Politicians are barking mad over flags at Sheepdog trials
CONNLA YOUNG CRIME AND SECURITY CORRESPONDENT, Irish News, April 30th, 2026
A BITTER dogfight has broken out over the flying of the Irish tricolour at sheepdog events.
The International Sheep Dog Society (ISDS) has become embroiled in a flags row that has sparked deep division among members of its Irish section.
The society, which was established in 1906 and is a registered charity, oversees the sheepdog trials in Ireland and Britain.
Each nation has its own ISDS branch, which is normally represented by the country flag at international and other gatherings.
In Ireland the sheepdog body operates on a 32-county basis and has members from all sections of the community.
The society’s current chair is John McCullough, who is from Portadown in Co Armagh.
It is understood a complaint about the ISDS, which is based in Bedford, has been lodged with the Charity Commission for England and Wales this week as the flag row deepens.
Political parties on both sides of the border have now weighed into the flags controversy.
Under which flags?
Unionist MPs at Westminster have signed a letter written to the ISDS urging the organisation to scrap the practice of using only the tricolour at sheepdog events.
In a letter to the ISDS, seen by the Irish News, unionist MPs, including DUP leader Gavin Robinson, said “any policy of flying only the Irish tricolour” would be at odds with the society’s constitution.
“In light of this we encourage the society to give full and careful consideration to alternative approaches that would better reflect its diverse membership.
“These could include flying multiple flags representing the jurisdictions within the Irish Section, or the adoption of a neutral or society specific flag that does not privilege any one national identity over another.”
It has now emerged that 52 Sinn Féin MPs, TDs and senators have also penned a response to the ISDS demanding the tricolour be retained.
The Sinn Féin representatives said they want to “register our opposition to a proposed departure from the long-established practice of representing the section with the national flag of Ireland”.
‘Many feel an integral part of their identity… could be eroded’
“Current proposals to fly several flags or adopt an alternative flag are causing widespread disquiet among Irish Section members, many of whom feel that an integral part of their identity and heritage within the society could be eroded.”
The Sinn Féin representatives highlighted that “as per the government of Ireland” the green, white and orange of the tricolour are “intended to symbolise inclusion”.
“Given the all-island dynamic of the Irish Section, therefore, the National Flag perfectly represents the diversity of the ISDS’s Irish membership,” it added.
Sinn Féin has now encouraged the “society to avoid the politicisation of its flag protocol, and – acknowledging the depth of concern being expressed by members of the Irish section – to give due consideration to historical precedent”.
A spokeswoman for the Charity Commission said: “We are assessing concerns raised with us about the International Sheep Dog Society to determine what role there is, if any, for the Commission.”
The ISDS was contacted.
Where should the line on political speech be drawn?
NEWTON EMERSON, Irish News, April 30th, 2026
THE Standards Board for England was abolished in 2012 after years of problems.
Set up a decade earlier to enforce a statutory code of conduct on councillors, it became notorious as a vehicle for petty, vexatious and politically motivated complaints.
Councillors found themselves suspended for legitimate criticism of their council, other councillors or officials.
For this reason, it is worth keeping an eye on the trajectory of the Northern Ireland Local Government Commissioner for Standards, which enforces a statutory code of conduct on councillors here.
The commissioner’s office has given little cause for concern since it was established in 2014. The most common criticism is it is simply too slow, with cases sitting on its books for years.
While the office has its own staff, the commissioner’s role is effectively part-time, with the post-holder – currently Margaret Kelly – also serving as the NI Public Services Ombudsman, responsible for investigating maladministration by public bodies.
However, a ruling last week against a DUP councillor should be ringing alarm bells.
Colin Kennedy has been suspended from Ards and North Down Borough Council for three months for saying: “Do not be surprised when those who enthusiastically endorse the LGBTQIA alphabet soup agenda in the West are the very same people who are now seeking to defend Hamas”.
He made this remark in the council chamber in October 2023, two weeks after the Hamas attack on Israel.
Other councillors and members of the public reported it to the PSNI and the Commissioner for Standards.
The PSNI decided no offence had been committed. The commissioner has decided it breached two articles of the statutory code, 4.2 and 4.13a.
Article 4.2 says: “You must not conduct yourself in a manner which could reasonably be regarded as bringing your position as a councillor, or your council, into disrepute.”
Cllr Kennedy was found to have brought himself into disrepute, although not the council.
Article 4.13a says: “You must show respect and consideration for others.” The term ‘alphabet soup’ was hardly respectful. Nevertheless, this is an extremely broad requirement, amounting to a catch-all if not handled with care.
Supping with a long spoon
The commissioner’s reasoning for declaring these breaches was that ”Cllr Kennedy’s remarks conflated the LGBTQIA+ community with support for the aims of Hamas. In doing so he overstepped what may be regarded as acceptable political speech and went beyond the protections afforded as a political representative under Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights” (the right to free expression).
Margaret Kelly combines roles as Northern Ireland’s Public Services Ombudsman and Local Government Commissioner
“There is a larger question over whether elected representatives should ever be removed from office by a quango, regardless of what they have said or done, short of breaking the law
This reasoning was clearly in error. Cllr Kennedy did not conflate the LGBTQIA+ community with support for the aims of Hamas. He postulated the existence of people who support both the LGBTQIA+ community and the aims of Hamas. Such people indisputably exist, including in local politics. Most are obviously hypocrites. Must they be shown respect?
Others could make a rational defence of a more nuanced position.
In 2024, Michelle O’Neill agreed with an interviewer’s suggestion that Hamas could eventually be a “partner for peace”, citing the history of Northern Ireland. She expressed no sympathy with Hamas or its aims, while her prediction was reasonable – the US reportedly conducted arms-length talks with Hamas the following year.
Could a councillor still suggest the first minister’s views are somewhat at odds with her support for gay people?
By seeking to highlight hypocrisy, Cllr Kennedy was implying he supports gay people, unlike their fair-weather friends in the loony left.
His sincerity on this might be questioned but suspending him and setting aside his right to free expression is an extraordinary response.
This is merely a criticism of the commission by its own terms. There is a larger question over whether elected representatives should ever be removed from office by a quango, regardless of what they have said or done, short of breaking the law.
English precedent
In 2012, Westminster decided this should no longer happen to councillors in England. Conduct has since been supervised by councils and councillors can only be censured, not suspended.
Any organisation can make a mistake, but as the News Letter noted last weekend, there is no mechanism to impose standards on the Local Government Commissioner for Standards. So the ruling on Cllr Kennedy stands, along with its chilling effect.
The length of time taken to reach this ruling underscores its absurdity. In the two and a half years since Cllr Kennedy made his remark, the term ‘LG-BTQIA+ community’ has itself become increasingly contentious among gay people. Dare any councillor mention this before the commission catches up, and how are they to know when it has caught up?
Northern Ireland is so behind the times that the pendulum in England is swinging back towards us. Labour has created a new standards quango and wants to give it the power to suspend councillors, although it insists this will only be used for serious misconduct, such as bullying and harassment.
Similar promises were made about the Standards Board for England. Precedent shows these quangos go too far, and we must be alert to heading in the same direction.
IFA told it may face legal action for not banning trans women players
CHRIS LINDSEY, Belfast Telegraph, April 30th, 2026
The Irish Football Association is among 10 sports bodies in the UK being threatened with legal action for not placing a ban on those born biologically male from their female categories, as it's claimed they are “failing to protect women and girls from transgender ideology”.
A letter co-signed by the former Olympic swimmer Sharron Davies, a Tory peer, and the world-renowned sailor Tracy Edwards MBE has been sent to the IFA, a year after a Supreme Court ruling that only those born female should be considered women under the Equality Act.
The case was successfully taken by the group For Women Scotland.
Other sporting bodies which have been sent letters include the Football Association of Wales, British Gymnastics and Parkrun. The correspondence states that: “Any governing body that continues to permit biological males to compete in the female category contravenes the Equality Act 2010 as interpreted by the Supreme Court.
“This exposes the organisation to immediate and substantial legal liability. The Football Association, Scottish FA, Rugby Football Union and England and Wales Cricket Board have already taken action to protect their female categories.”
In a statement issued to the Belfast Telegraph, the campaigners say that “while most parts of the Equality Act do not apply in Northern Ireland, the letter to the Irish Football Association explained that the For Women Scotland ruling is still binding across the UK”.
That letter states: “The judgment is at the very least 'highly persuasive' in interpreting Northern Ireland's unique equality legislation and the IFA has a legal obligation to protect women's sport categories.”
It also points to “safeguarding risks” of allowing males to use female changing rooms and warns about discrimination claims by female athletes whose “opportunities and achievements are displaced or diminished”, as well as “increased insurance and tort liability from elevated injury risk”. The letter concludes: “If active steps are not taken to ensure that the issues raised in this correspondence are satisfactorily resolved, and women and girls engaging with your organisation remain exposed to these risks even in light of the clarified legal position, we reserve the right to take further steps, including litigation, to protect their interests.
“Biological sex is not a negotiable category; it is the essential foundation for safeguarding women and girls and preserving fair competition.” Sharron Davies, who won silver at the 1980 Olympics, and Tracy Edwards are co-founders of the Women's Sports Union, set up to “support, protect and grow female participation in sport”.
Baroness Davies said they were putting the IFA and nine other sporting bodies “under notice to act”, warning: “If they don't do the right thing, we will not hesitate to pursue all legal options.
“It is a scandal that men are still allowed to compete against women in sport, a year after the Supreme Court ruling.
Protecting women
“Failing to protect women's sport from males who claim to be female eradicates fairness in competition and presents extreme safeguarding concerns, all in the name of a false ideology.
“Some organisations have acted to protect sport at elite level, while allowing men to compete against women at amateur level. This is unacceptable — all women who play sport must be able to do so in a safe and fair environment.
“I have heard horror stories from parents whose girls have been exposed to inappropriate and harmful situations, due to the failure to protect female sport categories and changing facilities. All sports bodies must act now to stop the risk of these terrible situations happening again.”
Tracy Edwards, who skippered Maiden, the first all-female crew to sail around the world, said: “When I stood outside the Supreme Court on 16 April 2025 as For Women Scotland won their case confirming the meaning of 'woman' in the Equality Act 2010 is defined as 'biological sex', I celebrated the return of sanity.
“Little did I know that a year later we would still be fighting for the female category in sport.
“Sharron and I set up the Women's Sports Union to 'support, protect and grow female participation in sport' but we knew that getting males out of the female category would be job number one.”
In response to questions from the Belfast Telegraph about the letter, the IFA said: “We are committed to taking the necessary steps to fulfil our legal obligations and will take any further guidance from the Equality Commission for Northern Ireland.”
The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland said: “It is likely the Irish Football Association will have a range of factors to consider, and the commission can provide specific advice to the IFA regarding their obligations under Northern Ireland equality law.”
Dissident-linked party feels heat over car bomb attack
ABDULLAH SABRI, Belfast Telegraph, April 30th, 2026
Dissident republicans are feeling the pressure as the PSNI steps up searches in the wake of a car bomb attack on a police station.
The political wing of one group claimed its members have faced increased attention after Saturday's New IRA-linked explosion in Dunmurry.
Glór na hÓglaigh, a self-described “revolutionary” socialist party with “grassroots republican values”, is a new faction that held its first Easter commemoration last month.
The party is tied to terror group Óglaigh na hÉireann, which has been linked to several murders and attacks, including an attempt on the life of Sean O'Reilly last year.
In a statement online, Glór na hÓglaigh claimed members are facing multiple stop-and-searches following the weekend bombing.
Yesterday, security sources told the BBC's Nolan Show that high explosives were used in the bomb at Dunmurry station.
TUV councillor Ron McDowell said it raised “profoundly troubling questions for champions of the process”.
“Remember, all PIRA weapons were supposed to have been put completely and verifiably beyond use during the decommissioning process,” he said.
“Now, more than 20 years after that process was supposedly completed, we discover IRA explosives being used on attacks on police officers.”
No injuries were reported, although the explosion, which occurred shortly after 10.50pm, caused significant damage.
The PSNI has since undertaken a major operation consisting of inspections at checkpoints across Belfast, as well as property searches.
In an online post, Glór na hÓglaigh branded the searches on its membership as “an abuse of power” as police “harass, pressure and silence” them.
‘We will not be intimidated’
“We will not be intimidated,” a spokesperson for the party said.
“Let's be absolutely clear, this is an abuse of power, and we see it for exactly what it is, our members are not criminals.”
They demanded “accountability” and an end to the “disproportionate targeting”. On Tuesday, police in Belfast arrested a 66-year-old man in the Dunmurry area in connection with Saturday night's explosion.
It came as the New IRA said it would target the homes of PSNI officers amid a threat to intensify its armed campaign.
It's understood that some officers have opted to carry assault rifles as a matter of protection.
A statement from the “leadership of the IRA” to the Irish News, using a codeword, warned that anyone who provides information to the PSNI “will be severely dealt with”.
The dissident group said the blast was intended to kill officers as they left the building.
The attack followed a bombing attempt at Lurgan PSNI station last month, where the group had also forced a delivery driver to transport a bomb, which did not detonate. Assistant Chief Constable Davy Beck said the operation will involve “more vehicle checkpoints and patrolling officers” and may “cause some inconvenience to the general public”.
“Communities across Northern Ireland will see an increase in policing activity as a high visibility policing operation gets under way to counter the ongoing dissident threat,” he explained on Tuesday.
“We have concerns about threats across Northern Ireland from dissident groups, particularly in the wake of the recent attack on Dunmurry police station, which demonstrated a clear intent to damage and disrupt communities and potentially injure and kill police officers and staff.”
A PSNI spokesperson said: “Please be assured that we will continue, tirelessly, with our efforts to bring those responsible to justice and to protect our local communities.”
The chair of the Police Federation, Liam Kelly, slammed the New IRA statement.
Mr Kelly said: “This is a pathetic claim of responsibility for the Dunmurry PSNI station attack. No one wants to hear old rhetoric dressed as new from a small, self-styled group. This is a pathetic attempt to show some relevance.”
New appeal as probe launched into 1975 murder of bus inspector
JONATHAN MCCAMBRIDGE, Belfast Telegraph, April 30th. 2026
FAMILY WANT TO FIND TRUTH ABOUT DAD'S DEATH, SAYS LEGACY AGENCY
A new appeal for information has been made about the shooting of a bus inspector in Belfast more than half a century ago.
The Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR), is investigating the death of Alex Millar at work in May 1975.
Mr Millar was a 54-year-old Citybus inspector and father of four.
No one ever claimed the killing.
ICRIR assistant commissioner, Amanda Logan said Mr Millar's family had requested an investigation “to find the truth about his death”.
She said: “Alex was killed more 50 years ago and for all this time the Millar family have carried the pain of their loss.
“In many of our investigations the smallest details have proven vitally important.
“There may be people who witnessed the events of that day and have lived with their memories for over half a century.
“If you saw or heard anything that relates to Alex's death, I encourage you to come forward to the Commission and share what you know.”
At approximately 2.40pm on Friday, May 2, 1975, Mr Millar was working in the Timekeepers' office at the former Ardoyne Citybus depot at the junction of Cranbrook Avenue and Ardoyne Road.
Two gunmen entered the bus depot and shot him several times.
Possible link to another shooting
After the attack, the gunmen were seen entering a waiting blue vehicle on Cranbrook Avenue.
Mr Millar was critically injured and later died at the Royal Victoria Hospital.
On the same evening an 18-year-old man was shot at Alliance Avenue and was seriously injured but survived.
The ICRIR said this is believed to be linked to the shooting of Mr Millar earlier that day.
The Commission is also interested in the movements of a yellow Ford Cortina in Tyndale Grove in the weeks leading up to the incident.
Ms Logan said the Millar family, along with many others the ICRIR is working with, deserve answers.
She said: “In many cases, families who lost loved ones during the Troubles/Conflict are still waiting for the truth.
“The Commission's job is to correct that and this appeal for information is critical to providing answers for Alex's family.”
The witness appeal will involve distributing posters and an organised leaflet drop in the areas relating to the investigation.
The ICRIR was established by the previous government's Legacy Act to investigate outstanding Troubles deaths.
The Labour Government's new Legacy Bill, agreed as part of a joint framework with the Irish Government, will put in place a reformed Legacy Commission with enhanced powers.
ICRIR Engagement Team Update on the fatal shooting of Alex Millar
In today’s stakeholder update, we are sharing details of our latest witness appeal, providing an update on the passage of the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill and highlighting some new videos from our Non-Executive Commissioners. We have also published a Guide to the Commission and its services, which you can read here A guide to the Commission and its services - Independent Commission for Reconciliation & Information Recovery
Witness Appeal – For family of Alex Millar
The Commission is issuing an appeal for information as part of the investigation into the death of Alex Millar. Alex was a 54-year-old Citybus Inspector and father of four.
At approximately 2.40pm on Friday 2 May 1975, Alex was working in the Timekeepers’ office at the former Ardoyne Citybus depot at the junction of Cranbrook Avenue and Ardoyne Road. Two gunmen entered the bus depot and shot Alex several times. The gunmen were seen entering a waiting blue vehicle on Cranbrook Avenue. Alex was critically injured and later died at the Royal Victoria Hospital.
On the evening of Friday 2 May 1975 an 18-year-old man was shot at Alliance Avenue and seriously injured but survived. This is believed to be linked to the shooting of Alex earlier that day.
We are also interested in the movements of a yellow Ford Cortina in Tyndale Grove in the weeks leading up to the incident.
The Commission is appealing to anyone with information, no matter how small, to come forward to assist the investigation and provide answers to Alex’s family.
Email: witnessappeals@icrir.independent-inquiry.uk
Telephone: 02890 362093
All information will be treated in the strictest confidence.
Passage of the Northern Ireland Troubles Bill
The Northern Ireland Troubles Bill continues its passage through the House of Commons. On 22 April 2026, the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Hilary Benn, via a Written Ministerial Statement, stated that the Bill will continue to be debated and scrutinised in the next session of Parliament. He informed the House of Commons that due to the number of amendments already tabled by MPs to the Bill and the desire for sufficient time for scrutiny.
Our Non-Executive Commissioners
Our Non-Executive Commissioners are Lindsay Todd, Kathleen Russ, Brice Dickson and Rogelio Alonso. Their role is to provide scrutiny, challenge and support to the Commission’s Board, assisting the Board with informed decision-making. The Non-Executive Commissioners provide the Board with a wide range of skills, experience and perspectives, including relevant international experience. They bring important scrutiny, challenge and support to the Board to assist in rounded and informed decision-making providing a broad and diverse range of skills, experience and perspectives, including relevant international experience. They help set the strategy, challenge the Executive’s performance and play a role explaining the work of the Commission to the public.
You can keep up-to-datewith the Commission by signing up to our newsletter by emailing us at engagementteam@icrir.independent-inquiry.uk
Failure to prosecute RUC officers on charges linked to killing of IRA man lawful
ALAN ERWIN, Irish News, Irish Press, April 30th, 2026
CASE HINGED ON PERJURY ALLEGATIONS AT INQUEST INTO DEATH OF PIRA VOLUNTEER
A DECISION not to prosecute two police officers in connection with the killing of an IRA man was lawful, the High Court ruled yesterday.
Senior judges rejected claims the pair should have faced criminal charges of committing perjury at the inquest into the death of Pearse Jordan.
Dismissing a challenge mounted by the dead man’s mother, Lady Chief Justice Dame Siobhan Keegan held: “The decision disclosed no error of fact or law nor any breach of policy.”
Pearse Jordan (22) was shot dead by an RUC officer as he ran from a stolen car stopped on the Falls Road in west Belfast in November 1992.
His death was one of several high-profile cases involving allegations that police were involved in shoot-to-kill incidents.
In 2016 an inquest was unable to reach a concluded view about whether the use of lethal force was justified.
But the coroner found that two former members of the RUC, Officers M and Q, had given untruthful evidence.
Amid suspicions that one or both of them edited the original logbook on the day of the shooting, he concluded they may have committed perjury or tried to pervert the course of justice.
The coroner went on to report both officers to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
In 2024, following previous legal action, the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) decided not to prosecute M and Q after concluding there was insufficient available evidence for a reasonable prospect of obtaining a conviction on any offence.
Teresa Jordan, the IRA man’s mother, sought a judicial review in a bid to have that determination quashed.
She contended the decision violated Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights and amounted to a breach of the PPS code for prosecutors.
In what was described as a circumstantial case against the officers, Mrs Jordan’s lawyers claimed there is a cumulative body of evidence from multiple credible sources to support the case for prosecutions.
They questioned how the PPS could safely reach any decision about the plausibility of accounts given by M and Q without them being formally interviewed under caution.
No missing log
However, the court identified an error in the coroner recording that some of the police logs were missing when the PPS had actually examined all of the relevant material.
Dame Siobhan said the core question centred on whether there were any entries which had been deleted or destroyed, amounting to potential criminal behaviour associated with M or Q.
She found that relevant military surveillance logs and evidence has now been fully considered by the prosecuting authority.
“No arguable case with a reasonable prospect of success could be sustained that the PPS had left material considerations out of account, breached policy or failed in the duty of inquiry,” the Lady Chief Justice stated.
Rejecting further claims that the no prosecution decision was irrational, she highlighted how it involved an analysis of evidence relating to logging of police actions on the day in question.
“Critically, that is in a context where intelligence was centrally involved in an effort to thwart a terrorist attack,” Dame Siobhan said.
“It is therefore a rational view that relevant intelligence information was communicated to police but that this was not logged in the usual way, may have been by way of a handwritten action sheet and was not received by a radio transmission.
“A rational and lawful judgement has been made by the PPS, bearing in mind that any prosecution must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.”
The ruling ends legal attempts to have the two officers face criminal proceedings.
Mrs Jordan’s solicitor, Fearghal Shiels of Madden & Finucane, said outside court: “It is very disappointing for Teresa and the family that having shot Pearse Jordan, unarmed, in the back, and then having lied on oath to a court, no member of the RUC HMSU will be held accountable for his death.”
Springhill shootings inquest to deliver verdict today
CONOR MACUAULEY, RTE, Northern Correspondent, RTE, April 30th, 2026
The victims were a 13-year-old girl, two other teenagers, a father of six and a Catholic priest
The families of five people shot dead by British soldiers in Belfast more than 50 years ago will gather later to hear the findings of an inquest into their deaths.
The victims were a 13-year-old girl, two other teenagers, a father of six and a Catholic priest
The killings of 16-year-old John Dougal, David McCafferty, 15, Margaret Gargan, 13, Paddy Butler, 38, and Fr Noel Fitzpatrick, 42, became known as the Springhill/Westrock Massacre.
Two other people were injured.
They were fired on by members of the 1 Kings Regiment stationed in a timber yard close to Ballymurphy in west Belfast on 9 July 1972.
The incident occurred on the same day an IRA ceasefire broke down and there had been gunbattles with the British army in another area of the city.
An inquest was first carried out in 1973, which reported an open verdict.
A fresh one was ordered by Northern Ireland's Attorney General and commenced in 2023, hearing 70 days of evidence.
It concluded just before such Troubles inquests were guillotined by the British government's controversial legacy legislation.
It was the last Troubles-related legacy inquest to conclude before the deadline.
Hope and Aspiration
The families said they await the coroner's verdict with both hope and apprehension
The families of the dead said their loved ones had been unarmed civilians and the firing had been unjustified.
The soldiers said they were responding to a perceived threat from gunmen and the force had been proportionate.
Witnesses said some of those shot had been hit as they tried to reach people who had been injured.
The inquest findings will be delivered by a coroner in Belfast this morning.
In a statement on behalf of the Buter, Gargan, Dougal and McCafferty families, relatives said they hope there will be answers to their many remaining questions.
"The deaths of our loved ones that occurred at Springhill and Westrock on 9 July 1972 have cost a long shadow over our lives.
"Each of those who died was an individual - deeply loved and still deeply missed.
"For us this is not history; it is something we have lived with every day," they said.
They said that for five decades, they believed that the original investigations had failed to establish the truth.
They said they await the coroner's verdict with both hope and apprehension.
"Hope that the findings will reflect the full circumstances of what happened and apprehension because of the weight this moment carries for all our families," the statement added.
Governments have made progress on legacy, but we need to keep up the pace
HELEN McENTEE, Belfast Telegraph, April 30th, 2026
There is a tendency in politics to focus on what isn't working. That is understandable. Most of us get involved in politics to improve things, which means first identifying the problems.
However, sometimes, it is worth pausing to recall what is working, even if imperfectly. Recent years have seen real improvements in east-west and north-south relationships, as well as those within Northern Ireland.
We shouldn't take that progress for granted. At a time when division and conflict are increasing globally, it's important that relationships on this island, and between these islands, are moving in the right direction.
The reset in relations between the Irish and UK Governments in September 2024 turned the page on some difficult years. Central to that reset was the issue of legacy. The UK's 2023 Legacy Act was not, and is not, fit for purpose.
It has never enjoyed the confidence of the vast majority of those most affected by the Troubles, and it is incompatible with the ECHR.
Based on the current UK Government's commitment to repeal and replace the Act — and as co-guarantors of the Good Friday Agreement — both governments worked closely for more than a year to finalise a Joint Framework on Legacy, announced in Hillsborough in September 2025 by Tánaiste Simon Harris and Secretary of State Hilary Benn.
The Framework contains clear commitments by both governments for a wholesale reform of legacy structures, with the aim of maximising cross-border cooperation to deliver truth and accountability for families. The focus now has to be on delivery, by both governments. That is the message I consistently hear from victims and survivors, and it is one I fully share.
The Irish Government is moving at pace to deliver our commitments. We have established a dedicated unit in An Garda Síochána, the Troubles legacy liaison unit, to be a central point of contact and coordination for victims and families.
The unit's resources will ramp up as its responsibilities increase, in particular when the Legacy Commission in Northern Ireland is up and running, and our cross-border cooperation can intensify.
Legacy of Troubles Bill goes to Cabinet ‘shortly’
We also plan to bring the general scheme of our legislation, the Legacy of the Troubles Bill, to Cabinet shortly for approval.
This is the first step in our legislative process. Once approved by Cabinet, we will publish the scheme in full. This will allow everyone to understand, at an early stage, the purpose of the legislation. And that purpose is very simple — to allow for the fullest possible cooperation with a fundamentally reformed Legacy Commission in Northern Ireland.
Normally, once the general scheme is published and reviewed, we would quickly draft the formal Bill, and submit it for parliamentary debate and approval.
As this Bill is designed to ensure cooperation with the reformed Legacy Commission in Northern Ireland, we can only take that step once we know what the legally constituted mandate and functions of the Commission will be. That means having to wait for the UK legislation to be enacted by Westminster.
The sooner that is done, the sooner both governments can move ahead and begin our co-operation.
We believe that the UK Troubles Bill as currently drafted provides a strong basis to create a fundamentally reformed Legacy Commission that can get answers for families.
We were encouraged by the rapid progress made by the UK Government following the publication of the Joint Framework last September. A month after the Framework was announced, Secretary of State Benn laid the new Troubles Bill before Westminster. A month later, it had its second reading in the House.
The next step is the committee stage, where amendments can be brought and debated. However, over five months after the second reading of the Bill, we still await confirmation of a date for committee stage.
While I welcome the commitment the Secretary of State gave this week that the Troubles Bill will return to the House early in the next parliamentary session, I have to be honest in saying that I am disappointed that it has not been possible to progress the Bill to committee stage in the current parliamentary session.
Both governments have to keep up the pace. We need a legacy system for purpose, that unlocks full reciprocal cooperation; south to north, and north to south.
Reciprocity
That reciprocity matters. Many Troubles cases have cross-border elements. Families need a comprehensive and coordinated system that reflects that reality. For crimes committed in our jurisdiction, ECHR-compliant legacy investigations remain open. That will continue.
The Irish Government is also stepping up cooperation in cases that fall outside the Joint Framework, in particular the Omagh Inquiry. We've signed a memorandum of understanding with the inquiry to enable the disclosure of Irish State materials. That disclosure is active and ongoing.
Legislation to allow the taking of oral evidence from witnesses in our jurisdiction for the purposes of the Inquiry is progressing through the Oireachtas.
Our clear intention is to have it enacted before the inquiry's hearings begin in September.
All of this builds on our ongoing work on legacy — the legislative and practical solutions we have put in place since 2015 to facilitate south-to-north co-operation in all legacy inquests in Northern Ireland, as well as measures to cooperate with Operation Kenova, Operation Denton and the Northern Ireland Victims' Payment Board.
In the last year alone, we extradited two people to Northern Ireland for Troubles-related offences and ordered two further extraditions, which remain before the courts.
The Joint Framework is the route to truth and accountability for families and victims, from all communities and all sides of the conflict.
Seven months ago, both governments committed faithfully to implement it in full. Both governments must now deliver.
Helen McEntee is the Irish Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade
MLA in query over amount of rates SF-linked business pays
ANDREW MADDEN, Belfast Telegraph, April 30th, 2026
Fresh questions are being raised about the rates paid by a Sinn Féin-linked bookshop that has almost £230,000 in assets, but never seems to have actually traded or had a physical presence.
Records for Green Cross (Art and Bookshop) Limited available via Companies House show it was incorporated more than 20 years ago — but there is no evidence of it doing any business.
Its directors were listed as Sinn Féin's former finance director Sinead Walsh and former IRA prisoner Padraic Wilson.
Walsh was previously a director of the now-defunct Research Services Ireland along with Seamus Drumm.
It made headlines in 2014 when it emerged it was paid £700,000 by 36 Sinn Féin MLAs through Stormont expenses over a decade.
A BBC investigation found no evidence of any research the company carried out. The party denied any wrongdoing.
Green Cross's latest accounts, as of September 30, 2025, list assets as £226,361, down from £243,474 the previous year.
Nothing off the books
However, the financial statements show no evidence of the business actually operating.
The company's listed address is not that of a bookshop, but an accountant's office in Belfast.
DUP MLA Phillip Brett raised questions about Green Cross in the Assembly on Tuesday.
He had tabled a written Assembly question for Sinn Féin Finance Minister John O'Dowd on March 3 asking him when the last rates payment was received from Green Cross.
He added: “Given there is one individual involved with this company who was previously a director in the infamous Research Services Ireland Ltd, people will undoubtedly have significant questions about 'Green Cross Limited'.
“There is a significant disconnect between assets and apparent activity in relation to this company.
“It has six-figure assets yet little evidence of trading. The public would undoubtedly like answers about its trading history, how it accumulated those assets and more obviously, if anyone has ever actually purchased a book from it.
“Having failed to answer questions from the media about this company before, Sinn Féin cannot continue to be silent about these mysterious companies with links to their party.”
A spokesman for the Department of Finance said: “The department has responded to the Member's Assembly question outlining that Land & Property Services has no record of a rate account linked to Green Cross Art and Bookshop Limited.”
Sinn Féin said Green Cross Ltd “has no financial connections” to the party.
In February solicitor Padraig Ó Muirigh said Green Cross was a charitable company registered with HMRC, limited by guarantee and registered with Companies House.
“My client meets all legal requirements through its submissions to Companies House and to HMRC,” he added.
“Green Cross... has not been operating as a retail business since 2010, but the standard industrial classification (SIC) has erroneously not been updated. I am instructed by my clients that this will be rectified at the earliest possible opportunity.”
Queen’s gives a welcome look at what education should be
Irish News, Pro Fide et Patria
THERE is something quietly heartening – indeed, encouraging – about the enduring success of community learning, and nowhere is that more evident than in the continuing evolution of Queen’s University Belfast’s Open Learning Programme.
For 175 years, the university has extended its reach far beyond the lecture hall, bringing education directly into the heart of communities. In an age when higher education can often feel distant, exclusive, or prohibitively expensive, this long-standing commitment to openness stands as a reminder of what universities can and should be: institutions rooted in public service, curiosity, and shared progress.
What is particularly striking is not merely the longevity of this initiative, but its ability to adapt. From the early days of botany and chemistry classes in the 19th century to today’s eclectic mix of creative writing, environmental awareness, and even light-hearted historical exploration, the programme reflects the changing needs and interests of society. That responsiveness is no small achievement. It signals an institution that is listening and engaging with communities rather than speaking at them.
“ Education here is not just about acquiring knowledge; it is about connection. It is about people coming together, often from very different walks of life, and finding common ground in shared learning. Friendships are formed, confidence is rebuilt, and for many, a sense of purpose is rediscovered
At a time when social isolation is an increasingly recognised challenge, the wider benefits of such programmes cannot be overstated. Education here is not just about acquiring knowledge; it is about connection. It is about people coming together, often from very different walks of life, and finding common ground in shared learning. Friendships are formed, confidence is rebuilt, and for many, a sense of purpose is rediscovered.
That matters for retirees seeking companionship, for young parents navigating new routines, and for those who may feel marginalised or disconnected. In offering accessible, welcoming spaces, the programme helps to bridge gaps that extend far beyond education.
There is also something profoundly hopeful in the continued appetite for learning itself. In a fast-moving, often uncertain world, the willingness of individuals to invest time and modest financial cost in expanding their understanding speaks to a resilience of spirit. Whether it is grappling with climate change, exploring culture and identity, or simply indulging a curiosity about the natural world, participants are engaging with the very questions that shape our collective future.
Of course, no initiative is without its challenges, and cost will remain a consideration for some. Yet the relatively modest fees, coupled with concession rates, suggest a genuine effort to remain inclusive while sustaining the programme’s quality.
Perhaps most evocative of all is the sense of continuity. The idea that courses are once again being held in spaces used by learners over a century ago offers a powerful link between past and present. It is a reminder that the pursuit of knowledge is not a fleeting trend, but a tradition – one that binds generations together.
In celebrating the Open Learning Programme, we are celebrating more than education. We are celebrating community, connection, and the enduring belief that learning should be for everyone. And in today’s world, that is something truly worth applauding.
Accused 'wanted army to invade US and reclaim it for late Queen', court told
An American citizen accused of creating and lodging forged legal documents allegedly wanted to raise an army to invade and reclaim the United States for the late Queen Elizabeth, the High Court heard yesterday.
ALAN ERWIN, Belfast Telegraph, April 30th, 2026
Ryan Frost (36) was said to have disclosed his intentions during a previous appearance before a senior judge in Belfast.
Details emerged as he was granted bail on multiple charges of forgery, fraud by false representation and possessing articles for use in fraud.
Police arrested Frost after staff at the Royal Courts of Justice were alerted to the suspected deception in August last year.
The defendant, who is seeking asylum in Northern Ireland, had allegedly issued and lodged a number of bogus writs over a two-month period.
Mr Justice McAlinden confirmed Frost had also appeared before him in court as a personal litigant.
On one occasion he produced a seal, stating it gave him jurisdiction and required the judge to comply with his orders. During that hearing a close protection officer feared “a situation was unfolding” when Frost pulled the document from his jacket.
“It was an interesting experience,” the judge recalled.
Lone Star state of mind
Originally from San Antonio in Texas, the defendant had lodged a writ against a US-based lawyer over claims of being cheated out of proceeds from a family estate.
“Mr Frost volunteered the reason why he was entitled to the money and needed the money was to raise an army intended to invade the United States and reclaim the United States for Queen Elizabeth II,” the judge revealed.
“This was obviously after Queen Elizabeth had unfortunately died.”
He expressed surprise at being informed a psychiatric assessment has given Frost the all-clear. But with the accused insisting he does not require mental health services, prosecution counsel Charlene Dempsey stressed he cannot be compelled to seek help. “He presents as intelligent, with no clear evidence of thought disorder or psychosis,” she added.
Frost was previously granted bail, but then remanded back in custody amid claims that a further writ was served on Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia, in January.
Michael Boyd, defending, argued that his client behaved naively but has now experienced the consequences of spending months behind bars “as a literal stranger abroad”.
“There is not a gloss I can apply to the bizarre, wacky statements which have been made by Mr Frost,” the barrister added. “He has been dropped into an environment that was completely alien to him.”
Granting bail again, Mr Justice McAlinden acknowledged Frost has a right to process his asylum claim.
“The behaviour is bizarre (and) administratively chaotic, but he hasn't harmed anyone physically,” he pointed out.
The judge ordered Frost to live at an address in Newtownabbey, Co Antrim, banned him from possessing any seals or stamps, and further directed: “He is excluded from the environs of the Royal Courts of Justice.”
Youngsters are embracing Catholicmaxxing
No, I hadn't heard of it either until recently but, apparently, Catholicmaxxing is the latest addition to a cyberspace world where youngsters strive to become the 'best or most extreme' version of themselves.
JOHN LAVERTY, Belfast Telegraph, April 30th, 2026
'Extreme' Catholicism? Mmm, didn't that sort of thing get people into trouble, most notably here in Northern Ireland, in days gone by?
This latest addition to the 'maxxing' (odds-on favourite to be Word of the Year, surely) canon, however, seems to be a rather harmless social media fad whereby (often newly converted) kids display their rosary beads, medals, lace mantillas and other Catholic artefacts on TikTok.
That said, it coincides with Maga Catholics' growing disillusionment with the soi-disant Donald Trump, who swept to power on the back of 20 million of their votes.
Since then, however, the deranged US president has gone somewhat anti-Maga by starting a war 7,000 miles away, not to mention lying about the American-born Pope by claiming the pacifist pontiff supports Iran's nuclear programme.
Add to that the AI image Trump posted of himself as a Jesus-like figure, which infuriated Christians throughout the world.
It's Maga Catholics, however, who are one of the largest swing voting groups, while the three highest-profile ones in the White House just happen to be Trump's wife, vice president and press secretary. Catholicmaxxing indeed.
Yet, with regard to devotion to their faith, none of that trio can claim to be impeccable.
Slovenian Catholic marries Big Orange Man
Melania Trump is no stranger to displaying the rosary that symbolises her strict Slovenian Catholic upbringing, not least during her wedding to the Big Orange Man in an Episcopalian church 21 years ago, and when she had her beads blessed by the late Pope Francis in Rome in 2017.
She is, however, pro-choice — a rather un-Catholic stance — when it comes to the constitutional abortion rights the US Supreme Court (which has a 67% Catholic membership) controversially introduced four years ago.
Meanwhile, Veep JD Vance — the highest-ranking Catholic in the administration — supported Trump's attack on Pope Leo, adding that the leader of the world's 1.4 billion RCs should “be careful when he talks about matters of theology,” which is akin to suggesting that Sir Alex Ferguson should be careful when talking about matters of football.
Down the corridor from Vance in the West Wing resides the 28-year-old, Rome-educated Karoline Leavitt, who regularly wears a silver cross necklace and, unlike Melania, is pro-life.
The youngest-ever Pennsylvania Avenue press secretary, however, also railed against Leo XIV, and comes across as more devoted to her lord and master in the Oval Office than any celestial body.
Holy warrior
These days, the closest theological ally of ex-Presbyterian but now nondenominational Trump is secretary of defence Pete Hegseth, a member of an obscure, deeply Calvinist society who has persisted in framing the war against Iran as divinely sanctioned.
The twice-divorced former Fox News presenter is now raising seven children with his third wife after seeing the light and converting to Christianity in 2018.
Like Trump, however, his knowledge of the Bible appears to be limited — exemplified recently when, during a Pentagon worship service, he quoted almost word-for-word the legendary monologue used by Samuel L Jackson's hitman character in Quentin Tarantino's cult classic Pulp Fiction, seemingly believing it to be an exact quote from the Good Book.
Unfortunately for 45-year-old Hegseth's many young admirers on TikTok, there doesn't appear to be a Protestant antidote to Catholicmaxxing.
No surprise there, as that side of Christianity doesn't come with the idolatry synonymous with followers of the Church of Rome.
People of my vintage will recall how prevalent this was during the early stages of the Troubles, when the Catholic/republican side identified with crosses and 'miraculous' Marian medals, tricolour and shamrock tattoos.
They were subsequently accused of 'worshipping' the Virgin Mary, numerous saints and other beings and objects, with such acts regarded as more about superstition and paganism than Christianity.
PULMAXXING
Not to be outdone on the Taigs-and-Prods' whirlpool of conflict whataboutery, loyalists (PULmaxxers?) sported Ulster Banner necklaces and red, white and blue body art while both 'sides' had (and indeed still have) murals, flegs and painted pavements marking their territories.
These were the days before football replica shirts became mass produced in the 1980s, significantly boosting the coffers of both Rangers and Celtic while making religious and political demarcation more obvious but significantly less permanent.
As the young son of devoted Catholic but non-sectarian, non-political parents who, like many others back then, fretted about obvious identification in a violent society, I was compelled to have my obligatory 'miraculous medal' safety-pinned to the side of my underpants.
“Just in case there's an accident,” my late mum would say. I never really got to the bottom, so to speak, of what that meant, but I'm pretty sure it's the polar opposite of Catholicmaxxing.
'I cannot stand injustice or people who want to oppress others'
IN OUR MEANING OF LIFE SERIES, THE SDLP COUNCILLOR, WHO MADE HISTORY WHEN SHE BECAME NI'S FIRST BLACK MAYOR, TALKS TO ÁINE TONER ABOUT GROWING UP IN KENYA, MISINFORMATION, AND WHY THE FUTURE WORRIES HER
Belfast Telegraph, April 30th, 2026
Injustice: it's a word that's at the heart of Lilian Seenoi-Barr's efforts to serve her community.
The former mayor of Derry City and Strabane Council — she made history as the first black mayor in Northern Ireland — arrived here as a refugee from Kenya 16 years ago and has spent her working life building on inclusivity and community unification.
We suggest to her that there's a lot of bad in the world, but there's also a lot of good.
“You don't see that now. You don't see that in this world because we are surrounded by hate,” says Lilian, who is also the founder and CEO of The North West Migrants Forum.
“We are surrounded by extremely challenging times for everyone. Social media has become a monster, and people, unfortunately, are getting all their information from social media — or misinformation — and are absorbing it. So it's really difficult to see good people and good things that are happening.
“But they are every day. There are unsung heroes out there who are doing some incredible work, supporting people who are in a difficult situation.
“Sometimes it's just about guidance. What do I need to do? There are people who will give their time and resources. We don't see that a lot because it's not being highlighted. Every day I come across some amazing stories of ordinary people helping other ordinary people — making such a big impact.”
The conversation moves about being compassionate. It reminds Lilian of a recent chat where someone asked about her drive.
“A lot of people say, 'my passion, my passion'. I said, you will not be able to have passion towards something if you're not a compassionate person, and if you're not empathetic to the situations of people.”
Virtues of a Big Family
Lilian, who has represented the Foyleside electoral area since 2021, is from a “very big family”. She has 14 siblings and learned so many transferable skills while growing up.
“You learn about negotiating. You learn about communicating. You learn about fighting for your space and your voice,” she explains.
“I am number 11 in a family of 14. I come from a family that cares so much about each other. I don't miss my family so much because I'm always in contact with them. They are always here. They come and visit and we support each other.
“We absolutely believe in having a conversation. We strongly believe in supporting one another.
“Every person in my family is a philanthropist. We really believe that we cannot be where we are if people do not wrap their arms around us.
“We grew up in a very big village… we are the real children of the village where the village brings up a child. Those kids were brought up because of our Maasai culture.
“It's not just your dad and mum who punishes you if you do something wrong. It's whoever who witnesses it. We were always brought up with the values of respect and trusting your instincts.”
She and her siblings are '”very different”, each with different skills, passions and likes.
“We had to know how to accommodate one another with all those differences. Even though we were born and brought up by one dad, every one of us took our own path.
“We have our own personalities. I have brothers and sisters who are not extroverts like me, they're introverts, and we balance each other out.
