I held on to see if Mr Mallie would blog this on here himself:
The UDA’s five brigadiers and 4/5 representatives of their respective districts have been extended invitations to a wreath laying ceremony by Queen Elizabeth at Islandbridge in honour of the war dead.
My first knee-jerk reaction is that this is a calculated insult.
It isn’t, of course.
That is to say it isn’t “calculated”- but ‘insult’ it most certainly is to at least three different parties:
1. To all those who lost loved ones to the UDA or any of the associated murder gangs which operated under its umbrella.
2. To the war-dead and their families. It should be a basic rule of thumb that fascists should not be permitted anywhere near commemorations of the victims of (or those who fought) fascism.
3. The working-class communities that the likes of McDonald and his “brigadiers” dare to claim they represent.
Eamonn euphemistically (I hope) has attempted to justify it thus:
“ President Mary McAleese’s husband Martin has been involved with UDA leaders in community work for several years. “
“Community work”? The UDA? Seriously?
A UK Unionist and also confirmed devo-sceptic.
I believe the creation of devolved “governments” in Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, along with the corresponding unsolved “English Question”, has weakened that Union.
The present-day Conservative Party would be the national party which would come closest to representing my political beliefs. I have previously belonged to the “Friends of the Conservatives” and the UUP but am no longer connected with either party.
Outside of my Unionism, I consider myself as an economic libertarian, social liberal and secularist- e’g. am pro-choice, anti-schools segregated on the grounds of (parents’) religious beliefs.
Very suspicious of NI’s Human Rights’ Oligarchy (in particular the NIHRC) and hope to be writing on this topic, as well as wider UK and European political issues.
Discover more from Slugger O'Toole
Subscribe to get the latest posts to your email.
