Opinion

BBC no stranger to political bias

I would like to ask the BBC a very pertinent question and that is, why was Mervyn Gibson invited onto its television coverage of the 2022 Assembly elections? This was a democratic, political election and Mervyn Gibson is not an elected representative at any level, neither is he a political analyst, an interviewer, a political commentator or a political columnist.

Mervyn Gibson is the leader of the controversial Orange Order which comes exclusively from only one side of the community here and is inherently sectarian and is steeped in anti-Catholicism. Its rules state clearly that no-one who has ever been a Roman Catholic can be a member of the Order. It’s primary purpose is to annually celebrate the victory of the Dutch Protestant King William over the English Catholic King James here in Ireland.

The Orange Order has been banned from marching through many areas in the six counties by the Parades Commission and various British governments who both recognise that the Order is not welcome in Catholic/nationalist areas because of its blatant anti-Catholic sectarianism. The Orange Order has protested many of these bans and their protests have resulted in violence on the streets of Northern Ireland.

For these reasons the BBC must explain why this individual was given TV time to air his own political views and why no individual from the nationalist community was given the same privilege.

The BBC will be no stranger to accusations of political bias so it is vital that they give the nationalist community some explanation as to why this took place. Why was this not balanced by someone from the nationalist community who was unelected and unrepresentative of that community not also given that privilege?

The Orange Order has long been associated with loyalist paramilitaries such as the UVF and the UDA, and bands at their parades often carry flags supporting these organisations. Nationalist people have suffered by being caged into their streets while these triumphalist parades have been forced through their normally peaceful areas.

These parades in their simplest form celebrate the victory of Protestantism over Catholicism more than 300 years ago.


The Orange Order makes no apology for its blatant sectarian discrimination – in fact each year it openly boasts of the defeat of Catholicism in public speeches at these parades. It is time the BBC was held to account for its actions and it should remember that licence fees are also paid by the Catholic community.

SEAN SEELEY


Craigavon, Co Armagh

Distortion of real truth

I regard the Irish News article – ‘Church distances itself from priest’s call for congregation to vote Aontú’ (April 21) – a distortion of the real truth.

The Catholic Church has consistently taught that every human life is worthy of respect and care from the moment of conception to natural death. It encourages citizens to vote with an informed conscience. Hence, the doctrine of the Church concurs with Fr Paddy that abortion is irreconcilable with being a Catholic. Accordingly, Catholics – in fact all Christians – must distance themselves from parties who promote abortion.

The fact that Fr Paddy expressed explicitly what the Church has implicitly declared is a relatively minor issue.

Like so many people in Northern Ireland, I have lived through the Troubles. There were people in Sinn Féin who advocated violence as a means to an end. There were people in SDLP who marched the streets to demand their civil rights. These same people have voted to create blanket exclusion zones around abortion clinics, preventing all protest/support. Our leaders are insidiously creating a totalitarian state in Northern Ireland.

I believe I am now living on Orwell’s Animal Farm and the pigs have taken over. Do you remember Orwell’s Newspeak and Doublethink in 1984? We now have abortion equated with ‘modern, compassionate healthcare services’, completely ignoring the termination of innocent human beings and the proven detrimental effects on women who have had abortions.

The article refers to Sinn Féin supporting a policy of terminations within the first 12 weeks, completely ignoring the fact that their MLAs voted against making it illegal to abort a baby at 40 weeks due to a disability.

I worry for my children and their children that they are being told what to think and not how to think.

BRENDAN KELLY


Belfast BT9

Vote gap between unionists and nationalists closer than ever

After the assembly election Brandon Lewis mentioned that there wouldn’t be a border poll as still the number of unionist votes was much higher than nationalist votes. The News Letter’s Ben Lowry (May 7) stated the number of unionist votes was at 363,157 when smaller parties and independents such as the PUP, Alex Easton and Claire Sugden are included. He specified that the nationalist vote was 351,200 when including smaller parties Aontú and People Before Profit.

What he failed to count was the 3,232 votes for left-wing socialist parties  IRSP, Workers’ Party and Social Party.  He also failed to include nationalist Independents. If you include votes for  Gavin Malone in Newry, Paul Gallagher in West Tyrone, Patrick Haughey in Mid Ulster, Anne McCloskey in Foyle and Emma de Souza in Fermanagh South Tyrone, that would bring the number of nationalist votes to 361,251

Out of a turnout of 873,787 votes, that would be 41.56 per cent for unionists 41.34 per cent for nationalists, much closer than what they would want you to believe.

JOHN McSORLEY


Belfast BT5

Help for those suffering from loneliness

This week marks Mental Health Awareness Week, and the theme this year is loneliness. Childline often hears from children who are struggling with loneliness and isolation, and during the pandemic these feelings were heightened for many young people.

It can be difficult for parents and carers to recognise when their child may be struggling with their mental health, and equally difficult for them to know how to offer their support. This Mental Health Awareness Week, we would encourage readers to take the opportunity to start a conversation with their children about how they are feeling and if they have any worries. If a child is feeling lonely or struggling with their mental health, it’s important that they know they can talk to a trusted adult about their feelings and  they will be listened to and what they say will be valued.

Children and young people can also get in contact with our Childline counsellors on the phone or online.

If they do not feel ready or comfortable to talk to one of our trained counsellors, our Childline website has lots of resources for children and young people.

Children can call Childline on 0800 1111 or they can get in touch via www.childline.org.uk.

CAROLINE McWATTERS


Childline, Northern Ireland