Headline: Duffy at Ardoyne Hate-fest: Leading dissident makes 50-mile round trip to Belfast trouble spot
I wanted to give prominence to a story which has received little or no attention from the main media outlets in Northern Ireland, with the exception of the Irish News on Friday and Sunday Life.
Colin Duffy, prominent anti-Sinn Feiner (or dissident Republican as is the common term used), was present at the Ardoyne shops on Thursday last for the annual Orange festivities to mark the victory of King William of Orange at the Boyne in 1690.
The story has not been picked up anywhere else with the BBC and others focusing on the presence of a band outside St. Patrick’s Chapel on Donegall Street, while the parade took a regular break.
The attempted murder of Police officers has also received little or no attention. Compare this to two years ago when a breeze block was dropped on the head of a Policewoman by a ‘cultural tourist’ the media and elements have been slow to highlight these serious points.
In my view it is clear that Sinn Fein have deserted Ardoyne, having lost it to the opposing camp, and are instead focusing their energies elsewhere, places such as Carrick Hill. Although a good friend of mine told me he saw Gerry Kelly being interviewed on UTV on Thursday night where he portrayed a friendly interpretation of the Twelfth day. Perhaps just an attempt by Sinn Fein to reach out the hand of friendship to Unionism (?).
The lack of coverage on dissident activity this Twelfth may also be an indication of a shift in strategy, ignore rather than engage. One of two means in the fight against terrorism. I may post a more detailed analysis piece on anti-terror strategies at some point here.
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