Conflict

MI5 is to move from Stormont to the Palace Army Barracks just outside Belfast. The move has caused a storm of protest, with Mark Durkan seeing Tony Blair yesterday afternoon, and Gerry Kelly of Sinn Fein protesting it is “unacceptable that an organisation which has set itself against policing and political change throughout the course of this process should be given an expanded role”. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the …

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Pogroms seems an emotive term to use about events last week in Ballymurphy. Literally the term comes from the Russian to ‘wreck havoc’, and is defined as “an organized, often officially encouraged massacre or persecution of a minority group, especially one conducted against Jews”. Can a single family be defined as a minority group? Whatever the truth is, some truly traumatic events took place last week within a community which has been no stranger to tragedy and persecution mostly from …

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The Donaldson spy story remains suitably murky for the genre. No doubt people will continue to believe the version of events which suits them best. However there was an interesting piece in yesterday’s Sunday Life which suggests Donaldson was being used to catch a bigger fish. The surveillance operation was called off after four weeks when the big fish did not bite. It also suggests that Donaldson had not told his handlers about the spy ring because he was protecting …

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It looks like the Garda have put together enough of a case against several individuals to send to the DPP, though it’s not clear when. Interestingly Phil Flynn, former Vice President of Sinn Fein and confidante of the Taoiseach is not included. Five men have been charged in connection with the robbery so far. 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 …

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Henry McDonald reports that ‘Ireland’s oldest terror group’ and the one which arguably fired the opening shots in the troubles, is going to disband, though not give up it’s guns: which raises concerns about where those guns will go, and who retains control of them if they are not decommissioned by IICD. The UVF leader confirmed that the organisation plans to wind up all its paramilitary units and command structures. However, the UVF would not follow the IRA and decommission …

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As more troops withdraw so is the danger they once faced when doing the Northern Ireland tour of duty. Now it seems the extra allowances are to be cut too. Thanks to Betty for the heads up. 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

Brian Rowan reports that the IMC’s information which indicated that the IRA continued to possess a number of arms came from MI5. He also reports that the DUP is beginning to question the veracity of General De Chastellaine’s report last September. 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

It seems that two men have been charged with the killing of Gerard Devlin. The PSNI is actively investigating a possible connection between Devlin’s killing and the arsonist campaign in Ballymurphy. 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

We’re getting reports that another firebomb attack has taken place in Ballymurphy allegedly connected with the murder of Gerard Devlin. That brings a total of six fire attacks, though it’s not yet clear if this attack is on a new target or simply the gutting of a house already attacked. It has the smack of a very controlled campaign. Daily Ireland has more of an interview with Devlin’s widow, although it contains no mention of the subsquent attacks. Mick FealtyMick …

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Mark Devenport asks why all the political attention remains on the IRA, when it remains by far the most consistent and ‘well behaved’ of all the local paramilitaries. He comes up with two answers. Firstly, Sinn Fein’s political success has demanded much higher levels of public scrutiny for itself and its sister organisation. And secondly, the IRA’s own refusal to submit to a very limited amount of transparency demanded of it by its political opponents in the DUP around its …

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Well not quite, but keep an eye on the papers tomorrow. This tragic event of Friday night seems to have been followed up by a series of attacks in the area. We are getting reports that since then that so far four houses belonging to the members of one extended family have been burned, as well as a commerical premises. It would seem a full blown campaign is under way to push all of them out of Ballymurphy. None of …

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At last, the BBC have made available Johnston Brown’ s absorbing interview on the Taking A Stand programme, first broadcast on Radio 4 on Monday. 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

Stephen Farry of the Alliance Party argues that for all the heavy protest, the IMC performing a role that is ultimately in the interest of Sinn Fein. 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

Well, Chris at Balrog notes his party’s TD are calling for the IMC to be scraped – offence, perhaps. But Beano at Everything Ulster sees the party’s reaction purely as a defensive move on the part of the Republican movement. Dick Kerr, one of the Commissioners speaking last night on the BBC’s PM programme said that that Sinn Fein’s accusation that the IMC was politically biased was “an easy accusation for someone to make who doesn’t like the message. It …

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Initial reactions to the IMC report yesterday is mixed. In Australia and the US, there are relatively upbeat accounts of yesterday’s news for the IRA. Today’s Irish Times similarly gives the IRA some encouraging noises (subs needed): As the Independent Monitoring Commission (IMC) observed in its latest report: the IRA is like an oil tanker. It will take time to turn completely and there will be turbulence in its wake. But the liberal Scottish Herald believes the talks about power …

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As Gonzo points out, yesterday marked two anniversaries: Bloody Sunday in 1972; and the murder of Robert McCartney. It seems that despite 151 witnesses statements, there is, according to the sisters, still no admissable evidence from any of the seventy odd people inside the bar. The reported threat from the killers would still appear to be in force. The family repeated its appeal for witnesses to come forward, including the British spy Denis Donaldson who they suggest “could have been …

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According to the Irish Times, IMC will report (this week?) that the IRA is still centrally organising intelligence operations, but is not clear as to whether criminal operations by its members are sanctioned by the leadership. 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