Patricia Lewsley sees wider implications for the High Court’s judgement that Peter Hain was in breach of the Ministerial Code of Practice:
Today’s ruling is a big and welcome setback for the culture of side deals that has bedevilled the process for so long. The appointment was unfair to victims and placed the interim Victims Commissioner in a very difficult position. The SDLP’s problem was never with Bertha McDougall – rather with the nature of her appointment. The Secretary of State and the DUP must have realised the position this would have placed her in yet for political expediency they carried on with their plans. Using victims and survivors needs and rights as political pawns should never have happened. It should not be allowed to happen again.”
Mick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty