The NI/ROI Protocol

[Ashtree]

I'd guess that won't be much of a mystery as it's probably either to get money for one of his own business or to get a brown envelope from someone else's.

He has fair sticky paws to be fair. Old man enriched himself ranting on the bible. This brat prefers shady side deals. But hey, the righteous electorate of Ballymena, have no difficulty in putting him in parliament. Makes you wonder, don’t it!!!

 

[M-J-G]

He has fair sticky paws to be fair. Old man enriched himself ranting on the bible. This brat prefers shady side deals. But hey, the righteous electorate of Ballymena, have no difficulty in putting him in parliament. Makes you wonder, don’t it!!!

Find me a political figure that hasn't done a shady deal, they cannot help themselves.

Old Paisley was a totally different person. I don't mind Jnr, but the old man was only equalled by the likes of Adams or McGuinness. The only difference is that Paisley claimed to be a man of God whilst being instrumental in terrorism.
If there is a hell that old devil will be burning in it along with the rest of the terrorist murderers.

 

[M-J-G]

I see some loons are acting the maggot around Carrickfergus, of all places.

One even had the brains to set themselves on fire with their own petrol bomb
Good work girls.

 

[M-J-G]

The silence is deafening

 

[Ashtree]

The silence is deafening

Arlene bless her, the first minister of NI, has decided the best way to represent her people, is through silence. She hasn’t spoken to the Taoiseach in god knows how long, and has no plans to do so. Not satisfied with that, she has now decided not to speak with Simon Byrne the head of the PSNI.
Brilliant tactic. She plans to represent Unionism in the DUP echo chamber. No today, no tomorrow, no forever.

 

[M-J-G]

Arlene bless her, the first minister of NI, has decided the best way to represent her people, is through silence. She hasn’t spoken to the Taoiseach in god knows how long, and has no plans to do so. Not satisfied with that, she has now decided not to speak with Simon Byrne the head of the PSNI.
Brilliant tactic. She plans to represent Unionism in the DUP echo chamber. No today, no tomorrow, no forever.

Maybe she saw how the shinners tactics worked, start off with violence then follow up with silence.

Maybe she'll try hunger striking next...

 

[M-J-G]

And the poor NI Assembly members have to give up their Easter break due to the Unionist/Loyalist violence.
What a shame, I'm sure they deserved the holiday

 

[M-J-G]

Any news links @nivilla1982 or is this one of those things you choose not to focus on?

 

[nivilla1982]

It is hardly surprising that these "loyalists" have drawn their own conclusions about the concept of "2 tier policing" etc and have decided the way forward is too cause damage to property and people rather stupid of them etc.
Policing Board meets today so presumably there will be some political grandstanding and more tomorrow in the Assembly Chamber. While an undermanned and under resourced force will be busy.

Loyalist violence: Dialogue needed with police 'at all levels'

The Policing Board chair calls for a redoubling of efforts to calm loyalist tensions, after recent violence.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[M-J-G]

It is hardly surprising that these "loyalists" have drawn their own conclusions about the concept of "2 tier policing" etc and have decided the way forward is too cause damage to property and people rather stupid of them etc.
Policing Board meets today so presumably there will be some political grandstanding and more tomorrow in the Assembly Chamber. While an undermanned and under resourced force will be busy.

Loyalist violence: Dialogue needed with police 'at all levels'

The Policing Board chair calls for a redoubling of efforts to calm loyalist tensions, after recent violence.

www.bbc.co.uk

I agree that they are stupid to react in such a way, but I am surprised because I had always assumed that it was only the the Republicans/nationalists that behaved in such a way, but the Unionist/Loyalists have dropped to that level now.
Quite the disappointment really.

 

[Ashtree]

I agree that they are stupid to react in such a way, but I am surprised because I had always assumed that it was only the the Republicans/nationalists that behaved in such a way, but the Unionist/Loyalists have dropped to that level now.
Quite the disappointment really.

Are you serious. The unionists have always thrashed the place, at the merest hint of accommodation of the nationalists.
Sunningdale brought down by the Ulster Workers Council strikes. DUP / UVF under a neat banner.
Then the Ulster Says No campaign against the Anglo Irish Agreement.
On this occasion they reckoned Thatcher stabbed them in the back. Roll forwards 30 years, what do they do? They sup once more with the Tory establishment, and boy do they glory in their new found king maker status with Teresa May. On the nine o clock news every night. Nigel was absolutely loving it. Sammy was having a ball, and sticking two fingers to the “ethnics”! Ian .... well the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, except young Ian couldn’t quite keep it under wraps.
But of course it all went t’its up when Boris hijacked the bus, took over the steering and jumped clear at an exceptionally tricky bend, leaving the DUP to their inevitable fate.
And here we are again, back to the same old failed playbook. Ulster says no. Problem is Ulster isn’t a slam dunk unionist / loyalist majority anymore. DUP et al, don’t get to say what goes without discussion anymore. If only that penny would drop!!!

 

[The Agrarian]

That's a extremely selective account of history. Wouldn't like to have you writing the history books. Would be like Sinn Feins idea of honest history. Are you absolutely sure you aren't one of their social media parrots?

Unionists aren't a cohesive band. Never have been. Lots of unionists are fine with accommodation, always have been. You should actually come up here and get some proper lived experience before blowing bubbles on a forum like you know what you're talking about.

 

[M-J-G]

Are you serious. The unionists have always thrashed the place, at the merest hint of accommodation of the nationalists.
Sunningdale brought down by the Ulster Workers Council strikes. DUP / UVF under a neat banner.
Then the Ulster Says No campaign against the Anglo Irish Agreement.
On this occasion they reckoned Thatcher stabbed them in the back. Roll forwards 30 years, what do they do? They sup once more with the Tory establishment, and boy do they glory in their new found king maker status with Teresa May. On the nine o clock news every night. Nigel was absolutely loving it. Sammy was having a ball, and sticking two fingers to the “ethnics”! Ian .... well the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, except young Ian couldn’t quite keep it under wraps.
But of course it all went t’its up when Boris hijacked the bus, took over the steering and jumped clear at an exceptionally tricky bend, leaving the DUP to their inevitable fate.
And here we are again, back to the same old failed playbook. Ulster says no. Problem is Ulster isn’t a slam dunk unionist / loyalist majority anymore. DUP et al, don’t get to say what goes without discussion anymore. If only that penny would drop!!!

The Unionist/Loyalists have behaved pretty well in recent times(if you ignore the multimillion pound drug dealing cartels) but they have gone and let themselves down a bagful with this.
I thought the talk of violence was just gas-bagging, and some on here suggested that it was, but it turns out it was just looking for an excuse to come to the surface.

No better than those that they oppose now in my book.
None of which is endearing NI to the rest of the UK.

 

[The Agrarian]

Vast majority of unionists oppose loyalist criminality and their abuse of young working class males which they manipulate for their own ends. Unionists and loyalists are two very different categories. This is quite distinct from the Sinn Fein scenario, where clearly a majority of nationalists support the front party for republican terror and criminality.

 

[nivilla1982]

Regarding the failure of Sunningdale, bar the SDLP the nationalist community either rejected it or boycotted the election for the assembly. While the IRA were too busy conducting their campaign of terrorism. So hardly unionism and loyalism alone in rejecting/underming it.
The Council of Ireland in theory was harmless, but elements of the SDLP wanted it to be "the vehicle that would trundle Unionists into a united Ireland".

 

[M-J-G]

Can someone explain how a political party founded by a terrorist who along with his best mate started up a terrorist organisation is any different to a political party founded by terrorists?

 

[Hindsight]

From The Times

 

[M-J-G]

Water cannon is an amazing piece of equipment

 

[nivilla1982]

6 years since they were last used apparently.

 

[M-J-G]

6 years since they were last used apparently.

Shame it wasn't longer