Could DU(P) better…

THE DUP is still coming under fire for not doing enough to combat sectarian attacks in the Ballymena area, and with a loyalist parade in Rasharkin tomorrow night, more trouble is expected from the knuckledraggers behind the violence. Concerned about future republican activity, the DUP is saying plenty about the imminent demise of the RIR and police station closures. Yet it has said comparatively little about those who present the biggest threat to both its unionist voters and Catholic constituents …

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Embarrassment for Rooker…

AS Labour is in thrall to the large supermarkets, Lord Rooker’s arrogant and controversial decision to give the go-ahead to a John Lewis superstore at Sprucefield was perhaps unsurprising. Now it appears it may be coming back to haunt him already, as he announces the delay of planning policies until legal challenges to his decision have been dealt with. The NIO is reportedly split over the Minister’s decision, which – given that the new retailing policies were in the immediate …

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facing extradition proceedings

No, not that extradition case. This is another case. Leonard Hardy, who served 5 years in the Republic of Ireland for possession of explosives in 1990, was arrested in Spain today on a warrant issued by the authorities in Germany. According to the RTE report, he is wanted for questioning about an IRA attack on a British Army base in Osnabruck in 1989 and the attempted murder of a British Army employee.. the Belfast Telegraph also has a report.. and …

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Lord Rooker?.. Mister Hain would like a word

I happen to agree with Lord Rooker – “Let’s face it, the structure of the 11 [Assembly] departments is absolutely barmy. It’s illogical.” – but I doubt that Secretary of State, Peter Hain, would want him to say that in an interview with the Belfast Telegraph. As David Gordon notes in the article – “Lord Rooker is the Government’s Northern Ireland spokesman in the Lords, as well as being Minister for Agriculture, Environment, Finance and Personnel and the Office of …

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McCartney sisters win German award

Tim Berners Lee and the McCartney sisters are recipients of a Quadriga Award for courage, vision and responsibility. Thanks to Neil for the heads up! adminA slightly inhuman presence that bans bad comments and works late at night to remove the wrinkles in Slugger’s technical carpet. You will need to know about the comments policy to stay off the fightin’ side of me and there is a bit of background about me here. You can email me using this spam-proof …

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Mo Mowlam near death

Just seen the Evening Standard’s front page (latest edition) and it’s reporting that Mo Mowlam is close to death and has breathing difficulties. She made a living will and stipulated that she did not want to be kept alive artificially. Let’s hope that her death, when it comes, is peaceful and gentle. She will surely be missed around the Labour party conference circuit and all the campaigns and organisations that she was involved in – including the Integrated Education Fund. …

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Sectarianism? The PSNI aren’t sure

A week after the murder of 15 year old Thomas Devlin the PSNI reveal they think the attack may have been sectarian but their minds are open. Meanwhile back in Ahoghill Deputy Chief Constable Paul Leighton (Irish News, subs req) has disputed assertions the ongoing campaign of attacks on Catholics in the village are entirely sectarian preferring to speculate there may be an element of “not getting on with each other” instead. adminA slightly inhuman presence that bans bad comments …

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Sinn Féin launch dossier

Sinn Féin have launched a dossier(pdf) highlighting attacks from Unionist Paramilitary groups over the summer months. Speaking at the press conference Mr Kelly said: “The following report details unionist paramilitary activity since the beginning of June. “It details over 85 instances of unionist paramilitary activity, including five murders in a period of just over two months. “Although by no means comprehensive, due to the fact that many attacks and acts of intimidation go unreported, it offers a chilling picture of …

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What’s going on with the UVF?

Danny Morrison writing in Daily Ireland poses some questions. Remember how often over the past thirty years we were told that loyalist paramilitary violence was solely a response to the activities of the IRA? We heard that mantra ad nauseam from unionist politicians and loyalist spokespersons alike. It was echoed in police press statements and in the tenor of early media reporting describing the murders of Catholics as “tit-for-tat” or “retaliatory” killings. They told us that if there was no …

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Woke up this morning…

EMINEM has cancelled his appearance at Slane Castle, meaning disappointment for thousands of fans north and south. But fear not, as the far superior Alabama 3 (of Sopranos theme tune fame)are playing in Lisburn tomorrow night. adminA slightly inhuman presence that bans bad comments and works late at night to remove the wrinkles in Slugger’s technical carpet. You will need to know about the comments policy to stay off the fightin’ side of me and there is a bit of …

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Two Steps Forward; One Step Back

In today’s Irish Times (subs. req.)Vincent Browne argues that not only is the question of the extradition or imprisonment of the Colombia Three an irrelevance – given that the US Administration could not care less about the issue (or Ireland in general for that matter) as long as the Government continues to make Shannon available to military aircraft and supports the US in UN votes – but also that, contrary to claims from some media quarters, their reappearance in Ireland …

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Bowled over

England’s performances during the Ashes series have seen interest in cricket as well as Channel 4 viewing figures soaring adminA slightly inhuman presence that bans bad comments and works late at night to remove the wrinkles in Slugger’s technical carpet. You will need to know about the comments policy to stay off the fightin’ side of me and there is a bit of background about me here. You can email me using this spam-proof link if you really need to, …

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Bush the bookworm

Some interesting and surprising titles on Dubya’s holiday reading list – well he is off for 5 weeks. Just hope he doesn’t try and read them upside down! Bookworm Bush’s holiday reading Jamie Wilson in Washington Wednesday August 17, 2005 The Guardian George Bush: all booked up. Photo: PA   George Bush has never had a reputation as a bookworm, but for a man derided by his critics as an intellectual lightweight the president’s holiday reading list packs a punch. …

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Hitler beats Blair in leadership poll

As if things couldn’ t get any worse – just seen this on Sky news website……… Is it possible that the current endless offering of programmes about the Nazis etc could have altered some people’s views of Hitler – another case of revisionism – albeit very slowly? Hitler Beats Blair In Leadership Poll Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler has beaten Tony Blair in a new poll as one of the greatest leaders of all time.A firm asked 1,000 business leaders who …

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Ireland is now a 'legitimate' target

Probably not totally unexpected, but deeply depressing nevertheless, The Belfast Telegraph reports that Anjem Choudary, who has close links to the infamous hate preacher, Omar Bakri Mohammed, said the use of Shannon Airport as a stop-off for US warplanes justifies Ireland being attacked. Are we well equipped for this after 30 years of ‘home grown’ terrorism and conflict which have left an indelible mark in the hearts and minds of people both North and South? Belfast Telegraph Home > News Islamic cleric …

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Nazi group rears its ugly head in NI

According to a report in the Belfast Telegraph, it looks like Combat 18 has a presence in Garvagh (Co. Derry/Londonderry). As NI society is slowing becoming more diverse in terms of ethnicity and culture is it inevitable that this will also be reflected in a rise of racist violence and attitudes and if so how can this bigotry be stemmed? Nazi posters spread fear in a quiet village Garvagh targeted by fascist group By Linda McKee 16 August 2005 A …

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a most serious juncture in politics and democracy on this island

The Parnell Summer School opened at the weekend.. and Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny certainly pulled no punches in his speech. The Irish Times reported the speech yesterday.. and SF Cllr Christy Burke’s immediate reaction at the event – “Mr Burke remonstrated with Mr Kenny after the speech, particularly on the issue of the party’s involvement with narcotics” – the full text of the speech is available from the Fine Gael website From Tim O’Brien in the Irish Times – …

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Baccalaureate to shake up 'flexible' A levels

It’s always good to see someone taking policy issue seriously. A Yank in Ulster looks at a proposal by Estelle Morris in today’s Guardian, not to abolish A Levels as such, but to introduce a common standard International Baccalaureate-style diploma to run alongside A Levels – and let the schools chose which one to run with. With some of the elite Universities pulling their corporate hair looking for a reliable marker for excellence – it may just catch on. It …

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From Buerk to a Berk?

BBC newsreader Michael Buerk has obviously got a bit ‘hot under the collar’ about the prominence of women in the BBC and beyond and bemoans the fact that it is no longer a man’s world. Is he just out of step or is he reflecting some widely held male fears/beliefs? Men are now ‘unemployable sperm donors’, says Buerk Claire Cozens and agencies Tuesday August 16, 2005 Former BBC newsreader Michael Buerk has risked provoking the ire of his bosses by …

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Government recognition of UVF ceasefire is a "crackpot situation".

There’s a lot of coverage of yesterday’s murder in Belfast today, from the Irish Examiner to The Guardian.. and all points between.. the fourth killing by the UVF in the past 6 weeks.. but while Lord Rooker, Secretary of State the only NIO minister available, repeated the now familiar statement, it shouldn’t have come as a surprise given the IMC’s last report – and with “sources close to the UVF”, according to this Irish Independent report, making self-serving statements – …

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