Conflict

Daily Ireland has run an editorial asking who authorised the arrest of Sean Kelly, the man convicted of the Shankill bomb. Meanwhile Paul Colgan reports the British government’s unofficial answer, that he was involved in punishment attacks. Previous claims that Kelly had been involved in street violence appear to have been denied by the PSNI. 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 …

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History in the making? Both the Newsletter (the world’s oldest daily paper) and Daily Ireland (Ireland’s newest) both carry stories which broadly welcome the deal done in Derry that will allow an Orange parade in the city for the first time in thirteen years. 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 …

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The court hearing the case against the two men charged with the killing of Robert McCartney heard from a witness who stated that nine men who “seemed to have weapons” followed Robert McCartney into the street before he was stabbed. The Crown lawyer Gordon Kerr, QC successfully appealed for the details of the statements to remain undisclosed. Note: On Slugger, all commenting is suspended on this controversial case but you can still send us views by email. However, we intend …

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It’s fairly typical that in June there is little to report in Northern Ireland beyond the usual disturbance, or as it was last year, a comparitive absence of trouble. Sport and international conferences will no doubt give us something to talk about this summer, and of course we are expecting the outcome of the ‘Adams Initiative’ (a neat branding effort to push the now retired John Hume to the peace process background?). Noel Whelan anticipates the benefits of a stood …

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It seems that Reg Empey’s declared focus on parade issues is being fought on a broader front than we are used to seeing from his party. A promising start for joined up leadership? East Belfast UUP MLA Michael Copeland has said that the future of the Parades Commission should not be used as a bargining chip in future negotiations. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the …

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Lindy McDowell kicks off her column with a morality tale which expresses her belief that violent men have been indulged under the aegis of the Northern Ireland peace process. She calls for some plainer speaking from government and excoriates what she terms the language of the Little Book of Patronising Pap. At bottom, she calculates that the two governments are daily losing trust and public credibility so long as the process of disarmament remains (apparently hopelessly) stalled. The trust has …

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Iirsh Times columnist, Fintan O’Toole doesn’t often enter the realm of Northern Irish politics, but when he does it is usually worth reading. This week he kicks off with an emotional portrayal of 1973 killing of a 14 year old by a IRA gunman who had been using her as cover to attack a British Army patrol. Although the IRA has finally admitted the killing, he argues that there is a long term inconsistency in Sinn Féin’s approach to unlawful …

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Tony Blair has given his blessing to the idea, floated earlier by Bertie Ahern, that the IRA does not have to disband. He said: “What is important is that the Republican movement pursues its aims by exclusively democratic and peaceful means, and that means an end to all violence and all preparations for violence”. 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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There are strange things happening at the moment regarding past regarding unsolved/unclaimed atrocities. The IRA, who effectively maintained a ‘legitimate targets only’ reputation amongst most nationalists for the duration of the troubles, last week admitted they had not only murdered a fourteen year old Derry schoolgirl but that they’d also killed a British soldier in supposed revenge back in 1973. Now one of the relatives of the Claudy bomb has asked that they also admit to that incident from just …

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Whilst it looks like the efforts of the Derry Chamber of Commerce to broker a deal between local residents and Orangemen, whilst the negotiations over the Whiterock parade are stuck (or is that non-existent?). The Parades Commission has not accepted representations from two different groups and a range of politicians to have a re-routing decision reversed. Caught between the unstoppable and the unmoveable, it hopes that between this year and next, “that something will turn up”. Mick FealtyMick is founding …

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Jim Gibney sees the arrest of Sean Kelly as ‘an act of provocation’, citing the case that revocation of license was previously used against Johnny Adair and that Kelly is simply not in that league. And still there is no clear answer as to why he over anyone else was lifted after the rioting in Ardoyne. Many, no doubt, will simply make their choices and fill in the empty space. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written …

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Endemic Anti Americanism is one of the key reasons that Congressman Peter King cites for cooling off on Ireland, and in particular in his support for Sinn Fein and the IRA. According to Ed Moloney, he hasn’t set foot in Ireland since before 11th September 2001. It is hard to read whether it has more to do with the Bush charm offensive towards the liberal finge of the Republican party and the internal repercussions of offering public support to anti …

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Bertie Ahern gives the impression that an IRA statement is imminent. As discussed here recently this seems largely a matter for the IRA, more than at any time since the peace process began. The question is can the peace be kept after the statement and any unilateral act of decommissioning for long enough to suit the DUP. It would seem a political gamble. As ever, we wait to see if the IRA is willing to play. Mick FealtyMick is founding …

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Reuters reported last night that Michael Stone’s presented himself to police in London and has now been brought back to Antrim police station for questioning. 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

Paul Colgan makes his contribution to the endgame speculation on what happens next. He paints a picture of two large political projects, each having to climb through the eye of two very different needles. The DUP, with the business of annihilating the UUP done and the IRA gradually coming to terms with the fact that its continued activity is damaging the political integrity of the whole Republican movement. If the IRA is now finally removed from the scene, what do …

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Briege Gadd notes that although community relations in Northern Ireland seem to be improving across Northern Irish society, the summer every year is tough for a number of communities. She suggests the best response from Catholic communities to contentious Orange parades, should be blythe indifference. 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 …

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Seán Kelly, the one surviving member of the two man team who planted the Shankill bomb which killed nine people in 1993, had his licence revoked at the weekend, the first member of the IRA to have done so since the Belfast Agreement. It came in the wake of rioting in Ardoyne. The Newsletter sees it as natural justice; Daily Ireland as an outrage. However Dublin government officials are somewhat puzzled and looking for clarification from Peter Hain’s office (subs …

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The Irish Times has Bertie Ahern’s statement after his meetings with Tony Blair and the DUP delegation to the Irish Embassy in London: He said he was “not too concerned” about the timing of the statement, so long as it contained the elements needed to restore confidence and move the Belfast Agreement process forward. “To move forward, we need a clear, unambiguous end of all paramilitary and criminal activity and we need to see the completion of decommissioning,” he said. …

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Tougher regulation (which demands the names of specfic organisers be supplied in advance of a given parade) from the Parades Commission could lead to trouble in places well beyond the tradition trouble spots. 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

LOYALIST paramilitaries are suspected to have beaten a 56-year-old woman with baseball bats in her Ballymoney house and gave her 24 hours to leave. UPDATE: The couple who live in the house say they are leaving. Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com