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Sectarianism: the elephant in the room
Friday, 29 May 2009
Sir Hugh Orde last night delivered a warning over sectarianism in Northern Ireland, describing it as “the elephant in the room”.
The chief constable was speaking at an inaugural special lecture organised by the University of Ulster to mark the tenth anniversary of the Patten Report.
Addressing an audience of professionals at the university’s Belfast campus, Sir Hugh joined Policing Board chairman Sir Des Rea to highlight progress made in policing over the last decade following the implementation of reforms set out in 1999 that saw the PSNI replace the RUC.
Highlighting the sectarian murder of Catholic community worker Kevin McDaid (49) and the attempted murder of Damien Fleming (46) in Coleraine, Co Antrim, last weekend, Sir Hugh said sectarianism was a matter for local communities and police future progress.
“The elephant in the room is sectarianism, brought out in a stark way last weekend,” he said.
“But Coleraine is not unique.
“In fact, one would have thought Coleraine was not a place where this sort of stuff was going to go on.
“But we know, and the communities know, and the First Minister and Deputy First Minister would probably acknowledge, there’s a huge piece of work to do where communities have to take responsibility for dealing with that particular issue.”
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You are I assume aware of the Belfast Pogroms of 1920-1922 as well as 1968+ so I'll not try to give you a history lesson about Catholics displaced and Murdered at the hands of Loyalists. Sectarianism has existed in Ireland for a lot longer than 40 years, but the British governments policy of Ulsterisation during the troubles made situation worse (as did the US policy of Iraqiasation during that conflict). Spelling aside I think this was the important point John was trying to make.
Posted by Enough | 08.06.09, 10:43 GMT
Britain is a sectarian state." No Papist need apply" monarchy
No Catholic prime minister!
The Protestant only prime minister,appointing Protestant only Bishops to the house of lords! Sounds very much like a sectarian state to me. Thats the real elephant in the room.
Posted by john smith | 07.06.09, 16:37 GMT
Hey John, I suggest you go back to school and learn how to spell! And yes yes, people like you always blame the british, dont you know it takes two to tango? Didnt you know that republicans murdered OVER 1/3RD more of their own people than the british ever did.......FACT!.....and they like to keep that quiet!
Posted by Gary | 04.06.09, 09:57 GMT
John, it is 'pogrom' not 'pogram' and are you seriously suggesting that the source has always been loyalists?
Regarding the Government's alleged inaction, why do you think the troops were brought onto the streets?
John, have you been abroad or possibly in a coma since 1968?
Posted by Gary | 29.05.09, 12:52 GMT
The "Elephant in the Room" - that says it all! The British government has been staring the Elephant in the face for nearly 40 years - why else let the loyalists carry out pogram after pogram?
Posted by John | 29.05.09, 11:42 GMT