This week in the papers 9

THIS WEEK IN THE PAPERS 9

I see our old friend Alex Maskey has been awarded an honorary degree by Lemoyne College,  Syracuse, New York. He is now a ‘Doctor of Humane Letters’ – universities have the right to award these degrees to whoever they want but I can’t help but wonder about all the deserving people who have never been considered for these degrees – also Alex and his friends weren’t adverse to placing explosives in schools etc. – why would he be considered in the first place?

Enda Kenny’s comments about the old chestnut of an all-Ireland football team is nothing new – he should be more concerned about why it has taken over a year for  him to respond to the families of the ‘Kingsmill Massacre’ remembering that the mass murder was planned in the Republic, the killers came from and returned to the Republic and that the investigation into the murder by the authorities in the Republic was almost non-existent.

Richard Sullivan’s article in last week-end’s Sunday ‘Rag’ about the anniversary of the ‘Loughinisland’ massacre and the decision to wear black arm-bands, criticised 2 leading Loyalists who, quite rightly, said that politics and sport shouldn’t mix. Calling people, who they contacted in the first place for their comments, bigots for expressing their beliefs seems a bit over the top to say the least. During the week, Peter Robinson expressed exactly the same belief. He said, ‘Let’s not make political issues about sporting matters’ – can’t wait to hear Sullivans’ criticism of Peter Robinson.

Sullivan’s colleague, McDowell had another pop – I wonder how many times that has been, at a leading Loyalist from theShankill Road. He accused him of ‘strutting’ around the streets ofBelfastas ‘if he had the freedom of the city’. The last time I seen McDowell he was staggering along Lower Donegall street moving from one watering hole to the next – I didn’t take any pictures of McDowell – you can see the same thing every week – but maybe if he stayed out of the bars he may be able to write something ‘new’ sometime – but I’m not holding my breath.

I seen a report the other day on the death of Rodney King. King, of course, was the Black American who vicious beating byL.A.police in 1991, and captured by a member of the public, led to prolonged rioting which resulted in 50 deaths and thousands of people being injured. King was pulled over after, initially refusing to stop, for drunk driving. Police ‘tasered’ King, shot him with stun guns and subjected him to a vicious beating – over 50 baton blows and 6 kicks before police subdued him. He suffered brain damage. Initially all the police officers were found not guilty at a trial – a civil case was later taken which resulted in 2 of the officers being found guilty and sent to prison. Rumours that the LAPD were looking to give King one final beating before he died cannot be confirmed.

Mike Nesbitt meets Ken Maginnis in the departure lounge at Aldergrove.

Nesbitt – ‘Were are you going Ken’?

Maginnis – ‘Im getting out of this country over these changes to the Gay Marriage laws’

Nesbitt – ‘Why now Ken’?

Maginnis – ‘ because 50 years ago if gays got caught they got life imprisonment, 20 years ago it was changed to 10 years, and 5 years ago it was made legal’

Nesbitt – ‘but why are you leaving now Ken’?

Maginnis – ‘Before they make it compulsory!’