Northern Ireland 2010

Happy New Year everyone!

Hope we are all enjoying the freezing weather (Keep a wee eye on your next door neighbour just in case they need a bit of help). Just a quick question will the Water Service and other government agencies be ready for the thaw? Floods next.

One story has really dominated the news agenda in Northern Ireland and it concerns the Robinson family. I am not going to say too much on this issue I will leave that to others and there are plenty. I would just ask people to reflect that whether or not you agree with DUP politics or like or dislike certain politicians please remember for a moment that there are families involved in this unfortunate situation who will have totally innocent members who will be suffering at this time. So whilst it may be fun for certain individuals to make fun for a moment please put yourself in the position of innocent members of the families and think how you would feel. That is all the comment I am going to make about the personal story.

On the political side there will be questions to answer about expenses, and who knew what when there will be a lot more on this to come over the next few weeks. The impact on Peter Robinson's ability to lead the DUP and stay as First Minister again is too early to say. I suspect that he will remain as First Minister and DUP leader until at least after the next general election.

Now back to Earth! There were two other stories one good and one bad. The UDA finally decommissioned and lets hope that this will lead to greater peace and stability in our society and mark an effort to deal with the issues of poverty in loyalist communities in a way that is good for all society.

Today we saw yet another entirely pointless attack on a police officer in Antrim when a bomb was placed in his car. Anyone could have been killed or injured by this! Please explain to me how this act and others like it leads to a United Ireland?!To put it in a way they might understand - Please learn some basic maths when you kill police or soldiers how many of the rest of them leave?....thats right only 100's more come in so the only people keeping the 'Crown Forces ' in Ireland are those making these attacks. Do something useful for Ireland and go away. People should be allowed to go to work and return home to their families without this.