It’s quite clear to anyone watching media footage from the past few years that Colum Eastwood is fighting for the soul of the SDLP in eternal defeat. He looks worn down by the political weather and offers no fresh ideas other than a status quo consensus with the Ulster Unionists; which suits his forlorn career ambitions. But the SDLP have also been advancing the cultivated image of two other MLA’s, Claire Hanna and Nicola Mallon, both of whom seem to have their eyes set on the Leader’s job when Colum fails again to increase their electoral support. He’s a lame duck who’s evidently on his way out and has few achievements to fall back on.
Now I live in North Belfast, I was born there and have remained my whole life. I’m a Trainee Accountant but cannot forget or ignore the struggles of working class people, including the very many in the community who have helped to raise and support me from childhood to now. It really does require a village to nurture a child. And since around 2008, there have been some real meaningful advancements in community development/life North of the city – whether it’s the hub and housing at Girdwood, increased funding for youth and community groups, retention of free medical prescriptions, a new Irish language school and general improvements in our local infrastructure. I’m not going to beat around the bush about this; it has happened as a result of Republicans being in government and taking the constituency issues to a policy-making arena. That’s a fact, which is easy enough to ignore in a climate of media pessimism and cynicism.
I think most people who read the articles I write know that I’m sceptical about People Before Profit. But I don’t dispute that there are people in that party who do care about the interests of working class people, even if their ideas are simply not implementable under devolution. However, and I say this candidly, I have even graver reservations about the SDLP and any candidate with local roots who is a leading member in a virulently anti-republican party. The party which allowed for the passage of Jim Allister’s legislation against ex-prisoner employment. The party which helped introduce university tuition fees in the North. And the party with a suspect record on the same-sex marriage issue.
Nonetheless, Nicola Mallon is now on friendly terms with the extreme obscurantists in GARC – the very people who issue death threats to journalists, intimidate Priests and encourage youth to join the dissident splinter cells and then deny ever having done so – one of the groups most critical of the peace process which John Hume helped broker. It’s hard to see where the common ground lies between a professed social democrat who says nothing about Irish unity and the “blood nationalists” of GARC who are opposed to power-sharing and who’s egos desire a return to war. There is an inconsistency ideologically, no doubt. A suspect one too!
It strikes me as odd that GARC are cosying up to a party which routinely looks down their noses at them and working class people. A party which isn’t just uninterested in ex-prisoner welfare, but is anti-ex prisoner welfare, when so many in GARC have friends and relatives who served time. But it does show something pertinent – just how far some people will go to get votes and also how far others will go to seem at all relevant.
There’s no doubt that people want change. But they certainly aren’t going to get it by electing these wannabe-bourgeois political chameleons. Look at how many times the Executive collapsed under the SDLP and UUP; The Joint First Minsters were renown for not even speaking to one another; Direct Rule was usually the end result. And you had an Assembly stuffed with overtly middle class professionals who couldn’t have gave a damn about the interests of ordinary people. The point I want to finish on is this – You won’t get change by electing liberal wannabe-elites who represent the interests of the more affluent sections of society. And you certainly aren’t going to get change by electing people who don’t even live in the urban districts they ask to elect them. I have nothing against Nicola Mallon as an individual, she seems like a pleasant enough person, but only a Sinn Fein vote will alleviate the bread and butter issues North of the city while holding Arlene Foster to account for the disgraceful abuse of public monies.
SF haven’t done a particularly good job in keeping the DUP honest for the last ten years. I don’t see any evidence of that changing.
The party have been suspiciously slow in outlining the specifics of what it will take to get them back to Stormont.
I’m taking that to mean that the language and legacy issues will be long fingered, yet again, while smiling Arlene assumes her position as queen of owc.
No thanks, SF. I’ll give it a miss this time round. Prove me wrong and I’ll be delighted to vote for you next time out.
“The party have been suspiciously slow in outlining the specifics of what it will take to get them back to Stormont.”
That is normal procedure for SF Cal. They rarely give specific policies or god forbid the electorate might hold them to it. Their last assembly election manifesto was a joke with no details of what they would do in government. They are a populist party when in opposition like on the south and have no answers when in government like the north. Casement park, transfer test, welfare reform are all examples were SF either botched a policy or didn’t have any answers other than we will get more money from Westminster. Also hearing this morning that SF new leader Michelle O’Neil was actively promoting the RHI scheme through a series of workshops throughout the country. Far from not realising the scheme was flawed and over generous, she knew exactly how generous it was and was out there flogging it.
When you are so busy trying to show that you are the most reconciliatory party ever to the Britishers, USA ,Europe etc it’s hard to be a vertebrate at the same time. But as a dissident Christian, I am giving them one more chance. I mean,cal, they they have only just realised now that they have been shat upon for 10 years. Slow learners?
Couldn’t agree more , it’s obvious ,even to the intellectually challenged , that there is only one anti-union party in these six counties if not the whole of Ireland. The SDLP would lie with auld Nick himself in the quest for a few meagerly votes.They are completely devoid of scruples or conscience ….they would have evolved into and all-ireland party eons ago if reunification was any part of their agenda . As for PBP,Workers Party etc , they only serve to split the Republican vote…they are not going anywhere fast ,and if elected in one’s or two’s can achieve nothing- numbers count ! Sinn Féin have been given a wake up call ,we’re sick to the back teeth of second class citizenship in our own country ….no more mister nice guy…it doesn’t work with flat earth bigots. If there’s a smell in Unionist nostrils at present it could be RHI burners or it could be the whiff of their own fear in the realisation that the game is up.
Donal spooked not only by PbP but also SDLP.
Mallon is a fine candidate. An asset to the Assembly.
Time for people to vote out the Provo-DUP coalition and give someone else a chance.
The nationalist people of the north have been bloodied bruised and battered for forty years by Brits, “Prods” and Provos and now the weeins are getting stuck in. I think the SDLP have a proud tradition of service and their ideas have come to fruition. I support those who are keeping that tradition up.
Sounds like a relation of Joe Hendron!
No
The class slur on the SDLP is nothing new and in my view is nothing more than inverted snobbery, just something derogatory to say. I remember an SDLP candidate in Strabane who could not have been characterised in that manner so instead they used the old saying scraping the bottom of the barrel. It fitted their arrogant disdain of people trying to do some good in very difficult circumstances. But that would be called maintaining the status quo; now there’s a phrase that goes back. Good luck with your professional career Donal or maybe I should say adh mhor, now that’s a good one
As someone who has canvassed for 3 decades,I long ago discovered that the rock solid core SDLP vote is made up of 2 parts,- Die hard Hibernians and insufferable snobs.
As usual MT your contribution is trite. People vote for Sinn Féin because they can deliver a reunited Ireland, they, from day one, opposed Unionist racism, bigotry and apartheism. People vote for the DUP to try and counter this move toward equality without realising Britain treats them like lepers…. they’re also expendable “Paddies ” but less important than us because they will always be subservient, never seeing the big picture , always at Britains beck and call
“As usual MT your contribution is trite. People vote for Sinn Féin because they can deliver a reunited Ireland, they, from day one, opposed Unionist racism, bigotry and apartheism. People vote for the DUP to try and counter this move toward equality without realising Britain treats them like lepers…. they’re also expendable “Paddies ” but less important than us because they will always be subservient, never seeing the big picture , always at Britains beck and call”
That’s great, but hopefully fewer wlll vote for them at this election. I fear the sectarian nature of our politics and the bigotry, hatred and obsession with borders on both sides, however, means my hope is forlorn.
I have no obsession with an imaginary line drawn across my country, by a ruthless imperial, but thankfully now impotent, bully. The real problem in Ireland is an uneducated Protestant population, fed a multiplicity of lies by a racist and xenophobic “elite ” masquerading as defenders of outdated 16th century myths. Sinn Féin is more than a political party….it’s an expression of nationality, expression of a nations language and cultureI, of ones very being ,and as such can never be contained of defeated…..
I’ve pointed before to the fact, if there are c. 900,000 Protestants in the six Ulster counties, say 500,000 of whom have the franchise, how much political influence would that yield in Dail Eireann, rather than persist in hoping for the post ’92 election dividend to happen twice.
Just in response to your comment on some Irish folk, here, being uneducated, the non realisation of the above being the result.
It’s a interesting hypothetical Mark that if a UI happened then what would the Unionist electorate do.
Unionism would be dead obviously but the voters would have a large influence in politics if they remained a unified voting force.
My own opinion is that they would form a new “northern party” to advocate on behalf of the Northern part of this new Ireland.
Scott, if you mean form a party to look after all northern interests across the divide then I would welcome that and I would support loyalist culture such as bonfires being funded and supported by the state along with a continuation of marches etc… as well as support for Irish language and culture equally
If you mean to maintain division between british and Irish identities I would say you unionists have still learned nothing.
Well you see Jessica those cultural divisions would remain even if the 50%+1 was achieved. Those people including myself who identify with a British identity wouldn’t stop identifying as such simply because a UI was achieved.
Saying that though I’d imagine there would no longer be a political voice for the Union. Unionism would morph and define the people of the north as there kins folk and would look out for what’s best for them, no matter what there religion or creed.
A hypothetical “northern party” would fight the corner of the people of the north whatever the issues around the economy, taxation, health, education etc etc might be. It would be a throughly pragmatic move.
Of course this is all a bit of blue sky thinking but it’s just my thoughts and ideas.
BTW Jessica I have no love for things such as bonfires, marching bands and the Orange order. Support of Unionism doesn’t equate to support of these.
A valid point, Scott – I think everyone I know, unionist and nationalist alike clears out of here on the 12th. OO, bands and bonfires represent such an extreme element of unionism that tends to have the effect of drowning out any other voices. Sadly, I don’t hear too many dissenting voices when it comes to these elements of unionist ‘culture’ and silence on the matter can often be viewed as tacit acceptance. I still find it absolutely shocking to see this sort of behaviour go unpunished in a western democracy.
Previously Scott, you have shown you have a gift, one which passed me, to do mathematics, perhaps you could try to work it out, based on close assumptions (I usually assume nothing but) and we could distill the real power which the Unionists could wield in Dail Éireann, for the foreseeable future, their narrow interests would be protected by maintenance of an Dail Dun Domhaill but, their real power could and would lie in out Oireachtas.
In 1995, I put a question on taxation to the DoE, I got no response, I tried again in 1996, this time followed by a phone call and, obtained response, best described as flannel. I tried again in 1998, same flannel.
In c. 2013 I contacted one of my SDLP Deputies, I await his response, although, he’s no longer a Deputy. I then tried his colleague, mentioned above, whose answer was less than precise.
I then gave the same question to my SF Deputy, responded within minutes and, some weeks, partly answered a complex question providing advice on how to obtain full answer.
I know who I’m voting for.
Donal
If at first,you don’t succeed,try try again!That seems to be your motto for trying to paint an illusory link between Nicola Mallon and G A R C.When you first tried a few weeks ago ,I seem to remember that you were called on by Robin Percival (who would not be unsympathetic towards Sinn Fein) to produce hard evidence to back up your allegation .I appreciate that as a committed S F supporter you have to try your best to discredit your opponents in North Belfast but surely it would be better to do so on the basis of actual party policies rather than thinly disguised smears.
MT , I don’t wish to offend you or anyone else . “Normal politics” has never been allowed to develop in Ireland…. at the time of England’s unwelcome interference in Ireland’s affairs, in 1169 ,we had our own Celtic laws and system of governance ( much superior to those imposed on us) It was based on equality and human rights….The rights of the female and the family were paramount as should be . You can’t suppress a people if equality for everyone exists, you must remove that through terror, you must divide to conquer, reward one against another , but it still didn’t work, genocide was tried many times but we still wouldn’t give in…… final but extremely stupid solution…… Plantation ….. and here we are today…… still one pitted against another
I spent a long time reading Brehon law’s, you’re absolutely correct.
“I have no obsession with an imaginary line drawn across my country, by a ruthless imperial, but thankfully now impotent, bully.”
I wasn’t talking about you. Though I suspect you’re not being quite honest.
“The real problem in Ireland is an uneducated Protestant population, fed a multiplicity of lies by a racist and xenophobic “elite ” masquerading as defenders of outdated 16th century myths. Sinn Féin is more than a political party….it’s an expression of nationality, expression of a nations language and cultureI, of ones very being ,and as such can never be contained of defeated…..”
If you say so.
” at the time of England’s unwelcome interference in Ireland’s affairs,”
How do you know it was unwelcome?
” in 1169 ,we had our own Celtic laws and system of governance ( much superior to those imposed on us) It was based on equality and human rights…”
Equality and human rights in Medieval Ireland. My goodness this is a revelation. Is this based on your own research?
MT, can you disagree with this, in 1969, resident’s of the Shankill road were, electorally, no better off than their neighbour’s on the Falls Rd.?
Why else did the DUP, and Ballybean emerge?
“MT, can you disagree with this, in 1969, resident’s of the Shankill road were, electorally, no better off than their neighbour’s on the Falls Rd.?”
If you’re referring to the ratepayer franchise, then no I can’t disagree.
Please note, however, thst there is no apostrophe in plural.
“Why else did the DUP, and Ballybean emerge?”
I don’t understand this question.
In the first, an apostrophe in the plural, there is in my spell check, obviously, howrver, the link between DUP and Ballybean is, just the ratepaying franchise, and it’s resolution.
In the situation used by Mark, the apostrophe comes after the s – neighbours’!
Sherdy
No.
‘residents of the shankill rd’ is just a bog standard plural.
No apostrophe anywhere.
What are they teaching these days?
Please note MT is definately not pedantic.
He told us all before.
Please also note that there is no ‘s’ in that.
“the link between DUP and Ballybean is, just the ratepaying franchise, and it’s resolution.”
No idea what you’re talking about.
I know Scott, but I can hear the same passion in support for these from loyalists that I hold for what I consider my own identity. Neither London or Dublin would understand this.
It is genuine and just because you have no love for them does not make them any less important to others.
I have always said, Sinn Fein should do more to help these people in these areas.
In a united Ireland it will be up to republicans to make others see how important these things are.
Quite possibly including other unionists such as yourself.
They cannot just be taken away.
I think we are mostly on the same page with this one Jessica.
Whilst those cultural expressions aren’t my cup of tea I accept to a section of loyalism they are and they shouldn’t be hounded out by government.
I’d just like a little less damage caused to council land and a little more sensitivity around parading.
I agree Scott, which is why I have always said they should receive funding, as it would come with reasonable preconditions like taking it easy on the flag burning.
Damage to land is a valid point but safety would be my primary concern. Some of the fires are getting huge and dangerous and someone is going to get hurt, I believe the increase in size is a show of defiance against the perceived threat against them, particularly from nolan and snobby unionism. That threat needs to disappear.
The money should probably come out of an Irish cultural fund as bonfires are more of an Irish tradition than british,
Marching would be more of a Scottish Irish thing which I don’t get at all. It is too fuddy duddy and pompous for my liking but to each their own.
I would like to see the day when all sections of out community could attend an 11th night bonfire. I have attended a few in my youth and this could be achieved if we learn to respect one another, and that means both sides. I am as guilty as anyone in emotional outbursts so I cant really get holier than thou about anything.
What do you believe the SDLP could possibly achieve Dominic?
What good is a pact with the UUP? As always, for all Colums speeches about being tougher on unionism than Sinn Fein who have been too soft apparently, the SDLP are still doing more harm to nationalism than anything else.
His party have not been very local in backing his stances, either with the UUP or his attacks on Sinn Fein, apart from the dolly birds on each arm.
That is a clear sign of division and uncertainty in his leadership and the direction he is going.
A party out on a limb with a solo run from a young man who for all his best intentions has been let down badly by his party.
The SDLP have no long term future in Ireland except by merging into the Irish Labour party.
I don’t know why Donal is so caught up with the weaknesses of other parties instead of promoting positives of his own party.
It’s total change I want Jessica. I don:t believe SF/DUP can produce the goods. It maybe 20-80% DUP fault but there it is. The SDLP and UUP are there and it would shake things up if they got power as well as be an indicator of voter power because we are being taken for granted. The political system here needs a good shake up and while my heart lies in an all Ireland solution I repeat what I said before: our experience is different here and we have things to work out. SF/DUP just aren’t doing it; the positive noises coming from that quarter before the fall have evaporated like morning dew. I do not have the stomach to put Humpty Dumpty together again with more sweeties. I want someone else to take the reins. A realignment of politics on the Island may be down the line but we are where we are to coin a phrase. The SDLP were the voice of reason here for most of my life. They kept their heads when all about were loosing theirs…..
I am not so sure they even represent unionism RJC.
11th Night bonfires are an exclusively Irish thing. I don’t see why anyone in britain would celebrate an Irish battle from 1690.
Same with 12th July marches. The orange order has branches all over the world but it too is really an Irish organisation.
Neither have anything really to do with the union and the people of Britain would think you were mad if you asked them to don a bowler hat and orange sash and walk the roads carrying swords playing tunes that insult their neighbours. A very unbritish thing in modern terms anyway.
If you took the union out of the equation I expect these events would evolve into family friendly events that could even cross the community.
It is the burning of flags and effigies that it more divisive than the actual bonfires.
Likewise, it isn’t the march that is the issue, but the attitude of the orange order that they can do so without the decency of engaging with residents or showing respect and instead have the police baton people out of their way.
That would just be a change of the names in front of the doors Dominic.
Hardly a total change.
I would go absolutely nuts if Sinn Fein went back into Stormont with the DUP period.
That isn’t even on the cards, even if they did agree to everything, it would take years for the nationalist community to trust them again after their behaviour.
They also are not going back into any make up of an executive before the public inquiry completes.
These elections are not for who makes up the next Stormont fiasco, but to get all of the outstanding issues that make up the status quo resolved once and for all.
That means holding both governments to account, not the DUP or UUP.
How can there be total change while these are unresolved, with britain abusing the law to veto truth of state atrocities, protecting murderers within state forces and still insulting Irish people by calling us terrorists. Screw that.
I don’t see the SDLP out performing Sinn Fein, they will do more than cost nationalists a few seats but so long as Sinn Fein come out as the largest nationalist party, which they clearly will, then that is all that matters.
With the governments needing to focus on brexit, there will never be a better opportunity to put all of these issues to bed.
With a second election in the south on the cards later in the year, a vote for Sinn Fein is the only meaningful option for change as an increased support in both would totally change the playing field.
We are not looking into a post nationalist era Dominic, but a post partition era.
Also, our experiences are not different from the south, we bled together for Irish freedom. In this decade of centenaries, I promise you, they will remember that.
You can’t change the template of power sharing. You are just reiterating what Arlene Foster has been saying with regards to Sinn that they are angling for more sweeties. If people don’t vote for change they won’t get it, it’s that simple. New kings, new brooms is the only answer.
It might be considered sweeties to the unionist and SDLP mind-set Dominic, but the behaviour of the british towards how the state murdered and abused civilians here is a very real and unacceptable to me and my community. If the SDLP consider that to be simply sweeties for Sinn Fein then they are missing the whole point of what change is needed and are still a long way out of touch.
The change needed is the attitude of not only the northern parties but of both governments.
The role of the state is of concern to everyone and the truth needs to come out about it’s role. But that’s not what I was talking about. The people in the executive failed to move us forward after ten years. We can’t just put the same people in and expect a different result.
I agree on that, no, we cant.
If Sinn Fein go back into power with the DUP I am finished with them.
But lets say you are right and nationalists did give their votes back to the SDLP.
Will that mean we end up with the DUP back in power, this time with the SDLP?
If that happened I would go f***ing nuts.
I would give the UUP a chance but not the DUP.
I am sure you would Dominic, but have the SDLP actually said no to going back into Stormont with the DUP?
As I said, so long as Sinn Fein are returned as the largest nationalist party, the DUP wont be back in Stormont and Sinn Fein can settle things as part of the next southern government.
There will be no return to the failed status quo.
Good luck with the southern government thing. If your knee is bleeding there’s no point in taking a headache tablet.
Luck has nothing to do with it Dominic.
It is what it is. If the south don’t want us, they only have to let us know and be unequivocal about it, just don’t jerk us about.
It isn’t difficult to be honest, it is the dishonesty and backroom dealing I despise.
And my knees aren’t bleeding but if they were, you can be sure I would get up off them.
Politics is the art of the possible and we have to work at the coalface we’re at. It’s their backsides a lot of the people need to get off and change things here.
It seems strange that Donal should accuse the SDLP of offering ” a status quo consensus with the Ulster Unionists”.
It is in fact SF/DUP who have been the status quo, the establishment even,for some time now.
Some form of government with SDLP/UUP and other parties (unlikely as it appears) would be a clear change from the status quo
As usual with SF supporters black is white and up is down.
Back that up gio.
The british are fighting tooth and nail to prevent the truth of the murderous campaign they led here.
You may not like to talk about it, but it happened.
Where in the world would a society have innocent people mowed down in drive by shootings by army personnel operating out of uniform and at the same time encouraging paramilitaries to murder innocent catholics only to be protected by their state and actively defending any legal recourse coming upon them.
How can the truth of the course of justice change a narrative of the past, save that narrative was false?
What has the british state to fear from releasing documents they made of past events?
Why are we not allowed to know the truth that is sitting there in black and white?
Why do you not care gio?
The british state is not only allowing the status quo but creating it.
Sinn Fein are trying to end the status quo, not causing it
Who is being unreasonable and in what way?
jessica
SF/DUP have been running things for ten years now. If that is not the status quo then I don’t know what is.
It would make a good election slogan
‘The old status quo of DUP/SF has failed. Vote for the new status quo of SF/DUP!’
Ah Gio, I was so looking forward to you answering Jessica’s question fully. Might I suggest that you side stepped the more ‘difficult’ parts of her quite eloquent comment?
Gearóid
I am not sure what you are referring to?
If it is her point about the British needing to give us all the truth about their activities here I am all in favour as I have said before.
I am not sure it is really what SF want though since they too would have to tell all, and there may be some embarrassing truths to come out on all sides.
But as I say, we have had SF/DUP for ten years.
That is the status quo, it is foolish to pretend otherwise.
I agree.
The Irish government have a responsibility towards Irish citizens all over this island including the north and they have badly let all of us down.
Whether it be poor response to homelessness, poor health services, failure to defend the peace process and GFA or throwing away public taxes to Apple and a select few.
It is really up to the people to make their voices heard.
I guess if we do nothing, we really cant be complaining about it.
It needs to start on the streets of Dublin
“The Irish government have a responsibility towards Irish citizens all over this island including the north”
What responsibility do you consider the Dublin government has to ROI citizens in ‘the north’?
I think Jessica said ‘Irish Citizens’ no mention of ROI there MT, no mention at all. You see what you did there?
“How can the truth of the course of justice change a narrative of the past, save that narrative was false?”
It can’t. But a partial and incomolete truth can.
Exactly
So they must release all evidence and documents they are hiding behind national security and let us hear the truth, warts and all
Let the solicitors and barristers do their jobs free of harassment and intimidation from a secretary of state
The true ugliness of the british state is gradually seeping out
They are no friends of Ireland
“So they must release all evidence and documents they are hiding behind national security and let us hear the truth, warts and all”
But that won’t tell us the truth, warts and all; only a partial and incomolete truth.
That’s the problem.
The same responsibility every state has for its citizens, wherever they are in the world.
Whatever we may feel about the US, they certainly look after their own
If they don’t want the responsibility for fear of Britain, let them say so and strip our citizenship from us.
I would rather that than a floundering pathetic attempt to partially disown us to cover up their ineptitude, or say we want you, but cant afford you, maybe later down the road.
It is pathetic
“The same responsibility every state has for its citizens, wherever they are in the world”
And what responsibility is that?
How do you work that out?
Does covering up the criminal and murderous actions of the british state give us a more honest truth? Is that what you are saying?
Or just a more satisfying truth from a unionist / british perspective?
“How do you work that out?”
How do I work out that disclosure only about state killings would give us only a partial and incomplete truth? Is that a serious question?
That is cynical and rubbish.
There has been truck loads of evidence and documents about all other parties to the conflict, there have been thousands jail sentences including some with british state fabricated evidence and hearsay.
There has been evidence destroyed and conveniently lost to protect the british state forces resulting in a ludicrously small number of state investigations never mind sentencing.
We are now playing catch-up and the backlog of events outstanding are disproportionately state heavy, exactly for this reason. That does not make investigating them an impartial or incomplete truth, in fact it is the only way to give us a more rounded and accurate truth about what really went on.
There is no justification whatsoever to protect the british state from its past actions of the conflict
To do so , would make us second class citizens considered less worthy of human rights and that is not acceptable
“There has been truck loads of evidence and documents about all other parties to the conflict, ”
There has? What documents did the PIRA keep and when were they released?
“We are now playing catch-up and the backlog of events outstanding are disproportionately state heavy, exactly for this reason.”
But that’s not true. The large majority of unsolved crimes were committed by the terror gangs.
That’s why there’s a current concern about disproportionately in investigations.
Are you seriously trying to justify the withholding of state evidence and documents known to be in existence over state murder and collusion which is being denied to solicitors and barristers is because the PIRA did not keep documentation of their actions?
Do you think that is the actions of a state anyone on this island would want to be a part off or even have a relationship with never mind be ruled over by?
That is treating human beings like dirt MT.
“Are you seriously trying to justify the withholding of state evidence and documents known to be in existence over state murder and collusion which is being denied to solicitors and barristers is because the PIRA did not keep documentation of their actions?
I’m neither justifying nor arguing against the withholding of documents on grounds of national security. I really don’t know enough about it: what the documents are, who wants them, what’s in them or what the national security issues are.
That wasn’t the point I was making.
But it seems you must agree with my point hence you’ve moved on to make a different one.