Moofs and Pongos. That telephone number is familiar.... please log in to view this image Scorch damage caused by the petrol bomb in Bryson Street.[/CENTER] Girl hurt in Short Strand petrol bomb attack A young girl has been hurt after a petrol bomb attack in east Belfast. The four-year-old suffered minor injuries from the blast, said a Sinn Fein councillor. She was left "shaken and frightened by the experience" said Niall à Donnghaile. Children were playing in Bryson Street in the nationalist Short Strand area when the device was believed to have been thrown over a wall separating the area from a loyalist one. Mr à Donnghaile said: "There's no doubt that this could have been very, very serious. "This happened in broad daylight in the middle of a sunny afternoon when kids are coming home from school and out playing in the street." Tensions in the area are high after a petrol bomb was thrown from Short Strand into loyalist Cluan Place on Sunday 16 June. A 15-year-old male was subsequently arrested for arson. There have also been reports of stones being thrown between different areas. The police are investigating the latest petrol bomb attack and have appealed for anyone with information, or who may have witnessed the incident, to contact them on 0845 600 8000. They have also appealed for calm after a number of young people gathered at the interface on Monday night. Parents have been asked to ensure that they know the whereabouts of their children to ensure that they do not get drawn into any violence or anti-social behaviour at interfaces.
I apologise, because it is the point scoring thread, but whenever I hear a 'nationalist girl is hurt' followed by some Sinn Fein politician getting his word in I just turn off. Do you not think it may actually help prevent further situations like this if it wasn't Sinn Fein doing the condemnation on the other side, half legitimising the effort of attacking a 4 year old - since it is the more extreme end of nationalism that seems to reply to stupid actions, the stupid people who commit these actions then achieve their aim of getting a response? I've heard the story so many times, tomorrow it will be Gregory Campbell accusing someone in Derry of being sectarian towards an Orange coloured hedgehog. It is just so mind numbingly predictable to see the same old names and organisations falling in line to condemn bad things that have happened to people they are loosely aligned to.
I posted it because it was the point scoring thread.... Not to score actual points ( as you recognise). Truth be told, I don't think it is a reaction the perpetrators are looking for, I think it is credence amongst their own. In this case (allegedly) a 15 year old boy of one side of a divide looking for status with other 15 year old boys. Niall is from the area and works tirelessly for the area. I would think it curious if he didn't speak out. I think it odd that this would not be universally condemned and widely reported. If we want a "normal" society then these things must be highlighted and addresssed. Meanwhile, every cop in Alster is standing on a motorway to make sure the great and the good don't get a glimpse of what the place is really like.
I know I know, I shouldn't be getting serious on the point scoring thread. It is just so tedious: 'Headline: Person sectarianly attacked' ME: oh I wonder what Religion this person was? 'Story: A 1 year old Catholic baby was bottled in the head.' ME: Oh dear, I wonder what Sinn Fein have to say on the matter? 'Story: Sinn Fein had this to say on the matter "it was prods!"' ME: oh I never seen that coming. Interchange 'Catholic' for 'Protestant' and 'Sinn Fein' for 'DUP' and you've pretty much got the structure for half the news stories in Northern Ireland.
Prods are worserer.... Fact. I know what you are saying. And the MedThreads are evidence of half the story.... This thread maybe the other half. There does need to be dissenting voices from some place.
Yes, in a manner of speaking. A puritan really. He supported the dissenters. So strictly speaking... Yes
As I understand it then, from Ireland's viewpoint, his was at least one 'dissenting voice' that wasn't needed in Ireland?
So should one be careful what one thinks is needed in respect of a 'dissenting voice' then ... not that I'm likening Mick to Cromwell you understand?
Well I think a dissenting voice is ok, it is when that dissenting turns to ethnic cleansing then we have to start to worry.
