Friday, November 24, 2006
Stormont evacuated
No, no one has been bored to death, however, BBC’s Stormont Live reported on air that a man walked into Stormont with a bag (have you heard this one?), and as such the alarms were rung. Right in the middle of David Ford’s speech, too. A suspended assembly indeed. More to come later.
UPDATE: BBC 24 is now reporting a man walked into the foyer claiming to have an incendiary device. It is being suggested he is a loyalist (?). Screams and shouts were heard. ‘A bit of a kerfuffle at the top of the steps’. No evidence that the man actually had any device on him as yet.
UPDATE 2: Michael Stone is being named as the loyalist who walked in with a bomb.
Apparently he took the time to spraypaint ‘SINN FEIN IRA WAR’ on the pillars of Stormont before he got caught in the revolving door.
UPDATE 3: The police are getting out their crime scene tape. Stormont is now a crime scene.
Trying very hard not to laugh.
UPDATE 4: BBC 24 is showing tape of the event, it was indeed Michael Stone. Sky News is showing Stone, laying flat on the ground being handcuffed with his legs in the air at the moment. They seem to have the clip on a loop, lol (I shouldn’t be laughing, should I?). It is either on a loop or he is incredibly difficult to pin down. LOL. This is certainly more exciting than the speeches were.
UPDATE 5: Sky is saying he chucked a rucksack at the security in the foyer. In case you are worried about the MLAs, they are all currently getting soaked by pouring rain as they huddle around the news vans outside.
You couldn’t make this up. In fact, Reg Empey has just said, ‘Nobody could have written the script for this.’ There you go, Slugger has its finger on the pulse.
UPDATE 6: More seriously, Sky is now reporting that Stone had a live device, or at least that is what security believed, now they are saying they can’t confirm whether it was a live device or not. Sounds like security was taking precautions as is their job.
UPDATE 7: People are milling about outside Stormont, the rain seems to have slackened a bit but it is still wet and damp. The bomb squad seems to have arrived. Eyewitness report from a Reuters photographer (as reported to Sky) says Stone pushed his way into the doors, threw the bag at security shouting it was a bomb, smoke and sparks were emanating from the bag. Rumours are flying about guns and knives and people getting hurt but that does not appear to be the case from the video being shown and from commentary from people who were in the reception area when Stone sort of burst in. If you see the clip he doesn’t seem to quite make it all the way into reception, his arms are held stretched, pinning him with his back to the doors.
Well, it appears now the soundbites are rolling in, and we can pretty much write those ourselves. ‘A stark reminder of the dark days of the troubles and exactly what we are trying to avoid,’ ‘The reality is this, that the stalemate has created a vaccuum that allows for this sort of thing to happen,’ ‘The security arrangements will have to be reviewed, questions need asked...’ you know the drill. As you have a load of reporters standing around with a load of politicians who have nothing to do but mill about, I am sure we will be treated to all sorts of twaddle, until they can resume business. If anything more exciting than that happens, I’ll blog it, otherwise, this is Rusty Nail, signing off.
Rusty Nail @ 11:15 AM
apparently the bomb-man/ protester got himself stuck in a revolving door, ... fantastic!
What an accurate image and description to describe the peace process.. stuck in a revolving door.
Made my day.Posted by on Nov 24, 2006 @ 11:24 AMRusty, how can you type. I’d be crying with laughter!!
Posted by on Nov 24, 2006 @ 11:36 AMPerhaps he didn’t get stuck. Perhaps he just froze when it eventually dawned on him that the only sure place the revolving door was going to lead him was straight back to prison.
Never mind, cheer up - society’s loss is the art world’s gain. The salons of Europe will wait in keen anticipation the arrival of the latest collection of the prison masterpieces.
Posted by on Nov 24, 2006 @ 11:39 AMPlease, Please, let there be television footage.
Posted by on Nov 24, 2006 @ 11:41 AM[Play the ball - edited moderator]
Posted by on Nov 24, 2006 @ 11:42 AMGo to BBC 24. Classic! I thought it was made up too… sad but funny. Liked the blonde woman who got hold of his feet tho lol
Posted by on Nov 24, 2006 @ 11:45 AM“Sky News is showing Stone, laying flat on the ground being handcuffed with his legs in the air at the moment.”
Does he still have the mullet? “Our only crime is fashion.”
What’s that publicity hoor Johnny Adair going to do now to out-do him?
“In case you are worried about the MLAs, they are all currently getting soaked by pouring rain as they huddle around the news vans outside.”
Maybe a sense of cameraderie will develop and they’ll all shake hands and make up. Could be just what the process needs.
Posted by on Nov 24, 2006 @ 11:46 AM“all currently getting soaked by pouring rain”
serves em right, they’re a complete shower!Posted by on Nov 24, 2006 @ 11:50 AMNo claims he was carrying a firearm. Goes to show that eyewitnesses are entirely unreliable given the number of different claims. But great stuff.
Posted by on Nov 24, 2006 @ 11:52 AMNow claims even
Posted by on Nov 24, 2006 @ 11:52 AMHow did he get so close and almost in to the building, with all of the assumed security in place? Was he helped by others (staff?), e.g., someone in Stormont who got him through the gates? Is it so easy to just walk up to that building, especially today?
I would have imagined security was quite tight considering the warnings that have been given regarding ‘dissidents’, etc.Posted by on Nov 24, 2006 @ 11:54 AMSo when did we decide that someone who has previously killed three people in similar circumstance is to be treated as a harmless eccentric?
Posted by on Nov 24, 2006 @ 11:55 AMStone saves Paisley’s reputation it seems. Now if these guys were serious they would reconvene in the hotel over the road. What are the chances? Looks like the perceivement amongst Loyalism is that Paisley sold them down the river again.
Posted by on Nov 24, 2006 @ 11:57 AMWhat a fúcking psycho. Obviously the oxygen of publicity afforded to him by the Milltown Slaughter was waning to such an extent that he felt the need to make an idiot of himself again. What is this person’s exact purpose in life again?
Posted by on Nov 24, 2006 @ 12:00 PMhumour aside - why did Michael Stone act in the way he has today....because Loyalists are not represented at the table. Republican murderers and bombers rub shoulders and call the shot with the DUP’s Grand Old Duke of York - but Loyalists are excluded from the process. This is what happens. Unionists need to reflect on this state of affairs, as it is Unionists who have exploited and taken political advantage from the hard Loyalist men in the background for 30 years, and it is long overdue that they were comprehensively brought in from the cold. NIO/Dept of Foreign Affairs - are you listening?
Posted by on Nov 24, 2006 @ 12:01 PMPeter Hain is a genius. How did he think of it?
Posted by on Nov 24, 2006 @ 12:03 PMdrumcree
fair point, but are the loyalists even on ceasefire?Posted by on Nov 24, 2006 @ 12:03 PMSS
‘How did he get so close and almost in to the building, with all of the assumed security in place? Was he helped by others (staff?), e.g., someone in Stormont who got him through the gates? Is it so easy to just walk up to that building, especially today? ‘Stormont is a public park - I’m surprised he did’nt get further. Probably stopping to spray paint the building gave the game away!
Posted by on Nov 24, 2006 @ 12:04 PMFantastic,.....this guy has such a penchance for publicity. You can’t help but laugh.
I think its art myself....
Henry before anyone else says it, when could we let ex-terrorists (and some of them jailed) into government? Swings and roundabouts.
Stormont security gate:
Hello, do you have ID?
Yes.
Mr Stone...where are you going?
Up to Stormont to deliver this bag.
Right you be, bit busy with parking this morning but theres an overflow car park round the back.
Thank you.
Posted by on Nov 24, 2006 @ 12:05 PMThe smell of the greasepaint, the roar of the crowd - looks like some clowns just can’t resist a circus. Wonder what daft puppet master was pulling Stone the murderer’s / Stone the looser’s strings?
As funny as it may appear though I have a feeling if this was a dissident republican attack the joviality here would be someone less and a few posters would be dusting down their righteous indignation ...Posted by on Nov 24, 2006 @ 12:05 PMI see some wondering just how easy it can be to get into that building (Stormont)). I should have thought that, given the amount of brain dead, talentless plonkers that are paid to go in there, very easy indeed.
Clearly Stone’s little public heart-to-heart with the all-forgiving Archbishop Desmond Tutu has not had the effect His Grace might have expected.
Posted by on Nov 24, 2006 @ 12:05 PMShades of Guy Fawkes here - and they say he was the only man to enter parliament with honest intentions. Will we now have ‘A penny for the Stone’ day?
Posted by on Nov 24, 2006 @ 12:06 PMPeople will do anything for publicity these days!
Stormont security:
Alright Michael (with his rucksack), hows it going?
Michael
Just out for walk, while day isnt it.
Security
Aye. It will be good cráic up there the day. Take it easy.
Would love to see the revolving door incident.
Watch out for the book, coming out in two years time. Maybe Sky (Murdoch) have done the deal up there as they ususally fairly quick and its so compeditive in the media these days.
Posted by on Nov 24, 2006 @ 12:09 PMDrumcree - whats yer point? If more loyalists had voted for parties representing paramilitaries they’d be at the table - instead they chose the ringmaster himself and left the clowns out in the cold. Surely you’re not advocating that forcoe of arms should suffice to guarantee a political positions?
Posted by on Nov 24, 2006 @ 12:11 PMIf is was a bomb and it had gone off who would have been its targets? MLAs of all parties - DUP, UUP, SDLP, Sinn Fein, Alliance.
So can we now assume that loyalist paramilitaries consider almost everyone in society ‘the enemy’?
Posted by on Nov 24, 2006 @ 12:11 PM
