Topic: The Irish Politics Thread.

[Red-Soldier]

DUP vows to paralyse Stormont as Northern Ireland protocol row deepens

Refusal to nominate speaker will derail legislature and raise stakes in London’s dispute with Brussels

The Democratic Unionist party has vowed to paralyse the Stormont assembly and block the formation of an executive in a dramatic escalation of its campaign against the Northern Ireland protocol.

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, the DUP leader, said his party would refuse to nominate a speaker when the assembly meets for its inaugural session on Friday afternoon, a move that will derail the legislature and raise the stakes in a dispute over the protocol between London and Brussels.

The party had been expected to block the appointment of a first and deputy first minister in the power-sharing executive but in a statement early on Friday it announced it would also pull the plug on the assembly to further pressure the UK government to take “decisive action” on the protocol.

Sinn Féin, which emerged as the largest party in Stormont after last week’s local elections, called the announcement “shameful”.

The move will paralyse Stormont and plunge Northern Ireland into political crisis a week after a historic assembly election in which Sinn Féin overtook the DUP as the biggest party, making Sinn Féin’s deputy leader, Michelle O’Neill, the putative first minister.

The DUP move is designed to send a signal to Downing Street and the European Union that the party is willing to ratchet up tension in Northern Ireland to secure changes to the protocol, which puts post-Brexit checks on goods entering the region from Great Britain.

“Today the DUP will not support the election of a speaker in the assembly,” Donaldson said in a statement to the Belfast News Letter. “The protocol is a direct challenge to the principles that have underpinned every agreement reached in Northern Ireland over the last 25 years. It erodes the very foundations that devolution has been built upon.”

Donaldson hinted at no swift resolution to the impasse: “I have both patience and resolve in equal measure to see the Irish Sea border removed, and stable as well as sustainable devolution restored.”

The mothballing of Stormont means civil servants and ministers from the outgoing administration, with reduced powers, will run Northern Ireland in what has been termed a “zombified” state. They cannot make important decisions or launch new initiatives.

DUP strategists hope this will embolden Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson, the prime minister, and Liz Truss, the foreign secretary, and strengthen their hand in a showdown with the European Commission. They have threatened to unilaterally abandon parts of the protocol but Donaldson said he wanted action, not words.

Other parties condemned the DUP.

“Today is the day we should be forming an executive to put money in people’s pockets and to start to fix our health service,” said O’Neill. “The DUP have confirmed they will punish the public and not turn up. They are disgracefully holding the public to ransom for their Brexit mess. Shameful.”

On Thursday, the Royal College of Nursing, the British Medical Association Northern Ireland, the Royal College of Surgeons of England, the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, and the Royal College of GPs warned that failure to form an executive would endanger patients’ lives.

“Our health service is on the verge of collapse,” they said a joint statement.

Naomi Long, the Alliance party leader, called the DUP move a disgrace. She said: “We need the NHS fixed, the cost of living addressed and a budget set. How is this going to help?”

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/may/13/dup-vows-to-paralyse-stormont-as-northern-ireland-protocol-row-deepens

[BarryCrocker]

DUP vows to paralyse Stormont as Northern Ireland protocol row deepens

Refusal to nominate speaker will derail legislature and raise stakes in London’s dispute with Brussels


https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/may/13/dup-vows-to-paralyse-stormont-as-northern-ireland-protocol-row-deepens

What absolute fckrs. I bet they would have elected a speaker if they had of won more seats.

Also, if a new speaker is not elected doesn't the existing speaker continue to chair? Currently this is Alex Maskey.

[Indomitable_Carp]

Has there ever been a more dislikable party then the DUP (And I am including even the Tories in this)?

[SouthDerryLaggo]

So, the majority of parties are for the protocol.
The majority of people are anti Brexit.
The majority want stormont up and running.
And Northern Ireland returned SF as the largest party.

And they have the gall to call themselves the DEMOCRATIC unionist party.

This is the same party whose followers rioted for weeks over a democratic decision to remove the Union Jack from buildings all year round.

[TSC]

Has there ever been a more dislikable party then the DUP (And I am including even the Tories in this)?

They take their lead from the Tories after their enabling of Brexit.

[Macphisto80]

There seems to be a lot of surprised views in here. This isnt even the worst thing they've done.

[DangerScouse]

Emma Little Pengelly is back. Fucking hell you couldn't write it. Jeffs election posters are still up

Comes from a lovely family in fairness. Not a sectarian bone in her body.

https://m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/terrorist-father-of-dups-newest-mla-emma-pengelly-works-as-steward-at-st-annes-cathedral-31592183.html

[MadErik]

Comes from a lovely family in fairness. Not a sectarian bone in her body.

https://m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/terrorist-father-of-dups-newest-mla-emma-pengelly-works-as-steward-at-st-annes-cathedral-31592183.html

No fan of the DUP, but if Stormont barred anyone with a relative with terrorist convictions (or indeed convictions themselves), they would have to run more than a few by-elections.

[TSC]

There seems to be a lot of surprised views in here. This isnt even the worst thing they've done.

Surprise probably understates things.  Given NI arguably is sitting on a proverbial ‘goldmine’ with access to 2 markets the DUP stance is astounding and bizarre to any rational person.  ‘Cutting off the nose’ to spite the face doesn’t even do it justice.

Cost of living concerns?  Protocol concerns trump that
Eat or heat? Protocol is paramount
Health access concerns?  Trumped by the protocol
Education worries? Forget it while the protocol is present
Infrastructure going to pot?  Blame the protocol

[Macphisto80]

Surprise probably understates things.  Given NI arguably is sitting on a proverbial ‘goldmine’ with access to 2 markets the DUP stance is astounding and bizarre to any rational person.  ‘Cutting off the nose’ to spite the face doesn’t even do it justice.

Cost of living concerns?  Protocol concerns trump that
Eat or heat? Protocol is paramount
Health access concerns?  Trumped by the protocol
Education worries? Forget it while the protocol is present
Infrastructure going to pot?  Blame the protocol

They're afraid of equality. Afraid of anything "Irish". Afraid of a united Ireland or something that lessons their grip of the power or ownership they had over a demographic of the population. More British than the British and they cant see the woods through the trees because of this mentality. Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson couldnt give two fly fucks about them or NI but their dinosaur brains can't see that.

[BarryCrocker]

They're afraid of equality. Afraid of anything "Irish". Afraid of a united Ireland or something that lessons their grip of the power or ownership they had over a demographic of the population. More British than the British and they cant see the woods through the trees because of this mentality. Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson couldnt give two fly fucks about them or NI but their dinosaur brains can't see that.

They're the battered spouse in their relationship with Great Britain.

[mickeydocs]

What absolute fckrs. I bet they would have elected a speaker if they had of won more seats.

Also, if a new speaker is not elected doesn't the existing speaker continue to chair? Currently this is Alex Maskey.

Do they get paid while not turning up for work?

[thejbs]

It’s interesting how much the media are reinforcing the fact that first and deputy first minister have the same power. I don’t recall as many articles hammering this home when the largest party was unionist.

[thejbs]

Surprise probably understates things.  Given NI arguably is sitting on a proverbial ‘goldmine’ with access to 2 markets the DUP stance is astounding and bizarre to any rational person.  ‘Cutting off the nose’ to spite the face doesn’t even do it justice.

Cost of living concerns?  Protocol concerns trump that
Eat or heat? Protocol is paramount
Health access concerns?  Trumped by the protocol
Education worries? Forget it while the protocol is present
Infrastructure going to pot?  Blame the protocol

Yup. Northern Ireland should be basking in its role as the only part of the uk with unfettered access to the EU. We should be drawing in businesses to relocate here (where labour and expenses are lower than anywhere in the uk)

[oldfordie]

Surprise probably understates things.  Given NI arguably is sitting on a proverbial ‘goldmine’ with access to 2 markets the DUP stance is astounding and bizarre to any rational person.  ‘Cutting off the nose’ to spite the face doesn’t even do it justice.

Cost of living concerns?  Protocol concerns trump that
Eat or heat? Protocol is paramount
Health access concerns?  Trumped by the protocol
Education worries? Forget it while the protocol is present
Infrastructure going to pot?  Blame the protocol

Do the Torys actually want to solve the NI border problem?
I don't think they do and am sure a lot is to do with lowering our standards but maybe another reason. the vast majority of checks at the Sea Border can we cleared up very quickly if GB did what it was supposed to do. Labelling etc and efficiently manned Border posts and NI would boom even more.
A thriving NI enjoying frictionless free trading with the single market while GB economy tanking outside the single market. this might be the biggest worry for the Torys, a direct comparison everyone can understand, NI thriving inside the SM.   GB economy going down the Swanny outside the SM

[TSC]

Do the Torys actually want to solve the NI border problem?
I don't think they do and am sure a lot is to do with lowering our standards but maybe another reason. the vast majority of checks at the Sea Border can we cleared up very quickly if GB did what it was supposed to do. Labelling etc and efficiently manned Border posts and NI would boom even more.
A thriving NI enjoying frictionless free trading with the single market while GB economy tanking outside the single market. this might be the biggest worry for the Torys, a direct comparison everyone can understand, NI thriving inside the SM.   GB economy going down the Swanny outside the SM

Yep there may well be a bit of direct comparison with GB in play.  The biggest irony is that DUP voted down May’s softer Brexit and helped carry through Johnson’s  ‘hard’ Brexit.  Political incompetence big style from DUP.

Meanwhile Sinn Fein played a ‘sit and wait’ approach throughout the shitshow.  Tory rhetoric focuses on protecting the integrity of the NI ‘peace’ agreement by pandering to the DUP.  That stance appears totally ignorant of the potential reaction of Irish nationalists/republicans.  Don’t they recall the troubles & IRA or maybe don’t care?

[oldfordie]

Yep there may well be a bit of direct comparison with GB in play.  The biggest irony is that DUP voted down May’s softer Brexit and helped carry through Johnson’s  ‘hard’ Brexit.  Political incompetence big style from DUP.

Meanwhile Sinn Fein played a ‘sit and wait’ approach throughout the shitshow.  Tory rhetoric focuses on protecting the integrity of the NI ‘peace’ agreement by pandering to the DUP.  That stance appears totally ignorant of the potential reaction of Irish nationalists/republicans.  Don’t they recall the troubles & IRA or maybe don’t care?

Would have loved to have seen the faces of the DUP when they were told about Mays backstop which also included the Sea Border, on the phone to her within minutes screaming they would withdraw support for her minority government.
Others know more about Irish politics but I doubt if the DUP cared if a NI border came back again, good chance they unofficially welcomed it to distance themselves from a united Ireland. they never saw the sea border coming.
Question is do the people of Ireland understand the con they are trying to sell them over it being the EUs fault. even now there too scared to admit the Torys worked it up them good style.

[Macphisto80]

Its not that they dont care. Thats obvious that they dont. They dont know how to solve it or what to do. Whatsmore, they don't and never have understood Ireland or it's people and never will. That's the biggest issue with them. What baffles me is the English voters voting them in, or at minimum, not protesting enough to get the c*nts out.

[Macphisto80]

Would have loved to have seen the faces of the DUP when they were told about Mays backstop which also included the Sea Border, on the phone to her within minutes screaming they would withdraw support for her minority government.
Others know more about Irish politics but I doubt if the DUP cared if a NI border came back again, good chance they unofficially welcomed it to distance themselves from a united Ireland. they never saw the sea border coming.
Question is do the people of Ireland understand the con they are trying to sell them over it being the EUs fault. even now there too scared to admit the Torys worked it up them good style.

You've misjudged the DUP and their voters there a bit. Check my previous post. There's more of a concise reflection of their mentality. You're not wrong about the border, though. They'd have a military hard border back in an instant. Then again, like everything they come up with, that would be folly in the extreme as it would most likely lead to a civil war.

[oldfordie]

You've misjudged the DUP and their voters there a bit. Check my previous post. There's more of a concise reflection of their mentality. You're not wrong about the border, though. They'd have a military hard border back in an instant. Then again, like everything they come up with, that would be folly in the extreme as it would most likely lead to a civil war.

The DUP have lost voters so are those ex voters now changing their mentality.
I think the DUP knew they were being screwed by May+Johnson but they could hardly tell that to their supporters after supporting Brexit so they are laying the blame on the EU for the mess they helped create due to being stupid and naïve back in 2016.
 I could bring up a few reasons why the NI public understood the Protocol/Brexit argument. imagine word of mouth has played the biggest part. all we hear from the Torys is Brexit red tape at Sea Border, all down the the Torys trying to renege on the solutions they agreed to in the protocol. swings and roundabouts as well. bit of red tape at sea border but easy frictionless trading at the NI border into the Republics EU market.
I wonder if the expression of we've got the best of both worlds now so whats the problem is mentioned by people in NI.

[TSC]

There’s an article in today’s Observer by its Ireland correspondent Rory Carroll and it quotes NI business rep (CEO Manufacturing NI) as stating ‘every piece of evidence presented so far shows a positive impact’ (regarding the protocol).  Same article comments that the NI economy outperformed the rest of the UK in part because of the protocol.

[Macphisto80]

The DUP have lost voters so are those ex voters now changing their mentality.
I think the DUP knew they were being screwed by May+Johnson but they could hardly tell that to their supporters after supporting Brexit so they are laying the blame on the EU for the mess they helped create due to being stupid and naïve back in 2016.
 I could bring up a few reasons why the NI public understood the Protocol/Brexit argument. imagine word of mouth has played the biggest part. all we hear from the Torys is Brexit red tape at Sea Border, all down the the Torys trying to renege on the solutions they agreed to in the protocol. swings and roundabouts as well. bit of red tape at sea border but easy frictionless trading at the NI border into the Republics EU market.
I wonder if the expression of we've got the best of both worlds now so whats the problem is mentioned by people in NI.

I think there's a shift in mentality for sure. A lot of the ordinary working class Unionist people are opening their eyes to their antics. Most just want to get on with it and are sick of the bullshit and politicking, especially when it impacts their quality of life. The DUP are acting on pure ego and jingoism that fueled their policies that got them the vote and power in the past. Though, where it might have worked then, it won't work now. They're a bit dense and too set in their ways to figure that one out. The old days of the likes of Paisley standing on a stage with a megaphone chanting "NEVER!" are well and truly over.

As for the protocol and the sea border, the DUP and their hardcore electorate never seen that one coming. They see it as a betrayal to their "Britishness" to have a border between them and the so called mainland, or in other words, her majesty the Queen. A bit simplistic or reductive in terminology, maybe, but there's a few hundred years of history and antics to back that assertion up with.

[Macphisto80]

There’s an article in today’s Observer by its Ireland correspondent Rory Carroll and it quotes NI business rep (CEO Manufacturing NI) as stating ‘every piece of evidence presented so far shows a positive impact’ (regarding the protocol).  Same article comments that the NI economy outperformed the rest of the UK in part because of the protocol.

You don't have to have a degree in economics to work out why. It should be just common sense that the more trade can come and go in a wider market, the better the economy and business will be. Just unfortunate that a rag on a mast is more important to some, when in fact it's actual function is to serve as a blindfold. 

[oldfordie]

I think there's a shift in mentality for sure. A lot of the ordinary working class Unionist people are opening their eyes to their antics. Most just want to get on with it and are sick of the bullshit and politicking, especially when it impacts their quality of life. The DUP are acting on pure ego and jingoism that fueled their policies that got them the vote and power in the past. Though, where it might have worked then, it won't work now. They're a bit dense and too set in their ways to figure that one out. The old days of the likes of Paisley standing on a stage with a megaphone chanting "NEVER!" are well and truly over.

As for the protocol and the sea border, the DUP and their hardcore electorate never seen that one coming. They see it as a betrayal to their "Britishness" to have a border between them and the so called mainland, or in other words, her majesty the Queen. A bit simplistic or reductive in terminology, maybe, but there's a few hundred years of history and antics to back that assertion up with.

Yeah I don't think many people saw the Sea Border coming, everything changed for the DUP when May came up with the Backstop and the sea border, all the talk in the lead up to the referendum and pre backstop was about finding a solution to the NI border, how technology would solve it, another lie proven wrong but as we knew in 2016 a NI border was inevitable under the Brexit they were supporting but they were fine with it as long as they didn't take the blame. still have the same attitude now.

[Riquende]

All the wrangling over the backstop was grimly hilarious in a way - May's position was that it would be there until it was no longer needed due to technological solutions. All the DUP, ERG nutters etc insisted it already wasn't needed and so refused to vote for it... even though their own argument meant that it would never have been implemented if they had.

(And then they all rallied around the 'Malthouse Compromise' like it was some supreme piece of diplomacy and statesmanship, when it was just a fixed time limit that undermined the purpose of the agreement).

It's hardly the only indicator that the movers behind Brexit made bad-faith arguments to justify their lunacy, but it was a pretty obvious one. I don't recall seeing any of them getting grilled over it though.

Do the Torys actually want to solve the NI border problem?

Oh, I think they'd love to have it solved, but there aren't any paths open for them to do it themselves. The plan is STILL to bluster and prevaricate in the vain hope that the EU will give in eventually and allow the Unicorn Brexit of full on independence with bespoke membership benefits on trade.

I expect the current Protocol impasse to rumble on for years, with frequent threats from Truss and the like to appease the domestic market but no actual movement to implement anything. The Tories possibly think an unresolved Brexit is a trump card to be played if they're not in power after the next election - give Starmer the headache of putting proper import controls in place and further wrecking trade/the economy, or even seeking some sort of regulatory alignment to deal with the border issue. There isn't a way out of the morass that doesn't generate easy ammunition to use against a government making the decisions.

[oldfordie]

All the wrangling over the backstop was grimly hilarious in a way - May's position was that it would be there until it was no longer needed due to technological solutions. All the DUP, ERG nutters etc insisted it already wasn't needed and so refused to vote for it... even though their own argument meant that it would never have been implemented if they had.

(And then they all rallied around the 'Malthouse Compromise' like it was some supreme piece of diplomacy and statesmanship, when it was just a fixed time limit that undermined the purpose of the agreement).

It's hardly the only indicator that the movers behind Brexit made bad-faith arguments to justify their lunacy, but it was a pretty obvious one. I don't recall seeing any of them getting grilled over it though.

Oh, I think they'd love to have it solved, but there aren't any paths open for them to do it themselves. The plan is STILL to bluster and prevaricate in the vain hope that the EU will give in eventually and allow the Unicorn Brexit of full on independence with bespoke membership benefits on trade.

I expect the current Protocol impasse to rumble on for years, with frequent threats from Truss and the like to appease the domestic market but no actual movement to implement anything. The Tories possibly think an unresolved Brexit is a trump card to be played if they're not in power after the next election - give Starmer the headache of putting proper import controls in place and further wrecking trade/the economy, or even seeking some sort of regulatory alignment to deal with the border issue. There isn't a way out of the morass that doesn't generate easy ammunition to use against a government making the decisions.

The reason I ask do the Torys want to solve the NI border problem is why are they ripping up the solution they agreed to solve it, where not really looking for a path to solve the NI border protocol or the border. it's already been sorted in the WA which isn't up for renegotiation, the protocol the UK government signed, Johnsons so called Oven ready deal the Torys raved on to take us out of the EU, it's served it's purpose for the Torys, it gave Johnson a majority to take us out and now time to dump the deal the public wanted and get the harder Brexit the ERG want, so much for respecting the wishes of the people. sadly leave voters dont follow the ins and outs of Brexit so the majority still don't know Johnsons treating them like fools. Dominic Cummings told us the plan before the election, don't despair we can change it all after were out of the EU.
I expect the protocol to rumble on for many years to come as well, all depends on our trade deals and standards. more we diverge then the more need for checks at the Irish sea border.
Get Brexit done should have been a embarrassing slogan, anyone who voted for it thinking it would all end voted for it to be news for many years to come.

[stockdam]

The main problem with the NI Protocol is that it was introduced without agreement of anyone or any party in Northern Ireland........it was imposed and that never works in NI.

Irrespective of the rights/wrongs of the protocol etc., there was no discussion and that was wrong. Stormont had been brought down over Ash for Cash and disagreements over Irish Language. That left a vacuum for London and Brussels to agree something that wasn't debated locally.

Now you have "one side" who want to get rid of the protocol and the "other side" wanting it to remain (well there are more than two sides here as Alliance, SDLP, UUP etc have a say). There will always be this black and white gulf which needs to be discussed and agreed locally.

My personal hope is that both the DUP and SF disappear and get replaced by Alliance and more moderate parties who don't walk away when they don't get what they want. It's a tall order, but until this happens then things will go round in circles.

Back to the NI Protocol. If a solution can be found that makes it easier and quicker to send goods across the Irish Sea then the same process could have been used at the NI/ROI border. If it cannot be solved then it's going to be a very long stand-off and we will be left with direct rule again which is a backward step.

[Macphisto80]

The DUP walking away because of the protocol has nothing to do with goods being shipped back and forth in the Irish sea. And Sinn Fein walking away from Stormont because of the RHI scandal was perfectly justified. It's not even the same thing. If the DUP have a problem with the Irish Sea border, they should take it up with the Tories and Jonty. They're the ones that buttoned them up at the back like the muppets they are.

[stockdam]

The DUP walking away because of the protocol has nothing to do with goods being shipped back and forth in the Irish sea. And Sinn Fein walking away from Stormont because of the RHI scandal was perfectly justified. It's not even the same thing. If the DUP have a problem with the Irish Sea border, they should take it up with the Tories and Jonty. They're the ones that buttoned them up at the back like the muppets they are.

So Sinn Fein were right to walk away? That's not what their job was. They had ample opportunity to put lots of pressure on the DUP but decided to walk away which is never going to be good. All that achieved was a vacuum for London to dictate what happened.

DUP didn't have any say in the NI Protocol and look where it led.

Anytime there's a big issue then either SF or DUP walk out and that's why I would ditch them all as the green/orange shite just goes round and round.

[TSC]

So Sinn Fein were right to walk away? That's not what their job was. They had ample opportunity to put lots of pressure on the DUP but decided to walk away which is never going to be good. All that achieved was a vacuum for London to dictate what happened.

DUP didn't have any say in the NI Protocol and look where it led.

Anytime there's a big issue then either SF or DUP walk out and that's why I would ditch them all as the green/orange shite just goes round and round.

Not to conflate 2 separate issues, but the RHI scandal led to SF walking away and rightly so.  ‘Cash for ash’ I recall was the slogan.  Not quite on same scale value wise as the Tory corruption through Covid, but large enough.

Without the DUP there would be no Brexit and Brexit caused the protocol.  You reap what you sow.  Heavier on irony given NI voted remain.

[Macphisto80]

So Sinn Fein were right to walk away? That's not what their job was. They had ample opportunity to put lots of pressure on the DUP but decided to walk away which is never going to be good. All that achieved was a vacuum for London to dictate what happened.

DUP didn't have any say in the NI Protocol and look where it led.

Anytime there's a big issue then either SF or DUP walk out and that's why I would ditch them all as the green/orange shite just goes round and round.

At the time they were, yes. How can government function when you had public funds of 500 million disappear down a black hole, and the person in charge (Arlene Foster) who allegedly knew about it, didn't resign. In any other so called democracy that's called corruption, I believe. There's usually investigations, trials and jail time, heads rolling and all that. Not with the DUP. Not in NI. Yeah, Sinn Fein were well within their right to walk.

[thejbs]

Not to conflate 2 separate issues, but the RHI scandal led to SF walking away and rightly so.  ‘Cash for ash’ I recall was the slogan.  Not quite on same scale value wise as the Tory corruption through Covid, but large enough.

Without the DUP there would be no Brexit and Brexit caused the protocol.  You reap what you sow.  Heavier on irony given NI voted remain.

It’s been suggested that vote leave money was funnelled through the DUP. Taking advantage of the non-disclosure of donors in NI.

[Riquende]

The main problem with the NI Protocol is that it was introduced without agreement of anyone or any party in Northern Ireland........it was imposed and that never works in NI.

Whilst I'm not arguing against your overall point, one of the hugest ballaches stopping progress in the Brexit process was the parallel negotiations in both Brussels (between the EU & UK to find an acceptable solution) and in Westminster (where Parliament had to find an acceptable deal). Remember, this was the result of the Gina Miller case, and the judges who ruled on it got the 'Enemies of the People' front page splash from the tabloids. That was the right call, but it paralysed politics for years because of the way the Tories were managing the process.

Adding a further caveat that any NI-specific provisions of any agreement ALSO had to go to Stormont (or some equivalent process to get it rubber stamped by the NI parties) would have made it impossible, I feel.

[oldfordie]

Question time tonight should be interesting. Belfast. Protocol bound to be brought up. Peter Kyle will hopefully destroy DUP.

[thejbs]

Just saw a video from an Orange Order centenary celebration shared on twitter where a lodge are singing a gloating song about the death of Michaela McAreavey.  It's completely triggered my wife who went to school with Michaela and is still upset about her death.

For those who don't know, Michaela was a 27 year old Catholic woman who was murdered on her honeymoon in Mauritius about ten years ago. The killer was never brought to justice.  I guess, because Michaela's family and husband are prominent GAA people, that some in the Orange Order see this as fair game for their sick banter.

No one will be able to convince me that the Orange Order is anything but a vile sectarian cesspit and always has been. 

[DangerScouse]

Just saw that myself. Utterly fucking sickening. Horrible, bigoted bastards.

[Ray K]

At least there was a good strong statement by Linfield condemning it.

Linfield FC has today been made aware of a deeply offensive video in circulation on social media in which the involvement of a coach at our girls’ Academy can be clearly identified.

The coach in question has been contacted and notified that his voluntary association with the club has been terminated with immediate effect.

Linfield FC condemns the offensive, sickening and deeply hurtful and insulting chanting that is taking place on the online video and this club wishes to disassociate itself totally from the unacceptable behaviour that has understandably caused major upset and offence to the Harte / McAreavey families who have suffered terribly since the loss of their daughter / wife several years ago.

Linfield FC will not tolerate behaviour among any of our personnel that falls short of the standards that the club expects and as has been illustrated on this occasion, the club will act swiftly and decisively against any individual whose conduct falls short of the standards that are required.

Linfield FC apologises to the Harte / McAreavey families for the hurt that has been caused to them by the offensive actions of one of our now former coaches.

Linfield FC is totally opposed to sectarianism, bigotry, racism, prejudice and all forms of discriminatory behaviour and there can be no place within this club for any of these forms of offensive and unacceptable behaviour.

[thejbs]

I remember my grandad, an English WWII veteran living in NI,  told me a story about the OO when I was young that I never forgotten.

A member of a local lodge who met him through work invited him along to a D-day commemoration they were holding. He had fought a year and spent a further 3 as a POW and despite not being in the OO he was happy to go along as he figured he’d get to meet other veterans. He only vaguely knew what the order were.

After the church service he went to the lodge for tea and sandwiches. While there, a guy he knew from the legion told his brethren that my grandad was a Catholic - he’s converted to marry his Scottish wife. These brave men, who themselves hadn’t fought for their beloved country, subsequently and very impolitely made him leave. They accused him of misleading him and gave the veteran pensioner the utmost sectarian abuse. He was gobsmacked.

Their hatred trumps any love of their country. He gave up on the legion after that too.

[thejbs]

At least there was a good strong statement by Linfield condemning it.

Brilliant and decisive from linfield.

[DangerScouse]

https://twitter.com/DavidYoungPA/status/1532701722547732482?s=20&t=8hmfHpvtXh6wwcv5IyLNZQ

Laughable.