Monday, July 14, 2008
Less Orangefest more Hatefest as Lisburn UUP Mayor fans flames of hate in Stoneyford
No doubt aware of the ongoing campaign of sectarian violence and intimidation in the County Antrim village of Stoneyford- and conscious also of those linked with the attacks, Lisburn’s UUP Mayor, Ronnie Crawford, decided to accept an invite by a local loyalist organisation, Stoneyford Jubilee Committee (Chairperson Mark Harbinson) to ignite the local beacon which had a poster of Sinn Fein MLA Paul Butler atop it to the approving roar of the 300 or so loyalists in attendance.
After Stoneyford loyalist, Mark Harbinson, had rejected money offered by unionist-dominated Lisburn Borough Council on the grounds that it wasn’t enough (in spite of the fact that his organisation should not have even been offered the money according, firstly, to a recommendation by Council officers and, secondly, due to the fact that they hadn’t even appealed their funding rejection when the money was offered) in steps the Mayor to find an alternative ‘funder’ for the Stoneyford beacon, earning the praise of the recently quite active loyalist fraternity in the troubled village.
Mr. Crawford’s weak response when asked why he agreed to light the beacon was “there were 300 people standing there...I wasn’t going to take that thing down.” The story is carried in today’s Andersonstown News (not yet online.)
Chris Donnelly @ 04:11 PM
Unacceptable behaviour.
Posted by on Jul 14, 2008 @ 04:39 PMDisgraceful. Turgon, Willowfield and Concerned Loyalist, where’s your disapproval?
Posted by on Jul 14, 2008 @ 05:05 PMlisburn a city of equals hmmm. And then again not.
Posted by on Jul 14, 2008 @ 05:05 PMwonder will ronnie be able to look Paul Butler in the eye at the next council meeting...I somehow doubt it.He should resign but i`m sure he will get the backing of his erstwhile cronies. Vomit bucket of a council anyhow.
Posted by on Jul 14, 2008 @ 05:09 PMIs that the same dedicated exponent of human rights and equality who was convicted of murder of a policeman/father/husband in Glengormley ? - shot in back from darkened entry if memory proves right.Perhaps the residents of Stoneyford should be naming streets after him rather than the indignity of destroying his photographic image - I am sure the dead policeman would have preferred that fate.
Posted by on Jul 14, 2008 @ 05:13 PMWhats an ulsterscot?
Posted by on Jul 14, 2008 @ 05:15 PMSweet home Alabama ...
Posted by on Jul 14, 2008 @ 05:16 PMIf Hate Crime and its associated activities like the one mentioned above were prosecuted, NI would become one large prison for the OO, loyalists and their politicians.
Sick, sick, sick.Posted by on Jul 14, 2008 @ 05:17 PMMr. Crawford’s weak response when asked why he agreed to light the beacon was “there were 300 people standing there...I wasn’t going to take that thing down.”
Few are willing to brave the disapproval of their fellows, the censure of their colleagues, the wrath of their society. Moral courage is a rarer commodity than bravery in battle or great intelligence. Yet it is the one essential, vital quality for those who seek to change a world that yields most painfully to change.
Ted Kennedy, eulogy to RFK
Posted by on Jul 14, 2008 @ 05:23 PMBurning a photograph of a convicted unrepentant murderer is not a hate crime indeed it is a normal reaction from normal people sickened by revisionists.By electing Paul Butler thousands of nationalist voters in Lagan Valley sent the clearest possible signal to their unionist neighbours about their views on a cowardly murder of a totally innocent father/husband/son who shared a different perspective than their own.Lest we forget that murdering the innocent in cold blood is real hate at work and refusing to repent for it is pure evil.
Posted by on Jul 14, 2008 @ 05:32 PMWow. Do these people ever want to live in the 21st century? Maybe they, like some diehard republicans, miss the troubles.
And of course, no prosecutions for the earlier incidents. A great province...no wonder Catholics still don’t trust the police
Posted by on Jul 14, 2008 @ 05:35 PMNo, Ulsterscot it’s not really a normal reaction. It is arguably a hate crime, and was certainly an action born of the same sectarian hatred that motivated a lot of the terrorist violence. Certainly if more people were charged for sectarian speech and actions we might see less of both.
Posted by on Jul 14, 2008 @ 05:36 PMThe man he shot was part of a sectarian police force who fed intelligence to murder gangs, looked the other way on loyalist hate crimes, or even actively took part in the murder gangs. Some would say that makes him a legitimate target.
Posted by on Jul 14, 2008 @ 05:40 PMI wouldn’t get too exercised over the actions of councillors. This just confirms my opinion that most of them haven’t the brains they were born with.
Until the lumpenproletariat decide they want to be represented by some with both brains and morals let them watch the pantomime they have created.
Posted by on Jul 14, 2008 @ 05:51 PMlisburn a city of equals hmmm. And then again not.
Posted by POL on Jul 14, 2008 @ 06:05 PM
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Of course there isnt equality- terrorist parties like SF cant be equated with ordinary law abiding citizens
Posted by on Jul 14, 2008 @ 05:56 PMGaribaldy
The real act of hate was perpetrated by my Paul Butler - in murdering the innocent - he is not a hate crime victim but a legitimate target for normal human repulsion.ie the same way burning the image of Hitler is displaying hatred of facism and their modus operandi - or would you classify that as a hate crime too?
As usual a few posts on Slugger totally confirm to me that the least attracive nation on the planet to offer any form of alegiance to is Gaelic Ireland.Hence I will always reputiate that sense of nationhood in favour of the Dalraidan Scots(Ulster Scots) the original(but now returned) inhabinants before Celtic colonisation.Its a pity “real history” wasn’t taught in schools - the plantation was in fact the re plantation
Posted by on Jul 14, 2008 @ 05:57 PMUlsterscot,
What Butler did was wrong. However, if people with links to organisations that committed many murders of other innocents burn his image what does that mean? How is it not sprung from sectarian hatred? There have been SDLP posters burnt on bonfires. Is that a hate crime?
Posted by on Jul 14, 2008 @ 06:07 PMThere have been SDLP posters burnt on bonfires. Is that a hate crime?
Posted by Garibaldy on Jul 14, 2008 @ 07:07 PM
Ths SDLP have consistently supported terrorist SF so NO
Posted by on Jul 14, 2008 @ 06:19 PM26 January 1974
Rodgers, John (50) Protestant
Status: Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC)
Killed by: Irish Republican Army (IRA)Shot while on Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) foot patrol, Antrim Road, Glengormley, near Belfast, County Antrim.
A quick search of Sutton’s Index of Deaths at CAIN came up with the above as the only candidate. It happened a long time ago but somebody somewhere is probably still grieving.
Here is a person who became a statistic more recently. What can you tell us of this one ulsterscot? If you’re not sure I suggest you try chatting to your mates up in Stoneyford, the ones who once were known as the Orange Vounteers.
Ciaran Heffron (22), a Catholic civilian, was killed by Loyalist paramilitaries as he walked through the village of Crumlin, County Antrim.
Posted by on Jul 14, 2008 @ 06:21 PMHence I will always reputiate that sense of nationhood in favour of the Dalraidan Scots(Ulster Scots) the original(but now returned) inhabinants before Celtic colonisation.Its a pity “real history” wasn’t taught in schools - the plantation was in fact the re plantation
Nutter alert!
Posted by on Jul 14, 2008 @ 06:23 PMpicador
No problem in totally condemning the murder of the innocent Ciaran Heffron and in stating his killers repulse me.
I await your similar condemnation of murder of John Rodgers( a totally decent man - you see I knew him,not just a statistic)and likewise of the murderer (now self proclaimed human rights/equality advocate).I assume his human rights and his equality are his interest not that of his victim.Butler is a true sicko not because of his religion,politics etc but because of his actions past and present,therefore the issue is not that of sectarism.It is so sad to see thousands of the nationlist electorate signal their unionist neighbours in such a way - ie its says a lot about the the hatred in the DNA fabric of that electorate that a murderer of a protestant/unionist/British policeman is their chosen representative.Thats were the REAL hatred lies not just in their souls but in their voting actions
Posted by on Jul 14, 2008 @ 06:44 PMDon’t let us descend into whataboutery here.
The fact is that the man is a public representative, the first among equals, in the citizenry of Lisburn and he could have, and very definitely should have removed himself from the situation by pointing out that he had made a mistake and what was being asked of him was not in keeping with what he hoped for the ‘New’ Ulster in Lisburn.
It takes guts to be a politician and he demonstrated a lack of them by staying and being a part of the whole thing.
The UUP and he together should hang respective heads in shame.
This was political and moral cowardice of the highest magnitude.
The UUP should be worried for if this is the mettle of it’s public representatives then they are doomed to oblivion when the opportunities to regain the initiative among Unionist voters is emerging.
But some people are just not up to the new challenges it seems.Posted by on Jul 14, 2008 @ 06:49 PMOf course, what these thick as pigsh*t councillors don’t understand is that this bigotry is what is sustaining the whole SF MOPE machine.
If they could bring themselves to treating the other 45% of the population like human beings they may find life in the North of Ireland rather more to their pleasing.
But, no. Keep fanning the hate boys - if you’ve been doing it since 1650 no need to change now, eh?
Posted by on Jul 14, 2008 @ 06:56 PMulsterscot,
The hatred in Stoneyford was going on long before Butler was elected (just follow the links above to see). The Butler thing is an insidious attempt on your part to make the victims of sectarian persecution into the agressors. Butler appears to be the only person who is prepared to speak out on behalf of those who are being persecuted and he does so at some considerable personal risk to himself as witnessed on the recent Spotlight programme. What he may have been involved in thirty odd years ago bears little relevance to what is happening in Stoneyford in 2008.
You talk about hatred yet you appear to be an incredibly bitter person yourself.
Posted by on Jul 14, 2008 @ 07:13 PMUlsterscot,
We got an answer on the SDLP poster question from Observer but not from yourself.
It is quite clear that there has been an ongoing campaign of sectarian victimisation in Stoneyford, and that certain elected councillors have at the very least failed to distance themselves sufficiently from these events.
It was more than highly irresponsible of the Mayor to refuse to give credence to this event. It was wrong.
Posted by on Jul 14, 2008 @ 07:26 PM
