Slugger O'Toole There are a couple of threads already up on the violence in Belfast and elsewhere last night, but it’s worth highlighting the comments today of Chief Constable Hugh Orde, whose officers came under sustained attack from petrol bombs, blast bombs and gunfire, as reported here by the BBC.. and the reaction from the Orange Order to those comments. Hugh Orde said, and his comments are included in the online news video at the link – “I have seen members of …
In today’s Sunday Business Post David McWilliams takes a deep breath and, following on from his participation in the Leviathan debate on the topic, puts forward an antidote to the blanket hysteria that surrounds the N word. – The N word breaks all the rules. So let’s just whisper it. Shush, quietly now. . . nuclear. That wasn’t so bad, was it? Say it again, nuclear. Yes, nuclear power. Is it time to revisit nuclear power? Given the depletion of …
I know that the anniversary of the attacks has already been covered here, but I can’t help but be astounded that the Belfast rioting takes precedence on the BBC News homepage over the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks in America. The names of the 2749 victims were read out by their brothers and sisters at a ceremony at ‘ground zero’ – the site where the Twin Towers fell. A minute’s silence was observed, and even New York Police helping in …
Today marks the 4th anniversary of the terrorist attack on New York and I can think of no better way to commemorate those who died on that morning than to link to Sheila’s post of former American poet laureate Billy Collins’ “The Names”. Worth noting also, that firefighters in Belfast held their own poignant memorial this morning Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.
AS Mark McGregor noted here earlier, there’s someone posting on the Love Ulster site who seemed to know about tonight’s rioting well in advance. Presumably the authorities will be interested, as they have already shown in another current case where documents relating to terrorism were downloaded. Questions have already been been raised about the part paramilitaries have played in the LU campaign, and the fact that the DUP and UUP leaders had been expected to speak to a rally at …
The Whiterock parade is underway against the backdrop of disturbances at the Short Strand where a man was critically injured last night in a sectarian attack. LoveUlster has had a poster discussing a coordinated plan to stretch the PSNI and others discuss the arrival of concerned Loyalists from outside the area (Shankill). UPDATE: Violence spreads. A comment from Love Ulster: Okay one reason why every one doesnt know what time it starts at, is to help with the policing and …
SOME contributors have already posted some useful information on what’s happening around Belfast today on this thread. However, it might be more convenient for everyone if we posted updates on the rioting in the comments of this one. If there’s trouble out there, let all of us know where to avoid. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.
AS predicted on Slugger, the Government has said it is to introduce “community support officers” to Northern Ireland, and has ruled out people with terrorist convictions joining the police. Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see how Sinn Fein reacts to them, and how its position evolves. Are locally-recruited community police units the vehicles that will eventually take republicans into policing? Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.
NO sooner was the Shankill Mirror (still not updated online) off the presses announcing the Love Ulster campaign than Martin McGuinness steps up to present the equally catchy Make Partition History campaign. With total decommissioning imminent (if not already complete), this should convince republican doubters – how can it be surrender when everyone is celebrating? At least it’s guaranteed to get better press than Love Ulster did. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.
ANOTHER ‘first’ for Northern Ireland – an Algerian has become the first person to stand trial on terrorist charges who isn’t a loyalist or republican. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.
The head of Britain’s election watchdog has backed a review of the voting system and accepts that switching to proportional representation could offer a “better reflection” of the public’s political views, according to Marie Wolff. There have been calls for PR-STV to be introduced here for Westminster elections (we already use it for council, European and Assembly elections). If the Government is considering it for the UK as a whole, might it see NI as a guinea-pig in waiting..? Slugger …
OK, so let’s get this straight – a chimp escapes from the zoo and the police fire warning shots at it. A few days later, the police come under automatic gunfire and bomb attack and they contain the situation by firing sponge-tipped plastic bullets and giving the rioters a free shower. Go figure. Jonathan McCambridge explains the new thin green line the PSNI find themselves walking along. Jonathan McCambridge writes: Throughout the summer senior police officers have been left exasperated …
AT the British Irish Association meeting in Cambridge, the Secretary of State has again spoken about the introduction of community police officers. Hain argues that they have been “successful in Great Britain”, but how will they go down here? Last year, Association of Chief Police Officers president Chris Fox said: “What we don’t know is how their authority will hold up if challenged.” Obviously that would happen on a daily basis here. Couple that with inexperience, a lack of UK …
EVAN Davis takes a look at the kinds of choices journalists must make when presenting news. There’s fine line between comment and bias, he admits, but does merely presenting the facts really do a story justice if those facts are incomprehensible to the audience? Remembering that the “facts” may be true, but already presented to the journalist with a certain emphasis by whoever commissioned them, and that decisions have to made about which facts and figures to use too, it …
MI5 chief Dame Eliza Manningham-Buller has asked the British public to discuss which of its liberties it is prepared to sacrifice in the war against terrorism. The BBC reports: The central dilemma, said Dame Eliza – director general of MI5 – was how to protect citizens within the rule of law when “fragile” intelligence did not amount to clear cut evidence. Such intelligence was often not enough to support criminal charges in the courts, she said. “We can believe, correctly, …
The overture begins. Martin McGuinness has signaled (very candidly) that the process of decommissioning of the IRA substantial armoury may have already begun – ironically, by saying he was not going to talk about what might be happening at this moment. Such is the game of cat and mouse between journalist and politician in these parts. There’s no expected statement from De Chastellaine as yet. However, there’s little doubt this act will materialise, when others in the past did not. …
Alex Kane argues that the LoveUlster is looking in the wrong direction. He doesn’t doubt it’s well intentioned. But he argues that rather than rehearsing old fears, it should have set out to extoll the virtues and examine the positive challenges of maintaining Northern Ireland’s link with Britain. By Alex Kane Are you convinced that there is a conspiracy to bring about a United Ireland? Do you believe that Ulster is at crisis point? Are you prepared to pledge yourself …
While the Secretary of State, for Northern Ireland [and Wales], Peter Hain dithers.. the attempted murders continue. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.
I’m not big into on line petitions. It’s not clear what weight the carry with the petitionee. But this one is interesting. Daily Ireland has a petition going to get the British government to advertise with them. If you wish to support them you can sign up here. It will be interesting to hear the outcome. In particular, to hear exactly why the British are not choosing to place adverts with them. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily …
I’m a bit short of time today, so blogging from me will necessarily be slow. Regarding comments, there is no settled consensus on Slugger, except we ask that you fight hard and fight clean! We had more than five thousand unique visits and 50,000 hits yesterday, thanks mostly to Glenn Reynolds‘ link to Newt’s erudite piece on the blame game! Welcome to our new readers! Even if Northern Ireland’s not your thing, we also blog things outside our small six …