Turgon Despite my recent rash of blogs about motoring, I am not very interested in cars and drive an elderly one which is still too new and will always be too boring to be a “classic.” If however, someone wants to give me one do feel free. Anyhow on with another motoring blog. The BBC first reported that a speeding car had been followed by the police until it turned into the car park of Aughnacloy Free Presbyterian Church. The BBC …
The Belfast Telegraph is reporting new regulations from the Driver and Vehicle Agency: nursery staff collecting or transporting children must now have a taxi and a PSV licence. This will force the nurseries to employ taxi firms at increased cost (which will be passed on to parents) and may well lead to the curtailment of trips which these nurseries organise for the children. The nurseries have complained that these rules do not apply to childminders and the have appealed to …
Throughout the troubles there were repeated comments to the effect that the violence was a huge impediment to the tourist industry. I have absolutely no doubt that that was correct. The idea went on that but for the violence we would have had hordes of tourists flocking to our unspoilt beaches; indeed I remember some favourable comparing of our beaches to Mediterranean ones. At that point unfortunately the argument fell down. The other thing that was omitted was that Northern …
A young man has been imprisoned for seven years for causing death by dangerous driving and it appears the sentences may become more severe.Clearly cars are extremely dangerous devices especially if used foolishly. A few things always strike me, however, when such crimes are sentenced. Firstly there is the feeling that this is simply manslaughter. Some of the legal experts may explain why it is prosecuted differently but it seems to be essentially similar; the criminal (when found guilty he …
Following on from my blog on the arrest of a man over the killing of Captain Robert Nairac, the BBC are reporting the charging of a man “believed to be Kevin Crilly” who “will appear in Newry Magistrates Court on Thursday charged with kidnapping and false imprisonment.” TurgonThis author has not written a biography and will not be writing one.
After the violence following the disputed election, Kenya finally produced a coalition cabinet last month with the opposition leader Ralia Odinga as Prime Minister and Mwai Kibaki as president and a cabinet of 40 members. The two leaders have jointly visited the Rift Valley area where the worst of the previous violence occurred. There remain significant tensions within the ruling coalition amongst other things on the question of an amnesty regarding the earlier violence. As I have noted previously Kenya …
The BBC are reporting an arrest in the case of the killing of Captain Robert Nairac in 1977. Six people were previously convicted but police believe another three were involved. The BBC also ran a documentary about Nairac’s death last year. TurgonThis author has not written a biography and will not be writing one.
Alex Kane has a very interesting piece on the Newsletter website this week. It is a book review of Frank Millar’s book on Trimble and David Vance’s book “Unionism Decayed.” The whole article is well worth reading but one paragraph in particular stood out for me: “What they document is the clash between pragmatic unionism (which can be summed up as making the best of unpleasant political realities) and moral high-ground unionism (the view that almost anything is better than …
We quite frequently drive along the mountain road between Fivemiletown and Rosslea. Last time we were along that road a car was stopped beside the memorial at Moane’s Cross to two IRA men: Feargal O’Hanlon and Sean South, who died after an attack on Brookeborough RUC station on the 1st January 1957. An elderly couple seemed to be laying flowers at the place. I wondered if they were friends or relatives of those who had died there all those years …
As well as the Balmoral show which I mentioned below, Belfast has also been hosting the 55th conference of Liberal International. Alliance party luminaries have been meeting assorted Liberal leaders including Morgan Tsvangirai for whom it is to be his last stop before going back to Zimbabwe to contest the run off of the presidential election against Robert Mugabe where incidentally the new $500 million bank note worth 2 US dollars (today, probably rather less tomorrow) has just been issued.David …
Robert Dunlop has died in hospital after an accident at a practice session for the North West 200. His brother Joey was killed in a motorcycle race in Estonia in 2000. The BBC has tributes to Robert here, the Belfast Telegraph has an obituary here. Update: Robert’s son Michael has won the first race at the North West (the 250cc) TurgonThis author has not written a biography and will not be writing one.
This is day two of the Balmoral Show, the event when South Belfast is invaded by country people and assorted ex country people like us now trapped in Belfast. The Newsletter has vast coverage of this veritable extravaganza of farmerishness. We had a great time, Elenwe unfortunately was sick with the cold so dropped me and the boys at the show where we sat on tractors and diggers, looked at cattle, sheep, horses, rabbits, hens etc. etc. Whilst clearly not …
The BBC is reporting a significant rise in sexually transmitted infections in teenagers and young people. The Department of Health are apparently about to produce a “Sexual Health Promotion Strategy” before the Stormont summer recess.From the Department press release: Targets included in the Strategy include: increasing the number of teenagers delaying sexual activity; reducing the rate of births to teenage mothers; reducing the incidence of STIs; and reducing the access time to Genito Urinary Medicine GUM clinics to two working …
I have mentioned the DUP reaction to the IMC report previously. I am, however, a little surprised that all that we have had has been Gregory Campbell’s statement last Thursday. Clearly there has been a bank holiday but I did expect additional coverage from them by now. The DUP may feel that after this statement, keeping their collective heads down is the best idea. Again it is not for me to advise the DUP on tactics but I do feel …
The Newsletter is carrying its report of an interview it has conducted with Martin McGuinness. In this interview he claims the DUP had agreed to the devolution of policing and justice and that he does not know whether or not the IRA army council still exists.From the interview report: Mr McGuinness claimed that the DUP had promised him, personally, that it was committed to transferring the powers in line with the date, envisaged by the St Andrews Agreement, of May …
I have mentioned Seamus Heaney’s poem Digging previously. I will quote this bit and continue: “By God, the old man could handle a spade, Just like his old man. My grandfather could cut more turf in a day Than any other man on Toner’s bog.” Ian Paisley yesterday mentioned the prospect of the Queen visiting the RoI and tied it to the end of the IRA Army Council. Previously it was tied to the devolution of P+J. I may not …
I am sure that there are those in the nationalist community who think Ruane has done a good job. Some because she has really annoyed the Prods but also some who genuinely believe that she has achieved a considerable amount. However, as Fair_deal has noted here many seem to disagree and certainly SF acknowledge that practically all the media seem to have it in for her following that infamous press conference. I am not here to launch yet another direct …
This is sort of a religion blog / rant (but it will touch on other things). Whilst I suggest it is about Northern Irish culture, for those who object to the misuse of slugger, here is Mick’s email address.I do not like modern hymns. Very many Protestant churches (except Free Presbyterians, Reformed Presbyterians and Independent Methodists) have lots of modern hymns. They are, almost without exception (there are a few exceptions) rubbish. Many seem to involve repeating the same line …
Amidst all the fun of laying into Catriona Ruane, one of our other ministerial incompetents seems to have got off very lightly of late. I am of course referring to our dear Health Minister Michael McGimpsey. He has recently been up to a point celebrated by both the BBC and the Belfast Telegraph.Unfortunately as I have previously pointed out the facts are somewhat at variance with this picture. McGimpsey first downgraded the targets to essentially non binding aspirations and then …
I blogged in March about the suggestion that the PUP and UVF might split. They apparently were having a series of meetings. Now, however, Dawn Purvis is back in cheerleading mode. She states: “The important thing to note is that the UVF has lived up to its word and their commitment in that weapons have been put beyond reach and have not been used” Explaining the complete lack of UVF decommissioning “The retention of weapons is probably an indication of …
