Lee Reynolds Ian Paisley Jnr has chosen now to add his opinion on the future leadership of the DUP. He believes Robinson is the heir apparent and praises his loyalty and support for Paisley Senior. “He has given considerable support and loyalty towards the leader of the party…” He added: “…and I don’t see why you would move away from that presumption. They’re not issues we are currently involved in because it is not an issue which is top of the leader’s …
This is a pitch at five Conservative myths. This is a go at five Liberal myths. Time for you all to have your go and list the five Ulster Unionist myths (Nationalist myths thread here).Apologies I haven’t the time to offer my own. Lee Reynolds
This is a pitch at five Conservative myths. This is a go at five Liberal myths. Time for you all to have your go and list the five Irish nationalist myths (Unionist myths thread here). Lee Reynolds
Gordon Brown, while outlining his plans for reforms to the organ donor system, has expressed his support for an organ donation system based on “presumed consent ” rather than the existing system of patient and next of kin consent. The SNP Scottish Government agrees. However, patient groups are opposed as are others as it will involve a significant shift in the relationship between the individual and the state. The idea would deal with the shortage of organ donors in the …
There has been an arson attack on a Co Armagh GAA hall. This follows a grafitti attack on a another Co Armagh hall earlier this week. Has ‘tit for tat’ attacks of community facilities begun? Lee Reynolds
While the Secretary of State Shaun Woodward was not rushing to his defence, Prime Minister Gordon Brown seems unconcerned about the implications of the Omagh ruling and the questions it raises about Sir Ronnie Flanagan’s suitability as Her Majesty’s Inspector of Constabulary. Lee Reynolds
It seems it is not only Orange Hall burnings that officialdom is incapable of dealing with, research by the News Letter has revealed that on fuel laundering there is: …only a one per cent conviction rate, zero per cent imprisonment rate, tiny fines and no threat of closure to their forecourts. Lee Reynolds
Independent republican Gerry McHugh has outlined his reasons for quitting Sinn Fein and it is the operation of devolution more than policing that is the problem. In quotes almost made for the DUP manifesto, he comments: “The main reasons for my decisions (are) that the Assembly is being run by unionists, both at plenary and committee level and is strongly underlining British rule and the Union. The DUP are extremely pleased with the way they have gained control over Sinn …
The Policing Board has unanimoulsy backed an external review of the police investigations into the Omagh bombing. Meanwhile, it was confirmed the two serving PSNI officers directly criticised in the judgement are still on duty and that the Police Ombudsman’s office has forwarded files for charges to the Public Prosecution Service. Lee Reynolds
The Police Ombudsman’s office has been heavily criticised by a resident magistrate as he cleared a PSNI officer of assault following incidents involving GAA fans during a Royal Black Perceptory church parade in Enniskillen. Under cross-examination it was admitted that the Ombudsman’s office only interviewed witnesses involved in the incident that corroborated the allegations but did not interview independent witnesses whose accounts contradicted it. The Resident Magistrate stated: Had it been fairly and properly investigated this case would have never …
Despite the grim Christmas record of road deaths, the number of people who died in road accidents in Northern Ireland in 2007 dropped by 14 from the 2006 level to 112 deaths. This equals the previous low point recorded in 1947 (records began in 1931). Lee Reynolds
While Church of Ireland Gazette has laid out its opposition, the Roman Catholic Bishop of Down and Connor Patrick Walsh has expressed support for a Northern Ireland Bill of Rights but he stressed the importance of the particular circumstances of Northern Ireland caveat arguing this meant protections for families: “As we reflect, in the context of Northern Ireland, on the human family as a community of peace, the Human Rights Forum should enumerate the rights of the family based on …
The proposed Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland has come under attack from an unexpected quarter, the Church of Ireland Gazette. The latest editorial has called for the proposals to be dropped. It describes the case for a bill as “weak” and “special pleading”. It argues the process has a political agenda: “It is obvious that there are those in the Stormont establishment who want a Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland, as opposed to the UK as a whole, …
Since its foundation and most of its history, Paisley was the DUP and at times serious doubts if it could continue in his absence. The gains and growth of the DUP in the last decade have banished any doubts. During that period of expansion Paisley was seen as a help and hindrance to its growth, the foundation stone on which the party was built however a millstone around its neck when trying to attract significant sections of UUP voters. It …
Shaun Woodward, the NI Secretary of State has declined to give public support to Sir Ronnie Flanagan after the damning critique in yesterday’s judgement on the Omagh bomb case. He said: “The lessons to be learned from this judgement are far and wide. It is important that we look at this very, very carefully. It wouldn’t do any kind of justice to the 29 people who were murdered in the bomb and the two unborn children for me to give …
A human rights challenge by the Children’s Commissioner to Northern Ireland’s laws on parental chastisement of a child was rejected in Court today. Update The mother of a mentally ill 21 year old patient has successfully challenged the Southern Health and Social Services Trust decision not to force feed her daughter who is attempting to starve herself to death. Lee Reynolds
The only person put before a British court for the Omagh bomb has been found not guilty. In his judgement, Justice Weir accused the police of “deliberate and calculated deception” and trial transcripts have been forwarded to the Police Ombudsman. The DNA evidence that was central to the case was rejected (from reports so far it is unclear on whether this was because of risk of cross-contamination, the technique used or both). Outside the court the father of one Omagh …
The Sunday Indo is claiming that a person involved in the Paul Quinn murder was a SF worker at the time and has been named in statements to the police. It also claims that Quinn was on a list of 12 involved in ‘anti-social’ behaviour drawn up by the local IRA unit. SF continues to deny there was any republican involvement. Local SDLP MLA Dominic Bradley believes Conor Murphy may be in breach of the ministerial code over his behaviour. …
Tory MP, Mark Pritchard, will lead a debate today in the House of Commons to discuss what he calls Christianophobia. It follows research revealed almost 80% of primary schools will not hold a UPDATE “traditional” (Hat tip TG) nativity play for fear of offending non-Christians. The Daily Telegraph defines Christianophobia as: These are the poor souls who break out in hives at the sight of a dog collar and develop a nervous twitch when they hear Tony Blair talking about …
In Alan Clarke’s stimulating history of the Conservative party he argued one of the driving forces behind it and its supporters was “fear of the mob”. Newtown Emerson questions the wisdom of using the social housing requirement on private developers as a means to addressing the growing housing needs in Northern Ireland. While accepting the success of such mixed developments elsewhere, he argues that many new private developments have no community identification (regardless of a community mix or not) and …
