Paisley continues confusing rant on McAleese
Tuesday, February 21st, 2006“The fact that she takes protection from the PSNI but refuses to go into a police station when they are changing (cars) shows how deep her hatred is of Northern Ireland”
These are the words of Iain Paisley, referring to President McAleese whom was conducting a one-day visit to Northern Ireland at the time; not only this, but our head of state was born in Belfast (a part of Northern Ireland, don’t you know?) and has done more than any President or elected representative of the Republic to encourage cross-border ties. Hate indeed.
The most confusing part of Paisley’s latest rant is the point he’s trying to make. Does she hate Northern Ireland because she decided to travel under the protection of security services? How dare she; I mean who does she think she is, the Queen of England? Does she hate Northern Ireland because she didn’t go off schedule in order to step into a PSNI station for a momentary visit? Perhaps she doesn’t have any real respect for the PSNI; I’m sure she told Hugh Orde just how much she hates him and the organisation he heads in September gone when she met him at PSNI Headquarters, Belfast..
As Bertie Ahern himself put it, these comments were not very mature and the equivalent being said by a TD about the Queen would not be acceptable or met with any support.
Slugger is probably right; this seems to be an attempt by the DUP to undermine the position of the Irish President, whom is liked across the political divide in Northern Ireland; it is quite possible that Paisley will do more bad than good to his political influence if he continues to fire randomly at a neutral target.
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