“But no one likes to speak ill of the politically dead..”

| Readers 8

So says the Guardian’s Michael White of the lame duck first minister. Not even Sinn Féin’s Gerry Adams. His whimisical “carefree” childhood apparently changed utterly by Ian Paisley Snr – no mention in the article, though, of the “seminal political influence” of Gerry Adams Snr.. nor of others in his immediate family. ANYhoo.. perhaps the most appropriate response comes from Trevor Ringland in the Irish Times [subs req]

I have very, very strong views on his influence on this island in the past. But what happened, happened, and we have to try to work through the consequences of that, and seize the opportunity that we have created to make sure we don’t repeat the past. In that respect, and in focusing on the future I have to welcome Ian Paisley’s action in the past 12 months. I believe that Ian Paisley in stepping away from politics frees up the future for unionism. And some individuals or organisations in nationalism and unionism might want to consider doing the same thing.

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