Every time we hear a prounouncement like this, it must be tempered by the realisation that Durkan remains wedded to the Hume policy of engagement with the Provo's.

He can huff and puff all he likes, but he lacks the courage to go it alone without them.

"However, he added that none of the Northern Ireland parties should be allowed at the White House St Patrick's Day celebrations if Sinn Fein were not allowed in, because the Bush administration should maintain equal dealing between the parties."

There you go - the caveat - always prepared to go so far, but never to the logical conclusion of his comments. Gutless, utterly gutless.

Mr Stalford, you can hardly complain when Willie McCrea was happy to stand on stage with loyalist serial killer Billy Wright.

At least Mr Durkan has the guts to stand by his convictions

Did it take two weeks for Mark Durkan to work this out or is this part of his election strategy attack, attack, attack.

Attack Sinn Fein, agree to minimal change, and jobs for the boys, daughters, sons, friends. Thats a recipe for electoral success.

Mr Durkan is stating the obvious.

El Matador - even though you may not agree with Christopher Stalford's sentiments, or for that matter the manner in which they are expressed, there is a grain of truth in his points which cannot be dodged. There unfortunately are no consequences for Sinn Fein, regardless of the actions they decide to condemn or condone, or the political processes which they chose to participate in or withdraw from.

It could therefore be argued that Northern Irish politics inhabits a world where not only can PIRA (and its godfathers) act with impunity, but Sinn Fein can stall or progress the entire peace process at its sole discretion, and in its sole interest.

The unpalatable truth may be that this is the reason why so many years after the endorsement of the Good Friday Agreement by the Northern Irish electorate, acts of completion remain outstanding, and will continue to remain so, until a new political reality is recognised, that it should not only be the mandate of Sinn Fein which is allowed to dictate this process.

As various participants in threads on this blog now frequently predict, the SDLP is political toast, and there may be seven Sinn Fein seats after the election. Why would any nationalist or republican vote for the SDLP, when Sinn Fein are allowed by the SDLP and the Governments to dictate the entire process for parties of every persuasion?

An excellent and lucid argument drumcree.

ElMat.

Just a small point - Billy Wright was never convicted of murder once, let alone enough times to make him a serial killer. Then again its very easy to libel the dead. They can't sue.

Perhaps you would care to answer the point made - i.e. Durkan's refusal to go it alone without armed terrorists, rather than engaging in whataboutery.

Mr Stalford, even if Wright was still alive, I don't think any court in the land would rule against me in a libel case. If you're saying that calling him a murderer is libel, you're more unbelievable than I thought. And you have the cheek to criticise SDLP activity!

I notice also that a number of previous contributors criticise Mr Durkan for condemning SF and IRA activity- surely they should be criticising those who orchestrated the activity he speaks of- not him!

At least he has the guts to speak up about the whole sordid affair. Maybe that's because he has nothing to hide...

So that's a no then.

"I notice also that a number of previous contributors criticise Mr Durkan for condemning SF and IRA activity- surely they should be criticising those who orchestrated the activity he speaks of- not him!"

That's the problem. He criticises and carps, but then refuses to follow through on his (legitimate) criticism by entering a voluntary coalition without the Provo's.

"It's only words,
and words are all he has,
to win your vote next May"

Christopher, if you're going to condemm republicians for murder at least have the courage to discribe Billy Wright for what he was.

Christopher

your comments about Billy Wright are nothing less than pure SF.

In fact they mirror Dec's comments on another thread about the McCartney murder. No IRA men have been convicted of his murder but we all know who did it, and we all know what Billy Wright did.

Fraid its attitudes like yours which push people into voting for SF.

There is nothing stopping Durkan acting like a leader on this subject. He says he knows who was responsible, surely he should have the courage of his convictions and name them in a TV studio.

I suspect he will not, Durkan is ready with the manufactured quip, but in terms of leadership he is an empty shell, all noise and not much substance.

Go ahead Mark, show us your credentials, walk into the Short Strand call a press conference and name names.

Christopher Stalford

Just another small point. Put an RC name in where you had Billy Wright's and you could start work for Sinn Fein right away.

"Just a small point - Billy Wright was never convicted of murder once, let alone enough times to make him a serial killer. Then again its very easy to libel the dead. They can't sue."

"Just a small point - Billy Wright was never convicted of murder once, let alone enough times to make him a serial killer. Then again its very easy to libel the dead. They can't sue."

And tell me how do you think such a libel case would have went; like Thomas Murphy's one perhaps?

The idea that Billy Wright never murdered anyone or had a role in a murder is every bit as ludicrous as the idea Gerry Adams was never in the IRA. I agree with the other posters; you simply sound like a Unionist version of a Shinner.

I noticed your moral outrage over Princes Charles decision to marry Camilla Parker Bowles. Yet there is none for McCrea being buddies with one of the most evil terrorists that the troubles produced. Pathetic.

Hi Christopher
Please e-mail me at portadownnews@hotmail.com.
Your attitude to Billy Wright sounds like an interesting entry for the weekend column.
Deadline Thursday.
And no, this isn't a hoax.
Newt

Aquifier,

You're absolutely right - "Just another small point. Put an RC name in where you had Billy Wright's and you could start work for Sinn Fein right away."

... but this alas is the normal standard of discussion on this board, you just change the nouns in every sentence and you can have a unionist argument or a republican one - take your pick.

Our hoods are better than yours - murder is ok for x because y started it.

GAA is better than the OO because we play games and its political not sectarian. OO have the right to express their culture by marching but the Paddys day parade doesn't

etc etc etc blah blah blah day in day out

In fact Newt you could produce a 'delete as appopriate' article so that an argument could be constructed from either side of the peace (sic) wall.

Mr Stalford

If someone had inserted the name 'Colin Duffy' or 'Breandan Mac Cionnaith' where 'Billy Wright' is above, would you be so quick to leap to their defence?

Another classic example of the loathsome Unionist hypocrisy.

You're either a democrat or you're not, you're either based in the real world or you're not.

Billy Wright may not have been the usual Loyalist paramilitary but it is pretty clear he WAS a paramilitary and undoudtedly involved in terrorism.

"Yet there is none for McCrea being buddies with one of the most evil terrorists that the troubles produced."

Who else spoke on this platform? Is it any different from say Jerrfery Donaldson or David Trimble sitting in a studio with Gerry Adams or David Ervine?

Nice one Christopher.

Weasel words of the highest order. Looks like the Shinners haven't quite cornered the market just yet.

I think you just about shade it in terms of hypocrisy though - I don't recall any of them ever proudly declaring their Christian beliefs on this site prior to defending mass murderers.

Newt was as good as his word in today's column...
permission to 'reproduce' Newt ? ( A Finbar Saunders for the Viz fans )

Stalford hasn't had much today for himself since he made his ill-advised and disgraceful comments. Maybe members of the DUP do have a sense of shame after all!

Tsk watching tv and typing!!!!

Should read:

Stalford hasn't had much to say for himself since he made his ill-advised and disgraceful comments. Maybe members of the DUP do have a sense of shame after all!