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I still want to talk says loyalist chief
Friday, 19 September 2008
Loyalist Jackie McDonald says he still wants to engage in talks with members of the republican and nationalist communities in a bid overcome sectarianism and move forward.
In a surprise move last night, the UDA boss issued an open letter saying he appreciated some of the reasons why the Sarsfield GAC committee cancelled his planned appearance at the club on Wednesday but added that such meetings were needed if both communities wanted to build a better future.
McDonald, as well as other prominent loyalist figures such as Colin Halliday and Frankie Gallagher from the Ulster Political Research Group, had been invited to attend a special panel discussion at the west Belfast club, which was organised by the Standing Northern Ireland Peace Process.
However, the club itself was unaware the so-called ‘brigadier’ of the South Belfast wing would be visiting until contacted by the media and many distressed members whose relatives were murdered by loyalist paramilitaries.
Mr McDonald said he was disappointed the panel discussion had been cancelled but acknowledged some of the reasons why. “We very much appreciate the fear and hurt still being felt by many people in the Nationalist/Republican community because of their experiences during our time of inter-communal conflict,” he said in his open letter. “This is also very true for many in our own community who also bear the scars of such hurt.”
“It is indeed a mutually shared pain that we have acknowledged in our previous open evenings in Taughmonagh Social Club.
“There are also many in both communities, holding onto their understandable anger and there are still many who continue to nurture blantantly sectarian attitudes and behaviour.
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Give Jackie McDonald a chance as well as encouragement to attempt to bring together former political adversaries in the Standing Northern Ireland Peace Process. Not only in the UK but around the world people are fed up with the constant Stormont squabbles and its failure to act more like a civilized political entity than a white version of Africa's Zimbabwe. Power sharing is a must. Old wounds must heal if Ulster is to be taken seriously by Europe and the rest of the civilized world.
Posted by Jim Guinnessey | 19.09.08, 15:25 GMT
This is scandalous. What on earth were the organisers thinking of? Wouldn’t they be better off dealing with the drug dealers and thugs in out communities, than meeting those who helped destroy our communities in the first place. Time to stop this arty farty nonsense and smell the coffee of reality, instead of wasting tax payers money on chummy-boys meetings.
Posted by no longer fooled | 19.09.08, 14:03 GMT
Comments like this from Mr. McDonald have to be welcomed. I hope that there are many meetings such as this that will hopefully move things on. There are many 'grass roots' problems to be addressed that those clowns up in Stormount don't seem to be willing/able to get on with so comments and proposed meetings like this have to be welcomed and acted upon, even though there are concerns by berieved families and friends. Can anyone think of a better way of gaining a better understanding of each other?
Posted by Barry | 19.09.08, 13:51 GMT
Mr.McDonald is to be applauded for at least trying. He readily acknowledges that people have suffered on both sides. How can the North move forward if the people continually live in the past.
Sectarianism is a corossive element within N.Irish society and both sides do need reality checks if all the good work of the past number of years is to flourish.
I have lost a lot of friends during The Troubles and still cannot fathom, why.
Talk, talk and talk again. Better than using armanents.
Posted by Henry C | 19.09.08, 11:55 GMT