Sight-Seeing: Poverty, potatoes and peace – timely lessons from Ireland’s turbulent history?
HEATHER KEITH, a writer with Baptist World Aid Australia, looks at what experience has taught her about praying and hoping for peace in our conflicted world…
UK’s Northern Ireland amnesty law in breach of human rights, court rules
Belfast, Northern Ireland Reuters Belfast’s High Court ruled on Wednesday that a law introduced by Britain to offer conditional amnesties to ex-soldiers and militants involved in the region’s decades of violence is in breach of the European Convention of Human Rights. The law, introduced last year to offer immunity from prosecution for those who cooperate […]
Northern Ireland has “brighter future” with power sharing return, Sunak says
Belfast, Northern Ireland Reuters Northern Ireland faces a “brighter future” with the restoration of devolved government after two years of deadlock, Britain’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on a visit to Belfast on Sunday. Sinn Fein’s Michelle O’Neill was appointed first minister on Saturday, a first for an Irish nationalist in a historical milestone for […]
Northern Ireland to restore government after UK parliament approves deal
London/Belfast, UK Reuters Northern Ireland is set to elect a government on Saturday for the first time in two years after the British parliament agreed to revamp post-Brexit trade rules to break a political stalemate. In a historic first, Irish nationalists Sinn Fein are set to take the First Minister role after securing the most […]
After two years of deadlock, Northern Irish Government could return in days
Belfast, Northern Ireland Reuters Northern Irish and British politicians voiced optimism on Tuesday that the regional power-sharing government could be restored quickly following a breakthrough overnight, ending a near two-year crisis that threatened a key part of the 1998 peace deal. After months of negotiations, the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party said the party […]
Ireland launches legal case against UK over Northern Ireland amnesty law
London, UK Reuters The European Court Of Human Rights said on Friday that Ireland had launched a legal challenge against Britain over a new law that gives conditional amnesties to former soldiers and militants involved in decades of violence in Northern Ireland. The law has been condemned by victims’ families, human-rights groups and all major […]
British parliament approves disputed Northern Ireland amnesty bill
Belfast, Northern Ireland/London, UK Reuters Britain’s parliament on Wednesday gave final approval to a contentious new law that would amnesty ex-soldiers and militants involved in decades of violence in Northern Ireland on condition they cooperate fully with a new investigative body. Victims’ families, human rights organisations and all major political parties on the island of […]
Essay: The personal details of Northern Ireland’s main police force have been leaked – three reasons why that’s incredibly dangerous
KEVIN HEARTY, of Queens University Belfast, looks – in an article first published on The Conversation – at why this week’s data breach is so significant…
Essay: Belfast has more peace walls now than 25 years ago – removing them will be a complex challenge
In an article first published on The Conversation, TERESA GARCÍA ALCARAZ, of Queen’s University Belfast, says little progress has been made on removing the walls since a 2013 decision to have them all removed by this year…
Biden arrives in Northern Ireland to mark peace deal anniversary
Belfast, Northern Ireland Reuters US President Joe Biden was welcomed to Northern Ireland by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Tuesday as he flew in for a brief visit to mark the 25th anniversary of a peace deal that largely ended 30 years of bloodshed. Biden, who is fiercely proud of his Irish heritage, will […]