Conflict

Daily Ireland columnist Damien Kiberd offers the explanation that “the planting in the media of various bizarre stories designed to de-stabilise Sinn Fein”, is being orchestrated out of a fear that Sinn Fein will permitted to participate in the control of the PSNI and ultimately the final dismantling of Special Branch. He accuses the party’s political opponents of orchestrating a media campaign against it, because they fear the rise and rise of the party. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of …

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Radio Free Eireann runs a lengthy interview with ‘Martin Ingram’ (sound file, starts 25 minutes in). Ingram describes how informers were enlisted from within the IRA, how MI5 and the FBI cooperated in running British agents in the US (including Dennis Donaldson), how MI5 and MI6 operated in the US, what British protection was given to Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness and their failure to root out informers, the significance of American funding for IRA, and more generally how Northern …

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There’s little doubt that the SDLP has had something of a renaissance since the general election. As Pol O Muiri remarked a few months back, it looks like Mark Durkan has been eating raw meat for breakfast. He continues his chase after Sinn Fein with an accusation that the party performed its 180 degree turn when it got wind of the fact the government would require on the runs to appear in person in court. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor …

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Daily Ireland reports accusations that the UVF is protecting the killers of Thomas Devlin in the Mount Vernon Estate. 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

Lindy McDowell doesn’t pull her punches. Today she roundhouses the Loyalist Commission for commending the UDA for officially giving up extortion. 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

Henry McDonald argues that as the legislation was the product of secret negotiations between Sinn Fein and Number Ten, the broadly held perception that that party’s concerns are also the British Government’s prime concern will stymy the governments’ efforts to get an Assembly back up and running. 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, …

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The Belfast Telegraph called in polling heavyweights Mori to conduct an opinion poll on the popularity of the OTR legislation with the Northern Irish population. The results showed an unusually high degree of agreement across the community boundary, especially on the issue of whether OTRs should turn up in person at any judicial review: Protestants are more likely to be opposed to the scheme, although more Catholics find it unacceptable (43%) than acceptable (33%). Among the Protestants surveyed, 81% said …

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CAITRIONA Ruane, Sinn Fein’s ‘human rights’ spokesperson, has been giving off about South Down MP Eddie McGrady not attending Parliament often enough. Maybe Caitriona wants into the House of Commons more badly than her recent poor performance in the last general election would indicate, dirty tricks campaign or not. Or could it be that Caitriona’s bid for the South Down seat was actually designed to fail? The Down Democrat reports that Sinn Fein activists are re-evaluating Ruane the Replacement Republican, …

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Suzanne Breen with various reactions from Republicans who are disaffected by the Donaldson affair. Update: more detail on the South Down angle from last week’s Down Democrat. 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

The Sunday Tribune has an unnamed source who asserts that there was indeed a Sinn Fein spy ring at Stormont, and it included both politicians and party employees. More damagingly, the aim of the ring was not to prosecute an armed campaign against rival politicians, but part of a dirty tricks campaign against Unionist politicians. More damagingly still, amongst its targets were un-outed gay politicians, which sits strangely with the party’s consistent public support for gay rights. Correction: The Tribune’s …

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Alisdair McDonnell asked some interesting questions in his letter to the Irish Times yesterday. With his permission we re-print it today:From Alisdair McDonnell Sinn Féin is claiming it was stitched up over the IRA spy ring at Stormont which led to the arrest and charging of a leading member, Denis Donaldson. That is a profoundly serious allegation and one the SDLP takes very seriously. We are determined to get to the truth of what really happened. That is why we …

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The Lisa Dorrian website dedicated to drawing out any information leading to the recovery of her body has been a huge draw for readers. Though its not clear what kind of response it has drawn. The slideshow that is central to the site is a powerful evocation of her young life. 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 …

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Well after studying a couple of calendars for 2006, that’s what John McGurk reckons. 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

David Liddington explains why his party abandoned a bipartisan approach to the OTR legislation. Apart from the legislation itself he believes the timing is flawed citing Sinn Fein’s continuing refusal to back the police, and notes that in practical terms that “the murderers of Robert McCartney have not been turned in; instead, his relatives have been driven from their homes by intimidation”. And that people who’ve been ‘exiled’ from Northern Ireland by the IRA and Loyalist organisations have not been …

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Susan McKay argues that now the IRA is on it’s way out as an active player in politics, the criminality in Loyalist areas should be left to the police and the Assets Recovery Agency to deal with. 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

Apparently Daily Ireland leads today on the Peter McBride case. We can’t bring it to you because their site doesn’t update until 3.30 each day. Elsewhere, the political focus in the British government’s proposals on what to do about the so-called On The Runs, those people still wanted by the police for crimes they’ve not yet stood trial for. The DUP stands ready to take the issue to the European Court of Human Rights, if they cannot muster enough weight …

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The former Dutch industrialist Dr Tiede Herrema was back in Limerick recently, where he donated his collection of papers relating to his kidnapping by the IRA 30 years ago to the local university. What was even more fascinating than how easily Herrema forgave his captors, was kidnapper, Eddie Gallagher, explaining the political thinking behind the whole plot. Worth a read.In his hare-brained attempt to strike a blow against capitalism – in this case offering the multinational businessman his freedom in …

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The recent appointment of Bertha McDougall brought some warm responses from Unionists recently. But, Mark Devenport asks, will she be able to change the current catchall definition without starting a major political storm? The Newsletter yesterday made the case that there is a substantive difference between perpetrators and victims. It seems that both nationalist parties are unhappy with McDougall’s appointment. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and …

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PR Week have named the McCartney sisters Communicators of the Year Award. It was quite a story, that several times looked as if if might have slipped under the radar but for the persistence Robert McCartney’s partner and his sisters. 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