GET THE BELFAST TELEGRAPH NEWSPAPER DELIVERED TO YOUR DOOR EVERY DAY

Belfast Telegraph

  • nijobfinder
  • nicarfinder
  • propertynews.com
  • Classified

McGuinness to face a west Belfast grilling

By Noel McAdam
Friday, 18 July 2008

For years unionist politicians have blazed a trail in a nationalist hot spot at the annual public-versus-politicians event, West Belfast Talks Back.

But for the first time, this year the main attraction is to be a Republican — Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness.

And the senior Sinn Fein negotiator can expect as much of a challenge from the audience as this year’s unionist, North Belfast MLA Nelson McCausland, who follows DUP figures including Gregory Campbell, Jeffrey Donaldson and Edwin Poots.

Mr McGuinness and Mr McCausland are to be joined on the platform on Wednesday, August 6, by East Belfast MLA Dawn Purvis, leader of the UVF-linked Progressive Unionist Party.

The evening, being held at St Louise’s Comprehensive College, Falls Road, will be completed by Sean Crummy, creator and author of the BBC’s Folks on the Hill series. It is part of a series of events during the festival which may spark controversy.

Former Police Ombudsman Nuala O’Loan is to give the PJ McGrory lecture about her time in office, during which her investigation into the police handling the Omagh bomb brought her into conflict with former Chief Constable, Sir Ronnie Flanagan.

Mrs O’Loan is also expected to speak about the results of ‘Operation Ballast’, the investigation into collusion between the RUC and the UVF in relation to the murder of Raymond McCord Jnr at Mount Vernon in 1997.

Belfast Telegraph security writer Brian Rowan is speaking at an event at Falls Road library on Friday, August 8.

And Sinn Fein MLA Martina Anderson will be in conversation with novelist Gillian Slovo who co-authored the play ‘Guantanamo: Honor Bound to Defend Freedom’ about her experience of being the child of revolutionaries.

Post a comment

Limit: 500 characters

View all comments that have been posted about this article

Comment
Your details

* Required field

Offensive or abusive comments will be removed and your IP address logged and may be used to prevent further submissions. In submitting a comment to the site, you agree to be bound by BelfastTelegraph.co.uk's Terms of Use.

Posts submitted in UPPERCASE letters will be rejected.

In Pictures: Rio Carnival 2010

In Pictures: Rio Carnival 2010

In Pictures: Northern Ireland Nightlife

Had a big night out? Click here to send us your pics

In Pictures: The Troubles

Columnist Comments

eric_waugh

Horse first, then cart ... it’s time nationalists got real about unity

No political regime likes uncertainty. Talk of unexpected elections makes politicians twitchy. Meal tickets can be put at risk.

In Pictures: All Our Yesterdays

In Pictures: The Giant's Causeway

Day out at the Giant's Causeway, Antrim

You know you're from Belfast when . .

In Pictures: You know you're from Belfast when...

Belfast-isms: 'Yous should click here - it's class like'

Fashion & Showbiz Gallery

Northern Ireland Fashion

Tallulah Love at Paris lingerie show

TeleToons

TeleToons: Cartoons by Stevie Lee

Click here for audio version