Many in the ranks of Loyalism today are too young
to remember any significant events in the conflict in Northern Ireland. This has lead them to become known as Ceasefire soldiers, people who became involved after the 1994 Combined Loyalist Military Command ceasefire and the Good Friday Agreement in 1998.
Posted in Loyalism Today
I t has emerged recently that the former Commander
of UK Land Forces Sir John Wilsey, confirmed that Freddie Scappiticci was indeed working for British Intelligence before he was unmasked in 2003. Sir John was duped into giving up this information when he received a telephone call from whistleblower Ian Hurst who was masquerading as a Channel Four researcher working under the name of Jeremy Chiles. He revealed that Scap had been recruited as far back as 1976 and such was his importance that he was considered to be a “Golden Egg “by his controllers.
Posted in Current Affairs
Three Red Hand Commando’s showing off their
tanned bodies–and a bannerette-in Compound 18–summer 1976. From left–Jackie Tann–Noel Baker–Kenny Black. Sadly the last two are no longer with us. Kenny will be missed for his funny remarks–usually unintentional–and Nokie for his silky dribbling skills.
Posted in Photos
Isn’t this a wonderful wee country? Just recently,
the horrendous images of an RUC man literally shovelling up half a torso of one of the many victims of the Bloody Friday explosions was on our screens again. Horrible. The volunteers who carried out the bombing, their comrades and their family and friends I’m sure remember that day vividly – those of them still alive, that is. Fast forward 40 years and the images of Belfast today could not contrast more with those horrible times. The Shankill, Falls, Sandy Row and the Lower Ormeau every week now see people from the ‘other side’ travelling in and out – not just selling and buying dope, though this is still a big problem – no, cross-community romance is in the air! Get out the fiddles and flutes! It’s great.
Posted in Current Affairs
Easter is always an interesting time in this country.
What with the Republican celebrations, the ‘Orangemen’ and juveniles. The decline in numbers marching in Loyalist areas reminds me of my 30’s when I started to lose my hair – every time I looked there was less there! Seriously though, it appears that PUL culture seems to be under a lot of pressure and some people are reacting to this in different ways. Take Jackie McDonald for example. To be fair to Jackie, he has shown great leadership to his organisation in the last few years. He has never shirked responsibility and he has been courageous in voicing his opinion about a whole range of issues. But his latest public statement wasn’t, in my opinion, well thought out.
Posted in Loyalism Today
Was trawling through this week’s news stories – Newshound gives you a daily round-up of most stories relating to Northern Ireland and the Republic – and seen a couple of interesting stories.
First was an interview that was conducted by ‘Irish American News Online’ with Carrie Twomey. For those of you who don’t know who Carrie is – she is the wife of Anthony McIntyre, ex-blanket man and republican researcher on the ‘Boston Tapes’ project. Carrie has been in the USA trying to garner support for her husband and Ed Moloney’s battle with the Department of Justice with regard to the PSNI’s request to hand over all tapes which have any reference to the Jean McConville murder. Sabina Clark conducted the interview with Carrie and mindful to give the background to the ongoing saga which is being played out in the courts, Carrie explained quite well what her understanding was of this problem. One of the things she said was, ‘ there is that element of the Unionists who are not happy with the Peace Process and are not happy with the republicans being in power’.
Posted in HET