Loyalists pack court as first charges brought over Coleraine murder
As nine individuals appeared in court today facing charges in relation with the murder of Kevin McDaid in Coleraine, the BBC has reported that “70 loyalists” packed the court, with many captured entering the courthouse with scarves and hoods shielding their faces [though we have been 'assured' by Assistant Chief Constable, Alistair Finlay, that loyalists were not involved in the murder- awful big turnout for a 'maverick' crowd...]
Meanwhile, the news that the loyalist Pride of the Bann flute band have decided to shorten their parade on Friday night to avoid the area of the murder has been welcomed by some, but BBC Talkback’s Mike Philpot was decidedly less than impressed with the band- and others.
Greenflag, the ‘heid yins’ are the chosen few. I can’t see London and Dublin letting the police interfere with the peace process. Even if matters were devolved to Dormant the status quo would most probably be maintained. There’d be lots of pious platitudes and rank hypocrisy but Joe and Josey Public would barely spot the join.
It must be a bit difficult for Dublin civil servants who have to operate such diametrically opposed policies in each jurisdiction. They could be in Dublin or Limerick on the Wednesday and Coleraine or Derry on the Saturday.
Nevin ,
‘It must be a bit difficult for Dublin civil servants who have to operate such diametrically opposed policies ‘
In theory yes Nevin -in practice no . A bit like a member of the OO on the morning of the 12th being able to pout freedom and civil liberties for all in church , while in the evening following a few tipples, forcing himself in denial against earlier more sober pronouncements , to kick the living sh** out any Taig that crosses his path ?
Perhaps those Dublin Civil servants indulge in a tipple before the crossing to Coleraine ? Can’t say I’d blame them .
Not professional behaviour of course but then as I look around at a world dragged to the edge of an economic abyss by the ‘professionals ‘ I’m afraid the term ‘professional’ no longer inspires much confidence not that it ever did mind you
?
What you predict for Dormant will probably also be the case. On the brighter side give it ten years of ‘normality’ and the ground under the ‘heid yins’ will give and their influence will wane . In the longer run people of all denominations and none will prefer the rule of law backed up by the police .
I don’t think there’s much disagreement among the powers that be of the final objective . It’s just the methodology of getting there that raises eyebrows and hackles . But then I’ve always accepted that politics can be a filthy business but a good i.e effective practitioner of the art is probably worth his/her weight in gold particularly in a fractious society like NI.
Apologies if this the wrong thread, or has become the wrong thread, but I just wanted to register my disgust at the Pride of the Bann deciding to carry on with their parade despite the recent murder of Mr McDaid. Given the circumstances, a proper loyalist/protestant/unionist, whatever they consider themselves to be, would have shown some basic humanity and leadership and cancelled the parade this year. It must have been very hard for the family to have to hear the sound of the band parading while they were carrying Mr McDaid’s coffin. As I unionist I am ashamed and I can only hope that our Catholic neighbours do not tar us all with the same brush as these idiots.
“a bit like .. to kick the living sh** out”
I’ve met a few Dublin civil servants, Greenflag, and I never felt they were likely to give me that sort of treatment. Mind you, I’m told that a certain Nationalist MLA has described me as a ‘dangerous b’stard’ …
Spill the beans Nevin?
skintown lad ,
‘As I unionist I am ashamed and I can only hope that our Catholic neighbours do not tar us all with the same brush as these idiots.’
Good man . I’m sure a few will reach for the tar all brush but if we’ve all learned anything over the past 40 ? 80 yrs or more, it’s that tar all is the wrong way to go about ‘reconciliation’ and permanent peace -apart of course from being bat shit crazy irrational in itself! The reason NI has not become a Rwanda /Burundi is because the majority on both sides in NI have always drawn back from the brink of outright uncivil war .
nevin ,
‘I’ve met a few Dublin civil servants, Greenflag, and I never felt they were likely to give me that sort of treatment.
Well that’s because they’re not members of the OO and probably are at work on the 12th and not beating a path to your door for ‘treatment ‘ purposes
?
Whoever that Nationalist MLA was/is he gets full marks for observation
But I’d encourage you to continue in your ‘illegitmate ‘ undertakings after all being a ‘bastard ‘ is a mark of respect these days eh ? The bigger the bastard the higher one rises in the fields of politics ,investment banking , the law , the church /churches , and the mortgage broking world ?
I would’nt be too upset . Was’nt it Henry II First Lord of Ireland (father of Richard Lionheart , John Lackland and 2 others whose names escape me right now , and who was also the father of numerous bastards who commented on his deathbed when his legitimate sons failed to appear that they were the ‘real ‘ bastards !
I suppose he had a point . After all together they managed to undo the Angevin Empire and bankrupt England due to pursuing crusades in a sunnier clime . Am I getting deja vu again or is that just an Iraqi oil field I see before me and a half destroyed US economy ?
Remember in backwardsland and this particular laager there was a flag used as an excuse to attack a team in the Milk Cup. No such flag was flown.
Skintown Lad,
“As I unionist I am ashamed and I can only hope that our Catholic neighbours do not tar us all with the same brush as these idiots.”
Fine sentiments and my compliments for speaking out. No, I doubt Catholics will tar decent Unionists with the same brush. Why would they? There are enough good men and women in e.g. the Alliance party to who set a good example.
The Shame of the Bann should hang their heads. And I’d still like to know what they chanted that night while Kevin’s coffin was being brought home.
Skintown Lad,
“As I unionist I am ashamed and I can only hope that our Catholic neighbours do not tar us all with the same brush as these idiots.”
I am also a Unionist, and i fully endorse the comments made by “Skintown Lad”. It’s a disgrace that this s***t is still going on. I’ve experienced 30 years of the troubles and this is like a flashback from the 70′s,have we learnt nothing?
Lenny Deans,
Some of us have learnt something, others nothing. Among them the MP for the area, Gregory Campbell. This is what Martin McGuinness said about him:
Earlier, Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness said there had been a failure of leadership by politicians in Coleraine following the murder.
The Sinn Fein MP said DUP MP Gregory Campbell needed to do more to help end sectarianism in the town.
“Condemning the violence and the murder of Mr McDaid is not enough,” he said.
Mr McGuinness said the relationship between Protestants and Catholics in Coleraine could be improved.
Mr McGuinness said Mr Campbell’s refusal to speak to him at various events in Derry despite knowing each other for 20 years was symptomatic of a wider problem in society.
“The difficulty is that if that sort of behaviour is translated to grassroots level then I can quite see clearly see where the problems are coming from,” he said.
That last is very pertinent. Right from the get-go Nationalist politician have displayed a willingness to engage their Unionist counterparts. It is rare that the approach comes from the Unionist side, as is seen here with Gregory Campbell. You’d think the man would have learnt by now.
When you befriend your enemy he’s no longer your enemy. This really is basic stuff.