OMAGH BOMB SURVIVOR CLAIRE BOWES REFUSES TO DWELL ON THE PAST
'I'm lucky I knew my husband before I lost my sight. But I've never seen the faces of my children'
MARK BAIN, Belfast Telegraph, March 2nd, 2026
OMAGH BOMB SURVIVOR CLAIRE BOWES REFLECTS ON HER LIFE AFTER AUGUST 15, 1998 AND WHY, TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD, SHE REFUSES TO DWELL ON THE PAST.
It's a strange concept to comprehend how someone left instantly blind as a 15-year-old could count herself as “one of the lucky ones”.
But that's Claire Bowes. She was still Claire Gallagher on August 15, 1998, out in her home town of Omagh on a Saturday afternoon with friends when a Real IRA bomb set her life on a course she never imagined it would take.
“I remember exactly what I was wearing. I remember so much about that day,” she said.
“My biggest concern was the medics having to cut off my favourite jeans. That's how a 15-year-old girl thinks.
“But the one thing I can't remember is the last thing I ever saw. There are memories of police cars going past where we were standing, but not much else after that. I do remember not being able to see after the explosion. I thought it was probably just dust and dirt in my eyes, that it would wipe away. It never did.
“But yes, I am one of the lucky ones. 31 people lost their lives. I still have mine. I went to university, got married to Ryan, was blessed with Oran, Conor and Cara, have a business of my own at Omagh Music Academy. None of them got the chance to do that.”
Had the matchbox-sized piece of metal that struck Claire been a centimetre to the left or right, the chances she has grasped in her life would have been out of reach.
“They told me about two main arteries that run down across the bridge of your nose. The metal went right between them and in behind my right eye. It cost me my sight, but it didn't cost me my life.”
When There is Only Plan A
For the first time since that day Claire has put her thoughts on how her life has changed into words, contributing to a new book, When There is Only Plan A, featuring 12 inspirational stories of resilience in adversity brought together by author and psychologist Donna Kennedy.
It's early afternoon, a quiet time at Omagh Music Academy, with the rush of lessons arriving each day once school ends.
“Music is absolutely an outlet for me,” said Claire. “Anybody can come in here and just lose themselves in the music. You're almost guaranteed you'll leave in better form than when you walked through the door. Music is so powerful. My mummy always used to say she could tell what mood I was in by what I was playing on the piano.
“At school I thought I wanted to be a music therapist, but you had to be 25 before going on to study that, either in England or Limerick. There were no other options.
“I had graduated at 21 from Queen's with a music degree, but I had to find some work. I volunteered at the RNIB (Royal National Institute for the Blind) initially and was fortunate to be offered a job in their liaison service in Belfast alongside the doctors and consultants who had taken care of me. I was providing emotional support and advice for people with eye conditions. I did that for seven years and absolutely loved it.”
But if there was one thing her own loss of sight gave Claire, it was the belief that life was there for the living.
“In 2011 we were married and living in Belfast, but moved back to Omagh when I was expecting our second child. I had every intention of continuing with RNIB but on maternity leave I had time to think. The dream was there of opening a music school where people could come together to learn and love their music.
“I did go back to work after our second child for a few months, then I handed my notice in. I had to go with a physical letter in hand as it was the only way I wouldn't back out of it.
‘What ifs’
“We had two young children and there I was, giving up a paid salary to follow a dream. But Ryan said if I didn't do it I would always be left wondering 'what if?' One thing losing my sight and my husband's influence has taught me is not to dwell on those 'what ifs?'
While Claire has spoken about her journey before, she's never put it into words of her own until now.
“People have told me I should write but I never saw my life as anything special or different. If you saw me at home as a mummy you would understand why! My family most definitely keeps me grounded.
“But I had thought about it and being part of this was a good way of dipping my toe in the water.
“It was an interesting experience, looking back to reflect on that time,” she said, with her chapter focusing on the day of the bomb and her recovery from her injuries.
“I was amazed at how far I have come. It's not that I've ever truly forgotten that time but, sitting down and reflecting, if someone had said to me when I was sitting in hospital with my mummy, scared about what the future would hold, that in 27 years' time I'd be running my own business, married with three children and had written a book I wouldn't have believed that was possible.
“I was told after a week I would lose my right eye,” she said. “I was absolutely devastated. You think about what you'll look like, who is ever going to be interested in someone with one eye? I didn't know then I would have two prosthetic eyes and would never see again.”
That harrowing news came, she explained, after four unsuccessful operations.
“As luck has it, I actually knew my husband before I lost my sight,” she continued and it's a memory of that young face that still burns brightly in her mind.
Still seeing him as 15 year old boy
“We had shared a kiss or two, though we weren't 'going out' at that stage! In my head I still see him looking like that 15-year-old boy.
“I've never seen what my children look like, but I have images in my head. I could never just take the children out for a walk on my own. Those things have been tough, but I'm very grateful for the life I have considering those fears sitting in hospital as a 15-year-old.”
Claire recalled being “a stubborn teenager”.
She added: “There had been talk about sending me to board at a school for the blind as there were never any children with disabilities in normal school.
“I hadn't slept on my own, I wanted to be with my friends and Loreto College was brilliant in helping me. I did finish my GCSEs that year as planned, went on to A-levels and then university. I suppose, right from then, it wasn't about what I couldn't do, it was about finding ways to do what I wanted.”
But there had been enough change in her life, Claire said, adding: “The school agreed to work with us to allow me to come back and I'll always be so grateful for that.”
Never in Omagh for August 15th
Claire has never been to the new memorial garden for the victims of the bomb. She also spends every August 15 away from Omagh.
“It's hard to explain. I've dealt with what happened to me in my own way. It's easier to avoid those things, if that makes sense. What's right for me may not be right for someone else.
“I never got involved in the fight for justice. I've accepted what happened to me. Nothing is going to change my situation, but for the families who lost loved ones, it's completely different. I can't imagine what that has been like for them.
“But to continue living my life, I have to be away from that. I can't dwell on the events of the past.
“I was invited to take part on the Omagh Bomb Inquiry, but I've chosen to stay away. I admire anyone who can, but I have to keep to myself.” Claire admitted she thinks about the things many of us take for granted.
“I'd love nothing more than to see again, look at the faces of my children,” she said.
“I would love to be able to drive, do the things people take for granted. The other side is would I be living as happy and fulfilled a life as I am? I just don't know and that's why I don't dwell.
“The opportunities I've had over the years have been amazing. I'm now also doing research in effective memorisation strategies for blind children learning piano for a PhD. Had I not lost my sight my story might not have turned out this way.
“I live in my own little bubble a lot of the time where what goes on elsewhere is stripped away and I deal with the simple things that matter to me. It is a nice place to be.
“To move forward I can't let myself look back and wonder. That won't help me make the lunches for the children to take to school. Being there for them, getting that balance between the business and family is what's important to me.”
When There is Only Plan A, featuring 12 inspirational stories of resilience in adversity brought together by author and psychologist Donna Kennedy, was released on February 24 and is available from Amazon.
Man abused at 'Christian club' says Presbyterians and PSNI failed him
BRETT CAMPBELL, Belfast Telegraph, March 2nd, 2026
REPORTING OF CRIME AND PLEA TO TRACE OTHER VICTIMS 'NOT TAKEN SERIOUSLY'
A man who was abused as a child by a youth leader at a 'Christian nightclub' has slammed the Presbyterian Church in Ireland and the PSNI for failing him when he first reported it more than two decades ago — and when he responded to an appeal for victims to come forward.
Ross Hunter (39) was preyed upon by his cousin when he was aged between 12 and 16. The perpetrator was a youth leader in First Dunboe Presbyterian Church in the 1990s.
While none of the incidents took place in the Articlave-based church, the victim was targeted at Exodus — a separate Christian youth organisation — where he said his older relative served as the “right-hand man” to its chief executive.
“I feel let down, but I'm mainly angry that everyone is still trying to keep it buried, because it's not going to reflect well on the Presbyterian Church or Exodus,” Mr Hunter told the Belfast Telegraph.
“They would rather cover it up and keep it secret, because it might impact their business.
“I have no confidence in the PCI investigation or even the police probe.
“They are doing it to be seen to be doing it, but it's a public front. No one is looking for answers.”
Mr Hunter says he first reported the abuse in November 2009 to the then minister of his family church, Rev James McCaughan, but that the now retired clergyman took no action other than promising to pray for his distressed parishioner.
The then 22-year-old, who broke his silence after his life “spiralled” as a result of keeping the dark secret, also notified the PSNI and reported the alleged perpetrator, who was by this time a serving police officer.
Jonathan Hyndman was suspended from duty after a criminal investigation was launched, but took his own life days later on November 19, 2009.
Mr Hunter said he “couldn't believe” that the probe ended with “no concern about other potential victims.”
In 2011, Mr Hunter emailed the co-founder of Exodus — a popular youth club, which attracted hundreds of young people through its doors when it opened in 1997.
He said some of the abuse took place on premises where a “Christian nightbase” was set up to offer “alternative parties” for teens and young adults. The registered charity has strong links to churches across NI, including PCI.
“[Exodus chief executive] Jim Brown wrote back saying he was 'deeply saddened' by what I had experienced and was willing to talk about it — but said he would be abroad for two months,” Mr Hunter explained.
“I was really angered by his response, so I didn't follow it up. I was making a massive allegation and he brushed it off.”
In correspondence seen by this newspaper, Mr Hunter contacted Mr Brown again on January 21 this year, seeking clarity over whether he took the initial complaint any further and asking how he intends to now in light of the PCI safeguarding scandal.
The victim stressed it's “never too late” to identify others who may be affected.
However, the sender did not receive a response until after this newspaper contacted Mr Brown three weeks later.
“It bounced back immediately, which makes me wonder did he block me after my first email 15 years ago? When I sent it from a different email address, it went through straight away,” Mr Hunter said.
“My cousin was Jim Brown's right-hand man and a prominent youth leader in Exodus when I was a young teenager.
“He led summer camps with under-18s, taking them all around the globe.
“I believe there are other victims, but no one is even checking.”
Mr Brown emailed the victim a day after the Belfast Telegraph posed a series of questions to him.
He told Mr Hunter that the correspondence went to his spam folder and stressed that the organisation has robust safeguarding measures in place.
The pertinent question was not addressed and Mr Brown did not reply to this newspaper.
Acting on the advice of the current minister of Dunboe, Mr Hunter also contacted a dedicated helpline set up by the PCI to identify potential victims and the scale of safeguarding failings, which led to a Zoom meeting.
The victim says the safeguarding team were “very empathetic” until they found out Hyndman was dead.
“They said words to the effect of 'there's not much we can do',” Mr Hunter said.
“It was so deflating — this was the second chance as I saw it for them to correct the error of their ways.
“I know my abuser is dead, that wasn't why I was reporting it.
“It's because I believe there may be other victims.”
“But there was no curiosity about that and no one asked any questions.”
Mr Hunter has had no more contact with the safeguarding team and said he has no reason to expect further communication.
“There isn't even a reference number — nothing,” he said.
“And because it was online, there isn't even a paper trail of the conversation.”
The victim also re-reported the abuse to the PSNI in direct response to the criminal investigation it launched into PCI days after former moderator Rev Trevor Gribben announced his resignation over “serious and significant failings”, which resulted in people being “harmed” and “put at risk” between 2009 and 2022.
Assistant Chief Constable Davy Beck previously vowed to make sure perpetrators are “held to account” and determine if any offences have been committed by those responsible for safeguarding.
The senior officer promised victims would be treated with “sensitivity, respect and professionalism.”
Mr Hunter said, despite a designated officer being assigned to his case and coming in “all guns blazing”, that was not his experience.
What is the threshold for prosecution?
“They talked me through best practice... then, two days later, they came back and said it didn't meet the threshold to prosecute anyone.”
Mr Hunter has been left wondering “what is the threshold?”
He's concerned by the lack of effort to determine if there are other victims.
“I do not believe I am the only one, no way,” he said.
“It's really frustrating that despite the public appeal, those in authority still can't deal with this, which doesn't suggest they will ever be able to.” The PSNI confirmed that a criminal report was made on November 6, 2009, and given the suspect's death “there was never a likelihood of a prosecution”.
Confirming that the case was reviewed last month, the PSNI refused to respond to questions seeking to establish if action was taken in 2009 to find out if there were other victims.
This newspaper also asked if the PSNI alerted PCI or Exodus that a youth leader had been accused of child sex abuse, but did not get an answer.
A spokesperson said there were no other suspects or lines of inquiry at the time and that the broader ongoing criminal investigation into PCI safeguarding concerns remains ongoing.
“PSNI are not able to comment further on specific churches or individuals,” they added.
A statement issued by PCI, and on behalf of Rev McCaughan, said “we are genuinely and deeply concerned to hear of what allegedly has taken place”.
“As these distressing events are part of an ongoing investigation by the PSNI, we are unable to make any specific comment, except to say that as a church, we have committed publicly to co-operating fully with any police investigation, and to assist them in every way we can,” it added.
PCI reiterated its previous appeals encouraging victims and survivors who wish to make a report to contact the police or its own safeguarding team.
More Belfast Fleadh camping provision needed as Ormeau Park already ‘inundated’
HANNAH PATTERSON, Irish News, March 2nd, 2026
ADDITIONAL campsites are needed for the Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2026 in Belfast this August.
That’s according to an Alliance MLA, who says a new campsite for the traditional Irish musical festival, being set up in Ormeau Park, will be heavily oversubscribed.
Around 800,000 visitors are expected to descend on Belfast for the festival, which takes place from August 2-9, with events at venues across the city centre.
A long list of potential sites is now being considered, with the council’s Ormeau Park already set to host thousands of revellers attending the world’s largest celebration of Irish music.
The Irish News understands an outside operator will be brought in to manage the Ormeau campsite. Additionally, a similar site is being set up in Titanic, for campervans and caravans.
Shuttle buses
Translink is expected to put on shuttle buses from the campsites to different parts of the city.
South Belfast MLA Paula Bradshaw put a question to the economy minister last week regarding any work being done to consider additional campsites.
Speaking to The Irish News, she said: “Expressions of interest for the campsites are already being looked into, and it is anticipated that they’ll be inundated and oversubscribed. There’ll be a lot of people then scrambling for accommodation in Belfast.”
Ms Bradshaw emphasized that while Airbnbs and hotels will benefit, camping is a key part of what music festivals are about.
She added: “Airbnb will do well and all forms of accommodation. I am not trying to prioritise one over the other, but I am very conscious that this is essentially a music festival, and camping is a key, a prominent type of accommodation for people when they travel to these from other parts of the country and beyond.
“If we put on numerous campsites with 40 pitches, in other council areas, there will be no problem filling them up.
“If not, it will be a missed opportunity, without doubt. With the potential for Belfast to host it next year as well, this has to be a really good starting point for exploring how we could look at other sorts of music festivals for Belfast to host.
Ormeau Park is set to host a main campsite for Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann this summer
“There’s time yet for additional sites to be identified. There’s the likes of the Let’s Go Hydro…and other country parks in neighbouring council areas like Ards and North Down.”
When Derry hosted the Fleadh in 2013, council plans to build a campsite close to St Columb’s Park were scrapped after hundreds of objections from locals.
The Fleadh’s website states: “We’re currently working through arrangements to provide camping,” adding that details will be shared “when available”.
A spokesperson for Belfast City Council said: “As Belfast prepares to host Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann 2026, council is continuing to work in collaboration with relevant partners and authorities to provide a safe and welcoming experience for all visitors.
“We recognise that camping is a popular accommodation choice for attendees and are actively exploring viable options for official provision.
“Any decisions regarding official camping provision will be guided by safety, accessibility, capacity, impact and regulatory requirements.
“Details will be communicated on our channels as soon as decisions are finalised.”
Speaking of the Titanic Quarter site for vehicles, they added: “Council is also currently seeking planning approval for a temporary caravan, campervan and motorhome site in the Titanic Quarter.”
DUP MP says Republic claiming NI man with key role in story of US independence
BRETT CAMPBELL, Belfast Telegraph, March 2nd, 2026
DECLARATION WAS PRINTED BY TYRONE NATIVE DUNLAP
A DUP MP has accused the Irish Government of claiming an influential Co Tyrone man who fought in the American Revolutionary War and printed the first copies of the Declaration of Independence “as one of their own”.
It comes after a new stamp honouring John Dunlap was revealed by An Post to mark the 250th anniversary of US independence.
The Strabane native was born in the town in 1747 and mastered his trade at Gray's printing works before emigrating to Philadelphia and founding the Pennsylvania Packet newspaper.
After fighting alongside George Washington, he printed copies of the USA's founding document on July 4, 1776.
East Londonderry MP Gregory Campbell said the Irish state owned postal service is “perfectly entitled to join the celebrations”.
“But they are not entitled to try and claim as 'one of their own' an Ulster Scot with long standing provable connections to what is now Northern Ireland, not what is now the Republic,” he added.
“The person featured on the stamp is John Dunlap who was born in Strabane and along with thousands of others sailed to America. Dunlap was the man who printed the first Declaration of Independence which is why 250 years after the Declaration in 1776 people are marking the event this year.
“He was one of many from Ulster who helped create what is the modern day United States of America, several of the early Presidents were of Ulster stock and we rightly cherish their contribution and memory.”
Mr Campbell's party colleague and Communities Minister Gordon Lyons has been spearheading efforts to ensure Northern Ireland is “front and centre” of initiatives to mark the historic milestone.
The special stamp revealed by An Post features a portrait of Dunlap by artist Rembrandt Peale.
Ireland's Minister for Culture, Communications and Sport, Patrick O'Donovan, said it is “a powerful reminder of the deep and enduring ties between Ireland and the United States” and “reflects the profound influence of the Irish diaspora in shaping pivotal moments in global history”.
He said the ideals expressed in the declaration went on to find “powerful expression in Ireland's own struggle for independence”.
Meanwhile, US Ambassador to Ireland Ed Walsh described the commemorative stamp as “a meaningful tribute to Ireland's role in America's founding story” adding: “John Dunlap, born in County Tyrone, printed the first copies of the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia. Irish Americans fought for our independence, helped design and build the White House, served with distinction in our armed forces, and contributed to American public life and innovation.
‘Misappropriation’
But Mr Campbell accused the Irish Government of misappropriation.
He said: “If the Republic wish to join with us and others in marking the event it is entirely a matter for them, but what they are not entitled to do however is to misappropriate a famous son of Strabane, an Ulster Scot, a Presbyterian and make it appear he is from what is now the Irish Republic.”
Despite Dunlap's extraordinary contribution to the US, his legacy remains largely unrecognised in his home town prompting calls earlier this year for a permanent public statue to be erected in his honour.
SDLP MLA Daniel McCrossan recommended a prominent location close to Gray's Printers as the perfect place to showcase Dunlap's links to Strabane and “one of the most important moments in global history”.
Canavan: GAA is burying its head in sand over Allianz sponsorship
ANDY WATTERS and CONOR SHEILS, Irish News, March 2nd, 2026
TYRONE GAA legend Peter Canavan has accused the association of “burying its head in the sand” over its controversial Allianz sponsorship deal, after pro-Palestine protesters disrupted the association’s annual Congress at Croke Park on Saturday.
Canavan was among a number of high-profile GAA figures, including Colm O’Ro-urke, David Hickey, Brendan Devenney and Ger Gilroy, who attended a protest march outside the stadium before demonstrators forced their way into the conference hall.
Speaking on RTÉ, the two time All-Ireland winner drew a stark parallel between the GAA’s reluctance to act on Allianz and the failure to secure justice for victims of loyalist violence.
“That was 50 years ago. Why? Because so many people buried their head in the sand, didn’t want to know what was going on. The exact same is happening now with us. We have an opportunity as an association to do the right thing – just to do,” he said.
His comments come after GAA president Jarlath Burns spoke about comparisons with loyalist violence in the wake of the protest.
A UN report on human rights last year highlighted that Allianz, along with other financial institutions, has invested in companies and bonds that allegedly facilitate the ongoing conflict in Palestine.
Allianz is the title sponsor of the GAA National Leagues, and the association has faced sustained criticism for retaining the relationship.
The protest began outside the stadium, with demonstrators marching from a nearby pub to the steps of the Hogan Stand, where several speakers addressed the crowd.
The situation escalated when, during a debate on amateur status, the doors of the conference hall burst open and two protesters entered chanting “Allianz out! Allianz out!” Several more followed, shouting: “Shame on you… Blood money… You have blood on your hands, all of you.”
It may not go down well in some quarters but I’ll say what I think, insists Tyrone great
GAA President Jarlath Burns appealed for calm, asking the protesters to leave.
When his words fell on deaf ears, he called a temporary postponement. Congress resumed after over an hour.
Following the protest, Burns lambasted the protest and compared the genocide in Palestine to his experience growing up in South Armagh during the Troubles.
Referring to the Glenanne Gang attack on Donnelly’s Bar in his native Silverbridge, which claimed the life of his friend Michael Donnelly, he said December 19, the date the GAA announced its decision to retain the Allianz sponsorship, held deep personal significance.
“Fifty years on, justice still hasn’t been served for the 120 innocent Catholics who were murdered by the Glenanne Gang in a four-year period in my area, in my community,” he said.
“I don’t need any lectures or people shouting in my face about what it’s like to go to bed at night fearful that somebody would barge into your bedroom and riddle you with bullets.
“Because that was my lived experience when I was young,” he said.
‘What kept us going was the GAA’
Canavan, who acknowledged the power of Burns’ words, said the comparison nonetheless did not change his position.
Peter Canavan speaking on RTÉ on Saturday night about his presence at the protest march that took place outside Croke Park earlier in the day.
“A lot of what he said I would echo in that it does strike a chord, and you go back to when we were younger and to what we had to endure,” he said. “What kept us going was the GAA. We had something to do, something to be part of. And for a lot of us, it was the GAA that saved us.
“There’s thousands of children aren’t getting that opportunity.”
Canavan was critical of how the association had handled the issue, taking particular aim at the Ethics and Integrity Commission process the GAA used to reach its decision.
He said: “The integrity committee – right away a number of people recused themselves from it, didn’t want to do it.
“Does that not say something in itself?
“They palmed it off, they let someone else make the decision, when the GAA should have been big enough to make the decision themselves,” he added.
He was equally critical about the Congress itself.
“The major issue, in my opinion, of Congress today was a motion that wasn’t discussed,” he said.
“The burning issue at the minute is this sponsorship and what’s going on, and the GAA being dragged into something that they shouldn’t be.
“And that should have been debated today – for many people, they felt it was sidelined. It was put under the carpet,” he added.
Canavan acknowledged the awkward position he and other RTÉ contributors find themselves in, given that the broadcaster’s highlights show carries the Allianz name under contractual obligations.
He said: “A lot of players are playing the game at the minute and they’re not happy with the sponsor.
“A lot of managers are taking part in the National League and they’re not happy.
“It may not go down well in some quarters, naturally enough, but I’ll say what I think.”
The reaction to Petticrew's speech was predictable
ALLISON MORRIS, Belfast Telegraph, March 2nd, 2026
When Lola Petticrew accepted their well-deserved gong at the Irish Film & Television Academy awards (IFTAs) and dedicated it to the young people of west Belfast, they were speaking from the heart.
American activist Maggie Kuhn once said, “Speak the truth, even if your voice shakes”, and Petticrew spoke their truth.
Was I surprised that there was a backlash online?
I'd have been more shocked if there wasn't. Coming from west Belfast, I know that there is a minority who would rather we had stayed underfoot, that we had no platform or voice.
The west Belfast of my youth is a very different place to the one that the new stars of film and stage grew up in.
That is not to diminish their journey, because they have new, but equally difficult — albeit different — challenges to face.
Petticrew has mastered roles from our recent and troubled past.
As a young Dolours Price in Say Nothing, they were mesmerising, they were also excellent in Trespass, for which Petticrew won the IFTA.
In both, they were playing alongside seasoned actresses, Maxine Peake in Say Nothing and Gillian Anderson in Trespass and yet Petticrew was not overshadowed by their acting experience.
Trespass wasn't Anderson's first dealings with west Belfast's finest. Way back in 2005, she starred in the Mighty Celt, written by my mate Pearse Elliott, a brilliant comic writer also from — you guessed it — west Belfast.
It was filmed on location in Lenadoon, with half the estate working as extras.
They may call it Derry Girls, but there were plenty of west Belfast actors among the cast, Kathy Kiera Clarke, the hilarious Aunt Sarah, is classically trained and from the west. She also appeared as Una in the BBC comedy series Pulling Moves, again written by Pearse Elliott.
Brassneck
Tony Devlin has helped shape countless talent with his Brassneck Theatre Company. A talented actor, he also starred in Band of Brothers and Say Nothing.
His company produced The Tunnel, shown in the Lyric last year. It was written by Oscar-winning director Terry George (who grew up in Twinbrook) without whom In the Name of the Father and Hotel Rwanda would never have been made.
Oisin Thompson was in the Tunnel and stole every scene. He was also in Trespass and is to star in the new series Close to Home, written by fellow westie Michael Magee.
Award-winning actor Anthony Boyle is also to star in Close to Home.
He was a force of nature as Brendan Hughes in Say Nothing, but his role in House of Guinness has propelled him to a new level, also earning him an IFTA. While accepting the award in Dublin last weekend , he made mention of Martin McCann.
McCann has been showing young west Belfast actors how it's done since he was a teenager. He first won an IFTA in 2011. He is now a household name as Stevie in Blue Lights.
The first series of Blue Lights had Packy Lee as JP Senior, a father whose son was under paramilitary threat.
Another west Belfast native, he'll soon be back on screen in his best-known role as Johnny Dogs in Peaky Blinders.
While that's enough name-dropping for now, I could go on and on.
But you might ask, why are so many young people from west Belfast dominating the stage and screen?
I have a theory and it goes back to Petticrew's speech regarding the history of the place we grew up in.
While it might be hard to believe now, I was a nervous and introverted child; books, reading and later writing were an escape from the conflict raging around me.
As part of my job, I've been to other conflict areas around the world and have spoken to child refugees, who have witnessed horrors that made my childhood look like a Disney movie. They all used art, poetry, writing and drama as a form of expression, escape and indeed therapy.
I know dozens of actors, writers, producers, creatives, working both in front of and behind the cameras, all from the place I call home.
They've taken their environment and made it art, used black humour to start conversations about trauma, told the stories of their community and did it in award-winning style.
The reaction to Petticrew's speech was predictable, but actors using their voice to highlight political causes is nothing new. Jane Fonda, at the age of 88, is still doing it, having first protested against the Vietnam war over 50 years ago.
State papers from 1987, released 10 years ago, revealed a memo to former Secretary of State Tom King by the then head of the civil service, who said west Belfast had a “ghetto mentality” and a large section of the population was alienated from “normal civilised behaviour”.
The young actors dominating our screens are the children and grandchildren of the people the NIO demonised back then as uncivilised, and yet look at their success.
I'm proud of them and I hope they are equally proud of themselves, for they are bringing fresh hope to the new generation of young west Belfast talent (keep an eye out for young Dannan Flynn) who are coming up behind them.
If MLAs had any self-awareness, they’d reject undeserved pay rise
DEIRDRE HEENAN, Irish News, March 2nd, 2026
IT’S a politically toxic issue. How much is an MLA worth? Should we pay our politicians more? The answer rests upon fundamental ideas about politics, economics, and societal assumptions about the relative status and rewards of different occupations.
The Independent Remuneration Board has proposed raising MLA salaries from £53,000 to £67,200 from April 2026, a rise of 26.8 per cent.
This proposed new salary would put MLAs roughly in the top 10% of earners here.
Furthermore, £67,200 will be their base pay. If they assume additional responsibility (eg minister, committee chair, etc) they will be paid more.
Public reaction on a range of platforms was swift and hostile. There was outrage and incredulity that this could even be considered, with many critics suggesting they were already overpaid and underperforming.
Politics is about timing and reading the public mood. Raising salaries exponentially in a cost-of-living crisis is tone-deaf.
With public sector workers in the civil service, health, education and the police having had to fight tooth and nail for modest increases, as public services are collapsing, the optics of this could hardly be worse.
Trust and confidence is already on the floor and this risks pushing it even lower.
The justification for this from the chair of the pay review body is that MLA pay has increased marginally since 2016, and if salaries had been uplifted in line with inflation they would already be being paid somewhere within this ball park.
This proposal was described as a “corrective measure” and not indicative of future pay rises, which would be expected to be in line with inflation.
Dire straits?
Our politicians have gone unusually silent on this issue. None of the familiar “we are in dire financial straits” or “there is no money” when public sector workers seek the bare minimum.
They have distanced themselves from this debate, suggesting that the proposals are from an independent board and therefore they cannot be held responsible. It’s not as though they were rewarding themselves, is it?
Well, actually one could reasonably argue the ‘independent’ body is simply doing what it was intended to do, distance MLAs from inevitable decisions to increase their pay.
Or, as Gerry Carroll put it, MLAs voted for an ‘independent’ pay review body knowing full well that their pay would be increased. The die was cast.
The pay review board was established under the Assembly Members (Independent Financial Review and Standards) Act (Northern Ireland) 2011.
The terms of reference state that when exercising its function, it must have regard to the salaries payable to members of the House of Commons, the Scottish, Welsh and Irish parliaments.
“Attempts to abstract this key issue from the realm of politics are doomed to failure. Politicians’ pay, by definition, is a political issue
When this legislation was passed only two MLAs were opposed, Gerry Carroll and Timothy Gaston.
Essentially the deliberations of this “independent body” had to be benchmarked by the salaries of counterparts across the UK and Ireland.
Given that all the comparable parliamentarians were attracting higher salaries, this huge hike was in many respects a fait accompli.
We are told this body considered evidence. What evidence? Did MLAs make submissions?
Interestingly, a focus on aligning with salaries of other legislative bodies, but no mention of performance-related pay, outputs, delivery of the agreed Programme for Government, passing legislation, agreeing priorities, improving public services, productivity or reform.
On these metrics MLAs would surely be looking at a pay cut rather than an eye-watering increase?
Additionally, if there is such a keen interest in aligning with other regions, then surely population size should be a key consideration?
Based upon representation in the Scottish Parliament and Welsh Assembly, the number of MLAs in the north should decrease to 46, approximately half of the current number.
Scottish comparison
Scotland has one MSP for 43,000 people, while we have one MLA for 21,000 people. Scotland has the lowest health waiting lists in UK, we have by far the highest.
If we want to be comparable, shouldn’t it be on all aspects of representation, rather than cherry-picking salaries without context?
Pay-setting for politicians is an important issue and the pros and cons of wage increases are often hotly debated.
Many will argue that if we want to attract a higher calibre of politicians, we need to pay them more.
There are two major flaws with this contention.
Firstly, there is zero evidence than higher salaries automatically means more talented people or improved performance. Existing research demonstrates that increased salaries have an insignificant impact on work rate or attendance.
Secondly, we do not have normal politics in the north. Tribal politics means that talent is very much a secondary consideration.
We have some talented politicians, but far too many of our representatives are career politicians without any strategic or leadership experience.
The fact that the current system doesn’t attract or retain the best people has little to do with remuneration. Come the next election, flag-waving, petty sectarianism and culture wars will ensure that it will be more of the same.
A fundamental issue here is that the public have had no say in this. It flies it the face of democratic politics that public opinion has been ignored.
There is a two-week consultation process. However, this is for feedback from MLAs, political parties and pension bodies, but not the general public.
We are paying for this, but apparently there is no interest in what we think. Let that sink in.
In an attempt to defuse criticism, they have sought to take the matter out of politics, through recourse to the independent assessment and comparison of salaries by a review body.
Attempts to abstract this key issue from the realm of politics are doomed to failure. Politicians’ pay, by definition, is a political issue.
If our politicians had an ounce of credibility or self-awareness, they would reject this unjust proposal, but they won’t – turkeys don’t vote for Christmas.
Frontline to footnotes: A history of the SoSNI role
NOEL DORAN, Irish News, March 2nd, 2026
THE incredible Peter Mandelson scandal is still unfolding on both sides of the Atlantic, and, together with last week’s seismic Manchester by-election, is increasingly likely to force Keir Starmer’s resignation as British prime minister.
It is striking that the early stages of the hugely ambitious Mandelson’s career plan involved securing the post of Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, which once enjoyed a significantly higher profile but has since largely disappeared off the political radar.
Although I have previously written in this column about the enormous spotlight which followed Mandelson during his time in Belfast, many of those who held the same job down the years also used to be familiar faces from the front line of UK politics.
With no disrespect to the present incumbent, Hilary Benn, he could take a lunchtime stroll from NIO headquarters on Chichester Street past the nearby City Hall and almost no-one would recognise him.
The shortage of people generally walking through the centre of Belfast is a question for another day.
The prominence of secretaries of state has obviously declined since the height of the Troubles, but, even in the years after the Good Friday Agreement, the role was still taken seriously on both sides of the Irish Sea for a prolonged period.
Mo Mowlam was regularly identified in opinion polls as the most popular UK politician of her era, and given an unprecedented standing ovation by delegates when she was named in passing by Tony Blair during his leader’s speech at the 1998 Labour Party conference.
Blair, who, as a comprehensive Channel 4 three-part documentary confirmed last month, had a ruthless side to his nature, immediately decided she was a threat to his own standing, and transferred her to relative obscurity as minister for the cabinet office.
Mandelson replaced her in Hillsborough Castle, believing that it would provide him with a stepping stone to become foreign secretary, and might well have been proved correct had he not been forced out over one of his many indiscretions, on that occasion involving claims that he attempted to influence a passport application for a wealthy Indian businessman.
Declining importance
“Both of the main parties used to send relative heavyweights to Belfast, but, over the last two decades, with a couple of exceptions, candidates have been drawn from much further down the pecking order.
The next three Labour figures to follow him, John Reid, Paul Murphy and Peter Hain, all had fairly solid cabinet CVs, with only the appointment of the less well-known Shaun Woodward in 2007 an indication of declining importance.
However, it took the return to power of the Conservatives in 2010 to confirm beyond doubt that successive Westminster administrations were almost entirely disinterested in developments at Stormont, even if it took the DUP a remarkable amount of time to work out the way the wind was blowing.
The first Tory choice back then was Owen Paterson, noted for wearing wristbands linked to British Army veterans, who took the appalling decision not to extend the PSNI’s policy of 50/50 recruitment between Catholics and Protestants, something which is still haunting the service. He later resigned from the House of Commons after being found to have breached paid advocacy rules.
We then had Theresa Villers, whose preoccupation was campaigning robustly against the EU; James Brokenshire, who sadly suffered ill health and died prematurely; and Karen Bradley, remembered for expressing puzzlement that nationalists did not vote for unionist parties.
Next came Julian Smith, who deserves an honourable mention for helping to restore devolution in 2020, before he was abruptly dismissed by Boris Johnson for expressing well-founded concerns over the implications for Northern Ireland of a no-deal Brexit, followed by Brandon Lewis, who caused consternation over his endorsement of a bill on EU withdrawal which he acknowledged was in breach of international law, but apparently only in a “specific and limited way”.
Shailesh Vara then broke records by staying for less than two months before he was removed without explanation by Liz Truss, allowing us to be introduced to Chris Heaton-Harris, who declared in 2023 that full funding would be obtained for Casement Park, through the memorable but slightly less than reliable prediction: “We’ll get the money, don’t you worry.”
Having had at least some dealings with every secretary of state since Jim Prior, apart from Vara, who effectively had no time to unpack his suitcase before he was gone, and Benn, it seems to me that an unmistakeable pattern has emerged.
Both of the main Westminster parties used to send relative heavyweights to Belfast, but, over the last two decades, with a couple of exceptions, candidates have, to put it mildly, been drawn from much further down the pecking order.
The message this sends out can hardly be regarded as encouraging by unionists.
Emails from those at heart of decision to deny Kneecap cash revealed
GARRETT HARGAN, Belfast Telegraph, March 26th, 2026
DEPARTMENTS, INCLUDING NIO, CONSPIRED TO DENY RAP TRIO CASH
Government departments worked together to block funding to rap trio Kneecap — with the Northern Ireland Office in full agreement.
A swathe of emails that officials tried to hide from public view for two years can now be revealed after a lengthy investigation by this newspaper.
The board at BPI, the representative voice for the UK recording industry, decided Kneecap should get £14,250 under the Music Export Growth Scheme.
Controversy began when the then Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch — now the leader of the Conservatives — opposed that decision.
Her spokesperson said it was “hardly surprising” as taxpayers' money should not go “to people that oppose the United Kingdom itself”.
Kneecap's motivation “was equity” — pointing to “an attack on the Good Friday Agreement itself”, which allows citizens to identify as Irish, British or both.
The rappers from west Belfast and Derry ultimately won their discrimination case and split the cash between groups on either side of the peace line.
Now, in response to questions on motivation for blocking funding, a Government spokesperson said “officials were asked for advice on this issue to inform the decision which was ultimately taken by the then Business Secretary.”
However, documents show it was a joint decision by the Department for Business and Trade (DBT) and Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS).
Furthermore, this newspaper has found that the NIO was fully supportive.
Emails note “NIO counterparts agreed with this decision” and NIO said “we should not be afraid, if necessary, to defend our position as the UK Government”.
As the funding storm erupted in February 2024, this newspaper submitted a Freedom of Information (FoI) request.
DCMS failed to comply with the FoI process and delayed its response.
The Information Commissioner ruled that material sought was of “public interest” and should be released.
Two years later and facing High Court action, DCMS handed it over.
Across 39 pages it shows how DBT special advisers led the charge to block funding despite doubts in email exchanges between DCMS and DBT that they may be “censoring free speech”.
On January 16 2024, weeks before Kneecap would find out they had been rejected, an email was circulated among civil servants at DBT.
No online evidence Kneecap expressed sympathy for republican terrorists
It states: “Kneecap, a Belfast-based hip hop trio, have openly professed Irish republican sympathies online and there is video of them at a concert chanting 'Brits out'…” In the next line, DBT conceded: “There is no online evidence Kneecap has expressed sympathy for republican terrorists, so the statements above could be viewed as the artist expressing free speech.”
An email dated January 18 2024 from DBT then says, “this (Kneecap) decision has come from private office because of the perception the artist is anti-UK Government”.
The following day, reasons to deny the funding were widened as DCMS officials said some music was “overtly derogatory towards the police, Irish state broadcaster, glorifies substance abuse and domestic violence.”
It continues: “I agree it'd be good to run this past our SpAds. I suspect they'll advise that public funds shouldn't support creatives that can be perceived as endorsing divisive or controversial political ideologies, esp. republican sentiment focused on the abolition of the British monarch.”
The same email notes the importance of freedom of expression “as long as it stays within the bounds of the law.”
The writer concludes, “we're not blocking the band's voice, we're simply choosing not to amplify it.”
Kneecap deny glorifying domestic violence and say they are “non-sectarian and do not support violence in any form”.
Emails show that BPI then contacted the departments mentioning Kneecap's film at the prestigious Sundance festival.
Documents detail £775k in funding awards for Fine Point Films from the BFI National Lottery Filmmaking Fund.
DBT reluctantly recognises that it is “much harder to argue against (the MEGS award) if they already have His Majesty's Government's funding”.
By January 24 2024, the departments had a “tricky call” with BPI which “clearly didn't go too smoothly!”
It adds: “From our side we understand this to be a political violence concern (pro-IRA), not the broader misogyny/equalities issues.”
With the date fast approaching to announce successful applicants, DBT seemed unsure of its justification for blocking funding.
Correspondence on January 25, 2024 states: “Main concern from (BPI) end seems to be the lack of understanding of our decision. It is anti-establishment but they do not see them as glorifying violence. Is this correct, what is the outcome of our due diligence… and can you dig deeper on this?”
But they pressed ahead to stop funding.
Ultimately, DBT did not contest the case and under the terms of the settlement agreed that the original decision was “unlawful and procedurally unfair”.
Kneecap and NIO were contacted.
A plumber is exactly what parliament needs right now
TOM KELLY, Irish News, March 2nd, 2026
THERE’S no spinning or sugar-coating the election re-sult in Gorton and Denton.
The Green Party had a stunning result. Labour were squeezed into third spot by an odious Reform candidate.
Despite the fact that mid-term government parties tend not to fare well in by-elections, the Labour Party will be devastated – not least because the result has the hands of Number 10 all over it.
If Morgan McSweeney, the prime minister’s former chief of staff, had not already resigned over his calamitous reign, he would almost certainly be packing his bags this morning.
If you are living in the north, unionist or nationalist, and taking comfort in Keir Starmer getting a very bloody nose, reflect for a moment what the alternative political world in the UK might look like in the future. It won’t be pretty.
Some unionists seem to think a Reform-led government would strengthen the union.
It won’t, because Nigel Farage and his barrow boys do not give a fig about Northern Ireland.
Reform would look at the subvention figures and buy support with the dosh.
Any assets the north has in its threadbare cupboard would be raided, privatised, and sold off.
Some nationalists glow at the prospect of links with Westminster falling off a cliff. They believe it will hasten Irish unity.
They could be right, but it won’t be quick and it will be ugly.
Unfortunately, the political turmoil could lead to frustration within loyalism to the degree it could easily turn to civil unrest being fasttracked onto our streets.
Remember, loyalists have had no qualms committing treason, as they did in 1912 and 1974.
Running a government isn’t easy. It carries huge responsibilities and tough decisions have to be taken.
Being in opposition in Westminster or the Dáil is a luxurious position when governments get it wrong.
It’s also a bit of a fool’s paradise, as it can indulge in brick-throwing rather than brick-building.
Last chance?
Starmer is in the last chance saloon. The forthcoming devolved elections in Scotland and Wales, along with the English local government polls, are just weeks away. They now hang like the Sword of Damocles above the prime minister’s head.
The single hair from which it’s hanging is the lack of a credible alternative to the beleaguered incumbent.
Despite the pre-election braggadocio of Farage and his candidate and the tantrum tears and unsubstantiated claims of foul play post-result, Reform has learned a hard lesson.
“The Labour strategy for tackling the threat from Reform is frankly bonkers. Pollsters can do all the playing about with modelling they want, but voters want good, stable, consistent, compassionate government
The UK isn’t the USA, and the pathway to power can be easily blocked by tactical voting by savvy voters.
The Labour strategy (if that’s what it is) for tackling the threat from Reform is frankly bonkers.
Backroom number-crunchers and pollsters can do all the playing about with modelling they want, but voters want good, efficient, responsible, stable, consistent, and compassionate government.
What they are getting is a cocktail of appalling political and personal judgement, cock-ups, lack of cohesion, arrogance, and weekly lurches from one calamity to another.
If this was a movie, it would be a splice between The Cannonball Run and Death Race 2000.
Labour needs to wake up and smell the coffee. It needs to be bold and brave. Mimicking Reform messages only elevates and amplifies the toxic myth peddling xenophobia and racism of the right.
Reform is a collection of rehashed, incompetent Tory wannabes, opportunists and spivs out to make a buck at the public’s expense.
If you think any government has a hand in your trouser pocket now, a Reform government would have both hands in there and then sell you back your own trousers.
Labour can’t afford to haemorrhage their voters on the left – either to the Greens or the Lib Dems.
High on hyperbole?
The Green leader, Zack Polanski, is rightly proud of his party’s win, but he’s also getting a bit high on the hyperbole, claiming no seat is beyond the Green reach.
The first-past-the-post system is incredibly difficult to crack from the sidelines.
Further success isn’t guaranteed when it comes to a general election, as manifestos come under much greater scrutiny.
It’s one thing to give a sitting government with a massive parliamentary majority a black eye in a by-election. It’s entirely another when voting on much bigger stakes, such as the stewardship of the economy.
Plus, Polanski faces the not-so-easy task of finding himself a parliamentary seat.
The Lib Dems have a long history of winning stunning by-elections, which often suggested they were on the cusp of the Promised Land – only to discover the rainbow didn’t lead to Westminster at a general election.
There’s no inevitability of Reform forming a government, especially the more their benches are stacked with Tory rejects.
Voters are looking for the change Labour promised. It won’t come from Reform.
An aside from the by-election, which was amusing: the emperor with no clothes, Ben Habib, had the humiliation of seeing his Advance UK being beaten by the Monster Raving Loony Party.
To the victor, the spoils – Hannah Spencer of the Green Party.
There’s something appropriate about sending a plumber to parliament right now, because there’s definitely a fatberg in the system.
First Minister criticised for not attending briefing on Iran
By The Newsroom, Belfast News Letter, March 2nd, 2026
The war in the Middle East shows no sign of letting up as it brought disruption to flights in the UK, as well as trapping a Northern Ireland couple in the basement of their hotel.
US and Israeli forces attacked Iran on Saturday morning in what the two countries described as a “pre-emptive” strike against a Tehran government intent on developing nuclear weapons.
The attack prompted retaliation from Iran, with missiles reported to have targeted Israel and countries across the Middle East.
Iranian state media confirmed the death of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in an airstrike targeting his compound in downtown Tehran.
Back home First Minister Michelle O’Neill has been criticised by unionist parties for not attending a briefing with senior UK government security advisors regarding the ongoing developments in the region.
DUP deputy leader Michelle McIlveen slammed Ms O’Neill, saying that people in Northern Ireland want reassurance that their interests are “being represented at the highest level”.
UK flights to conflict zone suspended
Meanwhile, the ongoing war has led to the suspension of UK flights to and from the region until at least today, major airlines have said.
Dublin Airport also saw the cancellations of numerous flights to and from the likes of Doha, Dubai and Abu Dhabi yesterday.
The News Letter has spoken to an Antrim couple who were evacuated to the basement of their Dubai hotel as strikes reached the city across the weekend.
Jonny McKinney said that every bang in the sky stops him in his tracks as the father of three tries to keep his family updated back home.
There were also jubilant scenes outside Belfast City Hall yesterday as Iranian opponents of the Islamic regime in Tehran celebrated the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with dancing, song and chanting.
The group had been assembling in the same location in recent weeks to protest against Iran’s leadership. However, on this occasion, the atmosphere shifted from protest to celebration after the killing.
Demonstrators waved Israeli and American flags alongside banners representing the Iranian opposition.
The US military has confirmed that three of its service personnel have been killed and five have been seriously injured in military operations targeting Iran.
Unionists back greater UK involvement in US-Israeli action against Tehran
By David Thompson, Belfast News Letter, March 2nd, 2026
Marxists and Irish republicans are “untethered from reality” on the situation in Iran the Assembly has heard, as unionists backed greater UK involvement in military action against the country’s Islamist regime – while Sinn Fein raised concerns about breaches of international law.
MLAs debated a TUV statement on the unfolding situation in the Middle East on Monday – with Timothy Gaston saying Iranians have lived under the jackboot of an Islamist dictatorship for almost 50 years, and highlighting the persecution of Christians in the country.
DUP and Ulster Unionist MLAs backed action to stop Iran getting nuclear weapons, and called for greater UK support for such moves.
However, Sinn Fein said the action was not a “legitimate response to the human rights violations” or the lack of democracy under the theocratic regime. The party’s position prompted criticism from unionists, with a DUP MLA branding the party’s position “galling” – given the human rights violations carried out by the IRA in Northern Ireland.
The SDLP and Alliance also criticised the military action – with the latter’s deputy leader saying it was for the Iranian people to determine their future. Recent protests in the country against the regime resulted in a brutal crackdown by the Islamist theocrats – with reports of up to 30,000 people slaughtered.
US President Donald Trump, announcing the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, called the strikes in Iran “the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their country”. There was a mixed reaction globally, with Australia and Canada expressing support for the US strikes – and Russia, China and Spain among those directly criticising the move.
On Sunday, Iranian opponents of the Islamic regime gathered outside Belfast city hall to celebrate the killing of Iran’s supreme leader.
During Monday’s debate, the DUP MLA David Brooks said the past few days could be a “defining moment in world history”. He said the regime has never shown respect for the fundamental rights of its own citizens, and Marxist and Irish republican sympathies had “unsurprisingly” been “untethered from global realities” – seeing Tehran “as a cause to be celebrated”.
“Let there be no mistake, this was not an act of wanton aggression. It was a strike against those who have sought for decades to destabilise the Middle East, to foster terror and to hold millions of voices in chains. Many thousands of Iranians, ordinary people caught between oppression and fear, have publicly celebrated the weakening of a regime that silenced dissent and crushed protests with lethal force”, the East Belfast MLA said.
Iranian Christians persecuted
Timothy Gaston said Christians in Iran had faced persecution, “simply for professing the name of Jesus”. The North Antrim MLA slammed the First Minister for deploying moral outrage “selectively”.
At the weekend, Michelle O’Neill had described the strike as “violations of the UN Charter” – saying they are “deeply troubling”.
Mr Gaston told the Stormont chamber that her party had shown “no moral outrage” over IRA attacks, including the murders of Protestant workmen, blowing up the war dead at a remembrance service, the killing of a mother of ten in a nationalist area or for the fire-bombing a dog charity dinner dance.
“Well, that's a deeply troubling violation of the UN Charter. For as long as the members to my left continue to defend the blood soaked IRA, they will be treated with contempt whenever they profess concerns for the lives of innocent civilians, including Iranians and Palestinians”, he said.
DUP MLA Paul Frew said it was “galling” to hear Sinn Fein MLAs talk about human rights in relation to the US strikes. He said the IRA had “been funded many times over, and many years over, by regimes in the Middle East, Iran included, Libya included – and so we will not take any lectures from Sinn Fein”.
UUP MLA Doug Beattie said he did not like President Trump’s foreign policy generally, describing him as “unhinged” – and saying “we are on the brink of a regional war”. But he said he supported stopping Iran from getting nuclear weapons, and said the UK “should join the coalition of states to achieve this”.
The Alliance Party’s Eoin Tennyson criticised the Iranian regime as “brutal and barbaric” – and guilty of “vile human rights abuses”. However, he said “illegal and unilateral action” by the USA and Israel was a “dangerous escalation” which could threaten stability in the Middle East and beyond.
“Ultimately, it is for the Iranian people to determine their future, not for anyone else”, the Alliance deputy leader said.
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll said Pandora’s box had been opened by the strikes – which he called “an act of aggression” which is “about Israel expanding its role in the Middle East”.
SDLP Stormont leader Matthew O’Toole questioned whether bombing the Middle East was resulting in more peace and stability. He said “doing what Donald Trump and his regime did over the weekend – launching a unilateral set of strikes on Iran – is not the way to do it”.
