Interesting feature piece from Kevin Smith at Reuters on the latest disturbances from Northern Ireland. 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 UDA has made a short statement calling for the rioting to end. Which appears to leave the UVF out in the cold. Peter Hain is expected to announce their ceasefire officially ended, possibly tomorrow evening. With what consequence it is not clear. 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. …
Kevin Myers in a short piece in the First Post, argues that the rioters are simply following their own logic that if the IRA got away with the judicious application violence in order to win influence and concessions with the British, they might just gain something too. 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 Levee breaks blog, believes Mitchell Reiss got in one when he suggested that there has been ‘an abdication of responsibilty’. He’s particularly annoyed with the apparent inaction of Unionist politicians as shops and small businesses were destroyed in Newtownabbey, with little serious comment from senior Unionist politicians. 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 …
David McKittrick worries that the Loyalist violence may delay the IRA’s decommissioning process. Jimmy Burns however has assurance from one senior spokesman that the riots will not stop the IRA from giving up arms. 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
I don’t have a subscription to the Independent, but the initial slug piece from Bruce Anderson’s essay asks an interesting question, which might be worth asking here: if the rioters were Catholic, would the world take more time to understand their motivation? 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: …
This story from Angelique Christafis must be familiar to anyone who has every lived in an area in Belfast where the local paramilitaries play cat and mouse with the police and/or army. But this particular Loyalist has had enough of it. 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
EVERYONE in Northern Ireland has now been blamed for the weekend riots by someone, so why not the Kaiser Chiefs too? Their lyrics certainly suggest they have more of a handle on the situation than those in charge (supposedly). Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com
Ciaran had a bird’s eye view of the city on Saturday. He saw five separate columns of smoke and has a night view of the city towards the centre. 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
Alex Benjamin is a communications expert with the UUP. He was working in party offices in East Belfast on Saturday as events kicked off. What he saw of the police action clearly shook him up considerably. He takes up the story below:By Alex Benjamin From the outset it should be pointed out that I have no axe to grind. I’m not an Orangeman and not protestant. But the scenes I saw on Saturday as I worked in Michael Copeland’s and …
THE school bells of east Belfast will be ringing shortly to signal home time, so expect a bunch of kids to be blocking off the Newtownards or Albertbridge road in about an hour. Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com
AS Mark McGregor noted here earlier, there’s someone posting on the Love Ulster site who seemed to know about tonight’s rioting well in advance. Presumably the authorities will be interested, as they have already shown in another current case where documents relating to terrorism were downloaded.Questions have already been been raised about the part paramilitaries have played in the LU campaign, and the fact that the DUP and UUP leaders had been expected to speak to a rally at the …
SOME contributors have already posted some useful information on what’s happening around Belfast today on this thread. However, it might be more convenient for everyone if we posted updates on the rioting in the comments of this one. If there’s trouble out there, let all of us know where to avoid. Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com
OK, so let’s get this straight – a chimp escapes from the zoo and the police fire warning shots at it. A few days later, the police come under automatic gunfire and bomb attack and they contain the situation by firing sponge-tipped plastic bullets and giving the rioters a free shower. Go figure. Jonathan McCambridge explains the new thin green line the PSNI find themselves walking along.Jonathan McCambridge writes: Throughout the summer senior police officers have been left exasperated by …
ANOTHER ‘first’ for Northern Ireland – an Algerian has become the first person to stand trial on terrorist charges who isn’t a loyalist or republican. Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com
The overture begins. Martin McGuinness has signaled (very candidly) that the process of decommissioning of the IRA substantial armoury may have already begun – ironically, by saying he was not going to talk about what might be happening at this moment. Such is the game of cat and mouse between journalist and politician in these parts. There’s no expected statement from De Chastellaine as yet. However, there’s little doubt this act will materialise, when others in the past did not. …
A unionist friend, who has just returned to Northern Ireland after 25 years away, confessed that he would have done precisely what several of the Catholic residents of Ahoghill have decided to do – leave: “I would not stay where I was not wanted, or where I could not trust my neighbours”. That was three weeks ago and the drain of the Catholic population in that area continues. Ahoghill never had a large Catholic community, but in a village of …
A CHILD of five has been cautioned by police for being involved in serious rioting in the Shankill area of north Belfast. Police say the kids are organising their “recreational riots” using mobile phone text messages, without outside (school) involvement.The riots, too late to make the latest IMC report, ostensibly were the “community response” to “heavy-handed policing” during house searches. The searches – carried out in the wake of a UVF “show of strength” – turned up a gun and …
A war of words follows a minor riot after police attempted an arrest in one of the most beautiful and tranquil corners of Northern Ireland – Cushendall. Sinn Fein councillor Oliver McMullan is making a complaint to the police ombudsman, whilst DUP MLA Mervyn Storey excoriates rioters for sending one policeman to hospital. 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 …
The Sunday Business Post reports on the launch event of Love Ulster in Larne, which involved both Loyalist Paramilitaries and Robert Saulter, Grand Master of the Orange Order: The Orange Order’s grand master has consistently refused to enter into negotiations with nationalist residents’ groups over contentious loyalist parades. Saulters has argued that the groups are a “front for terrorism’‘. Saulters said he was unaware of the presence of loyalist paramilitaries at the Larne event and refused to comment further. The …
