Dermot Ahern and the unionists

[Justin]

Days ago he was describing the recent disturbances as an organised attempt to intimidate the nationalist community.Don't know if he bothered raising that with Empey & co but on Morning Ireland he certainly bought into unionist "explanations" of it."The goverment will support the British goverment..in making sure the social and economic benefits of the peace process are spread to loyalist communities".If he was being even handed he would have said a peace dividend was required according to need(and he might have pointed out nationalists are still disadvantaged in relation to unionists by objective criteria).Instead he is supporting unionist sectarianism that regards deprivation in their community as relatively more important and giving the green light to the British to reward their"organised attempt to intimidate the nationalist community".More than just clumsy that's dangerous nonsense.

[Rabscallion]

Days ago he was describing the recent disturbances as an organised attempt to intimidate the nationalist community.Don't know if he bothered raising that with Empey & co but on Morning Ireland he certainly bought into unionist "explanations" of it."The goverment will support the British goverment..in making sure the social and economic benefits of the peace process are spread to loyalist communities".

I don't see how these benefits encompass tolerating ugly sectarianism...

[commentator]

the elephant in the room is that religious sectarianism in NI is not a two way street. It is a protestant pathology. Nationalist violence is rarely if ever aimed at protestantism per se and catholics in general simply do not have the hate for protestantism which the orangemen have for catholicism.

[ChrIreland]

the elephant in the room is that religious sectarianism in NI is not a two way street. It is a protestant pathology. Nationalist violence is rarely if ever aimed at protestantism per se and catholics in general simply do not have the hate for protestantism which the orangemen have for catholicism.

I believe that this is a very good analysis. If we could only through to the loyalists that point it might help in the present dangerous mess. If Ahern or McDowell feel that their alleged "understanding" of loyalists rioting (at the expense of their nationalist neighbours) is going to reduce the level of loyalist violence one iota then they are sadly mistaken.

[Justin]

Days ago he was describing the recent disturbances as an organised attempt to intimidate the nationalist community.Don't know if he bothered raising that with Empey & co but on Morning Ireland he certainly bought into unionist "explanations" of it."The goverment will support the British goverment..in making sure the social and economic benefits of the peace process are spread to loyalist communities".

I don't see how these benefits encompass tolerating ugly sectarianism...

He's not addressing the question of social/economic deprivation according to need.Instead he's supporting the unionist contention that their deprivation deserves particular attention because(a) they are loyalists and (b) they are rioting loyalists.

[martin TYRONE]

Dermot Ahern is pathetic--why dont FF/PD just get it over with and crawl up paisleys ass altogether their heads are already in there .

[Terry Mac]

Is it true that in the wake of all the rioting the response of McDowell was that nationalists/republicans should hold out the hand of friendship and understanding to unionists. Or something like that. F***in muppet.

[campbeca]

Is it true that in the wake of all the rioting the response of McDowell was that nationalists/republicans should hold out the hand of friendship and understanding to unionists. Or something like that. ************************************ muppet.

Can we get some moderation on that post pls?

[ChrIreland]

Is it true that in the wake of all the rioting the response of McDowell was that nationalists/republicans should hold out the hand of friendship and understanding to unionists. Or something like that. F***in muppet.

You got it spot on Terry. During WW2 the Norweigans had people like him (not too many). They called them "quislings".

[jjacollins]

We all need to ask ourselves, Where is the heavy condemnation of British Loyalist terrorim from the Irish and British governments??

Where is McDowell?? If the IRA were shooting at the PSNI he would be on tv all night catigating them and dragging SF into it. Where is he now that the Loyalists are acting up????????????

To my mind it's all part of a campaign to stop the IRA from disarming or to break up the republican movement. If the IRA ceases to exist, then all attention goes onto Loyalists.

The Dup will be expected to go into assembly with SF and they don't want that do they?????