Slugger O'Toole (Free subscription) | yesterday
I’ve had a look back at the water rates issue after blogging Tom Kelly’s piece and found this little gem from our archives, in which our Stormont Chair of the Year Fred Cobain spells out the bleedin’ obvious to the Minister Conor Murphy who, so far as we can tell , is still ignoring the ticking time bomb over water…
Slugger O'Toole (Free subscription) | 15/11/2009
On the Politics Show today Sinn Féin’s John O’Dowd clarified his party’s position on the seizure of the assets of Sean Hughes and the previous comments by Northern Ireland Executive Ministers, SF’s Michelle Gildernew and Hughes’ “good friend” Conor Murphy. [John O’Dowd] “The concerns around the raid on Sean Hughes house is this. It was organised...
Slugger O'Toole (Free subscription) | 14/11/2009
In yesterday’s Irish News Sean Hughes , describing himself as “a member of Sinn Féin”, ran with the “politically motivated” line on the seizure of his and his extended families’ assets which SOCA has claimed came from laundering the proceeds of mortgage fraud, tax evasion and benefit fraud - a line generously gifted him by his “good friend” the...
SAOIRSE32 (Free subscription) | 14/11/2009
Irish News 13 Nov 09 A south Armagh republican alleged to be a leading member of the IRA’s ‘army council’ has claimed that a major investigation into his finances is “politically motivated” . Sean Hughes described a raid on his home by the Serious Organised Crime Agency (Soca) this week as a “scalp” to placate DUP hardliners. Soca says the 47-year-old has...
Slugger O'Toole (Free subscription) | 11/11/2009
The BBC reports a further wrinkle following SOCA’s seizure of assets belonging to Sean Hughes - Northern Ireland Regional Development Minister, Sinn Féin’s Conor Murphy’s “good friend”. Sean Hughes wife, Annette, who was named in the court order as co-owner of the properties seized, is an independent member of the local District Policing Partnership. From the BBC...
Three Thousand Versts of Loneliness (Free subscription) | 11/11/2009
I don’t suppose that I was the only one reminded of Stuart Neville’s novel ‘The Twelve’ , when I read newspaper reports detailing SOCA’s seizure of a South Armagh republican’s assets, which took place yesterday. Newsline featured pictures of Sean Gerard Hughes’ farm, and I almost expected to hear the whine of an injured bull terrier. Sinn Féin’s...
SAOIRSE32 (Free subscription) | 11/11/2009
The Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA) has frozen the assets of a leading republican in South Armagh. It has been granted a court order to take control of properties and bank accounts belonging to Sean Gerard Hughes of Aghadavoyle Road, Dromintee. The agency claimed the assets came from laundering the proceeds of mortgage fraud, tax evasion and benefit fraud. In 2002, Mr Hughes was named in parliament...
Slugger O'Toole (Free subscription) | 10/11/2009
I mentioned the reaction of Sinn Féin’s Conor Murphy, MP, MLA, to the operational matter of the seizure of assets and searches in south Armagh this morning - “Sean Hughes is a sound Republican.” [Is that like being a “good republican”? - Ed] Possibly. He also told BBC NI’s Martina Purdy that Sean Hughes was “a very good friend” of his. Here’s...
Slugger O'Toole (Free subscription) | 09/11/2009
No word yet from the weekend chat with Gordon Brown , but after ushering out a little known placeman , followed by a slightly better known placewoman , on Sunday Sinn Féin passed the script to Northern Ireland Regional Development Minister, Conor Murphy, MP, MLA [Perhaps he had a different hat on - Ed] . He was speaking at the annual SF Edentubber commemoration of five men who “kept faith...
Belfast Media | Home (Free subscription) | 26/10/2009
The parents of tragic West Belfast schoolgirl Ciara Park have welcomed the news that buses are to be banned from part of the city centre. St Dominic’s pupil Ciara (16) died last November after being struck by a bus at the junction of Royal Avenue and Donegall Place. The 16-year-old from Margaretta Park was shopping in the city centre when she was struck by a bus. Under the new rules, bus movements...
BBC News (Free subscription) | 06/10/2009
Regional Development Minister Conor Murphy is to attend an investment conference in Boston later.
Slugger O'Toole (Free subscription) | 27/09/2009
On the Politics Show today , no video, as well as all but declaring her intention to run in the SDLP leadership contest, the Northern Ireland Social Development Minister, Magaret Ritchie, admitted missing the “non-negotiable” targets for social housing new-builds - “nearly 1300” out of a 1500 target. Meanwhile the NI Regional Development Minister, Sinn Féin’s Conor...
Slugger O'Toole (Free subscription) | 23/09/2009
Apparently the Northern Ireland Regional Development Minister, Sinn Féin’s Conor Murphy , has been adressing those gathered at the Confederation of British Industry ( CBI ) Lunch at the Culloden Hotel. “The importance of inter-trade on a North/South basis is also of critical importance in going forward, for the development of the island economy and the opportunities a single island...
SAOIRSE32 (Free subscription) | 02/09/2009
By William Graham Political Correspondent Irish News 01/09/09 SDLP deputy leader Alasdair McDonnell has launched one of the most scathing attacks ever against Sinn Fein, claiming the party was in deep “internal turmoil’’ and that Gerry Adams would be replaced. Dr McDonnell’s remarks, in an article published in The Irish News today, are being seen as the first round in what is...
Slugger O'Toole (Free subscription) | 02/09/2009
A good friend of mine and I were ruminating over the changes that have taken place in Northern Ireland over the past decade when our conversation turned to the always thorny question of language and more specifically what this place is or is not called. You will all remember the Conor Murphy ‘here’ and ‘there’ debate last year and Nigel Dodds insistence that the North does not...
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