I’VE been banging on about this for months, and yesterday Daily Ireland splashed with Ciaran Barnes’ story on what I was speculating about the day before – that charges of UDA membership might not stand up in court, since that organisation is on a Government-recognised ceasefire. If accurate, would it mean that the shift from use of witness to expert witness/physical evidence by the PSNI in a certain person’s case is of no legal consequence?
Here’s a great review of a fascinating book (H/T reader Rory) on how the Internet is destroying our capacity for intelligent, focused and critical thought. It opens thus: …here is the news that Ulin brings in this slim, meandering book: that reading is “an act of contemplation”; that such an act becomes more difficult in [...] read our review »
More as a trailer than a review – as it’s out on Thursday– I draw attention to Fintan O’Toole’s latest polemic “Enough is Enough – how to build a new Republic“. Fintan has been promoting the book vigorously on this side of the water, on Radio 4’s Start the Week and here at greater length [...] read our review »
Interesting BBC article on an upcoming presentation and talk [Roe Valley Arts and Cultural Centre, 17 August] by lecturer and broadcaster Stephen Price on the subject of his new book – The Earl Bishop. The 18th Century ”Earl Bishop” was Frederick Augustus Hervey, fourth Earl of Bristol and Church of Ireland Bishop of Derry. Hervey was also elected [...] read our review »
The UDA’s ceasefire was “specified” a while ago, at the time of the Adair business. Are you sure that this status has been revoked ?
After last year’s ceasefire, the Secretary of State declared the UVF ceasefire over. He did not do the same for the UDA, which cobbled a statement together calling for calm in order to avoid having its status revoked.