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In
reading The Observer at the weekend I was drawn
to the headline by the Irish Editor Henry McDonald:
"How my daughter was cast into a maelstrom of
hatred" dated Sunday 9th November 2003. In it
Mr McDonald is actually reviewing the BBC's new drama
about the loyalist protest at Holy Cross Primary School,
in which his daughter is cast in one of the leading
children's roles.
In
it Mr McDonald gives a reasonably glowing review to
the drama (surprise, surprise) and goes on to say "I
thought it would be an opportunity for her to learn,
but was determined that she wouldn't finish the project
with negative feelings about Protestants." Obviously
Mr McDonald has some admirable traits.
But
there are a few facts that I would like to point out
to him.
The
loyalist population who took part in the protest directed
their obscenities, i.e: throwing balloons filled with
urine, spitting and waving pornographic pictures at
children, and from this obscene protest won improvements
in their social stucture and their security situation,
with a higher RUC presence in the Upper Ardoyne.
For
the ten years prior to the Holy Cross protest, the
Catholic population of North Belfast had been asking
for the same higher police presence, due to the high
percentage of sectarian murders committed against
them. The Oldpark betting shop in which three people
were killed and the murder of Gerald O'Hara, are but
two incidents which spring to mind, without any sign
of improvement in their security. It is worth remembering
that six of the city's thirteen supposed peacelines
were situated in this part of the city which anyone
would have thought would have necessitated a higher
RUC presence. Indeed, it is also worth pointing out
that there were Protestants who were mistaken for
Catholics and killed because of the close proximity
of the two rival factions.
One
more thing that is not mentioned in Mr McDonald's
review is the timing of the broadcast of the programme.
Could it be something to do with the elections?
Oh,
and one last thing Mr McDonald, your headline should
have read, "How (I) cast my daughter into a maelstrom
of hatred."
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