Blank – Page 8 – Slugger O'Toole

Shoot for thrills

Blank on July 13, 2010, 8:04 pm

| Readers 9

The PSNI no longer use plastic baton rounds, they now use Attenuated Energy Projectiles (AEPs). Unlike previous baton rounds, AEPs are designed to be fired directly at people and aren’t ‘meant’ to bounce before impact. Within British Policing Guidelines (via West Mercia, if the PSNI have them online I can’t find them) they are not permitted as a general crowd control device and should only be fired at clearly identified individuals presenting an immediate threat that cannot be dealt with …

What a difference 5 years make

Blank on July 13, 2010, 6:35 pm

| Readers 19

In 2005 Ardoyne had exactly the same problems surrounding the 12th of July parade as those that transpired last night (and it has been going on a lot longer than that). Back then, a full five years ago, 80 police officers were injured during what Gerry Kelly described as control being lost for for a time. In that distant almost forgotten, for some, era he fully blamed the Orange Order for creating the conditions that resulted in the violence: The …

Belfast bonfire builders wipe Council’s eye

Blank on July 9, 2010, 6:56 pm

| Readers 164

There are many hundreds of bonfires being prepared for the 11th night and one has destroyed a nearby home when it caught light early. Another on Belfast City Hospital property off the Donegal Road has been attracting more publicity The Irish News reported on Tuesday (not online) that this one is now part of Belfast City Council’s Bonfire Management Scheme and is receiving up to £3K worth of funding (drawn from European Peace III money) for meeting certain requirements. One …

Cui bono? Not those protesting for sure

Blank on July 7, 2010, 8:17 pm

| Readers 3

Over a period of months a diverse group have been turning up at the gates of Magheraberry prison in support of republican prisoners. The day after the most recent protest what was described as ‘an elaborate hoax’ bomb was found near the gaol. The next day a similar device ‘later declared an elaborate hoax’ was found at Hydebank. Of course this may lead to suspicions that republicans were involved in these hoaxes but given they have consistently complained of stop …

Art? There was free wine!

Blank on July 5, 2010, 9:48 pm

| Readers 6

Being a blogger on Slugger isn’t something that comes with many perks, indeed I’ve been close to bottom of the list for the infrequent opportunities to have free drinks coming from Fealty Towers. But, occasionally Slugger gives you the opportunity to experience things you just wouldn’t normally do Tonight, was the launch of Moochin Photoman’s ‘Through the Viewfinder’ exhibition at the Waterfront. It was some craic watching people trawl through a thousand photos, giving a critique but the whole time …

Unity? No chance. This is Republicanism

Blank on July 2, 2010, 8:52 pm

| Readers 28

I’ve been loath to touch the following as there is loads of gaming going on around it and it is difficult to identify where the truth is. So take a pinch of salt before reading on and making up your own mind. From what I understand during a recent meeting of the Familes Friends and ex-Prisoners group on Republican Prisoners, a member of the Republican Network for Unity (RNU) had property stolen. Amongst this property was an alleged internal communication …

‘Who’s pulling the purse strings?’ (satire)

Blank on July 1, 2010, 7:57 pm

| Readers 10

A piece of satire based on an article in the all new monthly An Phoblacht

TUV candidate’s website faces closure over ‘hate speech’

Blank on June 29, 2010, 8:04 pm

| Readers 3183

David Vance, defeated TUV candidate in East Belfast, faces having his long running blog, A Tangled Web, closed by his host over numerous instances of ‘hate speech’ in violation of Terms of Service. To Mr. David Vance, We have received several complaints regarding hate speech on your website. Per our terms, “Content with the sole purpose of causing harm or inciting hate, or content that could be reasonably considered as slanderous or libelous.” is not permitted. ADDS ATW complies and …

A farce within a force

Blank on June 26, 2010, 7:44 pm

| Readers 27

With today’s protest against DUP/SF proposed legislation to restrict the right to public assembly the PSNI earlier demonstrated how they will try and curb the current right to legal Public Assembly anyhow. Last year the PSNI successfully prevented éirígí’s protest against Armed Forces Day in Belfast by blocking protestors as they made their way to the assembly point. This year éirígí got around that by assembling directly at City Hall and not travelling there as a group. This meant their …

Belfast – a tale of three protests

Blank on June 25, 2010, 8:51 pm

| Readers 7

Belfast is protest central tomorrow – for the leftie, libertarian, socialist, republican or just plain serial moaner you are positively spoilt for choice. In the best traditions of protest, you will have to choose because three protests take place separately and are essentially competing. You could join the protest against the DUP/SF drafted bill that would restrict the right to public assembly – Stop the Public Assemblies Bill, leaving the Arts College at 12pm heading towards the City Hall. You …

Will anyone here object….

Blank on June 25, 2010, 11:55 am

| Readers 33

With continuing speculation on a visit by the British Queen to Ireland one person is ahead of the game. Danny Morrison has been talking to the BBC about struggling through the crowds at Glastonbury and being rewarded with a courteous chat from Prince Charles. When we got up it was Prince Charles… He was the only person out of quarter of a million wearing a shirt and tie. He asked myself and my brother Ciaran did we actually camp out …

A smashed in face – blame the parents?

Blank on June 23, 2010, 8:44 pm

| Readers 9

The brutal assault of 13 year old Shannon Smyth with a brick (at least) in Moyard is currenty being investigated by the PSNI and is considered a possible sectarian attack – she required 14 stitches to her face, lost teeth and suffered numerous cuts. Almost as disturbing as the actual incident is the response from some to it here on Slugger and elsewhere. Since outlets such as the BBC, Belfast Telegraph, Newsletter and even PSNI stated the assault took place …

Fancy a conspiracy theory? Take your pick

Blank on June 21, 2010, 11:08 pm

| Readers 25

A car appears on the Shankill Road and leaflets are thrown from it naming many dissenting republicans, it happens at the junction of Lanark Way leading into Republican West Belfast. These leaflets are subsequently posted on lampposts and walls across loyalist areas. They give names of numerous people described as dissident republicans, CIRA, RIRA, criminals etc. Some suggest the names may have been gathered by a ‘republican’ group and delivered direct to loyalists in the crudist of fashions. Blank

Front group – I know you are, what are they

Blank on June 19, 2010, 8:26 pm

| Readers 26

Dog bites man – North Belfast SF member praises front group and attacks alternative

Hyperlocal (Newcastle) doesn’t rock, it blows

Blank on June 17, 2010, 8:16 pm

| Readers 5

Photo by permission of flickr.com/lordvill

Some of the Slugger team are fans of ‘hyperlocal blogging’, you can listen to Alan in Belfast talk up its potential here, or see what Keith Belfast got up to at BarCamp. One hyperlocal blog that seems to be working is Newcastle Rocks. I appreciate Newcastle Rocks giving me a hyperlocal reason to stay well clear of the place. Yes, Newcastle seems to be the first place in the north to have a confirmed sighting of the vuvuzela. Many thanks …

The jury is out (for some)

Blank on June 17, 2010, 2:28 pm

| Readers 5

With the publication of the Saville Report focus is now shifting to the possibility of prosecutions, some paratroopers are already under investigation by the Public Prosecutions Service over perjury at the inquiry but it is unknown if any criminal investigations and/or prosecutions will take place over events on the day. The DUP’s Peter Robinson has called for no prosecutions I think from a political point of view I have to say that I do not believe that there is anything …

Yizwa imithandazo yethu

Blank on June 11, 2010, 10:47 pm

| Readers 66

Its unusual for me to moan or promote a personal agenda on Slugger so I hope I will be forgiven this selfish entry. South Africa should hold its head in shame. They have disgraced themselves on the international stage and brought pain to countless millions. Today saw a suffering launched on the world that makes apartheid seem a minor transgression. The vuvuzela. I have already joined a Facebook group in protest and my anger will surely grow until FIFA or …

In solidarity?

Blank on June 9, 2010, 9:03 pm

| Readers 20

Joe Higgins, Irish Socialist Party MEP, is sponsoring a march and rally in Dublin as part of a ‘Europe-wide week of solidarity and protest’ something he initiated within his European political group (nothing arranged north of the border that I can see). The poster advertising it states the rally has been endorsed by; Socialist Party, Workers Party, Socialist Workers Party, PBP, Right to Work, Workers Solidarity Movement, éirígí, Irish Socialist Network and Socialist Democracy. Sinn Féin are not noted as …

British newspaper complains about email address

Blank on June 6, 2010, 7:53 pm

| Readers 340

Super-chuck Robin Livingstone has been ripping the piss out of Ireland’s only Marxist-Leninist republican party, the IRSP. He is quite rightly laughing at them for foolishly using a .co.uk email address. However, unlike his publication the IRSP are only using a free email address and not subject to long-term dependency on direct funding from the Brits. I guess Robin is over his most recent irony bypass. Adds: As Henry94 notes below some people also use British postcodes and now that it …