Category Archives: Northern Ireland
December 11, 2015
Originally published in Spectator Blogs
Some days the world is so stupid that getting out of bed seems to carry too many risks. Today, thanks to the Independent, the bottom of the stupid-pool has been reached. The ‘paper’ has just run a …
Posted in
Extremism,
Northern Ireland,
Opinion Editorial,
Religious Fundamentalism,
Terrorism & Security,
United Kingdom
May 5, 2014
Originally published in The Spectator
‘The release of Gerry Adams felt a bit like the old days. A Unionist protest outside the police station, a rally of a press conference at a Republican club with Adams, Gerry Kelly and Martin McGuinness …
Posted in
Northern Ireland,
Opinion Editorial,
Spotlight
May 2, 2014
Originally published in The Spectator
‘Peter Hain has become a disgrace. Earlier this year it appeared that the Former Northern Ireland Minister was one of the people responsible for the cock-up over letters of amnesty for ‘on-the-run’ terrorists. Now he has gone …
Posted in
Northern Ireland,
Opinion Editorial,
Spotlight
May 1, 2014
Originally published in The Spectator
In one sense the arrest of Gerry Adams for questioning in relation to the murder of Jean McConville is not a surprise. On the other hand it is astonishing.
I cannot think how many times over the years the …
Posted in
Northern Ireland,
Opinion Editorial,
Spotlight
April 16, 2014
Originally published in The Wall Street Journal
‘”We will never give in to terrorism or violence.” How often have we heard such statements from our political leaders? Especially after any terrorist atrocity. The words sound good, but they’re simply not true: …
Posted in
Northern Ireland,
Opinion Editorial,
Spotlight,
Terrorism & Security
April 15, 2014
Originally published in The Spectator
“Melanie McDonagh wrote a piece on Friday objecting to ‘those pundits who find Mr McGuinness’s presence anywhere intolerable.’ As one such pundit I would like to exercise a right of reply. Not to pick a fight with …
Posted in
Northern Ireland,
Opinion Editorial,
Spotlight,
Terrorism & Security,
United Kingdom
April 9, 2014
Originally published in The Spectator
“I know that the official line is delight at the ‘progress’ allegedly represented by the presence of Martin McGuinness, in white tie and tails, standing to toast the Queen’s health at a banquet in Windsor Castle. But what …
Posted in
Northern Ireland,
Opinion Editorial,
Spotlight
April 3, 2014
Originally published in The Spectator
“Readers will know that I am interested in the subject of post-Good Friday agreement ‘justice’ in Northern Ireland. Having been one of the few people to have followed the possibilities of justice over Bloody Sunday, I also …
Posted in
Northern Ireland,
Opinion Editorial
January 8, 2013
In the wake of the first council meeting of the New Year, the city of Belfast is today once again counting the cost of a night of destructive rioting in the estates to its east, the fifth consecutive night in which violence …
Posted in
Northern Ireland,
Spotlight,
The Scoop