Belfast Gonzo

McGrady suggests shift in SDLP policy…

Belfast Gonzo on January 16, 2005, 3:07 am

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SOUTH Down MP Eddie McGrady has said the SDLP should consider entering an Executive without Sinn Fein. While this may be unlikely to happen, it does indicate that some in the SDLP are losing confidence in Sinn Fein. Listen here. McGrady’s main opponent in the upcoming Westminster election, SF’s Caitriona Ruane, strongly criticised the statement.The BBC reported: Mr McGrady said that nationalist voters had been betrayed by the IRA. “If they want to exclude themselves by their extremism, there is …

Perpetual crisis, never-ending process…

Belfast Gonzo on January 15, 2005, 12:39 am

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MARK Devenport thinks Anthony McIntyre (see below) has a point when he argues that the republican movement is intent on creating crisis after crisis, with little to encourage the IRA to keep quiet except Sinn Fein’s potential electoral gains. Is the project expansionism or unity? Or maybe we should just have elections every year, to prevent more IRA activity?! The article also notes that Adams has demanded an apology from the media, if the IRA is shown not to have …

Why the IRA won’t go away, you know…

Belfast Gonzo on January 14, 2005, 8:20 pm

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YESTERDAY’s Irish Times carried an article by Anthony McIntyre. He argued that the Northern Bank raid may have put “peace” on hold but it will breathe new life into the peace process, and the process is what keeps Sinn Féin growing.McIntyre writes: The response of the British and Irish governments to the announcement by the PSNI boss, Mr Hugh Orde, that the Provisional IRA was behind the robbery of £26.5 million from the Northern Bank was anger tempered by weary …

The Albert Brawl…

Belfast Gonzo on January 14, 2005, 6:37 pm

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THE East Belfast Observer’s offline edition reports that Ulster Unionist deputy leader Sir Reg Empey and DUP councillor Harry Toan were involved in a “scuffle” on the Albertbridge Road recently.The Observer reported: The elected representatives had been in a meeting in the local community where an argument began which spilled onto the street. One shocked motorist said: “I was driving along the Albertbridge Road and was amazed to see councillors behaving in this disgraceful way. Normally they are quick to …

SF and IRA to ‘divorce’ over criminality..?

Belfast Gonzo on January 13, 2005, 7:07 pm

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I suspect that if Sinn Fein and the IRA ever split, that it will be because the IRA has become an electoral millstone around SF’s neck. Some rather disillusioned republicans now appear to suspect that, if the IRA carried out the Northern heist, it may be a catalyst for separation. Eamonn McCann takes a look at internal difficulties in the Republican Movement, while Broom of Anger (which has lots of useful links) looks at the separation emerging between the governments …

International travel takes off…

Belfast Gonzo on January 13, 2005, 6:35 pm

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MORE good news for air travellers in Northern Ireland. Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com

Durkan is a Dad…

Belfast Gonzo on January 12, 2005, 1:18 am

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CONGRATULATIONS to SDLP leader Mark Durkan, who is a dad for the first time. Dearbháil Sarah Isobel Durkan was born in Altnagelvin Hospital at 1950 GMT on Monday. She weighed 6lbs 7. Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com

Homeless woman’s tragic ordeal…

Belfast Gonzo on January 12, 2005, 1:06 am

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WHEN a homeless Ukranian woman lost her job just before Christmas, sleeping in freezing temperatures led to frostbite in her legs, which later had to be amputated. As more and more people come to Northern Ireland seeking work, this tragic case shows just why proper support structures need to be in place.Foreign workers have employment and human rights too – and they must be protected. Police have been asked to check if there was any exploitation in the woman’s case. …

Doherty defends Commons seat…

Belfast Gonzo on January 11, 2005, 11:48 pm

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PAT Doherty MP is to defend his West Tyrone seat for Sinn Fein at the next Westminster election.Doherty said: “Our objective in these forthcoming elections is to consolidate the 4 Westminster seats that we secured in 2001 and to win additional Westminster seats. In terms of the local elections our aim is to win a substantial number of additional Council seats including here in West Tyrone. “We are not building political strength for the sake of it. We are building …

Murphy refuses to rule out voluntary coalition…

Belfast Gonzo on January 11, 2005, 11:23 pm

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THE DUP continues to call for a voluntary coalition (‘VC’). Noteably, it excludes the UUP from its proposal (who would back the plan), but includes the SDLP (opposed to the idea, for now) and Alliance (who first proposed it this time last year). Given that the Secretary of State implicitly ruled out VC in his Commons speech today, there still seems to be a non-committal hint of a suggestion that it might still be explored. Expect the SDLP’s profile to …

Murphy takes the floor in Commons…

Belfast Gonzo on January 11, 2005, 10:00 pm

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THE Secretary of State’s speech to the House of Commons this afternoon is copied in full below, with some brief analysis. More from the debate here and here.As can be seen from Murphy’s statement, the British are not prepared to allow an Executive to be formed without Sinn Fein. However, the Government has yet to reconcile that desire with its agreement with unionism that it is reasonable not to serve in an Executive with SF while IRA activity continues. The …

Who let the Dog out…?

Belfast Gonzo on January 11, 2005, 6:54 pm

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CONVICTED terrorism director, UFF thug, steroids fan and Sunday tabloid fodder Johnny Adair has been quietly released from prison. Once revered by loyalist paramilitaries, now humiliated, ‘Mad Dog’ has finally been brought to heel and is off to England to see his family – but will he ever be back? Let’s hope not. Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com

Blogging the crisis…

Belfast Gonzo on January 10, 2005, 9:02 pm

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IN today’s Business Telegraph, Geoff Neville looks at the positive role the internet and bloggers played in the wake of the Indian Ocean tsunami. One blog reporting on the after-effects is Chiens Sans Frontiers. Meanwhile, the BBC pontificates on the role of the blog. Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com

Crime and punishment…

Belfast Gonzo on January 10, 2005, 6:24 pm

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LIAM Clarke and Stephen Dempster consider various options for moving the process forward and potential sanctions against Sinn Fein.Potential sanctions against SF listed include greater restrictions to visas to America, and financial penalties, such as a ban on foreign fundraising (that one must be really worrying those behind the £26.5m robbery, Liam!) Meanwhile, the Secretary of State must surely be thinking about Paragraph 30 (2) of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 and what would happen if the Assembly had been …

A little bit of history repeating…

Belfast Gonzo on January 8, 2005, 2:03 am

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DENIAL, lies, criminality and complicity – all integral part of the peace process, as far as Tom Luby is concerned. He asks if peace has come with too high a price tag, and questions whether the media or governments have the courage to try and confront the contradictions inherent in the neverending search for a settlement.In a stinging attack on the media, Luby writes: Pressed into a corner those in the media responsible for refusing to challenge the lie would …

IRA accusation – reaction round-up…

Belfast Gonzo on January 7, 2005, 10:04 pm

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BELOW is most of the political reaction to the accusation by Chief Constable Hugh Orde that the IRA carried out the Northern Bank robbery…Sinn Fein’s Martin McGuinness continues to insist that the IRA was not involved in the heist. He said: “Hugh Orde’s comments today are nothing more than politically biased allegations. He has not produced one scrap of evidence. Within days of the robbery at the Northern Bank, and following media speculation and PSNI briefings, which suggested IRA involvement, …

Only a fiver to you, guv…

Belfast Gonzo on January 6, 2005, 11:52 pm

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NORTHERN Bank’s famous plastic fivers are appearing on ebay, as, according to the wit selling this one, they are “suddenly in short supply”. Quite.Some of the blurb reads: Polymer notes are becoming increasingly popular. Their enhanced security features makes counterfeiting more difficult. The Northern Bank note includes security features such as the feel of the polymer, which is distinctively smooth on non printed areas, its transparent windows, both clear and coloured on the corner of the note embossed with four …

Hypocrisy over suspected IRA criminal activity…

Belfast Gonzo on January 6, 2005, 9:59 pm

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CHIEF Constable Hugh Orde is likely to blame the IRA for the Northern Bank robbery tomorrow. Today, Prime Minister Blair and DUP MP Jeffrey Donaldson criticised the IRA for not ending its criminal activity. I’m not sure why – neither Blair nor the DUP were at all concerned about the lack of clarity over criminality in the IRA’s planned statement contained in the ‘comprehensive agreement’, preferring to concentrate on getting a photo of decommissioned arms.The News Letter reported: The Lagan …

On Continental’s Wing…

Belfast Gonzo on December 21, 2004, 6:59 pm

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WILL this attempt to attract Americans of Scots-Irish descent to Northern Ireland lead to a greater understanding in the US of the different perspectives here? Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com

Crime and how we see it…

Belfast Gonzo on December 21, 2004, 6:50 pm

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PEOPLE in Northern Ireland feel crime is on the increase, and our biggest concerns are speeding traffic, drug dealing and teenagers hanging around on the street (although that isn’t actually a crime yet). A new NIO report on our perceptions of crime notes that many people’s impressions seem strongly influenced by the media. Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com