Opinion

Orangeman's expulsion apt

MARK Blaney's conduct in breaking away from an Orange march in north Belfast to attack a police officer with a ceremonial sword was outrageous by any standards.

Blaney was jailed for 18 months last week after a court heard that the officer was struck over the head in the Twaddell Avenue area on the Twelfth of July, and only his helmet, which was badly dented, saved him from more serious injury.

In the past it has proved difficult to establish what, if any, internal disciplinary action was taken against Orange Order members who engaged in such behaviour.

However, the institution's prompt confirmation yesterday, in response to a query from this newspaper, that Blaney had been immediately expelled after his conviction deserves to be acknowledged.