Poor man must be wondering what has hit him – Robberies, photographs, Calendars and now the Florida Arms-Smuggling resurfaces… Four in court over US gun smuggling. To borrow a phrase he probably regrets ever saying- “they haven’t gone away, you know!” Ambrose Uprichard
Newshound links to a story carried in the Impartial Reporter where in Enniskillen there was a Ban on press as Day of Reflection is held behind closed doors. There seems to have been poor communication and confusion. In Derry RTE were allowed to give full coverage. On Monday Sinn Fein Press office released an “erroneous” statement which seemed to distance the party from, and in fact be critical of the privacy decision in Fermanagh,but by the following day had changed …
It’s Back. Saville hasn’t finished, it’s being reconvened to hear testimony from another witness. Surprise return for inquiry. May the Farce be with you. Ambrose Uprichard
Bob McCartney believes that the flaw in all of last week’s dealing is in the assymetrical recognition of Sinn Fein’s electoral mandate, and its tacit endorsement of the IRA’s military mandate to potentially resume armed struggle. The notional separation of Sinn Fein from the IRA provided the party with a negotiating advantage which was not shared by its nationalist or unionist opponents. Sinn Fein, wearing its ‘democratic’ hat and relying on its electoral mandate, could claim political legitimacy enabling Adams, …
Ambrose decided to take himself to the London Review of Books to counter-balance the arrival of jpegs on Slugger. For a second he thought he had strayed onto A Tangled Web! There he found Vindicated! by David Edgar, a review of two books about the Angry Brigade. Who here is old enough to recall the Angry Brigade ? One could consider them UDA-lite.“This delicately equivocal formulation comes from Stuart Christie, whose hugely engaging memoir includes an account of the Angry …
Henry McDonald writes “The IRA is facing a fresh split as it prepares to disarm a huge arsenal to boost the chances of power-sharing in Northern Ireland. A group of dissenters issued a statement to The Observer this weekend, criticising IRA and Sinn Fein leaders over their willingness to destroy the arms and explosives.” IRA rift set to derail power sharing Ambrose Uprichard
Kevin Toolis, believes the cost of the Saville Inquiry has lined the pockets of lawyers, but will do little to redress the hurt of relatives of the innocent victims killed that day.”In 1998 revisiting that historical wrong, and truthfully rejudging the legal failures of the Widgery tribunal, seemed like a necessary step in the nascent Irish peace process. But six years later, after 16 million words have been spoken, 30 million words in documents, 921 witnesses and £155 million in …
According to a senior British Army spokesman, the IRA’s war is over regardless of any outstanding issues of decommissioning. “The indications are that, given 9/11, the IRA are not going to return to terrorism,” said the senior officer. “There isn’t the popular support, either in Ireland or the US.” So much so that it’s thought that the British military will scale down its presence in Northern Ireland when the UK wide review kicks in next month. How’s that for choreography? …
The Assets Recovery Agency has disclosed it will be auctioning the €¼m holiday home of assasinated Crawfordsburn-based Red Hand Commando boss Jim Johnston, just outside Enniscrone in Sligo. 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
Just had a heads up from Donnie on the trouble in the Holyland area near Queens after last night’s edition of Spotlight highlighted a turbulent relationship between local residents and the student population. The University Chancellor Mr McCormac: “Students concerned about negative publicity really need to focus their attention on the perpetrators, not the residents and media.” Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media …
Interesting leader in the Daily Telegraph, which as Lord Saville brings his Inquiry to a close asks, was it worth it? It answers that although it may have been cathartic for some members of the Catholic community, not everyone has been equally well served. And in particular, the high cost of the inquiry leaves questions about how other victims of the Troubles have been treated.Elsewhere in the paper Joshua Rosenburg reports on the Inquiry’s huge cost and an apparent lack …
The UDA is likely to face more political heat over its recently declared ceasefire after former Sinn Fein Belfast City Councillor Sean Hayes was informed by the PSNI that recognised death threats had been made against him and several other party members in Belfast, Dungannon and Warrenpoint. 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 30th anniversary of the Birmingham pub bombings should be marked by an IRA apology for the deaths of the 21 victims, a senior Sinn Fein official told The Times yesterday. This will perhaps come as a shock to those who believed the IRA never bombed civilian targets. Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com
Simon Hoggard on this week’s foolishness. Murphy’s law – bore Ulster into peace Ambrose Uprichard
NOT so long ago, a Prime Minister got into quite a bit of trouble for claiming that Saddam Hussein could launch a chemical attack on coalition forces within 45 minutes of the order being given. Last night the UDA went one further, and launched a bitumen attack on a car within 45 minutes of its ceasefire being recognised by the Government.The mother of an SDLP councillor in Larne has blamed the UDA – who have a track record in attacking …
Mark Mulholland with an interesting quotation from Conor O’Neill’s comparative analysis between Northern Ireland and a future conflict resolution process in Iraq. O’Neill warns that “moderate groups can rapidly haemorrhage support if the perception develops that there is no political penalty for orchestrating violence on the streets”.This would seem to be borne out by the reversal in fortunes of two of the two major stakeholders at the onset of our own peace process, the SDLP and the UUP. It is …
Henry McDonald looks forward to this week’s UTV Insight program. ‘Garda knew of IRA mole in force’ Now fresh evidence has emerged over how the IRA mole in the Garda was an open secret among police officers well before the Breen and Buchanan murders. One of their colleagues has come forward to reveal that RUC and Garda officers were well aware of an IRA agent operating inside the latter police force in North Louth for several years. Ambrose Uprichard
THE full text of Secretary of State Paul Murphy’s statement recognising the UDA ceasefire is contained below.GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCES DESPECIFICATION OF UDA/UFF Following a review of paramilitary ceasefires the Government has determined to despecify the UDA/UFF. There is no change to the status of other specified organisations. Announcing this decision, Secretary of State Paul Murphy said: “I have reviewed the status of all specified and other paramilitary organisations, as I am obliged to do under legislation, and concluded there are sufficient …
AS the Secretary of State gears up to declare that he recognises the UDA ceasefire, it seems the most likely suspect in the shooting of Stephen McEntee two nights ago was… the UDA. Earlier in the week, the car belonging to a family member of murdered UDA member Alan McCullough (killed by the UDA) was attacked, probably by UDA members. All speculation of course.The November 4 Independent Monitoring Commission report stated the following: 3.14 We said in our previous report …
THE Secretary of State – who obviously didn’t read the recent IMC report – is expected to announce that he is recognising the UDA ceasefire later today. A good week then for UDA leader Jackie McDonald, after he was spotted in St Patrick’s hall watching Mary McAleese’s Presidential inauguration yesterday. UPDATE: Analysis here from the BBC’s Barney Rowan. Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com
