Hi yous’uns, just marvel at this Daily Telegraph headline as it echoes round your brain Brian WalkerFormer BBC journalist and manager in Belfast, Manchester and London, Editor Spolight; Political Editor BBC NI; Current Affairs Commissioning editor BBC Radio 4; Editor Political and Parliamentary Programmes, BBC Westminster; former London Editor Belfast Telegraph. Hon Senior Research Fellow, The Constitution Unit, Univ Coll. London
Depressingly familiar scenes both outside and inside Bishop Street courthouse in Londonderry on Monday as three men, including a brother-in-law of SDLP MLA Pat Ramsey, appeared on terrorism charges after their arrest on Thursday last week. From the UTV report Appearing in the dock, all three men refused to recognise the court. And from the Irish Times report Dozens of relatives and friends of the co-defendants crowded into the Bishop Street courthouse for the hearing. More than a dozen police …
In a short report on the collapse of the trial of a 20-year-old man charged with the murder of Emmet Shiels in Londonderry in June 2008, the BBC notes Emmet Shiels’ murder shocked the city, and brought a thousand people onto the streets in condemnation. Along with editorials and a controversial petition, too… The trial collapsed when the prosecution offered no evidence. The BBC report doesn’t explain any further, but the Belfast Telegraph report does At the time of the murder the Independent …
Apparently, there’s a problem with the £800,000 public artwork, “Mute Meadow“, in Londonderry. Although it’s not entirely clear what the “issue” actually is. It was supposed to have been ‘switched on’ on 25 June 2011. The permanent public installation, designed by Vong Phaophanit and Claire Oboussier, was announced as the winner of the Foyle Public Arts Project in 2009. From the BBC report Vong Phaophanit, Turner prize nominee and his co-creator, Claire Oboussier, have commented on the issue. “‘The protracted process in …
In response to the anarchy in Londonderry, and elsewhere, the PSNI have launched a Facebook campaign… Police are urging young people from all communities to help drive the figures down even further with help from social media. “The Facebook campaign is one tactic designed specifically to reach out to those over 16 who may have information,” said Assistant Chief Constable Drew Harris. “These groups are self-serving, self-named, accountable to no one, elected by no one and they are carrying out …
The Guardian’s Henry McDonald reports from anarchic Londonderry on the continuing activities of vigilante group, Republican Action Against Drugs (RAAD). Watch the accompanying video report here. From the Guardian report Some RAAD members are ex-Provisionals who back the peace process but still take up the gun against members of their own communities accused of antisocial activities. Others connected to RAAD have joined organisations such as the Real IRA, which is also running a campaign of terror attacks against police officers, security …
With Republican Action Against Drugs (RAAD) claiming responsibility for recent shootings and threats in anarchic Londonderry, in the Belfast Telegraph Eamonn McCann provides some clarity on the vigilante group’s background. News reports which have lumped RAAD in with the Real IRA or Continuity IRA are wide of the mark and a source of confusion. RAAD was founded in 2008 by members and recent ex-members of the Provisional IRA in Derry. It made its ‘debut’ in April the following year, admitting responsibility …
As a Belfast Telegraph report tells us Over the next fortnight the black flag of anarchy will fly over Free Derry Corner… It’s been flying there for some time… Pete Baker
I’ve always assumed there was more than a passing similarity between Liverpool and Derry. Neither is quite what they were, both have a long history as a major deep water port, with propensity to look outwards rather than inwards. As I passed through my old haunts in the English city the other day, I came across this piece by Phil Redmond on Liverpool, Derry and the evolution of the UK City of Culture: Principally, it is merely the badge of …
To be filed alongside the report of the 18-year-old shot in both legs in the Creggan estate in Londonderry. While his mother waited at the top of the lane… According to the Irish Times headline – “Five forced to flee Derry city after death threats“. Except… From the report A DERRY community worker who helps young people who have been threatened by the vigilante group Republican Action Against Drugs, said yesterday that five young men were forced to flee the …
Given the PSNI Chief Constable Matt Baggot’s current concern about certain communities, and confidence, the BBC report on the 18-year-old shot in both legs in the Creggan estate in Londonderry on Thursday night is worth noting. From the BBC report His mother was told to take him to the location, and waited at the top of a lane while he was shot twice. “I know what happened was wrong but hopefully he’ll get help,” she said. The dissident group Republican …
Not that we didn’t already know that… However, the Northern Ireland Tourism Minister, the DUP’s Arlene Foster, fielded a number of NI Assembly questions back in Feb/March on the issue of the Irish Government’s “Visa Waiver Scheme for nationals of 16 countries who hold a valid visa for entry into the United Kingdom.” Here is one of her answers I discussed this issue with Hugo Swire, NIO Minister of State last month. The Republic of Ireland, ROI, introduced a visa …
And in the first UK City of Culture too… The Derry Journal reports the reaction of Australian artist, Joan Walsh-Smith, on learning that her 30 metre long public artwork, City People, commissioned in 1973 by the Arts Council of Northern Ireland for the Foyle Street Urban Park in Londonderry, was bulldozed in the mid-1990s to make way for a carpark. From the Derry Journal report Mrs. Walsh-Smith recently queried the whereabouts of the Arts Council commissioned project after trying to locate it on Google street …
A UTV report acknowledging the contribution of PSNI Chief Superintendent Stephen Martin in Londonderry’s successful bid, against Sligo, to host the All-Ireland Fleadh during the UK City of Culture year notes another reason for denizens of the city to celebrate in 2013. From the UTV report The addition of the Fleadh means 2013 is shaping up to be a year to remember for the city. It will coincide with the Derry/Londonderry UK City of Culture – and it is all …
After the application of some internal, and external, pressure the Ulster Council of Comhaltas reversed their earlier decision in time for the organisation’s central executive to select Londonderry to host their All-Ireland Fleadh during the UK City of Culture year in 2013. In the event, the only other candidate was Sligo… [Adds – Apparently Ennis withdrew their bid “for the greater good”.] Meanwhile, in the aftermath of the launch of a £1million Big Lottery fund for UK City of Culture celebrations, there …
Whilst Comhaltas dither, and differ, over whether to hold their All-Ireland Fleadh in Londonderry during the UK City of Culture year in 2013, the UK’s Big Lottery Fund Chair, Peter Ainsworth, was in the city today to announce a £1million small grants programme to “support communities across Northern Ireland that want to play a part in the City of Culture celebrations in 2013.” From the UK’s Big Lottery Fund press release Shona McCarthy, Chief Executive of Culture Company 2013, said: “We …
After dithering by the Londonderry branches, about being associated with the UK City of Culture, it’s now reported that the Ulster Council of Comhaltas have declined to support the city’s bid to host the All-Ireland Fleadh in 2013. From the Derry Journal report Moves to bring the 2013 All-Ireland Fleadh will now not proceed after the Ulster Council said it had security fears about bringing the event to the city. The Ulster Council said it was with “deep regret and …
At the second tiime of asking, Londonderry branch delegates of Comhaltas have agreed to bid to host the All-Ireland Fleadh during the UK City of Culture year by 13 votes to 1. As the BBC report notes Some Comhaltas members, who initially opposed the move because of the UK link in Derry’s City of Culture 2013 title, did not attend. [Lost in traffic? – Ed] Possibly… Meanwhile, Sinn Féin’s Martina Anderson has launched her campaign “to neutralise the U.K. prefix…” …
Nevin pointed at a rare tree of relevance in the comment zone yesterday. It’s the full statement from the former Sinn Féin “Director of Unionist Engagement“, now “Sinn Féin Junior Minister”, Martina Anderson, on the reluctance of some within Comhaltas to host the all-Ireland Fleadh in Londonderry during the UK City of Culture year. [That would be the Northern Ireland Executive Junior Minister? – Ed] Quite. It’s now being covered, 4 days after being issued, by the Derry Journal. How …
More symptoms of that political psychosis in evidence in Londonderry. Sinn Féin’s Martina Anderson has informed the BBC that, at a meeting of the Irish music organisation Comhaltas in the city on Wednesday night, members failed to agree on a bid to host the all-Ireland Fleadh in 2013. From the BBC report “It is deeply disappointing,” [Martina Anderson] said. “My understanding is that County Derry branches are against it and the city branches are for it.” The problem? According to the report Sinn …
