Newt hears echoes of Lawrence in PSNI probe of sectarian attack; UUP mixed messages exposed
The vicious sectarian attack on James Turley in the Village area of Belfast was in the media spotlight throughout the week. However, in today’s Irish News, Newt Emerson raises a number of issues regarding the handling of the incident by the PSNI:
Why did the PSNI issue no statement on the attck of James Turley, the film extra left for dead in south Belfast’s Village area? An incident of this seriousness would normally appear on its news feed. Nor do there seem to have been any house-to-house inquiries, arrests for questioning or prompt investigations of the crime scene. The nature of the area and the large number of assailants, reportedly up to 15, may provide an explanation. The Stephen Lawrence murder inquiry showed that attacks of this type can see the police switch from crime solving to ‘public order’ mode. Does the PSNI have a ‘public order’ issue with tackling crime in the Village?
Whilst the DUP have remained somewhat muted in relation to this incident (so much for that outreach to potential catholic voters…), there has been strong condemnation from many other unionist representatives of the attack- including local UUP representative Bob Stoker and former loyalist MLA Dawn Purvis.
However, the attempts by one Ulster Unionist Party member and former election candidate, Neil McNickle, to blacken the character of the victim prompted one Damien Carlisle to produce this stinging attack video for Youtube, taking apart McNickle’s Twitter strategy (though individuals not used to hearing language alien to the clergy should steer clear!)
Mick
Re your post at 12:16 and another you and FJH made.
Back in our day it was impossible to avoid the tensions and issues at hand. It was on the news, in the papers and on the gable walls. For many of us, it was a real physical experience and school was full of bullshit scuttlebutt.
Like FJH, I’m not a fan of the cult of getting along but as we saw this summer, there is still BS doing the rounds. The precise event is not of import now (Don’t want the thread dragged off topic) but various vox pops and public meetings certainly gave the impression that the people from one deprived area seemed to think that themmuns from the nearby equally deprived area were much better off.
Delusion, bullshit and propaganda were always dangerous in this berg and addressing them is IMHO one of the vital issues that need tackled
The “back in our day” comment about sectarianism being the juice that added to school disputes on the bus is a regrettable one.
Sectarianism is also the juice that adds a bit of (a very bitter) juice to Scottish football disputes.
And it is not benign.
Some might well grow out of it.
But it added juice to the attack on Mr Turley.
We should not make light of it.
Years ago, Sinn Féin spokesmen were rightly criticised for an inability or unwillingness to condemn or even speak about their actions.
That mealy mouthed “I dont want to talk about the politics of the last attrocity” is alive and well.
FJH, I commented on that last night (I think it was) ie. the dancing on a pin.
There’s probably a much better word to describe it but bollocks is what I would use to describe the rubbish that the shinners would come off with. On the other hand, I do remember many Fred Astair moments by unionists when catholics were killed. Mind you, we don’t have to exercise our memories to much to recall the latter attitude, summer but last will suffice as does the topic of this thread.
Compare the media blitz to a republican politician doing a stupid, petty thing (sure people can work that out) and the reaction to the attack on the extras. I’m sure Mc Nickle did not complain about the media coverage of the former
Another video by Damien where he has arranged to meet Mc Nickle in Manchester
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ez4TCGafmM4
“Why do you keep using the “unionist” label? I am a unionist but have very little in common with the people of the Village. You’re tarring over half a million people with the same brush as the posters of stupid comments on here and a councillor who judging by his electoral mandate is not very representative.”
_
A kid had the shit kicked out of him in a sectarian attack, and the vast majority of comments emanating from members of the unionist community thus far have been less than empathetic to say the least. That is unsettling to me.
SK
Thing to remember is that people who post on political websites, myself included, are not representative.
Normal people watch the news then the One Show, not go on websites and voice an opinion.
Even taking that into account, the constant equivocation is still bloody disconcerting. There is a problem there.
“Maybe all these kids should be taught science? Reality?”
Or taught religion…
I don’t think it requires a religious element to be sectarian. I’d see it as any social group that promotes its own interests at the direct expense of another group, to that other groups’ detriment.
“Another video by Damien where he has arranged to meet Mc Nickle in Manchester”
Have resisted commenting so far, but this guy Carlisle is such a prat, showing the arrangements for to meet someone, going to great length to show he didnt show up, then revealing that it had been cancelled 4 hours previously, doh.
A kid had the shit kicked out of him in a sectarian attack, and the vast majority of comments emanating from members of the unionist community thus far have been less than empathetic to say the least. That is unsettling to me.
SK,
I think it is safe to say that your hatred of unionists was formed long, long ago. Largely on the back of ridiculous republican propaganda and of course the fact that they are preventing your dream of a united Ireland from coming true.
You merely come here to reinforce your prejudices. To the extent in fact that you read what they say and then go ahead and invent your own interpretation of it. Thus on this thread unionists have not condemned this attack when in actual fact they have.
Unsettling to you my arse.
SK,
Read the title of the thread, it is our “resident SF Politician” who is trying to make this into a party political issue, the thread is about a few “tweets” not about the actual attack.
I cannot understate how much I loath twitter and believe it should never form the basis of a story any more than pub chat.
and then go ahead and invent your own interpretation
That sounds a bit like Decimus!
The UUP are obviously a fractured party. When the leader stands at an election count and spouts hatred, then is it any wonder others will follow on the likes of Twitter and facebook. Maybe Ian McCrea would be better suited in the UUP?
Have resisted commenting so far, but this guy Carlisle is such a prat…..Read the title of the thread, it is our “resident SF Politician” who is trying to make this into a party political issue,
Drumlin
Resident SF Politician? Given that I haven’t been a member of that party for several years, I find that description somewhat strange.
Incidentally, given your status, does that make you our “resident Tyrone-based UUP election worker?!?”
Oh, and it is interesting that, out of all of this, you make Damian Carlisle out to be the ‘prat’…….
Sorry Chris was bit cheeky there, was using Damian’s wide definition of a politician, I readily accept everyone on Slugger speaks on their own behalf and no other, whatever their perspective.
I can probably add McNickle is a prat also, for using twitter to dive into a complex issue in a half cocked manner, and making statments that are offensive unless backed up with hard evidence, however I don’t think idiotic twitter tripe deserves two utube videos and a Slugger thread, get a life guys, leave tweeting aruments to other twittering twits.
As for Damians video’s the first was just a foul mouth ego rant, the second just bizarre, waiting for a cancelled meeting? whatever floats your boat.
Finally on the original issue covered in depth, although the full story of events as reported does not fully convince me it is the whole truth, I cant see how it can be anything other than a disgusting sectarian attack on a young man which I condemn unresevedly.
I see Mr Carlisle has removed his youtube videos..both the farcical foul mouthed rant and the one where he turned up to confront McNickle outside a pub, even though he knew McNickle wouldnt be there.
Wonder if the news of three wee lads being arrested over the original confrontation has anything to do with it
Actually, Damien told me on Twitter that he was stopping the campaign thus the withdrawal
“Resident SF Politician? Given that I haven’t been a member of that party for several years, I find that description somewhat strange.”
SF apologist is the term I’ve used, Chris – a fairly staunch defender as well as praiser of politics SF and valiant attacker of their opponents. If you’d like to praise SF a little bit more here’s one of my blogs; if you’re an advocate of equality here’s one where you can really lay into SF
It would appear that the ‘attempted murder’ has been downgraded to assault by three school boys.
It seems that there was a slight spot of exaggeration after all.