Jim Allister - A man of truth

The Traditional Unionist Party in Northern Ireland has a new star on the block. Jim Allister, a Lawyer and staunch defender of the Unionist community appears to be the only person, willing to tell the truth about the security threats facing law abiding citizens in Ulster these days.

Over 700 bombs planted this year alone by Republicans, yet we are constantly told, the war is over and the IRA are no longer.

http://www.tuv.org.uk/

SNP hypocrisy

As Remembrance Sunday approaches, the nation will remember those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice. Politicians from all mainstream parties will gather at Cenotaph's up and down the land and fall silent for the Millions of war dead.

This weekend First Minister Alex Salmond will join more than 1500 people who are expected to gather at Dundee's Caird Hall on Saturday as part of the 21st City of Dundee Festival of Remembrance.

Current and former armed forces personnel, Royal British Legion Scotland members, cadets and members of the public from across Tayside will honour the bravery of armed services personnel.

The festival, organised by the Angus and Perthshire Area of The Royal British Legion Scotland, features a traditional parade of standards and a muster of regular and reserve forces, cadets, representatives of the emergency services, the poppy sellers and war widows.

However 80 miles south and the SNP's more militant outlook to Britain and all things British will be played away from the cameras. One particular MSP by the name of Bill Kidd and another councillor for Grangemouth Alastair MacPherson, have thought it worthy the week before Remembrance Sunday, to attend a meeting with the Scottish Republican Socialist Movement.

What's the big deal I hear you say?

Let me explain a little more for those of you who missed the SRSM's comments on this web page, which have mysteriously vanished. http://www.srsm.net/srsm/jm2009.htm Below is the text which appeared last week.

Assemble 29th oct 1.30 pm, Boydstone Rd, across from Eastwood Cemetery, where John MacLean is buried. March to Shawbridge Arcade shopping Centre, John MacLean Cairn. Disperse to Carey's Bar Shawbridge St, in flats opposite. Speakers inside. Bill Kidd, SNP MSP. Brian Quail, SCND, Alastair MacPherson, Bannockburn SNP Councillor, Gerry Cairns, SRSM, chaired by Donald Anderson, SRSM. March led by a piper and Pollok and Thornliebank RFB.

Groups, Albannach. Adham MacLeod and friends. Admission Free. Raffle.

1 pm, Gerry Cairn at the cemetery performing the oration at MacLeans Grave

That's correct folks, Bill and Alastair were on the list along with the Pollok and Thornliebank Republican flute band.

http://www.bebo.com/Profile.jsp?MemberId=8168104424

Please take a moment to read the above Bebo page and it won't take you long to understand, that Kidd and MacPherson will be in attendance with people who openly support the murder of British soldiers and the death and destruction of British citizens.

Support for the Real IRA, INLA and every other Republican murder gang are openly on view. So If I can see this pro terrorist website's intentions and views and understand the people behind this band, why can't Bill Kidd?

Does Bill Kidd support this band? Has he investigated who will be be appearing beside him? The hypocrisy from the SNP is there for all to see. A First Minister who's in the spotlight and who says and does what the public want. Behind the scenes, people like Bill Kidd give support and appear alongside, the very people who openly support murdering our soldiers.

Write to Bill and let him know how you feel about his standing shoulder to shoulder with supporters and backers of Republican murder gangs http://www.snp.org/billkidd

Wear a Poppy with pride

We are just two weeks away from November 11th when at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month the nation will stop in silence to remember the sacrifice of both World Wars. Sadly we will also remember the continuing sacrifice in subsequent conflicts including the victims of terrorism in Northern Ireland.

This Remembrance Sunday many of us will recall the now all too familiar images of today’s heroes whose coffins draped in the Union Flag are flown home to RAF Lyneham. Over the past few years the people of Wooton Bassett have been joined by ever increasing numbers of ordinary folk as they stand shoulder to shoulder, still and quiet as another hero makes that last journey home. They stand alongside the standards of the Royal British Legion as they are lowered in silent tribute.

From the Great War to Afghanistan the Royal British Legion has always been there for those in need, whether it is fighting for a fairer pension, providing a financial grant or adapting an injured veteran’s home. It is at this time of year that the Poppy, the very symbol of Remembrance, is sold to support the work of the Royal British Legion. Please pause for a few moments and reflect on the words of the Kohima Epitaph – When You Go Home, Tell Them Of Us and Say, For Their Tomorrow We Gave Our Today. Wear your poppy with pride.

William Wallace - A Monster

Watch out for Salmond and his Nasty party hordes taking out a hit on Mel Gibson folks!

EDINBURGH, Scotland, Oct. 25 (UPI) -- Actor/director Mel Gibson said he has second thoughts about Scottish patriot William Wallace and now calls the man he portrayed in "Braveheart" a "monster."

In an interview with Scotland on Sunday, Gibson acknowledged Wallace was "romanticized a bit" in the movie.

"He was a monster. He always smelled of smoke; he was always burning people's villages down," Gibson said. "He was like what the Vikings called 'a berserker.' We shifted the balance because someone's got to be the good guy against the bad guy; that's the way stories are told."

Wallace did well by Gibson. He produced, directed and starred in the 1995 film, which won Oscars for Best Picture and Best Director.

Some historians suggest Gibson has swung too far the other way in his views on Wallace. Fiona Watson, author of a Wallace biography, said he undertook diplomatic missions to get support for Scotland.

BNP POLL

Now the furore has died down about Griffin's appearance on Question Time somewhat and life has returned to normal for the majority of people who have no say in these matters. Many people have been asking searching questions about the hypocrisy from the left on the issue, without really receiving any plausible answers.

Why no mass demo's when Adams or McGuiness appear on the programme? Do the left believe it's acceptable for people with blood on their hands to appear, but not someone with a crazed view of the world, but who's never harmed anyone personally?

Where were the demonstrators when Adams, a man believed to be responsible for countless deaths and injuries, appeared on the show?

Why is it acceptable for George Galloway, another with a crazed view of the world, to appear, but not Griffin?

SUV has an online poll at the bottom of this page to gauge opinions, please take a moment to share your thoughts.

Willie Frazer

VICTIMS' campaigner Willie Frazer has confirmed that he and other victims of republican violence will stage a silent protest at Londonderry's Guildhall against a "dinner dance" commemorating dead IRA members.

The forthcoming event has been organisation by a Republican group the Derry Volunteers Commemorative Committee, who are closely linked with Sinn Fein.

Mr Frazer, who spearheads the organisation Families Acting for Innocent Relatives (FAIR), told the News Letter victims of IRA violence in Londonderry who wish to register their disgust against the event have contacted him.

"There will be a number of us holding a protest outside. This event is glorifying the murder of loved ones and there is no call for them to be doing this," he said. "It is ironic that they will be inside celebrating whilst victims are outside in the freezing cold. We made a commitment years ago to challenge these people at every opportunity."

Unionist politicians in the Province have also condemned the event at the Guildhall, which is supposed to be used by all sections of the community in Ulster.

The DUP's Gregory Campbell also hit out at the event: "It will go down very badly in the Protestant community because people will see it as Sinn Fein still not completely disengaging from their bloody and gory past," he said.

Mr Frazer said: "We will not stand by and allow the murder of our loved ones to be glorified and victims will mount a dignified protest at the Guildhall on Saturday night. "We believe that it is important that such events do not go unchallenged, but knowing republicans' propensity to attack such protests, we will not be exposing the majority of our elderly membership to the ferocity of the attacks that may occur."

With regard to criticism of the event being held in the Guildhall, a facility owned by Derry City Council, a spokesperson for the organisation said: "The Guildhall is run on a commercial basis and is therefore available for general hire."

In a week when our country went into meltdown over Nazi Nick's appearance on Question Time and Salmond's ludicrous comparisons between Macaskill and Mahatma Ghandi. Isn't it refreshing and somewhat unusual to find a man of morals and decency in a country where terrorists are better thought of than the victims?

The Scottish Unionist Voice salutes a decent and honourable man by the name of Willie Frazer. http://victims.org.uk/s08zhk/index.php

Willie Frazer

A man who conducts himself with the utmost dignity at all times, despite the threats of violence and intimidation from the very people who now sit in shared power in Ulster.

Willie Frazer has confirmed that he and other victims of republican violence will stage a silent protest at Londonderry's Guildhall against a "dinner dance" commemorating dead IRA members.

A man who lost 5 members of his family in terrorist attacks, yet remains as dignified as is humanly possible.

A man who conducts himself with the utmost dignity at all times, despite the threats of violence and intimidation from the very people who now sit in shared power in Ulster.

Willie Frazer has confirmed that he and other victims of republican violence will stage a silent protest at Londonderry's Guildhall against a "dinner dance" commemorating dead IRA members.

The forthcoming event has been organisation by a Republican group the Derry Volunteers Commemorative Committee, who are closely linked with Sinn Fein.

Mr Frazer, who spearheads the organisation Families Acting for Innocent Relatives (FAIR), told the News Letter victims of IRA violence in Londonderry who wish to register their disgust against the event have contacted him.

"There will be a number of us holding a protest outside. This event is glorifying the murder of loved ones and there is no call for them to be doing this," he said.

"It is ironic that they will be inside celebrating whilst victims are outside in the freezing cold. We made a commitment years ago to challenge these people at every opportunity.

Unionist politicians in the Province have also condemned the event at the Guildhall, which is supposed to be used by all sections of the community in Ulster.

The DUP's Gregory Campbell also hit out at the event: "It will go down very badly in the Protestant community because people will see it as Sinn Fein still not completely disengaging from their bloody and gory past," he said.

Mr Frazer said: "We will not stand by and allow the murder of our loved ones to be glorified and victims will mount a dignified protest at the Guildhall on Saturday night.

"We believe that it is important that such events do not go unchallenged, but knowing republicans' propensity to attack such protests, we will not be exposing the majority of our elderly membership to the ferocity of the attacks that may occur."

With regard to criticism of the event being held in the Guildhall, a facility owned by Derry City Council, a spokesperson for the organisation said: "The Guildhall is run on a commercial basis and is therefore available for general hire."

The Scottish Unionist Voice salutes a decent and honourable man by the name of Willie Frazer.

Nick Griffin's BNP

In the modern Anglican Baptism service, the congregation is warned to avoid "the glamour of evil". No danger of that with Nick Griffin, is there? On Question Time on Thursday night, he resembled a disgruntled commuter on a late-night train from Liverpool Street – the sort who engages you in conversation with superficial, beery geniality and then inflicts his unpleasant opinions without a break until debouching at Romford. Not a bat-squeak of Nuremburg Rally glamour – only the drone of banality.

Yet the appearance of Mr Griffin on the programme produced the greatest coalition of the British establishment since the Yes campaign in the European referendum of 1975. The sledgehammer portentously cracked the nut.

Three state-funded politicians of the three main parties denounced the dismal Griffin. The state-funded millionaire, David Dimbleby, forsaking all chairmanly impartiality, even told the wretched man not to smile. The audience, much younger and more "ethnic" than the actual composition of the population, cheered each sally against him. Bonnie Greer, an American, spoke of the "good sense of the British people" in rejecting the BNP. But if Mr Griffin had not been so charmless, I think I would have felt another traditional British quality – sympathy for the underdog.

The message coming out of the programme, reinforced by the BBC's self-congratulatory coverage, was: "Free speech triumphed. Vile Griffin was allowed his say, but we saw him off. Aren't we all marvellous?"

No, we aren't marvellous. We are smug. We are missing two important points.

The first is that we are slipshod in our definition of extremism. The BNP certainly is extreme, because hate is intrinsic to its message. But our Government has active links with people who are more extreme. There are Islamist groups which support Hamas suicide bombings, the killing of homosexuals (Mr Griffin merely finds it "creepy" when they kiss in public) and the killing of British troops in Afghanistan. These groups engage with the state, and even get taxpayers' money. The Government justifies this with the weird theory that it is only the hard men who can hold back the even harder men from violence. So the hard men get the leverage.

In Northern Ireland, Labour has set up a system which permits and pays Martin McGuinness to be Deputy First Minister. Mr McGuinness was for many years Chief of Staff of the IRA, planning its terrorist operations. He has dropped this occupation, but never renounced it. He has proved the favourite terrorist argument – well-calculated murder wins you power. When Martin goes on Question Time these days, there is no Griffin-style bashing, just the solemn nodding of panel heads when he explains how to bring peace to our troubled world.

On Thursday night, Jack Straw fiercely engaged Nick Griffin on the subject of Holocaust denial. But when he was Foreign Secretary, Mr Straw led the attempt to appease President Ahmadinejad of Iran, who denies the Holocaust on the global stage and is trying to build a nuclear bomb to wipe out Israel.

When establishment figures say that the attitudes of the BNP help prepare the ground for violence, they are right. But they do not apply this logic to their engagement with Islamism – the only form of extremism which nowadays kills large numbers of our fellow citizens.

As for the BBC, it devotes hours of broadcasting to straining after links with racists among the Tories' eurosceptic allies at the European Parliament. Yet it approvingly (I heard it on Today yesterday) reports Hamas without ever mentioning the anti-semitic libels which are in that organisation's founding Charter.

The second error shown by the Question Time panellists – and by virtually all political leaders in this country – is to ignore the problems that are winning the BNP votes. Exposing Holocaust denial is worth doing, but easy. The hard bit is the real resentment on which the BNP can capitalise.

This week, a campaign called Nothing British (full title: "There's Nothing British about the BNP") launched. It draws attention to how the BNP steals British military symbols and tries to recruit among service families. I wrote the foreword to the manifesto. Focus-group research done by colleagues involved in the campaign finds certain common features among BNP voters. They are not all racists. Many have black friends or have intermarried with non-whites. But they all raise immigration straightaway as their biggest concern. They feel it diminishes their chances in life.

It threatens their jobs, they believe. Ten years ago, a self-employed painter and decorator in, say, Barking might have earned £120 a day, enough to get a reasonable mortgage and sustain a modestly secure family life. Today, after the Government underestimated the number of Eastern Europeans likely to come here by almost 20 times, he would get £70 or £80. If his ailing father pays regular visits to hospital, he may be denied a bed because so many foreign women are giving birth. If his child has special needs, he may find the local school neglects them because it is desperately trying to teach English to children who do not speak it at home. If his brother is a soldier, he may return from risking his life to be insulted on the streets of his country by people who hate it.

The strongest common characteristic of such BNP supporters is pessimism. They feel they are sinking to the bottom of the pile, and that people from other countries are being privileged over them by the public services. If they complain, they are told they are racist. It is not surprising that they say things like "My country is being taken away from me". They are not completely mistaken.

Nick Griffin made one good point on Thursday night. After he had been mocked for speaking about the "indigenous" people of Britain, he countered that Jack Straw et al would not dare mock Maoris or American Indians for insisting on their indigenous status. Why shouldn't British whites, he asked, do the same?

The answer, of course, should not lie in giving group rights to any race or tribe, but in offering a reasonable degree of hope to all citizens of our country. It shows how much that hope has been extinguished among poorer whites that twerps like Mr Griffin are now in with a chance.

There was only one good thing about Thursday night's programme. Somewhere in among the baiting of Mr Griffin and his own confused and unattractive theories, a few people seemed to be searching for something unifying out of the history of Britain. They could see Mr Griffin's version was all wrong, but they lacked their own. To use the current buzzword, they seek a "narrative". To use an unfashionable phrase, they want to hear our island story. Until our leaders can give us one, it is broken Britain indeed.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/charlesmoore/6418583/Our-smug-leaders-have-done-nothing-to-see-off-the-BNP.html

Belfast bomb alert

Police are investigating reports of an explosion early this morning in the Antrim Road area of north Belfast. British Army bomb experts are examining a suspicious object which was discovered by police who had been called to check the area at Ashfield Crescent.

Last Friday, a woman was injured after a bomb exploded under her car in east Belfast.

David Simpson - well done

He said: "When I visited some of our troops in Basra in Iraq, I was struck once again by the courage and dedication of these brave young people who are imperilling their own lives on our behalf.

"There is no doubting their bravery and they are deserving of the gratitude and support of the entire nation."

The MLA said the experience made him want to do something for the soldiers in return.

"Ever since then I have wanted to do something to express my own sense of gratitude for the sacrifices made by so many of our Armed Forces, and to allow others to do so as well; but also to raise funds in order to help, in whatever small way, those who have put their lives on the line for the rest of us."

He called for as much public support as possible on his 'Walk for Heroes'.

"I am delighted to have received the support of the Royal British Legion, as well as the Mayor of Craigavon.

"I am also delighted that my Assembly colleague Stephen Moutray has already undertaken to walk every inch of it alongside of me, and am hopeful that other political representatives will join me for some or all of the walk."

He said the money had already been flooding in.

"Over £1,000 has already been donated and I know that the people of Upper Bann will yet again show their generosity of spirit."

Adams - see my lips move?

Orange Order marches would have a place in a new united Ireland, Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams said today.

In an speech to the British Irish Inter-Parliamentary Assembly, meeting in Wales, he insisted republicans had no desire to conquer or humiliate unionists.

The veteran party leader, who recently appealed through the Belfast Telegraph for the Order to open talks with Sinn Fein, said the genuine fears and concerns of unionists — including their sense of Britishness — needed to be explored in a meaningful way.

Read more: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/orange-parades-will-have-role-in-united-ireland--adams-14536938.html#ixzz0UZT3ePOU

Well done to Rangers FC

British football clubs have been asked to donate unsold match tickets to Armed Forces personnel following Rangers’ decision to allow more than a thousand troops into their Champions League clash against Unirea Urziceni.

Gregory Campbell, DUP MP for East Londonderry, wants clubs that are still playing in European competitions to follow the example of the Scottish champions.

Rangers donated more than 1,200 tickets to members of the Armed Forces for their game against Unirea Urziceni at Ibrox tonight and claimed the gesture was a “UK first”.

The club made the move last week after the Romanian side said they would not be using all of the tickets allocated for their supporters in the away section of the ground.

Mr Campbell, who has tabled a motion in the House of Commons calling on the clubs to make the donation ,said he “welcomed” the decision by Rangers.

He said: “Whilst Rangers FC has developed this initiative, it would be a very admirable act if all other UK clubs who are in a similar position followed their example.

“In many cases these seats would not be allocated, therefore it will not be costing the clubs anything beyond administering the transport of the tickets to the MoD.

“It also shows in a small but tangible way our gratitude to the Armed Forces who represent the United Kingdom right across the world. Many of these soldiers have been away from friends and family for several months facing danger and a violent enemy.

“They deserve to have the opportunity to attend a prestigious European game free of charge and I think this would be a nice gesture by the respective clubs.

“Having raised this issue in the House of Commons, I will now be writing to each of the UK’s clubs currently competing in European competitions, informing them of the decision taken by Rangers and I will be urging them to replicate this policy,” he added.

Rangers chief executive Martin Bain said: “This football club is totally committed to supporting and recognising these brave individuals.

“We all owe the members of the Armed Forces a huge debt of gratitude and our fans will give them a wonderful and deserved reception when they attend our European tie.”

The tickets were donated to the Army in Scotland, the club said.

RC church debate

I have just witnessed a rout – tonight’s Intelligence Squared debate. It considered the motion “The Catholic Church is a force for good in the world”. Christopher Hitchens and Stephen Fry, opposing the motion, comprehensively trounced Archbishop Onaiyekan (of Abuja, Nigeria) and Ann Widdecombe, who spoke for it. The archbishop in particular was hopeless.

The voting gives a good idea of how it went. Before the debate, for the motion: 678. Against: 1102. Don’t know: 346. This is how it changed after the debate. For: 268. Against: 1876. Don’t know: 34. In other words, after hearing the speakers, the number of people in the audience who opposed the motion increased by 774. My friend Simon, who’s a season ticket holder, said it was the most decisive swing against a motion that he could remember.

The problem (from the Catholic point of view) was that the speakers arguing for the Church as a force for good were hopelessly outclassed by two hugely popular, professional performers. The archbishop had obviously decided that it would work best if he stuck to facts and figures and presented the Church as a sort of vast charitable or “social welfare” organisation. He emphasised how many Catholics there were in the world, and that even included “heads of state”, he said, as if that was a clincher. But he said virtually nothing of a religious or spiritual nature as far as I could tell, and non-Catholics would have been none the wiser about what you might call the transcendent aspects of the Church. Then later when challenged he became painfully hesitant. In the end he mumbled and spluttered and retreated into embarrassing excuses and evasions. He repeatedly got Ann Widdecombe’s name wrong. The hostility of both the audience and his opponents seemed to have discomfited him.

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/andrewmcfbrown/100014133/intelligence-squared-debate-catholics-humiliated-by-christopher-hitchens-and-stephen-fry/

Holyrood ripping us off

The Scottish Parliament is to spend more than £100,000 on chauffeur-driven cars for its senior MSPs, despite the recession forcing other public bodies to cut their budgets.

Holyrood’s ruling Corporate Body says it needs an “executive car service” for the Presiding Officer, his two deputies, party leaders, and VIPs visiting the building. Glasgow-based Little’s Chauffeur Drive was awarded the contract last week.

It was priced at £93,000, equivalent to £106,950 including VAT.

The deal is due to run for three years, with the potential for two annual extensions.

News of the car contract emerged while Presiding Officer Alex Fergusson and four other MSPs were on a £40,000 trip to Australia and New Zealand which has also been criticised as excessive.

McCausland upsetting SF

Culture Minister Nelson McCausland has drawn fresh criticism from Sinn Fein after a Protestant church leader questioned the DUP man’s claims that his religion barred him from attending Catholic religious events.

Presbyterian Moderator Stafford Carson was speaking after Mr McCausland said he would refuse any ministerial engagement that involved attending Catholic worship.

Mr Carson said: “I think attending a service anywhere does not mean an endorsement of all that that particular denomination believes.

“And I think very often personal and human connections take us into those kind of situations.”

Last week Sinn Fein and the DUP were at loggerheads in the Assembly after republicans sponsored a debate challenging Mr McCausland's stance.

Raymond McCartney of Sinn Fein questioned how he could carry out his ministerial responsibilities in an impartial way given his opposition to Catholicism.

Mr McCartney said: “It is my belief that all ministers should commit themselves not to make religious belief a barrier to carrying out duties in an impartial and non-partisan way.

“It fundamentally undermines his ability to state that he is a minister who will carry out his duties without fear or favour.”

Mr McCausland said his refusal to go to a Catholic church did not mean he did not enjoy good relations with Catholics, but he said that he was entitled to his personal views.

He added: “The motion is framed in the language of liberalism but it is intolerant and discriminatory.”

The Sinn Fein motion called on the minister to do withdraw his statement that he will not attend a service in a Catholic church, to recognise that such a refusal to attend a Catholic church service from a minister has no place in an inclusive society, and that as a minister he has a duty to serve all sections of society. It was defeated.

Read more: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/politics/protestant--church-leader-questions-mccausland-stance-on-attending-catholic-events-14535592.html#ixzz0UTVHuCUg

200 murderers on the loose

More than 200 dissident republican terrorists are now active and posing a threat to security in Northern Ireland, a new police assessment has revealed.

Renegade groups such as the Real IRA and Continuity IRA are recruiting activists on both sides of the border, but particularly in the north. However, despite security estimates that the threat level is higher than a year ago, a senior officer insisted that the army will not be returning to the streets.

A car booby-trapped by dissidents in an attempt to kill a police officer last weekCONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

Previous estimates delivered by former Chief Constable Sir Hugh Orde had stated that there were about 60 active dissident republican terrorists.

A cross-border organised crime conference yesterday heard of efforts by the groups to attract more recruits to their ranks.

Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy told the two-day seminar in Dundalk that recent bombing incidents in east Belfast and Forkhill, south Armagh, underlined the dangers that a fresh campaign of violence represented to innocent civilians.

He said there was some evidence that the dissidents were attempting to attract more people into their ranks and their main focus appeared to be on Northern Ireland.

PSNI Deputy Chief Constable Judith Gillespie said the threat level had been upgraded to “severe” last February and the following month two British soldiers and a police officer were murdered.

She disclosed that current intelligence indicated that the strength of the dissidents was “in the low hundreds” and this figure did not include those who provided tacit support or “turned a blind eye” to their activities.

But she was adamant that British troops would not be returning to patrol the streets of Northern Ireland although they would continue to provide technical support to the police, such as their bomb disposal expertise.

She said the PSNI was satisfied that it had the resources to deal with the dissident dangers, without calling out the troops onto the streets again.

Mr Murphy agreed with Irish Justice Minister Dermot Ahern that the dissidents were criminals and he said the conference would focus in particular on how they were trying to use the border to fund their terror activities through involvement in fuel laundering, smuggling and other crimes.

Ms Gillespie pointed out that channels that had been used in the past to smuggle firearms were now being exploited for other commodities such as drugs and said the cross-border links between crime gangs, that had always existed, had a greater international dimension added.

The two officers pledged that their forces would work together to ensure that policing along the border was seamless and avoid the creation of gaps that could be exploited by criminals.

The police chiefs also called on the public to play their part in combating crime by alerting their local officers to information that might be in their possession and could help prevent or solve a serious offence.

Commissioner Murphy also voiced his concern at the growing use of pipe bombs and other homemade devices by crime gangs.

He said the expertise for some of the devices could have come from dissident republican activists in the past but they were being planted mainly by criminals, many of whom were involved in the drugs trade.

Some of the attacks were linked to extortion while others were used as weapons in local feuds but in many cases the link to drug trafficking was evident.

Read more: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland-dissident-terror-gangsrsquo-ranks-swell-to-200-14536821.html#ixzz0UTJXPvTK

James McMillan losing the plot

James McMillan, the composer, has denounced the “cult” of Robert Burns, claiming that Burns suppers are parodies of the Catholic mass.

Writing in Celtic Minded 3, a collection of essays about the culture and politics of Celtic football club, he claims that Burns suppers are a deliberate mockery of the rituals of Catholicism.

“The Ayrshire Burns supper is unmistakably a parody mass,” he writes.

“Homilies and invocations are used to evoke ‘sacred memory’, ‘epiclesis’ [eucharist] is called down on a sacrificial victim in the shape of whisky and haggis, which is pierced by a knife and then consumed, communion style by the assembled congregation.”

MacMillan said he was delighted to be invited to an alternative Burns supper in honour of the late Celtic player Tommy Burns.
James McMillan
“There were no interminable immortal memories, no misogynistic Address to the Lassies ... no dodgy handshakes and no narrow definition of what it means to be Scottish,” he writes.

Margaret Morrall, president of the Ayr Burns Club, dismissed the criticism: “When people cut a cake and raise a toast at weddings and birthdays is that a parody of mass too?”

Labour Infighting

Labour MP Claire Curtis-Thomas attacked Gordon Brown yesterday for failing to support his colleagues over expenses - saying he should have defended the innocent instead of ordering them to return cash.

The backbencher, who is standing down at the election, said colleagues were furious at the Prime Minister's backing for Sir Thomas Legg's demand that thousands be repaid by many.

They feel they have been made victims of a miscarriage of justice by his retrospective order on their "excessive" gardening and cleaning claims.

The Crosby MP said: "For a lot of people in the party who have been utterly vindicated, it would have been nice for Gordon to stand up and say 'Look, without a shadow of a doubt the people that I represent and stand for are good people, unequivocally'.

"But there hasn't been that unequivocal defence and people who have spent their lifetime working for politics - in all parties - feel bitterly let down on a personal level."

She went on: "The reality is Gordon has been caught up in this as well.

"He is a fine, upstanding, decent chap and he's had to pay back a considerable amount of money."

But she said he had been "cowed" and "made smaller" by the scandal.

In a further blow, deputy leader Harriet Harman also appeared to question Sir Thomas by saying MPs should be judged on "the rules at the time".