Slugger O'Toole A YEAR from today, I wouldn’t be surprised if there was a front page with the headline ‘100% success for all A-Level students’. Perhaps it’s because the discredited exams are getting easier. Well aren’t they? Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.
I’m struggling a bit with the Colombia three story. Some months ago we posed a question as to what might happen when they returned to Dublin. It seems that this took most of the Dublin political (and to a lesser extent journalistic) establishment by surprise. Today in the Irish Times Davy Adams argues (subs required) that most of the recent Sinn Fein moves have been aimed at undermining the integrity of the Taoiseach: In claiming to have a personal commitment …
The Royal Mint have announced an open competition to replace the reverse designs on the 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p and 50p coins by Christopher Ironside, introduced in 1971, and the 20p reverse design by William Gardner introduced in 1982 [ N.B. not the obverse design as the Guardian reports *shakes head*]. You can download the full design brief here.. and, if you want to submit a design, you have until 14 November 2005. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the …
Just seen the Evening Standard’s front page (latest edition) and it’s reporting that Mo Mowlam is close to death and has breathing difficulties. She made a living will and stipulated that she did not want to be kept alive artificially. Let’s hope that her death, when it comes, is peaceful and gentle. She will surely be missed around the Labour party conference circuit and all the campaigns and organisations that she was involved in – including the Integrated Education Fund. …
Sinn Féin have launched a dossier(pdf) highlighting attacks from Unionist Paramilitary groups over the summer months. Speaking at the press conference Mr Kelly said: “The following report details unionist paramilitary activity since the beginning of June. “It details over 85 instances of unionist paramilitary activity, including five murders in a period of just over two months. “Although by no means comprehensive, due to the fact that many attacks and acts of intimidation go unreported, it offers a chilling picture of …
EMINEM has cancelled his appearance at Slane Castle, meaning disappointment for thousands of fans north and south. But fear not, as the far superior Alabama 3 (of Sopranos theme tune fame)are playing in Lisburn tomorrow night. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.
No, not that extradition case. This is another case. Leonard Hardy, who served 5 years in the Republic of Ireland for possession of explosives in 1990, was arrested in Spain today on a warrant issued by the authorities in Germany. According to the RTE report, he is wanted for questioning about an IRA attack on a British Army base in Osnabruck in 1989 and the attempted murder of a British Army employee.. the Belfast Telegraph also has a report.. and …
THE DUP is still coming under fire for not doing enough to combat sectarian attacks in the Ballymena area, and with a loyalist parade in Rasharkin tomorrow night, more trouble is expected from the knuckledraggers behind the violence. Concerned about future republican activity, the DUP is saying plenty about the imminent demise of the RIR and police station closures. Yet it has said comparatively little about those who present the biggest threat to both its unionist voters and Catholic constituents …
The Colombia Three are being questioned in police stations in Dublin. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.
I happen to agree with Lord Rooker – “Let’s face it, the structure of the 11 [Assembly] departments is absolutely barmy. It’s illogical.” – but I doubt that Secretary of State, Peter Hain, would want him to say that in an interview with the Belfast Telegraph. As David Gordon notes in the article – “Lord Rooker is the Government’s Northern Ireland spokesman in the Lords, as well as being Minister for Agriculture, Environment, Finance and Personnel and the Office of …
Tim Berners Lee and the McCartney sisters are recipients of a Quadriga Award for courage, vision and responsibility. Thanks to Neil for the heads up! Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.
AS Labour is in thrall to the large supermarkets, Lord Rooker’s arrogant and controversial decision to give the go-ahead to a John Lewis superstore at Sprucefield was perhaps unsurprising. Now it appears it may be coming back to haunt him already, as he announces the delay of planning policies until legal challenges to his decision have been dealt with. The NIO is reportedly split over the Minister’s decision, which – given that the new retailing policies were in the immediate …
A week after the murder of 15 year old Thomas Devlin the PSNI reveal they think the attack may have been sectarian but their minds are open. Meanwhile back in Ahoghill Deputy Chief Constable Paul Leighton (Irish News, subs req) has disputed assertions the ongoing campaign of attacks on Catholics in the village are entirely sectarian preferring to speculate there may be an element of not getting on with each other instead. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily …
Danny Morrison writing in Daily Ireland poses some questions. Remember how often over the past thirty years we were told that loyalist paramilitary violence was solely a response to the activities of the IRA? We heard that mantra ad nauseam from unionist politicians and loyalist spokespersons alike. It was echoed in police press statements and in the tenor of early media reporting describing the murders of Catholics as tit-for-tat or retaliatory killings. They told us that if there was no …
England’s performances during the Ashes series have seen interest in cricket as well as Channel 4 viewing figures soaring Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.
As if things couldn’ t get any worse – just seen this on Sky news website……… Is it possible that the current endless offering of programmes about the Nazis etc could have altered some people’s views of Hitler – another case of revisionism – albeit very slowly? Hitler Beats Blair In Leadership Poll Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler has beaten Tony Blair in a new poll as one of the greatest leaders of all time.A firm asked 1,000 business leaders who …
According to a report in the Belfast Telegraph, it looks like Combat 18 has a presence in Garvagh (Co. Derry/Londonderry). As NI society is slowing becoming more diverse in terms of ethnicity and culture is it inevitable that this will also be reflected in a rise of racist violence and attitudes and if so how can this bigotry be stemmed? Nazi posters spread fear in a quiet village Garvagh targeted by fascist group By Linda McKee 16 August 2005 A …
Some interesting and surprising titles on Dubya’s holiday reading list – well he is off for 5 weeks. Just hope he doesn’t try and read them upside down! Bookworm Bush’s holiday reading Jamie Wilson in Washington Wednesday August 17, 2005 The Guardian George Bush: all booked up. Photo: PA George Bush has never had a reputation as a bookworm, but for a man derided by his critics as an intellectual lightweight the president’s holiday reading list packs a punch. …
In today’s Irish Times (subs. req.)Vincent Browne argues that not only is the question of the extradition or imprisonment of the Colombia Three an irrelevance – given that the US Administration could not care less about the issue (or Ireland in general for that matter) as long as the Government continues to make Shannon available to military aircraft and supports the US in UN votes – but also that, contrary to claims from some media quarters, their reappearance in Ireland …
Probably not totally unexpected, but deeply depressing nevertheless, The Belfast Telegraph reports that Anjem Choudary, who has close links to the infamous hate preacher, Omar Bakri Mohammed, said the use of Shannon Airport as a stop-off for US warplanes justifies Ireland being attacked. Are we well equipped for this after 30 years of ‘home grown’ terrorism and conflict which have left an indelible mark in the hearts and minds of people both North and South? Belfast Telegraph Home > News Islamic cleric …