NORTH OF IRELAND: PANORAMA - BBC FOCUS ON `REAWAKENED' IRISH CONFLICT
The BBCs flagship current affairs programme Panorama is a shadow of its former self - truncated to thirty minutes and shunted to a early evening `dead-slot'. The Programme this week however did make a passable attempt at explaining recent events in Ireland including the deaths of three British security force members (Two soldiers and one policeman).
The programme (apparently sourced from BBC Northern Ireland) was illustrative - within the limits of what the BBC would term journalistic balance - of the disenchantment amongst some in Ireland with the current political status quo which sees British sovereignty still a political fact of life in the six counties.
Republican Sinn Fein President Ruairí Ó Brádaigh was still as uncompromising in his denunciation of any political accommodation which falls short of the sovereign Ireland the original Dail aspired to.
Ó Brádaigh was also swift to lay the blame for recent tragedy at the door of the British government and its failure to grasp that whilst many may accept compromise a minority will not, under any circumstances!
However most interesting in the programme were what were almost asides. The explanation about the incident last year when journalists were detained after meeting dissidents and gaining an insight into the gathering storm. In addition the statement that MI5 were expanding their insidious and unwarranted presence in Ireland.
The Celtic League has long supported a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Ireland and even the transient peace that now prevails is worth continuing to fervently support and pray will endure. However ultimately an enduring peace will only be a reality when all the trappings of British rule in Ireland are gone - for good.
Panorama - THE GUNMEN WHO NEVER WENT AWAY - can be viewed on BBC-iplayer:
(Note iplayer content is subject to deletion - so watch it soon)
J B Moffatt Director of Information Celtic League
01/04/09
■