Opinion

Newton Emerson: Road-blocking loyalists should heed the lessons of the flag protests

Newton Emerson

Loyalists intend to resume disruption next week after the funeral of the Duke of Edinburgh, by holding unnotified band parades and ‘pop-up protest' road blocks.

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Patrick Murphy: If politics is the answer, why can't we have some?

Patrick Murphy

If there was one thing more depressing than the recent loyalist violence, it was the dismal quality of the political reaction.

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Opening

16 Apr, 2021

Leading article see all »

Caution essential as we step out of lockdown

17 Apr, 2021

THE significant and enormously welcome package of lockdown relaxations sends a clear signal that the fight against Covid is being won.

Covid relaxations signal brighter days ahead

16 Apr, 2021

FOLLOWING a long, difficult winter dominated by Covid-19 restrictions, there is a feeling that brighter days are ahead after the Stormont Executive agreed a package of lockdown relaxations.

Health service reform urgently needed

15 Apr, 2021

HEALTH minister Robin Swann has set out in the starkest terms the scale of the task that lies ahead for our health and social care service as it looks to a post-pandemic future.

Fragile peace must be protected

14 Apr, 2021

While there will be a sense of relief that the rioting and disorder that erupted last week has not continued over recent days, there are fears that this will be merely a brief respite.

Letters to the Editor see all »

Opposite extremists always appear to be on the same side of history

16 Apr, 2021

IN his recent statement, Lord Morrow, chairman of the DUP, claimed that compared to the 1974 Workers Council Strike and the 1985 loyalist protests against the Anglo-Irish Agreement, the recent unionist protests were of “equal seriousness”. He went on to claim that the authorities have continued to “show total and absolute capitulation to the demands of militant republicanism”.

Good Friday Agreement denies right of self-determination

15 Apr, 2021

IN the letters column, Friday April 9, Paul Laughlin, Doire, argued that a border poll held under the Good Friday Agreement would constitute an exercise in self-determination by the people of Ireland. In this, however, he is wrong.

Loyalists mistaken in belief that Good Friday Agreement borne of violence

14 Apr, 2021

MANY political analysts, newspaper columnists and unionist political leaders are suggesting that loyalists mistakenly believe that the Good Friday Agreement was borne out of the use of violence, something that could not be further from the truth, but it has left the false impression that by violence others’ aims could also be achieved.

Unionist leaders must stop drip-feeding us paranoia

13 Apr, 2021

AS I write this, I am hoping in advance that the unionist leaders have used the unfortunate death of Prince Philip (just announced) to ask for all protests this weekend to be called off as a mark of respect to our mourning queen; this will give time for a political solution to the riots.

Columnists see all »

Patrick Murphy: If politics is the answer, why can't we have some?

Patrick Murphy 17 Apr, 2021

If there was one thing more depressing than the recent loyalist violence, it was the dismal quality of the political reaction.

Newton Emerson: Road-blocking loyalists should heed the lessons of the flag protests

Newton Emerson 17 Apr, 2021

Loyalists intend to resume disruption next week after the funeral of the Duke of Edinburgh, by holding unnotified band parades and ‘pop-up protest' road blocks.