An outbreak of sectarian tit-for-tat on #Twitter?

Offending people on Twitter seems to be the  new thing. The BelTel is reporting that long-time Slugger blogger, and now occasional Pensive Quill contributor, Mark McGregor has been the subject of a complaint to the PSNI by Ulster Unionist Policing Board member Ross Hussey following comments Mark made on his Twitter account about the European team’s Ryder Cup win and local golfers Graeme McDowell and Rory McIlroy:

The subsequent celebrations involving the pair prompted the ex-Sinn Fein member to tweet: “There you go. Ulster flag appears. McDowell (MBE), McIlroy (MBE) are as British as 300 years of oppression.”

He added: “Pathetic fe***rs draped in their Ulster standards — McIlroy/McDowell. Dressed more Ulster Prod than a Shankill fishwife. Truly House Taigs.”

Ken Wilkinson*, spokesman for the Progressive Unionist Party (PUP) — who sits on the Antrim Police and Community and Safety Partnership — said he was angry at the online outburst.

“This is an absolute disgrace and I would call on the charity to either disassociate itself with him, or sack him,” Mr Wilkinson said.

*It is worth noting that Ken has also been outspoken in his criticism of Nick Griffin.

The Tele (certainly the on-line version) refers to the fact that he is an ex-member of Sinn Féin in it’s headline and a couple of times in the body of the story and draws attention to the fact that he works for Action for Hearing Loss Northern Ireland from whom it obtained a statement to the effect that:

“Mark’s comments on social media are expressed in a personal capacity and do not represent the views of Action on Hearing Loss Northern Ireland.”

I’m guessing the Tele aren’t fans of Marks since I doubt many people would have known he worked for Action on Hearing Loss until they published it (and they certainly wouldn’t associate the organisation with him) and as his most recent Twitter account didn’t feature his name. Twitter is a teenage medium used by adults, with all the inherent risks of your stream of conscious being immediately broadcast online. At the same time, it is hard not to wonder if balance is being restored to the Norn Irn bubble by making Mark appear as the tat to Nick Griffin’s tit.

[h/t to Cruimh even though I saw this elsewhere]

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