Tuesday, July 23, 2002

Digging up the dead The Irish Republican Army's apology for killing and injuring non-combatants over the past 30 years evoked some predictable responses. Unionist politicians said it was 'too little, too late' (which is fast becoming the most grating cliche in modern politics), while the British government cautiously welcomed it as a 'good sign'. Comments: Google It! 5:46:20 PM

'Balanced reportage' betrays a British bias Eamonn MacDermott The IRA's apology last week to the families of those "non combatants" it killed during the course of the last 30 years has created a predictable media frenzy, with the words "unprecedented" and "historic" thrown about at will. Commentators have been analysing the significance of the statement, and relatives of the dead have been wheeled out to relate how it eases their hurt -- or otherwise, as the case may be. The declaration is historic in that it is a recognition by the IRA of the wrongs it inflicted during the troubles. But when the dust settles after this latest initiative and the peace process meanders on its way, the world's media will once again turn their attention to other matters, and the affairs of the North will become the sole preserve of the local press once again. The constant, localised violence and intimidation is hardly newsworthy, and the local media will play their part in creating an air of normality by playing down the next pipe bomb attack or sectarian stabbing. Comments: Google It! 7:15:03 AM

Systemic Breakdown Anthony McIntyre Thirty years ago today the IRA[base ']s Belfast Brigade committed one of the organisation[base ']s most notorious acts. The city[base ']s three battalions between them detonated bombs throughout the Northern capital, killing nine and injuring scores of others. It became the bleakest day in the Provisional IRA's then barely three year history. Few predicted in the summer of 1972 that many bleaker were to follow. Comments: Google It! 7:09:44 AM

Nationalists braced for Twelfth violence Nationalist communities throughout the Six Counties are bracing themselves for this year's sectarian Twelfth parades which are taking place against a background of widespread UDA and UVF violence directed at vulnerable nationalist areas. Comments: Google It! 7:06:33 AM

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