Britannia waives the rules – again

Internment was introduced 52 years ago next month on 9 August 1971. In the early hours of that morning 342 men and boys from nationalist homes across the North were dragged from their homes. Many were badly beaten and forced to run a gauntlet of battle wielding British soldiers. 14 – The Hooded Men - were subjected to days of sustained torture. It was a traumatic moment for society in the North. In Ballymurphy ten local people were shot to death by the British Army. Another man died of a heart attack when accosted by them. 

The Twelfth

By the time you get to read this The Twelfth will be over. Peacefully we all hope. It is clearly a big day out for those who march to celebrate the Battle of the Boyne and others who line the routes to support them.  The vast majority of those involved, especially in rural areas, clearly see The Twelfth as a family day out. They love the pageantry, the banners, flags and street arches. They also love the marching bands, the uniforms, the fifes and drums, bagpipes and flutes. I like those musical instruments also. So there are issues we have in common.