Parties – Page 34 – Slugger O'Toole

Gerry Adams: It’s not that the public cannot tolerate a lie, noble or otherwise…

Mick Fealty on November 8, 2013, 6:45 pm

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There’s an important detail I don’t want to end the week without marking for future reference. It’s Mike Nesbitt’s grilling of the Sinn Fein Chair Declan Kearney on The View last night over the ongoing issue of Gerry Adams: The critical point comes at 7.22 when Nesbitt is asked whether a public appeal will suffice for information about the whereabouts of the seven bodies of The Disappeared that remain unrecovered: Nesbitt: Well, it’s been said, and it’s been said, and …

“The fact of the matter is that somebody ordered that Jean McConville be murdered…”

Pete Baker on November 7, 2013, 12:17 am

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The BBC reported that, following the broadcast of the recent BBC/RTÉ programme on The Disappeared, the Northern Ireland Deputy First Minister, Sinn Féin’s Martin McGuinness said The fact that some families still do not know where their murdered relatives were secretly buried by the IRA is a “wound that must not be left to fester” [But whose wound, Martin? – Ed] And on what body… The quote continues, “I understand that these killings happened decades ago and those involved may …

“The lack of a truth recovery process means that tribal myths will continue to trump actual memory”

Pete Baker on November 4, 2013, 1:48 pm

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A parting shot from the out-going chief commissioner of the Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission, Prof Michael O’Flaherty. From the Irish Times report Prof O’Flaherty said: “Some of our most vulnerable people remain at the margins, with inadequate acknowledgment of their suffering; many are dying without ever being able to share their stories of pain and loss. “There is not a day that goes by without the unresolved sense of neglect and injustice triggering societal problems. “The lack of a truth …

“So, what was British policy?”

Pete Baker on November 1, 2013, 5:42 pm

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John mentioned, in passing, Alex Kane’s column in today’s Irish News. But, in reaching for his hyperbolical conclusion, he missed the more interesting part of the article. From Alex Kane in the Irish News. As far back as 1972 the Heath government introduced the concept of power-sharing, the ‘Irish dimension’ and the constitutional guarantee: and from that moment it seemed inevitable that any deal they would agree to (and hope that the Irish would underwrite with them) would be a deal …

Westminster not Stormont has the power to answer the collusion charges and should use it

Brian Walker on October 28, 2013, 12:47 pm

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When Alastair Campbell issues a warning people should sit up and take notice, even today. You do get this sense across the spectrum that it is not a priority. They have got to be careful about that. “[John] Major made it a priority, Blair made it an absolute priority. He was like a dog with a bone. I do get a sense that it is not on the current government’s radar. British policy on Northern Ireland is to stay as …

With all this regressive hyperbole about NI’s past, is it time for a new sustainable narrative?

Mick Fealty on October 28, 2013, 9:57 am

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Good piece from Tom Kelly in the Irish News this morning, which subtly identifies the problem with the exaggerated claims of recent stories in the media. At a time when voter registration is falling right across the board, it’s an impoverished narrative to be offering voters who are already switching off from Stormont in droves. He tops out his analysis with a reference to the enormously useful pre publicity Gerry Kelly’s been getting on the 1983 break out from the Maze …

DCC Judith Gillespie: “Policing remains one of the most visible institutions whose actions are interpreted through opposing narratives and lenses…”

Gary Kent on October 24, 2013, 2:03 pm

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One woman dominated the British-Irish Parliamentary Assembly this week in London – not the Secretary of State Theresa Villiers who opened the Assembly on Monday, but Judith Gillespie OBE, Deputy Chief Constable of the PSNI. She was no uninspiring plod – all proceeding northerly in strangulated officialise. She brought passion, conviction and incisiveness to the table. Her “sterling” speech, as Paul Bew put it, was also described as a tour de force in outlining the journey from the RUC into …

“The family are of the view it is vital that the police ombudsman receives this journal…”

Pete Baker on October 23, 2013, 12:39 am

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As I noted back in January this year, an inquest has yet to be held into the death of former senior Sinn Féin member, and informer, Denis Donaldson in 2006 – responsibility for which was claimed by the Real IRA. And, despite a previous NI Police Ombudsman‘s finding that there had been no police misconduct here, the new incumbent launched an investigation into allegations that officers may have contributed to his death. But that investigation is, reportedly, facing obstruction from the An Garda Siochana – who have refused to …

Peter Robinson: “We must learn to communicate better…”

Pete Baker on October 18, 2013, 12:35 am

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Interesting comments reported by the BBC from the Northern Ireland First Minister, DUP leader Peter Robinson, speaking at a Co-Operation Ireland dinner at Queen’s University in Belfast on Thursday night. From the BBC report Mr Robinson said that while it is easier and more comfortable for politicians and people in wider society to retreat to safe and familiar ground, that is not the ground where progress will be made. “I am entirely convinced that a shared and united society in …

“His independent role has on occasions required him to take actions against the Executive…”

Pete Baker on October 16, 2013, 2:14 pm

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In the Belfast Telegraph Liam Clarke picked up on this exchange during questions to the Northern Ireland First and deputy First Ministers in the Assembly on Monday. The topic was the review, by Dame Elish Angiolini, Lord Advocate of Scotland until 2011, of the Office of the NI Attorney General, the report on which was delivered to OFMDFM in October 2012. Here’s the relevant section from Hansard. Mr Attwood: Given the current Attorney General’s inclination to join in Supreme Court cases, European …

[Soapbox] Shinners, please don’t blame the messenger!

Soapbox on October 15, 2013, 8:10 am

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Gerry Adams is a liar. There. I’ve said it. Cue the wolf circling the sheep and herding them all in. He’s never been in the IRA. (yeah, right) He was in jail when ‘Always look on the Bright Side Of Life’ was written (not true). He is reported to have told the family of Jean Mc Conville that he was also in jail at that time (he wasn’t). Lies have a habit of tripping you up. Not so, if you’re …

With a rigid focus on ideology over practical politics, is nationalism lagging in the economic race?

Mick Fealty on October 11, 2013, 4:35 pm

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That was the headline over Jim Gibney’s column in the Irish News yesterday. It usefully strips away all the talk of crisis and gets to the bare bones of the struggle for power and influence in Stormont. He concludes with the line that “the DUP should be mindful […] that power sharing involves sharing power, not the delusion of unionism monopolising power.” It’s certainly not been a great record for the battle a day administration. Leave aside the lost deal …

Meanwhile over at what really matters…

Brian Walker on October 8, 2013, 5:14 pm

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Well below the big headline on the latest torrid twist with Gerry Adams’ grim mugshot at the top, lurks the unassuming headline “NI trailing in English and Maths”. This is the local version of the big OECD report on educational performance in England and NI which concludes that today’s kids are less well educated in the basics than their grandparents (people like me). And yes there’s a paradox here.” Northern Ireland is ‘best in Europe’ at primary maths. But that …

Giro d’Italia 2014: “It’s a lot more than a cycling race”

Pete Baker on October 8, 2013, 3:17 pm

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When the BBC leaked the proposed route of the opening stage of the Giro d’Italia 2014 last week it was greeted by ritual wailing and gnashing of teeth by various representatives of the ‘excluded’ west Belfast. And with the whingeing out of the way, the official announcement was able to be welcomed with more decorum by the Northern Ireland First and deputy First Ministers, as well as the Tourism Minister and the Minister for Regional Development. [And the NI Minister with responsibility …

Seanad Referendum: Good days, bad days and some in between…

Mick Fealty on October 7, 2013, 8:04 am

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So, quickly the Seanad Referendum, good days, bad days, and a couple of inbetweeners… Good day for Micheál Martin. Picked the right side, largely for the right reasons. His obvious ease in publicly discussing policy (not typical of many Irish politicians) contrasted with the Taoiseach’s no show, and played a critical role in boiling down the Yes side’s 72% rating at the beginning of the summer. Leader of the party formerly known as ‘shifty’ made his opponents look shiftless. Post poll …

“it is impossible to believe that any other political leader on this island would survive…”

Pete Baker on October 2, 2013, 2:41 pm

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The guilty verdict in the retrial of Liam Adams on ten offences, including rape and gross indecency, against his daughter, Áine, leaves unanswered questions about the evolving narrative of his brother, Sinn Féin president and Louth TD, Gerry Adams, post the 2009 UTV Insight programme when the allegations were made public. Indeed, the absence of Gerry Adams as a witness in the retrial was questioned by the jury – as UTV reports During a first trial earlier this year, which …

Accepting Northern Ireland is part of the UK is what nationalists signed up for…

Mick Fealty on September 25, 2013, 11:37 am

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It’s worth noting Vernon Coaker’s intervention, which is a reminder to both sets of ‘leaders’ in Northern Ireland of the basis of the Belfast Agreement back in 1998: “I can’t help but think that to overcome the setbacks, we almost need to establish first principles again, the sort that were enshrined in the Good Friday Agreement. “Nationalists and republicans need to show that they accept Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom while the majority of people who live …

Scotland’s Commissioner to investigate Gerry Kelly’s attendance and speech at Castlederg parade

Pete Baker on September 24, 2013, 9:11 pm

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With the Northern Ireland Assembly Commissioner for Standards, Douglas Bain, having recused himself from the investigation of the complaints that Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly’s attendance and speech at the controversial Castlederg Parade in August this year was in breach of the code of conduct for MLAs “by glorifying terrorism and damaging community relations” [Is he washing his hair? – Ed] He’s a member of the Parades Commission… ANYhoo… As the BBC report, the NI Assembly today agreed to appoint Scotland’s Commissioner for Ethical Standards in …

“given the particular operational emphasis of this year’s conference…”

Pete Baker on September 17, 2013, 2:04 pm

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According to a Belfast Telegraph report, unlike previous years, neither the Northern Ireland Justice Minister, David Ford, nor the Irish Justice Minister, Alan Shatter, will attend this year’s cross-border police summit on organised crime co-operation. From the Belfast Telegraph report Mr Shatter said that, given the particular operational emphasis of this year’s conference, it would be more appropriate for the Garda Commissioner and the PSNI Chief Constable to take the lead. Rather than attend the conference, the two ministers, the Commissioner …

SDLP yet to choose its candidate, but the clock is ticking…

Mick Fealty on September 16, 2013, 2:47 pm

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Tom Kelly asks, after the bloodless coup of south Belfast (which he attributes to speed and accommodation), the glaring gap in the SDLP’s defences is the European Parliament elections next year. Less than a year to go, and both Sinn Fein and the DUP have been getting their candidates settled in to their relatively new positions. Diane Dodds has been meeting small groups of farmers all over Northern Ireland and providing workshops for people on how to access support. For …