Conflict – Page 36 – Slugger O'Toole

As a result of already being separated…

Mick Fealty on May 13, 2006, 12:46 pm

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Davy Adams puts the McIlveen killing in the context of a separate lives scenario which may be a pre-condition of current political priorities (subs needed), rather than a result of clear political choices. After more than a decade of relative peace, Northern Ireland still consists, largely, of two tribal groups living in almost complete isolation from, and opposition to, one another. In most areas, shared ground has long ago been carved up into separate Catholic and Protestant districts where only …

Orde: Loyalists still outside loop…

Mick Fealty on May 10, 2006, 1:44 pm

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PSNI figures tally with the IMC’s findings that Loyalist paramilitaries are now responsible for most of the ‘security related’ crime in Northern Ireland. Athough it is important to note that whilst a primary aim of Nationalist strategy was to bring paramilitaries in from the cold, the opposite has largely been true of Unionist strategy: that criminality should be isolated and pursued by the police. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the …

Mope, Moping and Mopery…

Mick Fealty on May 5, 2006, 3:57 pm

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MOPE is an acronym that derives from the title of an essay written by Professor Liam Kennedy a few years back. It comes with the sub title: THE HISTORICAL SYNDROME OF THE MOST OPPRESSED PEOPLE EVER. As a notional ‘syndrome’, it affects the capacity of otherwise rational individuals to see Northern Ireland’s problems in context with other global (and much more traumatic) events. It is rooted in the feeling that Ireland’s trauma is not like anyone else’s: it is deep …

Failings lie with Military Intelligence…

Mick Fealty on May 5, 2006, 3:20 pm

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The Newsletter picks up on the UDR controversy, see the Irish News coverage here. They quote Michael Copeland, who argues that “The failures, if any, lie at the door of British military intelligence, who, if they harboured such suspicions, should have taken action.” And Jeffrey Donaldson, who said that Sinn Fein was ”in no position to point the finger at the UDR” and should ”concentrate in putting their own house in order’” Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He …

Misremembering the past…

Mick Fealty on May 5, 2006, 2:44 pm

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William Timpson argues that dissent can be an essential guard against excessive militarism and enforced orthodoxy. Untangling past reality from smoothed out grand narrative is one the roots towards individuated opinion. He talks to one veteran of the Bloody Sunday protest. Hat tip to the Cyberscribe. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the …

And don’t forget our agents?

Mick Fealty on May 4, 2006, 3:31 pm

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And here’s another query from a Hampshire based Tory MP: Dr Julian Lewis (New Forest East):To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, if he will review the adequacy of the arrangements for the permanent protection of former undercover agents in the republican movement. A serious question given the gruesome end faced by the last publicly outed British agent within the Republican movement. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the …

Wright case delayed…

Mick Fealty on May 4, 2006, 3:26 pm

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It seems that police foot dragging is behind the delay on bringing the Billy Wright ‘collusion case’ to bear. Lord MacLean indicated that the failure to hand over documents “has slowed down the Inquiry’s work”. MI5 may also be holding on to documents, but the Home Office refused to discuss the matter. Both police Special Branch and MI5 knew of threats against the notorious loyalist before he was shot dead by INLA prisoners in the top security Maze Prison in …

Details on that UDR and collusion story…

Mick Fealty on May 3, 2006, 9:50 pm

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Here’s the total coverage from the Irish News todate on the Subversion in the UDR story. It’s the order it came out in the paper version, starting with yesterday’s stories, and is considerably more detailed than anything we have so far reported online. Keep an eye out for more in the paper tomorrow. It also contains most, but not all of the original draft document from 1973.THE British government was aware of large-scale collusion between security forces and loyalist paramilitaries …

Countenancing a political future?

Mick Fealty on May 3, 2006, 8:26 pm

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My response to Alan Ruddock’s piece in Management Today, and printed in this month’s hard copy issue.Alan Ruddock paints a grim but accurate picture of Northern Ireland’s economic crisis. That a crisis exists after thirty years of conflict is no surprise. What is disturbing is the depth of the hole, and the apparent lack of political will to countenance never mind tackle its root causes. During the 1980s Tory direct rule minister Richard Needham boasted that by conserving high levels …

What Thatcher knew about UDR

Mick Fealty on May 3, 2006, 2:18 pm

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The Irish News has scoop of the week/month (subs needed), and publishes its second installment today. It’s front page alleges that “British prime ministers were aware of collusion between loyalist paramilitaries, soldiers and RUC officers and believed security forces were ‘handing information to’ Ian Paisley”. The story from yesterday (subs needed): The documents reveal that military intelligence: * estimated 5-15 per cent of UDR soldiers were linked to loyalist paramilitaries * believed that the “best single source of weapons, and …

How the internet can [still] change the world

Pete Baker on May 1, 2006, 7:05 pm

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Jeff Jarvis’ recent article, from 24th April, over at Comment Is Free has been bubbling away in my mind since I read it and his main point, that the internet “makes obsolete old orthodoxies and old definitions of left and right”, has been picked up by Brian McNair, professor of journalism and communication at the University of Strathclyde, in this article on what he describes as the cultural chaos that has accompanied the rise of the internet. The question that …

The IRA has gone away, you know…

Mick Fealty on April 27, 2006, 9:23 pm

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Gerry Moriarty reports that whilst there are some important caveats to the IMC report and the IRA can only expect to collect on the benefits (subs needed) of its “mostly justified positive British-Irish governmental spin” if its followed by a second positive report in October. But in the meantime the important questions now shift onto the capacity of the DUP to do a deal. A maxim of this long-running peace process is that it is for Bertie Ahern to deliver …

active, violent, ruthless.. and out on bail?

Pete Baker on April 26, 2006, 10:06 pm

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In their report today, the IMC stated they were unchanged in their analysis of the activity of the UVF, saying “We do not therefore change our overall assessment that the organisation is active, violent and ruthless”. Today, as the BBC report, 6 men who admitted being members of the UVF, after initially denying membership, have been “released on bail pending completion of pre-sentence reports in June when they will be sentenced”.From the 10th IMC report – on the UVF – …

Robinson: progress, but more to do..

Mick Fealty on April 26, 2006, 8:47 pm

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Peter Robinson has just said in the Commons, (precise quotes below): Everyone will welcome progress. Indeed [refers to mortality rate of one year in the early 70s] only a fool would say anything other than there has been very significant progress. But there is still progress to be made. It’s no good picking up on the parts of the IMC report where there has been progress, and focusing on that. There are grey areas that need to be dealt with. …

Turning it on and off?

Mick Fealty on April 26, 2006, 3:19 pm

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One of the characteristics of this IMC report, which differs substantially with its past output is its notable reliance on narrative, rather than detailed analysis. But there are a couple of graphs beatings and shootings (darn – links not working) on the record of Loyalist and Republican (not simply IRA) paramilitaries over its term in office which are worth examining in detail. Given the headline analysis is focused on the very near past, this is detail that Unionist sceptics will …

The left, and policing in Latin America?

Mick Fealty on April 24, 2006, 8:02 pm

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This piece on Open Democracy is worth the long-ish read. The left has gotten its feet well under the government table in several South American countries, bouyed in various ways, like the rise in oil prices in Venezuela and widespread disillusion with the IMF in Argentina. But argues Ivan Briscoe, if it is to hold off the retributive forces calling for a major clampdown, the left must find it’s own measured way of dealing with the high levels of crime …

On the nature of fuel smuggling…

Mick Fealty on April 22, 2006, 2:17 pm

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One of the most interesting sessions on organised crime in Westminster was this one. Sylvia Hermon leads off: Q312 Lady Hermon: May I just take you to paragraph 14 of your written paper? There is a comment which jumped off the page as I was reading through it and that is: “Finally, it is important to note that while we believe the majority of illicit fuel is not sold through legitimate filling stations in Great Britain, our latest assessment is …

Ripping up St Patrick?

Mick Fealty on April 21, 2006, 1:41 am

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Extraordinary events in Downpatrick… Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty

But.. but..

Pete Baker on April 19, 2006, 3:02 pm

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In the Irish Times, Vincent Browne expresses his doubts about how inclusive, and how wise, the remembrance on Monday, of Easter 1916, actually was – “The city looked great, the GPO imposing, the Army drilled and disciplined, military music not too bad, fine weather, great crowds, no speeches and the rioters took a day off.”.. But.. but..He doesn’t provide his answers to the questions he raises.. but they are questions worth asking – It may be true that had the …

PSNI softly, softly approach in West Belfast..

Mick Fealty on April 18, 2006, 12:17 pm

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Anthony McIntyre notes an on the ground thawing between Sinn Fein and the PSNI in West Belfast in contrast with South Armagh where the wrecking ball is being employed. But, he argues, it comes with a price tag: Policing in West Belfast is walking on political eggshells. In order to entice Sinn Fein on board, the policy is to hold out the carrot in West Belfast but wield the stick in South Armagh. Whereas the effects of the stick are …