http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/markdevenport/2009/06/a_fragile_flower.html en-gb 30 Tue 29 Dec 2009 17:47:00 GMT+1 A feed of user comments from the page found at http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/markdevenport/2009/06/a_fragile_flower.html http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/markdevenport/2009/06/a_fragile_flower.html?page=18#comment11 The victim definition is another UUP mess...The surviving physically and psychologically injured of violent, conflict related incidents and those close relatives or partners who care for them, along with those close relatives or partners who mourn their dead. The Ulster Unionist Junior Minister in the OFMDFM stated in the foreword of the Victims Strategy Reshape Rebuild Achieve that; The publication of this document is a key step forward in that process and we are delighted to endorse its content. link of the original document with the first occasion this definition was used follows. copy and paste to browser.[Unsuitable/Broken URL removed by Moderator] Wed 01 Jul 2009 21:10:21 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/markdevenport/2009/06/a_fragile_flower.html?page=16#comment10 susie for once we agree on something.Although not all political parties agreed to the decomissioning process.The DUP opposed the GFA the IICD but lost that agrument in 1998. Now that the process is here though, better to have the guns of the street, than hidden around the place, especially given the amateur nature of loyalist paramilitaries. Couldn't organise a booze up in a pub.That said at least the loyalists have caught on that decomissioning is worth something. Look at the concessions the republicans got out of the govt and UUP in return for their attempts at it. They have finally caught on that the 'war' is over and want improvements in the community.sickening that they can try and exchange guns for money, but blame everyone who voted yes! Wed 01 Jul 2009 21:02:35 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/markdevenport/2009/06/a_fragile_flower.html?page=15#comment9 VICTIMS FORUM..After the ruling by Mr Justice Gillen, one member of the Victims Commission, Mr Mike Nesbitt commented on BBC television that the Commission can now get on with distributing the money. How can this go ahead without the issue of a definition of a victim being sorted out by the yet to be established Victims and Survivors Forum? Paragraph 24 of the Outline Draft Strategic approach for Victims and Survivors Consultation paper of August 2008 clearly states: "The Forum will also have the role of examining the issues surrounding the definition of "victim" and to make recommendations"Pandora Wed 01 Jul 2009 20:37:30 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/markdevenport/2009/06/a_fragile_flower.html?page=13#comment8 'POSITIVE DISCRIMINATION AND CONFLICT OF INTEREST'In his ruling in favour of OFMDFM, is Mr Justice Gillen saying that behind closed doors, Ministers of the Crown can reach an agreement in making public appointments, set aside the law on discrimination of employment: that the Ministerial Code has no bearing in legal matters of this nature?Surely in these appointments there is a conflict of interest in that two members of the Victims Commission, Bertha McDougall OBE and Patricia MacBride, are family members of "victims".Pandora Wed 01 Jul 2009 19:54:16 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/markdevenport/2009/06/a_fragile_flower.html?page=11#comment7 Susie,You said - "In today's Ulster, the abnormal is the norm; the lie is the truth; the criminal is the victim and our political masters play fast & loose with the justice system."How true.Stormontspy Wed 01 Jul 2009 18:49:53 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/markdevenport/2009/06/a_fragile_flower.html?page=10#comment6 MarkI'm off-piste again but I simply couldn't let last Saturday's arms decommissioning circus go unremarked.LOYALIST ARMS DECOMMISSIONING MORE THEATRE THAN SUBSTANCEWhat happened on Saturday demonstrates a society in thrall to manifest madness. Killers. drug dealers, people traffickers, extortionists are today walking the streets of Shankill, East Belfast, Kilcooley, Larne & Carrickfergus and many other areas, sniggering up their sleeves at the ease with which they have been able to manipulate the political establishment. That charade shared many of the characteristics that were evident when the PIRA allegedly decommissioned. - The UK Government allowing criminal conspiracies free rein.- The political parties & relevant authorities colluding in the conspiracy to let killers go free.- Convicted criminals spouting gibberish about advancing the interests of working-class areas, blah-de-blah.- Dawn Purvis trying in vain to give respectability to the whole farce. As was Peter Robinson, taking time off from completing his expenses claims, and using that awful word 'historic' as part of his lauding of the murdering scum's alleged decommissioning.- Shaun Woodward conspiring with John de Chastelain in a ruse that will allow Loyalist Godfathers to enrich themselves as a quid pro quo for the pretence of decommissioning. In other words, a clatter of money will go straight into their pockets via a front of Government-assisted packages. Oh, and loyalists will have to confine criminal activities to their own areas. In today's Ulster, the abnormal is the norm; the lie is the truth; the criminal is the victim and our political masters play fast & loose with the justice system. And to crown it all, Jackie McDonald can look forward to another invitation to the K-Club from his friend Mary McAleese. SusieCarryduff Wed 01 Jul 2009 14:53:22 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/markdevenport/2009/06/a_fragile_flower.html?page=8#comment5 Summed up very well Mark, the judge has basically ruled that our "fragile flower" of an experiment in government is making the rules up as they go along. This may be fine as far as "the law" goes, but as a practical example of how government operates, this does not set a good precedent. Wed 01 Jul 2009 10:11:57 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/markdevenport/2009/06/a_fragile_flower.html?page=6#comment4 This post has been Removed Wed 01 Jul 2009 07:55:30 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/markdevenport/2009/06/a_fragile_flower.html?page=5#comment3 Mr Justice Gillen was right in his judgment. All he has done is recognise that when it comes to the law and politics there is a dividing line, that not everything that happens in our political system can be - or should be - open to full legal scrutiny. Despite the ineptitude of our current Executive, the reality is that the power sharing (or power carving) arrangement we all agreed to is more like a difficult marriage than a legal contract. It is about developing relationships and compromises, ones that can only happen in private.Never thought I would say that... And to surprise myself this morning for a second time, assuming Paisley Junior's whistleblower isn't a figment of his imagination, then he is right to refuse to name his source. However, he was wrong to issue what was a threat to John Larkin. This is one of the clearest examples of a politician threatening a member of the legal profession I think I have seen. When will the Paisley's realise they are here to represent us, not to further their own family dynasty and impose themselves on the electorate? And why aren't the media making more of this threat? Wed 01 Jul 2009 07:37:36 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/markdevenport/2009/06/a_fragile_flower.html?page=3#comment2 Mark,Why have the media not picked up on whats been happening at the tribunal. It makes interesting reading...and its available online.The amount of people caught out giving false information and the seniority of their rank....especially with reference to memos that supposedly didn't exist but then one witness produced a photocopy of them all depsite the sworn testimoney of govenors and senior police officers....big story I would have thought.I think if this puts of whistleblowers it has been a very sad day for our democracy. No one will blow stories like this open again if they feel they may be unmasked in the future...they should be allowed to remain unknown and politicans free to pass on their eye witness accounts without fear of retribution by the state...who it seems just want the story to go away. Tue 30 Jun 2009 22:24:28 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/markdevenport/2009/06/a_fragile_flower.html?page=1#comment1 Mark,I think the judgement made today against Paisley Jr is too severe and an absolute joke. Paisley Junior has stood by a constituent. How many MLA's would do it?Stormontspy Tue 30 Jun 2009 21:09:52 GMT+1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/markdevenport/2009/06/a_fragile_flower.html?page=0#comment0 This post has been Removed Tue 30 Jun 2009 17:51:52 GMT+1