Slugger O'Toole

The bomb blasts in London yesterday were an uncomfortable reminder of our own darker passages of history. More than once yesterday were the words of the IRA after its unsuccessful attempt to kill Margaret Thatcher and members of her cabinet quoted: “remember, we only have to be lucky once; you will have to be lucky always”. However, although the IRA killed many people over the years of its campaign in England, it chose mainly economic targets. Bimpe Fatogun notes that …

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This is George Galloway’s view. Is this just a realistic perspective of the situation or is being a little disingenous? This is George Galloway’s view – is it just a realistic analysis of the situation or is being disengenous? Galloway: Attacks will not be last Press Association Friday July 8, 2005 9:58 AM Anti-Iraq war campaigners were gathering to give their response to the terrorist outrages in London the morning after a bitter Commons row engulfed the cause’s most outspoken …

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The BBC is now revising its previous low overnight estimate, and is now saying that the final figure for those who died yesterday morning will not be less than 50 (the figure the Italian interior minister gave early yesterday afternoon – thanks BK) but will not top 100. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.

With Galloway, that is.. he’s been making more ridiculous statements. Peter Taylor has just completed a new series for the BBC – The New Al Qaeda – and he has an article in The Guardian with some interesting comments on the attacks.. and on the background to them. While, over at Slate, Christopher Hitchens agrees with Galloway that the attacks were to be anticipated, and that they’re probably not the last.. but that’s about all they agree on. Hitchens notes …

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THE new UUP leader, Sir Reg Empey, outlines his vision for the future in the Belfast Telegraph. Many parts of it remind me of one of Reg’s pre-election appeals to the ‘garden centre Prod’ and Alliance types: “We’re a pluralist UUP and will represent everyone. No, really.” But if the UUP vision is of a modern, pluralist, inclusive Britishness – a Union for all, if you will – then perhaps choosing loyalist parades as your first issue to highlight isn’t …

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The Ireland cricket side has qualified for the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies after victory over Denmark in Bangor yesterday. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.

Even Ken Livingstone’s most ardent political opponents would find little in his emotional speech yesterday in Singapore, before returning to London, to argue with. It got particularly powerful towards the end, when he addressed the bombers directly: I know that you personally do not fear giving up your own life in order to take others – that is why you are so dangerous. But I know you fear that you may fail in your long-term objective to destroy our free …

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I WANDERED lonely as a spide That floats on glue and makes a fuss, When all at once I got on board, A new and spacious Metrobus; Near City Hall, beside the bank, Huffing and puffing, but very pink. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.

Republican protesters against the re-arrest of Sean Kelly, the man convicted of planting the Shankill bomb, forced the Works and Pensions Secretary David Blunkett to cancel his attendence at the visit of 20 employment ministers from across the EU to the Springvale centre. However, Michael McGimpsey was scathing in his attack, accusing the protesters of apparently being unable to understand the impression it would give to the outside world: I find it astonishing that they staged a protest in support …

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A GENEROUS response in the Andytown News to the news that Belfast City Council is to support the St Patrick’s Day carnival. There is also an acknowledgement that nationalists “will be reasonable and magnanimous when it comes to those aspects of the St Patrick’s Day celebrations that many unionists genuinely have trouble with”. For non-nationalists, that would, in many cases, include the flying of the Irish flag. Just recently, Dr John Nagle of Queen’s University’s Institute of Irish Studies examined …

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Just to keep everybody up to speed, we have introduced a formal policy on what is expected from commenters in the comment fields. It is not intended to curtail honest debate. But it is important to remind commenters that their freedom of speech (which we unreservedly uphold) here on Slugger is nonetheless circumscribed by the law. Commenting policy: 1. We request that anyone wishing to leave comments refrains from posting material which is abusive, threatening or potentially libellous. 2. We …

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A MAN charged with attempted murder walked free from a Belfast court today after the prosecution dropped the charge. This is apparently because the key witness was shot dead last week. It’s not just republicans that have to put the guns away, you know. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.

EMERSON passes the Stakeknife test. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.

After having cancelled £30,000 of part funding for this year’s St Patrick’s, Belfast City Council is now planning to devote some £70,000 towards providing “an inclusive event in 2006 which could be enjoyed by everyone in the city, whatever their background”. Along with £25,000 that would be £95,000 in total. So, will we see a St Pat’s day, minus the green white and orange themed banners and tricolors? Thanks to reader John for the heads up! Slugger O'TooleA general account …

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Gaelic Telecom is an interesting social/economic initiative. Set up to target GAA supports, it rebates 15% of the customer’s bill to the club or county association of their choice. It’s doing so well that they have just taken on another forty staff in their offices in Dublin. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.

Casualty hotline number for those with friends or relatives in London this morning – 0870 1566 344. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for the daily threads and other things.

Bridgeen Hagan, partner of murder victim Robert McCartney has had her house attacked by a mob of young people. She believes that the attackers were local to Short Strand, however, in yesterday’s Irish Times Sinn Fein’s local representative Deborah Devenney insisted that the attack was due to a loyalist incursion into the staunchly republican area. Today’s Daily Telegraph reports that her sister-in-law Paula is now moving out of the area because of sustained intimidation. Slugger O'TooleA general account used for …

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If you have any spare change left over from the castle auction… have a browse through the amazing collection of literature [and history] up for auction at Sotheby’s on 12 July, the BBC focus mostly on the WB Yeats items.. such as this album of letters and essays.. and the first edition of Ulysses from 1922.. and “To Nelly from Jim”.. but there are a wide variety of lots from many writers.. Oscar Wilde, letters from TS Eliot and Dylan …

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It seems Tony Blair is to leave the other leaders at the G8 meeting in Gleneagles to return to London. Of the 1000 Metropolitan officers on duty in Scotland several specialists may be picked out to return to the capital. Blair is expected to arrive back in Scotland this evening. Update: BBC saying it looks like it could be Al Queda. Nothing definate though. As Pete says, keep your eye on Neil McIntosh for fresh news and the extraordinary wikipedia. …

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IF anyone from Northern Ireland is affected by events in London or has up-to-date information that we’re not getting through the media, Slugger will obviously be happy to carry your comments below. However, some in the mainstream media would be interested in speaking to locals in London, and as a bit of an experiment, I’m trying to get in contact with users like Lafcadio, who seem to be at the heart of things in Canary Wharf. You can reach me …

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