Northern Ireland

QUB academic reveals year-long 'campaign' of political pressure

Professor Colin Harvey speaking at the press conference to launch the report on the `The Role of the EU in Irish Unity' earlier this month. Picture by Laura Davison/Pacemaker Press
Professor Colin Harvey speaking at the press conference to launch the report on the `The Role of the EU in Irish Unity' earlier this month. Picture by Laura Davison/Pacemaker Press Professor Colin Harvey speaking at the press conference to launch the report on the `The Role of the EU in Irish Unity' earlier this month. Picture by Laura Davison/Pacemaker Press

A QUEEN'S academic has invited critics of his contribution to the Irish unity debate to "come and have a conversation with me" after revealing he has been subjected to year-long `campaign' of political pressure.

Professor Colin Harvey revealed during a public appearance at Derry's Guildhall that he has felt "under siege" from unionism and loyalism for the past year after being the target of criticism from elected representatives among others.

Incoming UUP leader Steve Aiken and DUP assembly member Christopher Stalford have both contacted Queen's University Belfast, where he is a professor in its School of Law, demanding to know if the institution's endorses his work on `planning and preparing for constitutional change in Ireland'.

Mr Stalford said earlier this month: "I've written to the VC today asking these questions" and Mr Aiken said "taking the line that the university endorses this and supports Prof Harvey, whilst decrying the lack of a counter unionist academic voice doesn't, in anyway, cut it".

In an `Beyond Brexit' event in January, which examined what Northern Ireland would look like after the UK exits the EU, Professor Harvey responded to criticism of the event’s organisers for not inviting unionists to speak at the conference at Belfast's Waterfront Hall.

"Let me absolutely clear, we apologise to no-one for being here today and having the conversation about the rights of Irish citizens," he said.

Afterwards Belfast DUP councillor Dale Pankhurst branded it "pathetic" and called QUB "to fundamentally address problems such as these".

Following Prof Harvey's comments on Friday, there has been a wave up support from nationalists on social media using the hashtag #WeSupportColin #AcademicIndependence

Yesterday, the academic, who is an associate fellow of the Institute of Irish Studies, told the Irish News he feels it has been his "duty" to contribute to the current debate on Irish unity.

"I would ask unionists and loyalists in this society to come and talk to me. My door is open for a conversation about the content of my work," he said.

"Really it is a plea to come and speak to me directly. I am willing to talk about the content of my work. This year a lot of work has been on the question of Irish reunification, which I realise there is debate about.

"I genuinely want there to be a dialogue and conversation.

"I don't want to be a bystander in what is a historical moment for this island. I feel a responsibility and duty on me - we're the responsible people in the room who want to talk."