You would be forgiven for thinking that the grass has never been greener in Northern Ireland; we have the American billionaire Donald Trump interested in investing in our economy; we have had the First and Deputy First Ministers jetting off promoting their new found friendship to the world and declaring Northern Ireland ‘open for business’; and the football team have demonstrated their ability to the world (lets not talk about the rugby).
It is with regret that some within this country are not content with relative peace and have resorted to what they know best; hate crime and a deluded sense of justice. We have had another Orange Hall attacked in Crumlin with the Grand Secretary, Drew Nelson, calling it part of an ‘organised campaign’. Gerry Adams, MP for West Belfast, has summed up what these attacks are:
"Such attacks are motivated by sectarianism and have no place in this society,"
Thanks Gerry. I think you will find that attacks on Orange Halls throughout this country and at all times in its history have been motivated by sectarianism. It was not too long ago that this incident happened. The problem is if this type of behaviour has been justified and legitimised in the past then it is difficult to suddenly change the record and expect it to be, in the eyes of the perpetrator, criminal and sectarian now.
Then we have the brutal murder of Paul Quinn which has disturbing echoes of the Robert McCartney murder; a grieving family and a wall of silence by Sinn Fein. These types of events do not happen in a society based on the rule of law where each human life should be valued.
During the coming months when the government will be judged on competency in office, criminal behaviour, murder and hate crime must not be brushed under the carpet to avoid unsettling those now working together. Justice is required by society to show that devolution is working and that the bona fides of those in government are the real deal.
It is with regret that some within this country are not content with relative peace and have resorted to what they know best; hate crime and a deluded sense of justice. We have had another Orange Hall attacked in Crumlin with the Grand Secretary, Drew Nelson, calling it part of an ‘organised campaign’. Gerry Adams, MP for West Belfast, has summed up what these attacks are:
"Such attacks are motivated by sectarianism and have no place in this society,"
Thanks Gerry. I think you will find that attacks on Orange Halls throughout this country and at all times in its history have been motivated by sectarianism. It was not too long ago that this incident happened. The problem is if this type of behaviour has been justified and legitimised in the past then it is difficult to suddenly change the record and expect it to be, in the eyes of the perpetrator, criminal and sectarian now.
Then we have the brutal murder of Paul Quinn which has disturbing echoes of the Robert McCartney murder; a grieving family and a wall of silence by Sinn Fein. These types of events do not happen in a society based on the rule of law where each human life should be valued.
During the coming months when the government will be judged on competency in office, criminal behaviour, murder and hate crime must not be brushed under the carpet to avoid unsettling those now working together. Justice is required by society to show that devolution is working and that the bona fides of those in government are the real deal.
