Football riot leads to Justice breakthrough?
Every cloud has a silver lining, or so they say, so have the ugly disturbances before and after the Northern Ireland Poland match led to an, as yet unheralded, breakthrough in the unfinished business of devolving policing and justice?
I only ask because the SDLP has issued a statement which begins:
"SDLP Justice Minister Alban Maginness MLA has condemned racially motivated attacks on homes occupied by foreign nationals following Northern Ireland's World Cup qualifier with Poland."
The SDLP has always maintained the portfolio is rightfully theirs, but it's news to me that the DUP and Sinn Fein have signed off on this.
I'm 
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Mark,
This demonstrates what a mess the SDLP is in. Surely the DUP and Sinn Fein will realise that the mess Margaret Ritchie has brought her department is a good enough reason to throw and SDLP bid for this department. Also someone needs to explain the rules of Stormont to the SDLP. One of the rules is that MEP's are not allowed to be MLA's. It could possibly be that Alban has accepted defeat even before the first vote is cast!!
Stormontspy
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Stormontspy
The SDLP is no such mess !!
Under the rules that D'hondt the system that was used to appoint all other ministers in this Assembly - the SDLP are legitimately entitled to this position.
You have a cheek - may i just point out fiasco of the Education Minister and the £1 billon hole in the budget by our finance minister !
And before you say it SDLP did not vote for the budget and Minister Ritchie due to the Ministeral Code of office HAD TO VOTE with the Executive otherwise she would have been in breach of the code.
Alban is not a MEP yet but he will be the second nationalist MEP elected this year.
The SDLP are fighting back !
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Irishnot happy you're wasting your time! If Margaret Ritchie announced that she was going to give every pensioner in NI £10,000, Stormontspy would still crticise her. If he was anymore obsessed with her he'd be subjected to a restraining order!
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Indeed, Gareth! Stormontspy is a broken record. A selection of his last few posts suggests a pattern:
"With all the money saved Margaret Ritchie could now build as many social houses as she wants as that is her and the SDLP's answer to everything. Some night on the news we will see her on the roof of a new house putting the roof tiles on!!"
"Mark,
When will the court case that is Margaret Ritchie V CTI be back in court?"
"Mark,
I was looking today to see why Margaret Ritchie is in the USA. I found a DSD Press Release from last week to indicate that she was meeting the Governor or Maryland and others to see how to help those who are disadvantaged."
"Mark,
Would you or someone else explain to me why Margaret Ritchie is in America? What is her purpose for her trip?"
Looking up DSD press releases? Get a life man!
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Third attempt...
Maginness is right to condemn these recent xenophobic attacks.
While back home at Christmas my wife, who is from Kosovo, was racially, verbally abused by all walks of Northern Irish life. From kids on bikes to middle aged women from car windows. Though not surprisingly, only when out alone.
Clearly I can't mention what she was called even by using stars, hyphens, spaces and other methods of partially concealing these hateful verbal attacks. Fair enough. They were very wide ranging and included some attacks that were somewhat surreal in content. You'll just have to take my word on that.
These recent attacks on homes would suggest that dealing with the legacy of a hate based culture, will require more than devolution and more than an SDLP Justice Minister.
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Irishnothappy,
"The SDLP is fighting back"
dont make me laugh
fighting back by doing what exactly? Sure they proved years ago that they are a pointless political group and damaged themselves very badly when they refused to go into a voluntary coalition without SF/IRA.
Therefore making nationalists think what the heck they are voting for them for when they cannot do anything without holding SF/IRA's hand
They are trying to get away from that image now yes. But the damage has been done and will never be reversed
ps....why has alban only concentrated on the attacks on Polish homes?
of course those attacks are sickening, but so were the attacks carried out by polish nationals on our pubs, restaurants and Northern Ireland supporters!!
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