I very rarely get time to read the Ulster Nation emails I get on a daily basis, but I happened to glance through today's and came across this article from the "Irish American Information Service" which provides "up-to-the-minute objective coverage of news as it happens in Ireland and the North." I laughed when I saw the "and the North" there, until I noticed the word 'objective' .

In my previous entry I posted about the arrest of a Sinn Fein member for questioning over the Claudy bomb which killed 9 people (including children) in 1972, when no warning was given about the impending explosion. How did their 'objective coverage' relay that story? "PSNI MEMBERS INTENT ON UNDERMINING PROCESS SAYS ADAMS" Objective, eh?

Read more »

Francie Brolly, Sinn Fein's East Londonderry MLA was one of 4 people arrested yesterday over the 1972 Claudy bombing. Also arrested was GAA reporter Seamus Mullan. Not that it matters mind you because presumably they'll be covered under the early release terms of the Good Friday Agreement. Now there's a depressing thought. Still, at the end of the day I suppose the victims' families would like to know who did it and put a face to the figure who took away their loved ones.

Obviously, because Mr Brolly is one of their own, his arrest was "one of the most blatant examples of political policing seen here in recent times" according to Sinn Fein's Martin McGuinness. The Party's chief negotiator seems to have forgotten about Sean Kelly quickly enough.

Read more »

It looks like the police haven't given up on the Northern Bank robbery as 2 more people are arrested yesterday. Various media reports claim Northern Bank's employee Chris Ward, from Poleglass, who was 'held hostage' during the raid was one of those arrested. The police just said a 24 year old man and a 22 year old woman were arrested.

These arrests follow previous arrests this month. Of the 10 people who have been arrested to date, 3 have appeared in court so far.

A "crude but viable" device was found at Belfast City Hall today and the building had to be evacuated, although has now been reopened after police remvoed a number of items from the scene.

There was also a bomb scare at Boating Club Lane in Londonderry, which was declared an elaborate hoax after the army carried out a controlled explosion. The device was similar to one used in an attack by republicans on SDLP MLA Pat Ramsey at the weekend and police believe it was the same people behind the attacks.

Read more »

Former Northern Ireland secretary Paul Murphy has said that Peter Hain's announcement that the reduction of councils from 26 to 7 was "too sharp" and that he backed a compromise of either 11 or 15. All the local parties except Sinn Fein backed a similar compromise, with Sinn Fein calling for the 7 council plan.

As far as I'm concerned the proposed 7 council plan is too much. The idea of merging Carrickfergus with Lisburn is ridiculous. Carrick and Newtownabbey, yes I can see the logic - but Lisburn's taking the piss a bit.

Read more »

Sinn Fein have suspended party member Francie Molloy, a man described as a 'veteran republican'. "What would lead Sinn Fein to suspend a member from the party now?" I hear you ask. Was he implicated in the Northern Bank robbery? No. Was he under investigation for involvement terrorist activities? No. Mr Molly disagreed with the party line that the RPA went wrong yesterday when it announced that there would, in future, be 7 councils in Northern Ireland.

Mr Molloy described the 7 council plan as "a sectarian headcount" (I would have said sectarian carve-up, but each to their own) and that it endorsed gerrymandering. In this Mr Molloy seems to be in agreement with all the other major parties. He said his argument was coming from a civil rights point of view and that 15 councils would have been a better option.

Read more »

I take most things I read in the Sunday Life with a pinch of salt but this is some claim to be making. Apparently David McNarry of the UUP has been to Downing Street twice in the last 2 weeks and believes Tony Blair is about to step in and save Ulster's grammar schools.

Mr McNarry is quoted as saying "Having spoken to him, I am very confident the Prime Minister will halt the plans to end academic selection. I will be surprised and very disappointed if he does not."

Read more »

Northern Ireland's (biggest selling?) newspaper the Belfast Telegraph may just finally have woken up to the idea that the Maze proposals will be a big white elephant. Today saw probably the first article in said publication that wasn't shamelessley licking the government's backside with pro-Maze spin (and in some cases, very dubious reporting).

86.5% of Northern Ireland fans asked have responded saying that they are against the plan to build a 42,500 capacity stadium at the Maze. No big shock there - there's already a Millennium Dome in London, we don't want our own.

More at Stadium For Belfast's news story "Tide Turns Against the Maze" including a press release from the Amalgamation of Northern Ireland Supporters Clubs and one from the Northern Ireland Labour Forum. Henry McDonald has also been back on the case in yesterday's observer - the one mainstream journalist I've seen writing on the topic with anything but blind obedience to the government line. Thanks Henry.

Lisburn Council could be in hot water over their refusal to allow gay 'civil partnership' registration ceremonies to use the Cherry Room which is used by the council for civil marriage ceremonies.

The Alliance's Seamus Close originally proposed that the Cherry Room continued to only be used for marriage ceremonies, and the council agreed there was a distinction between marriages and 'civil partnerships'. However, Sinn Fein claim that the council have been advised by lawyers that the 'ban' could be successfully challenged in court. The council will now seemingly hold an emergency meeting about this on Wednesday.

I have mixed feelings about this. Call me a bigot if you like (I'm sure it wouldn't be the first time) but I don't equate civil partnerships with marriage. I don't know if that means they shouldn't be allowed to use the wedding room or not, but the usual cries of discrimination bore me. Frankly I think marriage should be encouraged and its value promoted. I'm more concerned about the message the move would send and the devaluation of marriage it might indicate than I am about keeping gays out. People treat marriage too cheaply as it is, I've seen it myself and it's quite depressing. Don't make it any worse!

Yesterday saw the not-for-profit group the Global Language Monitor release a top 10 of the year's most politically correct words and phrases.

Here's the run down...

Read more »