The Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead…

Whether Gerry Adams likes it or not, he is now ‘Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead‘.

Here’s why Gerry is now a servant of the Crown.

Here’s how the news emerged.

Here’s the official confirmation which came later.

Here’s a piece by Nicholas Wintour and Cranmer which rounds everything up very neatly.

On Tuesday, Gerry Adams said this on his somewhat idiosyncratic blog:

“Your man reckons these are exciting – ‘dramatic times’ – in the politics of our small island. Especially in the south. Flann O Brien couldn’t have written the script. The political and economic crisis has been variously described as a ‘circus’, a ‘comedy of errors’, ‘a farce’ and some other things that this blog could not post.”

Gerry was enjoying the misfortune of others a little too much. Less than 24 hours later he would be the centre of a drama, a circus, a comedy of errors, a farce of his own.

The next blog post by the Steward and Bailiff of the Manor of Northstead will be an interesting read.

Filed under: Sinn Fein, Gerry Adams, Stewart and Bailiff

Sinn Fein Non-Economics

Fair Deal over on Ultonia translated Sinn Fein’s postion on the budget crisis into a photo of a monkey with his fingers in his (or her) ears.

Responding to the First Minister’s comments on the issue, Sinn Fein’s economic genius Mitchell McLaughlin said: “It’s incredible that Peter Robinson is inviting ministers to anticipate the cuts before we even get the budget statement on 20 October.”

He added that cuts “proposed or imposed by the British government must be challenged and resisted”.

It is a well known fact from when the Coalition Government was formed that cuts, cuts and more cuts were going to be the focus of Government. Sinn Fein’s non-economics is a typical response from a party that believes that our own Government should be paying for what thirty years of violence and murder orchastrated by the IRA cost this region in economic terms. Sinn Fein should be working to develop Northern Ireland and repair the damage that they created.

The first thing that they should be doing is sitting down with all parties on the Executive and working to resolve the situation in order to manage it as effectively as possible. However instead they are behaving like monkeys out to blame the ‘British’ Government for the situation we have found ourselves in. How responsible, eh? Nevertheless how is this new given the fact that they have blamed the same Government for oppression dating back centuries.

Filed under: devolution, finances, power sharing, Sinn Fein, This week, Uncategorized

Gerry Adams: media personality and hypocrite

Channel 4 announced recently that Gerry Adams was to appear on a programme in the new year about religion called, The Bible: A History. There was predictable denouncement by the likes of Ann Widdecombe who is to present another of the programmes and Lord Tebbitt who apparently burst out laughing at the idea that Adams will also examine Christian teachings on ‘love, forgiveness and repentance’. Others have been more supportive and Alan McBride whose parents were murdered in the Shankill bomb has apparently taken part in the programme.

Whilst we will wait for the programme the simple reality remains that few unionists will believe that Adams will actually say he is sorry for what has happened in the past in a convincing fashion. Adams has specialised in the recent past in suggesting that many of the things that happened in the troubles were “regrettable” or “unfortunate” or indeed “sad” but never that they were actually morally wrong and unjustified.

Filed under: Sinn Fein, Uncategorized

The way to a Shared Future?

Chekov began this blog last week with a piece on shared future and voluntary coalition. Andrew Charles now focuses in on recent tensions in Rasharkin and Dunloy and questions Sinn Fein ‘s commitment to a Shared Future… he argues that Sinn Fein are playing into the hands of dissidents when they could benefit from promoting mutual tolerance

This summer has been one fuelled by sectarian tension all over the province. Whiterock, the Tour of the North and Ardoyne have been areas of particular tension after a few years of calm. Much of this has been blamed on dissident republicans, which is being a term that we are getting more familiar with. However this term can and has been used to cover up for the people who no longer wish to be associated with such violence and mayhem. I am talking about Sinn Fein.

Tensions have not only been isolated to the traditional areas of inter-communal violence and sectarian fuelled hate crime. It has become clear that areas in North Antrim are becoming sore points for sectarianism and bigotry. Rasharkin and Dunloy are to name a few. However it is clear that trouble also exists in Coleraine and Ballymena.

My focus is on Rasharkin and Dunloy. This summer we have seen a growth in attacks by approximately 100 percent from last year. Orange halls have been attacked as have homes of Protestants living as minorities. I acknowledge the fact that Catholic associated property has also been attacked but these have not been on the same scale.

Flags in Northern Ireland are the traditional manner in how territory is marked – a bit like a cat marking out his territory. In Rasharkin we have an extra large Irish flag blowing outside the local supermarket. You would think it was a memorial garden.

The weekend just past saw two halls in Co. Antrim damaged by a tractor. Tullaghan and Granagh Independent Orange Halls were hit in separate attacks, although were thought to be linked. Clifton Street Orange Hall was also hit again. The trouble in Rasharkin has been astounding. Back in August the annual band parade through the town (that’s band parade, not Orange parade) was the focus of Catholic and Nationalist anger. Sinn Fein’s Daithi McKay was on the scene. Petrol bombs and missiles were thrown at the police. Catholics and Protestants were kept apart as both groups sought a fight. Each side taunted the other whilst bandsmen had abuse thrown at them as well as missiles. A petrol bomb was thrown at Police.

Whilst responsibility for this idea of a ‘Shared Future’ exists on both sides of the political divide I note with interest Sinn Fein’s view. Sinn Fein launched their sole strategy last week and blamed the DUP for holding back on the strategy compiled by OFMDFM.

What is Sinn Fein doing on the ground to reduce community relations? They have been on the ground in North Antrim but certainly not seeking to mend community relations. Daithi McKay stood at the barricades in Rasharkin in August then spent the next few days complaining about the parade. It would appear by his language that he doesn’t want to see a Protestant about the place. Why? Because they don’t vote for him.

Tolerance

What Sinn Fein and others need to learn is the meaning of ‘tolerance’.

Tolerance: a fair, objective, and permissive attitude toward those whose opinions, practices, race, religion, nationality, etc., differ from one’s own; freedom from bigotry.

Tolerance and mutual respect form key terms in the Shared Future publication (OFMDFM, 2005). If Sinn Fein were offering real leadership in areas of sectarian tension they would try and pull their people back and certainly wouldn’t be leading them on the picket line. The results of such actions are demonstrated by the trouble experienced in North Belfast after the annual 12^th day celebrations in July this year. Sinn Fein has lost control of their people there.

DUP MLA Nelson McCausland referred to Sinn Fein as having created a monster which they can no longer control. Sinn Fein’s Gerry Kelly, now a Junior Minister in the Executive stood in front of the cameras on the 14^th July and blamed everyone but himself or his party. He even admitted defeat in suggesting that he wouldn’t be there every year now despite using the tensions as a political platform. In other words he said: it’s someone else’s problem now. This is irresponsible, stupid and immature.

Essentially Sinn Fein are shooting themselves in the foot and playing into the hands of dissidents rather than educating their people in the field of mutual tolerance and respect. What happens when all the Protestants are gone?

Sinn Fein’s Daithi McKay needs to take some lessons from North Belfast and his party colleague Gerry Kelly; otherwise the problem in North Antrim will escalate further. I argue that it already has as youths and gangs target homes and halls willy-nilly.

The cage door has been opened and the monster is poking his head out. Once he is out it’ll be difficult to get him back in.

Filed under: Shared future, Sinn Fein