Lee Reynolds The nine firemen who refused to hand out leaflets at the Glasgow Gay pride parade have been disciplined. One was demoted with a £5,000 loss of salary. All nine have been ordered to attend diversity training.Further background and debate here. Lee Reynolds
In an interview with the Belfast Telegraph a UVF spokerson has said they accept the PIRA’s war is “finished” . The person denied there is a UVF threat against Raymond McCord senior or any journalist. They also claim that there could be an unexploded bomb in Dublin’s Mansion House, part of a failed attempt to wipe out the republican leadership in 1981. UPDATE A suspicious device has been found and there is also speculation they will re-engage with the Decommissioning …
Despite a series of successful and peaceful parades and substantially peaceful counter-demonstrations, not all have enjoyed a good summer. Residents of Leopold Street have suffered a “five week barrage” of metal, concrete, stones and bottles. One attack lasted four hours. The Shankill Mirror reports that in one week four wheelie bins were filled with debris and that despite the work of Ardoyne Fleadh, the attacks intensified that week. Lee Reynolds
Brian Kennaway criticises proposals to promote a carnival atmosphere at Orange parades. Lee Reynolds
Chris Thornton argues that Hain is trying to hit the elusive ‘garden centre prod’ in the wallet as a spur to re-engage them with politics. Despite the Equality Impact Assement showing the proposed rates changes would have an adverse impact upon Protestants, others and some ethnic minorities the Government has pressed on with no objections from the Equality Commission. It has left the issue of a cap on rates bills to a restored Assembly but Thornton does not think it …
INTO members are unhappy following a letter from the Bishops instructing prinicpals of maintained schools to hold a “catholic ethos” day as part of staff development.A Scottish bishop recently urged teachers in Catholic schools to be “Catholic to their fingertips” and he considered teachers “among his closest co-workers”. Lee Reynolds
Margaret Thatcher and Clement Attlee have been chosen as the best British Prime Ministers of the 20th century. Historian and author, Francis Beckett, assessed the politicians not on their policies but how well they implemented them. Attlee and Thatcher both took “one sort of society, and turned it into another sort of society”. Lee Reynolds
Nine Scottish fire officers have been brought before disciplinary hearings after they refused to hand out leaflets at a Scottish gay pride parade. A number of officers cited religious objections to atteding other argued it was outside their core duties. Lee Reynolds
As the smoking ban D-day in Northern Ireland comes ever closer the Belfast Telegraph reviews the impact of the prohibition in other countries that have introduced it. Meanwhile, how it operates in Scotland is being debated. Keith Richards and Hampden Park face fines after he smoked during the Rolling Stones concert and recently, an Edinburgh venue was threatened with closer unless it stopped Mel Smith from smoking on stage as part of his show about Churchill. Lee Reynolds
A Derry priest has called on parishoners in Gobnascale to let the PSNI investigate crime as the alternative is “the law of the jungle”. His public stand was backed by a demonstration of 50 local people. Lee Reynolds
The Chief Executive of NICIE, Michael Wardlow, has called for a moratorium on building single sex schools. 31% of post-primary pupils are taught in a single-sex environment. Lee Reynolds
The Presbyterian Moderator calls upon to the garden centre Prods and Catholics to “address their civic repsonsibilities” else they may find: “a raft of administrative, educational and ethical decisions imposed without proper local debate could radically change the ‘comfort zone’ they cherish.” Lee Reynolds
Disparate dissident republican elements are to hold a public meeting in Toome on Tuesday night. It is being presented as an attempt to forge a joint strategy among the RIRA, INLA, CIRA and disillusioned Provos. Lee Reynolds
Sinn Fein’s John O’Dowd doesn’t believe progress has been made between the parties: “So are we preparing for government? At this stage, I would say no, we’re not.” The DUP’s Gregory Campbell, speaking at the Glencree Summer School, agrees that little has been resolved but that issues have been identified and the priorities clear: “…the committee has provided the opportunity to identify which particular issues parties feel most strongly about, and which will be the most difficult to address in …
Celtic goalkeeper, Artur Boruc, has received a police caution for “a combination of behaviour before a crowd in the charged atmosphere of an Old Firm match”. This combination of behaviours included crossing himself in front of Rangers fans. The Roman Catholic Church is alarmed, Alex Salmond said it was a ludicrous decision, the Lib Dems believe it did not warrant a caution but criticised the player’s behaviour during the matc and Rangers fans think the Club should have acted. This …
Democratic Dialogue is arguing that there is support for renegotiation of the Good Friday Agreement across the communities. They base this opinion on the 2005 Life and Times Survey. The survey shows 55% support for renegotiation approaches and 22% for full implementation. This would indicate room for manoeuvre. However, the Life and Times Survey sample is weak for SF and DUP voters and 1998 ‘No’ voters. Lee Reynolds
Malachi O’Doherty examines the film representations of the conflict. He argues that the small local audience drives film-makers to find a bigger market so they aim to appeal to “Irish America” and “the European left” and thus concentrate on the IRA and republicanism. Troubles films have rarely (and arguably never) taken a Loyalist or Unionist perspective or are they even included, O’Doherty argues that film “tells stories in which the characters are Republican or British”. Is there a gap in …
Ruth Kelly has called for a “new and honest debate” about diversity. The racial tensions in Northern England and then the 7/7 bombings have made many question the social impacts of multi-culturalism. The growth of minority ethnic communities in Northern Ireland was always slower than in the rest of the UK because of the Troubles and poorer economic performance. The situation has changed significantly over the past decade and the problems of racism have came into clear focus. What can …
The Irish News has revealed that of the 1470 sectarian crimes in Northern Ireland last year only 142 have resulted in charges or summons, a 9:1 probability of getting away with a sectarian crime. Brian Feeney is fed up with official hot air but little official action. Lee Reynolds
Snow Patrol will show their support for the Bring Lisa Home Campaign at their week-end concert in Botanic Park. The band will wear the blue ribbons of the campaign on stage and meet with the family. Lee Reynolds
