Category Archives: News

news as it is happening-ish

Magilligan_Point_Martello_tower_-_geograph.org.uk_-_396433Martello Tower at Magilligan Point, Co. Derry

The principal of the Model Primary School in Derry has paid tribute to pupils for their maturity after they discovered a dead body during a field trip.

The Primary 7 class of 27 pupils had been combing the beach at Magilligan in small groups, when five of them saw the outline of a body and reported it to their teacher.

A PSNI spokesman confirmed to the Derry Journal: ”Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a man whose body was discovered by members of the public at Magilligan Point this morning, Tuesday 20 May.

“A post-mortem examination will be carried out to determine the cause of death.”

Schoolchildren who found dead body praised for ‘maturity’ (Brendan McDaid, Derry Journal)

Photo: Chris Gunns

90175333 NI First Minister Peter Robinson and Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness

First Minister Peter Robinson has rejected Sinn Féin claims he was showing cowardice as a politician.

Earlier this month Deputy First Minster Martin McGuinness accused Mr Robinson of “cowardice of the worst kind”.

He claimed Mr Robinson had not spoken out about alleged UVF involvement in violence and racist intimidation.

Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness MLA said: “I have stood shoulder to shoulder with unionist leaders in condemning the activities of so-called dissident republicans.

“We have not seen the same united approach in response to UVF-orchestrated violence against isolated members of our ethnic minority communities, against the small nationalist community of the Short Strand, against the PSNI during the flag protests or against Alliance party offices.“

Hmm.

From the 1980s, the then MP for East Belfast Peter Robinson was interviewed by John Ware for BBC’s Panorama (above) where he described Loyalist prisoners as “counter-terrorists”.

First Minister Peter Robinson rejects ‘cowardice’ claims (BBC News NI)

Previously: Was It For This?

File Pic: Photocall Ireland

allowances

Political parties received €12.9 million in state funding for 2013, according to figures released today by the Standards Commission. The attached table shows the amounts received by qualified political parties for 2013 under the Party Leaders Allowance and the Electoral Acts legislation.

The amount payable to each such non-party member of Dáil Éireann during 2013 was €41,152 and the amount payable to each non-party member of Seanad Éireann during the same period was €23,383. The total paid to non-party members was €878,389 (of which funding amounting to a total of €617,279 was available to non-party members of the Dáil during 2013 and funding amounting to a total of €261,110 was available to non-party members of the Seanad during 2013).

Until the 2014 legislation comes into effect, non-party members of Dáil or Seanad Éireann are not required to furnish to the Standards Commission, or to any other authority, a Statement of Expenditure in relation to the allowance.


Exchequer Funding and Party Leaders Allowance received by Qualified Political Parties (SIPO)

10325410_697850563605063_609208816822705967_n  European Election candidate for Ireland South, Diarmuid O’Flynn (centre)

In response to questions posed by the Life Institute on the issue of abortion, we asked European election candidate for Ireland South, Diarmuid O’Flynn (61) if the quotes attributed to him were correct.

The questions and his replies were as follows:

1. Do you support the repeal of the legislation which permits abortion on suicide grounds, and support making Ireland a place where unborn children are legally protected and mothers get all necessary life-saving treatment in pregnancy?

2. Will you oppose measures in the European Parliament which seek to liberalise Ireland’s abortion laws and support pro-life measures such as the One of Us campaign?

“On a purely personal level I disagree with that particular legislation and the suicide clause but as stated in the original mail, it is not a European issue, it is a national issue.

The second, absolutely I would oppose any such measures. There are some questions that are for a nation to decide for itself; this is one.”

 

He subsequently followed up with a blogpost this morning on the subject:

Abortion

The ugliest word in the dictionary…The only occasion on which I can foresee abortion arising in the EU is as an equal rights/civil right issue. I would vigorously oppose any such imposition on Ireland. Abortion is an area in which we should remain sovereign; this is an issue for Ireland to decide, on its own.

There is life in a foetus, helpless life that needs nourishing and protection. Everything possible should be done to bring that life to the birth stage.

I believe in the equal right to life of the mother and child. If there is a threat to the life of the mother there should be timely medical intervention to save her life. Every effort should also be made to save the life of the child; if this fails, it fails.

I can see why many people believe that such a threat to a mother’s life should include suicide. I don’t agree. I believe this then makes the life of the unborn foetus subservient to the life of the mother.

Even for the most stable, mentally strong woman, abortion is surely a highly emotive decision. A suicidal prospective mother is already suffering serious emotional stress. An abortion will add to that stress.

It’s a lose/lose scenario, a most divisive argument and for very obvious reasons. But there it is. I know that in a situation where I’m going to need every vote I can get this will cost me but given that I’m coming out of nowhere I believe it’s only right people should know who I am.

Pic: Ballyhea Says No (Facebook)

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Morrissey has taken to his fan site true-to-you.net to deny he is behind the twitter and Facebook accounts bearing his name.

16 May 2014

I would like to stress that I do not have either a Twitter or a Facebook account. I gather that a Twitter account has been opened in my name – as ‘It’s Morrissey’ – but it is NOT Morrissey. I do not know who has opened this recent Twitter account, but please be aware that it is bogus. That’s, of course, if you should remotely care.

Untwitterably yours,
MORRISSEY
Salt Lake City
15 May 2014.

We had our doubts but you knew that already.

Honest.

Previously: Tweet Is Murder