Train departure delayed
Back in May Shaun Woodward warned loyalists that the decommissioning train was leaving the station. Some of my colleagues were left with the distinct impression that this meant the law which allows paramilitaries to hand over or destroy guns without risking prosecution would not be renewed when its term expires next February.
But today the SoS has announced the legislation will be renewed for another year. The NIO statement is headlined "Woodward calls time on decommissioning legislation" and refers to the roll over as a "final extension to February 2010".
End result, the loyalists have 12 more months to get on board.
I'm 
© MMIX~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~08~RS~)
Comments
Sign in or register to comment.
I wonder will the unionist parties do anything to try to decommission the loyalist paramilitaries during these twelve months?
Complain about this comment
Mark
MOTHER MACREE IS TO BLAME FOR LOYALIST FAILURE TO DECOMMISSION
No surprise that slimeball Shaun Woodward is reneging on his earlier promises about issuing a red card to Loyalists about their failure to decommission.
But really the blame lies with Mother Macree, aka President Mary McAleese, who is using her influence with the British establishment to keep the UDA on board. After all, aren't she and Jackie McDonald the best of pals', nudge nudge, wink wink.
Perhaps Mrs McAleese should remember that old dictum: "Show me your friends and I'll tell ya who ya are."
Susie
Carryduff
Complain about this comment
Patrick78
Excellent Question. There was so much pressure put on the nationalist communities i.e. IRA to hand over weapons. The loyalists won’t hand it over and no unionist politician will say anything. Margaret Ritchie tried to force them but it back fired as she didn’t know what to do. If the court case goes against will she resign or will she be forced out? One way or other her political career is over.
Complain about this comment
Mark
Some of your colleagues may have been left with the distinct impression that Feb 2009 was the deadline - but not Vincent Kearney in his report on May 22, put online just a few hours after the one you link to in your post:
"The BBC's Home Affairs Correspondent Vincent Kearney said he understood that 2009 would be the last time it is renewed, unless the UVF and UDA begin to decommission during that time."
There was also a report in the Tele saying the same, both available on Nuzhound, May 23. Woodward was merely confirming what he'd already said in May, there was nothing actually new or surprising in this story.
To be fair, he probably wanted to be seen as tough in May, and that's harder to do if you're saying that next is the final, final, honest-to-god, no REALLY it is, deadline. No-one takes deadlines seriously any more, as we all know now.
Which is why he underplayed the actual deadline, and some in the BBC fell for it.(...like the spin over the MLAs' salaries story too!)
Complain about this comment
Mark:
What is the difference between the train departure or it is not delay...
Complain about this comment
View these comments in RSS