Sometimes words cannot carry the weight of events or decisions. They buckle, they crumble under the weight of what has happened.
Which is why I find myself open-mouthed and near-speechless by today’s announcement by the British government that there will be a public inquiry into the shooting dead in 1989 of Pat Finucane in front of his family, during a meal in their family home.
We know that loyalist paramilitaries were involved in the killing. We know that there was collusion between the loyalist murder gang and British state forces. We know these things, and yet it takes 35 years for the British government to screw up its courage and grant what should have been granted decades ago: a public inquiry.
Where would you say the trail of guilt will lead – as far as the British army?As far as the House of Commons, where the unspeakable Douglas Hogg complained that too many Belfast lawyers were too close to their IRA clients, which of course gave a green light to loyalists and others to burst into the Finucane home?
Or would you say it might lead to Downing Street, occupied in 1989 by Margaret ‘A crime is a crime is a crime’ Thatcher?
I’m going to make a confident prediction. Thatcher will not be revealed as the one who got the murderous chain of events moving. You may get a few lower-downs, but never Thatcher. I mean, they have a public statue of the woman, so she must be strong and stainless.
Pass the bucket.
Very good jude free Palestine
maith thú, Jude
Every Unionist leader attacked this decision. Every one. Local BBC radio was bouncing ‘Whataboutery’ off the walls. Doug Beattie demanding an inquiry into Sinn Fein on Not the Nolan Show, together with various affronted members of the public expressing concerns about this decision.
Every now and again we need a reminder that Unionism is Aesop’s scorpion on the nationalist frogs back. No matter how many smiley faced photos of unionists standing alongside Non Unionists, making progressive comments about working together for the good of all, they will reflexively sting the frog at some point.
Doug’s angst about Sinn Fein was followed by a story about Irish Language street signs. Outraged commentators and callers lamented the decision by Belfast City Council to erect dual language signage and expressed concerns that this was going to increase sectarianism in the city.
They may have a point. Various places are living proof that an Irish name can increase sectarianism. For example, Ballymena, Ballygomartin, Dundonald and the list goes on.
I’m always impressed by local BBC radio’s ability to ignore the unquestionable sectarianism of the orange order and black perceptory, who are founded on the principle that Catholics are excluded from membership and strut about the place proudly flaunting this fact, but can suggest one of the oldest written languages in Europe religiously divisive.
I often wonder if Nationalists/Republicans should look for ways of reminding the BBC that half the license payers here are not adherents of the ‘respectable and dignified’ face of sectarian bigotry apparently assumed by the BBC and are not wedded to the single unionist narrative of our past.
As I write this, Talkback has just started. Predictably the question is whether or not a Public Inquiry into Pat Finucane’s murder is warranted. I predict the usual suspects will have their say.
If I recall correctly, the scorpion drowned along with the frog.
Excellent piece of analysis.
Grma, AJ
The colonial establishment tries to be fair and just to the conquered natives but when push comes to shove they are ENTITLED to govern, they pay the bills and have superior ideas about right and wrong.