clearly. I was unable to comprehend my situation therefore could not form an adequate defence; this was accommodating to the BAE Management Team.

Sincerely Neil O’Donnell

netnoddy@netscape.net

13

Dear Prime Minister.It is easy to imagine that a severe upset emotional as well as a financial one would reflect proactive action for redress for the wrong done. In my case unfortunately not so: due to feelings of disbelief and trust in the British system, I was unable to comprehend that the British via one of it’s major companies ‘British Aerospace Systems Security and Defence’ would withhold from me fourteen years of severance pay: which in natural law belongs to me. The withheld amount equated in November 1996 to approximately Thirty Thousand Pounds Sterling, the action by Aerospace has created great hardships for me. First of all the loss of my family home plus in today’s economic situation with regards to owning/purchasing a home: the inability to achieve this as things went pear shape for me due to the lack of self esteem due to these events. The action by Aerospace at the time resulted in a total review of my feeling for all things British. The personal hurt caused by BAE’s action is impossible to take on board: I gave more to the company than most employees did: firstly as a supervisor and again as a temporary superintendent in the Avionics Centre at the ‘King Fisal Air Academy’/Riyadh Airbase at the time of the ‘Gulf Crisis’. The company at that time had difficulty in persuading people to remain in kingdom to protect the contract. A great number of employees were not keen to remain and see the crisis through, instead opted to go home to the U/K.

14

I viewed their actions as disappointing and not what I would expect from them they were happy to take the salary when it suited. When the crunch came it was embarrassing to see how unsuited some were to the responsibilities of the time as they rushed to get onto the buses to the airport. I was always involved in my work believed in what I was doing, thinking of the bigger picture: my attached records will vouch for that. After a minor incident in a company bar in Izdahar 2 Riyadh in October 1996 after a disco I was suspended and then dismissed. Unfortunately I was in the wrong place at the wrong time and had reached the wished for service period of 14 years where I then qualified for full severance pay.

I believe untruths were told that evening , The Irish Ambassador arisen from his bed by some mischievous person (who believed that I was from the ‘Republic of Ireland’ rather than from the ‘North of Ireland’ ) which resulted in senior ‘BAE’ management getting involved. Incredulous statements were taken from people who were clearly under the influence of locally produced alcohol: made and sold in company compound bars. Due to the lies told that morning at approx. 6am, when statements were taken from people who were under the influence, I lost fourteen years of accrued severance pay that devastated my life.

CONTINUED.

15

I went back to Ireland after this: as an Irish born ex-serviceman this did not work out for me. I have now returned to UK to be near to my grown-up family and grandchildren. I can well understand to day how people of an ‘Asian Background’ feel as I remember some of the outrageous things said to me in the twenty-six years whilst a member of the Royal Air Force and my time with BAE.

Bigots are constantly either in one’s face or behind the scenes ready to undo the good work undertaken by others of a more gracious intent and understanding.

Mr. Martin McGuinness, First Deputy Member of the Northern Ireland Exec.

The Ministry of Defence. His Majesty King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia. The United States Ambassador to The United

Kingdom. The European Commission.

Neil Doyle O’Donnell

Nottingham.

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

AL Isdahar IV.jpg

26

27

This island mist and mystic blend of time.Torn by bloodlust for religious power.

Power wedded by Norman and Tudor Horde.A dance set in new time to ease their desires.

Footsteps a heavy thud upon our graves.An island once a dream.

Now trampled by the leaded heels of malice themes.We now old before our time find this dream, is just a dream within a dream.

We different in so many ways.Fate decided not by where we are born but by the shabby empire served.

The die caste hand of fate leads in its own cold way.Allowing others reason to comply.

Honour blinded by prejudices carried by small large hurts of desire.Therefore indifference must occur.

This crazy world of rights and wrongs.Dictates of families, politics for empires to endure.

To allow the theory of chaos to assist the 'Horsemen' in their everlasting brooding tasks.Time to awaken to witness what has gone.

The sorrowful events and history have passed replaced with stepping-stones and wished for bridges to pave the way.The people of the Islands still different in many ways ponder to find understanding to their own thoughts and ways.

They with gracious intent lead with honest hearts.Undermined by a vicious belief dressed as sheep in wolfs clothing.The lust for power and blood salivating from its carnivorous grave.

Hidden under a mask of righteousness as from times before.This evil just as cruel with intent as any.

Veiled under false modesty and purchased collar dictate from the sands of time.Determined in its will to destroy and undermine goodness and free will.

This lesson learned and carried by a son of ‘Connell’.Let us not fail our destiny to listen and fall to the masons of mistruth.

Allowing their corrupted views to visit our future and cloud our dreams of peace. Time will hopefully come when the masters of deceit will fall to the hand of fate.

Neil O’Donnell

28

r

http://uk.youtube.com/user/izdahar