Those with most information also have the least incentive to give it
A belated response to the excellent comments by Andy Pollak and Brian Walker.
I wholeheartedly agree: the tendency for unionists to shoot themselves in the foot leaps off the pages of recent and indeed earlier history.
I would argue the tendency goes back at least to the arming of the UVF in the early 20th century.
The DUP might well pull down Stormont in the times ahead and so add to the litany of strategic and tactical errors.
On the legacy debates, and recent revelations on the reluctance of the Irish as well as the British state to share information on past atrocities, I think we should also place the spotlight on loyalist and republican paramilitaries. They are the ones who have the most detailed and useful knowledge, yet they are the ones who have been least helpful in sharing information with victims of the Troubles. For some reason, many commentators seem to ignore this obvious omission (to put it at its mildest). Of course paramilitaries, and their representatives, won’t be forthcoming, but this should not deter us from calling them out and restoring some sense of historical perspective to legacy debates. It’s their problem if they can’t respond positively and constructively.
Liam Kennedy
The failure by the political parties to the address Legacy issues adequately in the Belfast Good Friday Agreement sowed the seeds for future problems. In 1922 the British Government declared an amnesty for all acts of violence in the Troubles up until the Truce of 1921 that led to the creation of Northern Ireland and the Irish Free State.
In 1924 the Free State government did likewise for the Civil War in the South.
Neither of these measures were adequate to address the Legacy of the conflict but they at least prevented the continuation of that conflict through the courts, which have continued to polarise the debate.
Parties with a limited view of and capacity to resolve the problems of divided societies could focus instead on what divided them.
Padraig Yeates
All comments welcome - please send them to truthrecoveryireland@gmail.com but bear with us if there are any delays in posting them. Hopefully this will not be for long.
Robinson's party is in the danger zone as Burrows breaks through, but all is not lost
Belfast Telegraph, July 27th, 2026
SUZANNE BREEN POLITICAL EDITOR THEY HAVE BEEN IN THIS POSITION BEFORE BUT RIVALS DIDN'T CAPITALISE ANALYSIS
The DUP is in the political danger zone. It hasn't hit rock bottom but, on 15pc, it's getting perilously close.
Headquarters will say, 'It's only one poll conducted at a very difficult time for the party.' And that's true. But, with the Assembly election just nine months away, there is no room for any more scandal or blunders. It has used up its margin of error.
The past two decades have been a rollercoaster ride for the DUP. It has survived Ian Paisley's departure; controversies around Peter and Iris Robinson; Red Sky and RHI; protocol battles; Arlene Foster's brutal removal and an internal civil war.
Yet every crisis ultimately reinforced the same political truth for the party: however unhappy unionist voters have been, they always came home.
They might grumble about DUP leaders and flirt with its rivals. But, when faced with the choice of who would speak for unionism, they concluded that the party remained the only credible vehicle.
That assumption has underpinned Northern Ireland politics since Paisley eclipsed David Trimble. It increasingly looks like it may no longer apply like it once did.
Climbing up three points to 16pc and overtaking the DUP to become the most popular unionist party in Northern Ireland is a psychological milestone for the UUP.
Never has Stormont seen a rise as remarkable as Jon Burrows'. It's just 12 months since he became an MLA and six months since he took up the party leadership. He has not crashed and burned as his critics predicted.
Unionist voters couldn't care less that he was co-opted, and his name has never been on a ballot paper. The mechanics of how he entered the Assembly are irrelevant to them, they like that he has shaken it up. They admire his ambition, drive and spark.
In the immediate aftermath of Jeffrey Donaldson's conviction, the conventional wisdom suggested that those disillusioned with the DUP would naturally gravitate more to the TUV than the Ulster Unionists.
Whereas Burrows adopted a more subtle and restrained approach — unsurprising given that Donaldson spent two decades in the UUP — Jim Allister opted for a strong and simple narrative.
He questioned whether the Government used knowledge of Donaldson's crimes as “leverage” to force him into reversing his previous commitments and restoring devolution.
He accused DUP figures of knowing their then leader was lying about the Irish Sea Border, and backing him regardless. Yet there has been no surge to the TUV. It will be disappointed that it has nudged up by just one point to 12pc.
Unionist voters don't like Donaldson's Irish Sea border deal that restored devolution two years ago: only a fifth now back it. But if they were pushing for the Stormont institutions to be brought down, they'd be flocking to the TUV.
Maybe many are tired of the drama, and want constructive opposition rather than confrontation and collapse. While these poll results present Burrows with an extraordinary opportunity, he will need unity in his own ranks if he is to be able to take full advantage.
UUP’s weak Stormont team
Internal rows were laid bare for all to see last month following Doug Beattie's resignation. But those negatives headlines have been almost forgotten in the wake of the Donaldson story.
While Burrows has strong support among Ulster Unionist members and councillors, it's an open secret that love for the leader is in short supply on the party's Stormont benches.
If those MLAs adopt a rebellious or contrary approach when the Assembly returns in the autumn, then they will thwart the UUP's ability to benefit from the DUP's difficulties. Insiders are optimistic of a cessation of hostilities as the election draws closer.
Even if a lid is kept on tensions, Burrows' problem is that he doesn't have a hard-hitting team behind him in Stormont. With the equivalent of a Jonny Buckley or a Phillip Brett by his side, he could really build momentum.
He would dearly love to bring in new blood to his benches. The UUP will select its North Down candidate imminently. Pete Wray is the firm favourite to replace Alan Chambers. All eyes will be on East Belfast where two other names are in the mix along with Andy Allen.
Burrows has had problems attracting new candidates — particularly female and young ones — to the party. He will be hoping that this poll encourages doubters to make that leap of faith and cross the line.
While the UUP leader will be delighted with the LucidTalk results, he certainly shouldn't get carried away.
Five years ago, a very similar set of statistics existed. Edwin Poots' brief leadership had ended in chaos as the DUP tore itself apart.
Divided and directionless, it plummeted to just 13pc in our 2021 summer poll with the UUP on 16pc and the TUV on 14pc. Donaldson's leadership steadied the ship, and the sense of freefall stopped.
By our autumn poll three months later, UUP and TUV support had fallen as the DUP climbed a staggering five points to regain top spot. Burrows will not want his bounce to go the same way that Beattie's did.
Gavin Robinson will be hoping that the same political gravity from 2021 reasserts itself, and his party resumes its place as the dominant force within unionism. It may well make up enough ground to edge ahead again, but is a full recovery possible?
The DUP currently has 26 MLAs to the UUP's eight and the TUV's one. It's hard to see it maintaining such sweeping numerical supremacy over its rivals next May.
Duo charged over bomb found in car close to border remanded
REBECCA BLACK and GRÁINNE NÍ AODHA, Belfast Telegraph, July 28th, 2026
A law student and an employee at a Dublin museum charged in relation to a bomb intercepted in a car near the Irish border have been remanded in custody.
Isobella Perrie Sullivan (25), of Abbeylands Park, Clane, Co Kildare, appeared wearing a white T-shirt with the logo 'faith over fear' via video-link from the Dochas Centre (female prison) in Dublin before Monaghan District Court yesterday.
She was charged with possession of explosives at a special sitting of Trim District Court in Co Meath on Friday after a bomb was intercepted in a car near the border.
Her defence solicitor said she had been asked to take a bag to the north and had not been aware what was in it, adding that she had been “manipulated”.
She was then granted bail with a host of conditions which included a €15,000 independent surety, that she surrenders her passport, stays at an address approved by Gardaí with a curfew of 9pm to 7am, has a mobile phone available 24 hours a day, and signs in each day to Naas garda station.
Gardaí also requested another condition, that she not have any contact with anyone in the Saoradh political party or the New IRA.
Yesterday at Monaghan District Court, Judge Raymond Finnegan heard that her defence lawyer was not present in court and said she would be remanded with consent to bail.
Perrie Sullivan said to the judge: “I thought I was getting out today with bail.”
The judge said that he had not received an application to approve the surety.
A Garda officer told the court they were still making enquiries in terms of the surety.
She will next appear before Monaghan District Court on August 7.
Simon O'Donovan (44), with an address at Sperrin Road in Drimnagh, appeared before the Special Criminal Court at the Criminal Courts of Justice in Dublin at the weekend charged with possession of an explosive substance at St Laurence's Road in Chapelizod on July 22.
Darragh Mackin of Phoenix Law told the court during that appearance he had not taken instruction from Mr O'Donovan because of a solicitors' strike over changes to criminal legal aid fees.
Yesterday O'Donovan appeared before the non-jury court again, freshly-shaved and wearing a Dublin GAA polo neck T-shirt.
O'Donovan, an employee at the Collins Barracks museum, asked Judge Patrick McGrath if the solicitors' strike was still on, to which the judge replied that it was, but there were other solicitors representing people in court on Monday.
Crimeworld reported O'Donovan — better known by the Irish version of his name Simon O Donnabhain — works in the facilities department in the museum.
A representative for the director of public prosecutions (DPP) told the court that they had not received any correspondence from anyone in relation to Mr O'Donovan.
The judge told O'Donovan that he was in custody, his bail application to the High Court on Saturday was refused, and the book of evidence needs to be served to him on the next court date.
He then asked him if he had been in contact with his solicitor.
“Not since the last day,” O'Donovan replied.
The judge said: “Not surprising, but… we will simply remand the matter to October 5 for service of book of evidence.”
Legal representation
He said O'Donovan was remanded in custody until that date and that it was “in your interest” to have a solicitor.
He said he could only apply for bail if there was a change in circumstances and said another judge “may well” consider him having legal representation as a change of circumstances.
The representative for the DPP said it would have “no difficulty in that regard” if he wanted to make another application for bail before the Special Criminal Court or the High Court.
The judge clarified this to O'Donovan and repeated that it would be “in your interest to make that application with a solicitor”.
“I'd like to make an application for bail,” O'Donovan replied.
“When?” the judge asked.
“At the closest possible chance,” O'Donovan said.
The judge said his solicitor had not attended the court “for whatever reason” and that it was “clearly in your interest” to be represented.
He asked him to contact a solicitor to consider any further application he may make.
The representative for the DPP said that they would give O'Donovan a copy of An Garda Síochána's objections to bail and asked that they be dealt with ahead of any potential bail hearing.
O'Donovan was remanded in custody until October 5.
The representative for the DPP said they would notify Mr Mackin of the proceedings.
Concern over delay in case of man accused of murdering spy
Irish Times, July 28th, 2026
A barrister representing a man charged with the 2006 murder of British spy Denis Donaldson (above) has expressed concern about delays in serving the book of evidence in the case.
Antoin Duffy (40s), of no fixed address, appeared before the non-jury Special Criminal Court yesterday. He was extradited from Scotland earlier this year.
Duffy is charged with murdering Donaldson in Cloghercor, Doochary, Co Donegal, between April 3rd and 4th, 2006. He is also charged with possession of a shotgun and ammunition “with intent to endanger life” on the same date at the same location.
He is also charged with the attempted murder of a second man, Liam Copeland McGinley, at Meenaboll, Co Donegal, on November 19th, 2007, and with possession of a shotgun and possession of ammunition on the same date.
Donaldson (55) was a former administrator for Sinn Féin’s Stormont Assembly team.
He was shot dead at a remote cottage near Glenties months after he was exposed as having been a paid agent for Special Branch and MI5 since the 1980s. In 2009, the dissident republican Real IRA claimed the killing.
Yesterday, a barrister representing Duffy said he was “somewhat concerned” that the book of evidence in relation to the 2006 murder charge had not yet been served. He said this was the third time they were before the court for the book of evidence to be served. He said a bail application had been delayed because the second book of evidence had not yet been served.
A prosecution barrister said the second book of evidence was to be served in October.
The matter was put back until October 12th. – PA
Families and children caught up in series of attacks by UDA in Co Down
NEWTOWNARDS WAS THE SCENE OF PREVIOUS FEUD BETWEEN LOYALISTS
KEVIN SCOTT, Belfast Telegraph, July 28th, 2026
Police have condemned a night of violence in Co Down linked to the UDA.
Two families escaped injury after masked men attacked homes and vehicles in Newtownards on Sunday. A bus was also torched in the town.
Police believe the three incidents are linked, while sources in the area claimed the UDA was behind the attacks.
Police said the attack on a house in Bristol Park would have been “terrifying” for those at home at the time.
Shortly before 11pm, masked men dressed in dark clothing went to the house and smashed the front windows, door window and car windows with a hammer.
Detective Sergeant Marley said: “The men also attempted to light a carton filled with accelerant, and threw it into the vehicle.
“It failed to ignite.”
A short time later, the fire service was called to an incident on Victoria Avenue in which a bus and a car had been “totally” burnt out and extensive damage had been caused to a business in a deliberate ignition, police said.
“Finally, just after 11.30pm, we received an emergency call that a number of masked men, wearing dark clothing, had smashed a living room window at a house in Weavers Grange with hammers, before throwing a petrol bomb inside, setting a sofa alight.
“Again, a family were at home at the time.
“Thankfully, no injuries have been reported but it's completely unacceptable that members of our community should be placed at such grave risk.
No return to past
“The residents of Weavers Grange do not want to return to the violence and intimidation they have suffered in the past.”
Police believe the incidents are linked and have various lines of enquiry to follow.
Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, a loyalist source said: “The feud [between Real UFF and UDA] is over and it's not starting again.
“These people were defeated and run out of Newtownards. The few who were allowed to stay were on the basis that they would get on with their lives.
“They've started to stick their head up again, and so they're going, and this problem is being addressed once and for all.
“They aren't moving to any other loyalist areas to set up camp either.”
Police have said there will be an increased police presence in the area in the coming days.
Alliance MLA Nick Mathison said the attacks were “utterly reprehensible”.
He added: “What we saw take place last night across the town was shocking. Between the damage to public property, and the lives put at risk in the homes that were targeted, this behaviour by masked individuals is utterly reprehensible and there is no excuse for it.
“Local residents are beyond fed up with this type of violence, done with no other purpose and to achieve nothing other than to terrify and exert coercive control over the community.
“We must all stand firmly united against it.”
