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Thank you for downloading this month’s web edition of the Unionist Voice Newsletter With this free download you can enjoy a selection of the ar- ticles from this month’s edition Hard copies of the full Newsletter are on sale priced £2 Enjoy this month’s web edition of Unionist Voice Newsletter Page 2 2nd Edition Special points of interest: Sean Murray responds to Un- Andy opens up ionist Voice and to challenge others, then surly analysis– Page 6 Welcome to our second about his own mental health there is an obligation upon us and 7 edition of Unionist Voice. It battles, and tells Unionist Voice to be brave enough to offer has been an eventful month about his hopes for the future. the same platform to those Exclusive inter- and once again the magazine William Ennis is another view with Rang- that wish to come back at us is full of news, views and anal- contributor this month. As a left ers legend Andy and challenge our arguments? ysis of important events within wing Unionist, William articu- Goram– Page 10 If we cannot publically the unionist community. lates a different– but equally debate and stand over the PCTF-Inequality This month saw Unionist legitimate– form of unionism. arguments we articulate, then under the law– Voice Policy Studies host a Again we feel it is important to what is the point in engaging Page 12 legacy consultation evening offer a platform to all reasona- at all? We can only advance and panel discussion. This ble viewpoints, and I certainly PSNI issuing our own cause if we are pre- event brought together a wide believe that the contribution by invalid notices pared to have our arguments range of people to engage in a William is a positive one. following search stress-tested in the fires of robust, but respectful debate. As the magazine continues operations– public scrutiny. How can we The event was chaired by Irish to grow it is only natural that we Page 14 change minds if we don’t step News journalist Allison Morris will attract different contribu- outwards from within our own Leaked bonfire and alongside myself also tors that the initial readership community and put forward report vindicates included Doug Beattie MLA, would not agree with. However, east Belfast our arguments and our con- Jeffrey Dudgeon and Mervyn as I outlined at the start of this loyalists– Page cerns? No one is going to go Gibson. There was a fantastic piece, if we are to build Unionist 15 into civic society, into the me- turnout and excellent audi- Voice into a credible and strong dia or into the public domain Kate Hoey MP ence participation. This provid- platform for the grassroots PUL and make our arguments for visits East Bel- ed an often isolated and de- community, then there has to us, we must do it ourselves fast FC– Page monised section of the PUL be a space in that for all view- and be prepared for the de- 19 community the chance to points. There is never anything bate and challenges that flow have their voice heard, and I to fear from debate and dia- from that. believe it was one of the high- logue . This month we also place lights of UVPS’s work so far There is undoubtedly a ALSO INSIDE a heavy focus on the actions that we were able to provide change sweeping the grass- of the PSNI. It is imperative that platform for such a range roots unionist community, with Legacy event 3 that we, as unionists and loy- of people. Credit must go to all more and more young people alists, demand equality under those who played a role in and those previously disen- the law. If criminals are mas- making the night a success, gaged coming together in vari- End PSNI harass- 4 querading as loyalists, then no job was insignificant and ous forms of political, communi- ment who can object if the PSNI progress is impossible without ty and media activism. That is a pursue such persons? But it is everyone pulling together and positive trend, and one which Kingsmill killers 5 quite a different matter when doing their bit. we must continue to encourage named the law is applied different This month we have also and play our role in helping to because someone is a loyalist. published an article by Sean grow. William Ennis 8 The law must be applied Murray. We have been ex- Where there is injustice, we writes equally and fairly, regardless tremely critical of Mr Murray must challenge it. Where there of community background. It and elements of his film mak- is disrespect shown to our com- Paul Peterson 9 cannot be one standard of the ing and legacy activism, and munity and identity, we must law applied to loyalists, and he chose to respond to those challenge it. Where there is a quite a different standard for criticisms. It would be easy to false narrative or malicious Sectarian attack 11 others. That is unfair and of- have a platform that simply story designed to demonise our fends the very basic principles shuts down dissenting views community, we must challenge. of our legal system. and refusing to engage with We must challenge everything, Edward Cooke on 16 We also have an exclusive them, but if we are big enough we must fight for every column legacy and extensive interview with to express our views and use inch. We must stand up for Rangers legend Andy Goram. our platform in Unionist Voice ourselves. No one else will. Page 3 Huge Turnout for east Belfast legacy evening There was a full house in the east Bel- legacy proposals Shankill bomber Sean Ian McLaughlin. fast Con Club as a wide range of people Kelly was viewed as every bit as much a There was a long discussion on the packed into the main room to participate victim as the families of those he mur- proposed oral history archive. Jamie in the legacy consultation and panel dered. Everyone agreed this was morally Bryson raised the case of Winston Rea discussion. reprehensible and untenable. who it has been alleged participated in Despite many hoping that the event Shankill loyalist Stephen Andrews made the Boston Tapes (this has yet to be would prove to be a failure, it turned out a passionate contribution from a loyalist established by a court of law). Jamie to be a fantastic evening providing a perspective. After outlining his experience said that whilst he could not speak to platform for the unionist and loyalist of being shot at in the 1970’s, he went on Winston’s mind-set and had no community. The very best of our com- knowledge of his motivations, he sur- munity was showcased as people from mised that he may have taken the view all sections of unionism, and those who in the context of the pro-peace process would not identify as unionists, came environment at the time of the Boston together for a respectful, courteous tapes that telling his story, warts and and articulate debate. all, was an important historical record. The evening began with a short However, Jamie also said that some video highlighting some of the atroci- others may take the view, in a general ties perpetrated against the unionist sense, that it would never be wise to community by the IRA, and this was an talk about matters for which you have emotional start to the evening. This never been convicted but regardless of was followed up by a presentation by this there was an important point in Alan Lewis of Families Research Policy that why would any loyalist want to Unit (FRPU), Pastor Barry Halliday and engage in story telling when it could William Frazer. to address the definition of a victim. Ste- later be used against them in a court of The evening was then handed over phen said that he felt loyalists should not law if the political context changed. to Irish News journalist Allison Morris to be equated with their victims and that it There was broad agreement with chair the main panel discussion. Allison was his opinion that loyalist paramilitaries this point and all panelists agreed that later tweeted her thanks to all those did not seek the victim mantle. unionism and loyalism needed to tell who took the time to speak to her and This view was supported by Rev Mervyn their story, but there had to be a safe welcome her to the Con Club. Gibson and George from the Shankill who and secure mechanism to do so. Rev The room then heard opening contri- both said they had yet to come across a Gibson said he supported community butions from the panel which included loyalist paramilitary that described them- archives. Rev Meryvn Gibson, Cllr Jeff Dudgeon, selves as a victim on a par with innocent In a debate that lasted well over 2 Unionist Voice editor Jamie Bryson and civilians that lost their lives. hours the aforementioned details are Doug Beattie MLA. All panelists spoke Jamie Bryson concurred with this, but just some points that came out of the out strongly against the proposed legacy highlighted that many of those he termed evening which included in-depth de- structures for various different reasons. ‘conflict generation’ loyalists had not had bates on the proposed bill and the Cllr Dudgeon had prepared a written the same type of support that republicans definition of a victim. We hope many speech which he has kindly provided, it had and as a result continued to suffer people will take the time to watch the can be read online on Unionist Voice.
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