Trouble in Northern Ireland

There have been recent episodes of street violence and property damage in the province and clashes with the police. Its the unionist (protestant) community showing the anger.

There are local triggers but the deep background for this is Brexit. Johnson's Brexit deal entails maintaining free movement of goods and people between the north and the Irish Republic but creating a hard border between all of Ireland and the rest of the UK. In effect, this means that Northern Ireland is more part of the Irish economy than the British one and that full Irish reunification (staunchly opposed by the narrow unionist majority in the north) has moved a big step closer. The DUP (Nirthern Ireland's main Unionist party) are seen as complicit in this because they propped up a Conservative minority government for two years before Johnson sold them out.

It has been a relatively peaceful three decades im Northerm Ireland due the Good Friday Agreement. However, this historic compromise is now under threat due to Brexit as well as demographic changes. I think we will eventually get Irish reunification but its gping to be a troubled process.

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Graylight · 51-55, F

There's so, so much history to the trouble and I imagine peoples' memories are long in Ireland and the UK both. I fully support Irish reunification - it's...well, let's forget politics for a second.

This emerging issue seems to be creating great tension and new violence, if reports in the US are correct. That's deeply saddening to many. This is such a complex issue and one I hope won't result in bloodshed. And aside from historical tangles, there is the business of running nations to be considered. The economy is fragile almost everywhere and I'm not sure anyone knows quite how this could shake out for the region. I hope the coolest heads will prevail.

Burnley123 · 41-45, M

@Graylight Good post.

I support Irish reunification too, even as a Brit and I think it will definately hapoen within the next few decades.

One reason is demographic: Catholics have more children and so the republican (Irish sense of the word) population is fast catching up. Another reason is that the British establishment no longer cares about keeping the celtic provinces. Our Conservative Party was once staunchly unionist but they are now more about English nationalism. Hence why they could sell out their historic allies in the DUP over Brexit.

My worry is that Brexit has poured gasoline on the situation. Its added volatility where it really wasnt needed.

Northwest · M

It took 9 days for the crisis to escalate from gangs, some as young as 12, and unionists clashing with police, to full on (but limited) sectarian violence. I don't see how this is going to end well.

I also think that unification is inevitable.

Ingwe · F

people are getting fed up for being pushed around

Human1000 · M

I can’t imagine anyone wants to go back to the dark days, but it only takes a couple of pipe bombs and then vows of vengeance..

Burnley123 · 41-45, M

@Human1000 Sadly, those dangers seem very real.

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Burnley123 · 41-45, M

@LvChris Yeah, in some ways the troubles never left but just went below the surface. For example, political parties and criminal gangs in the province (each historically commected to paramilitaries) are still organised on sectarian lines. Good Friday meant that two divided communities agreed to get on bette. Actual integration is much less posdible.

What is new is that the checkpoints will be at airports and ferry terminals - the rUK border rather than the Irish one and its the Unionist community who are now the most aggrieved.

To see violent clashes between the police and unionist gangs is a huge shock because the police themselves are unionists. They are knee deep in Protestant free masonary and the Orange order and long hated by the republicans.

Clearly the unionist community is divided and their political class have lost the trust of their community. DUP polititians (like their Sinn Fein counterparts) have long been instrumental in keeping the lid on paramilitary tendencies. Now the DUP establishment are seen as having sold out the unionist cause over Brexit and I think this makes an uptake im unionist terrorism pretty much inevitable.

Burnley123 · 41-45, M

@LvChris on that note..

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2021/feb/01/northern-ireland-port-staff-removed-urgently-due-to-safety-concerns

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