We've been coned

Some of the thousands of cones that proliferated in the vicinity of Stormont today but surely they were superfluous to requirement here, since it is an urban clearway and similarly the metal crowd control barriers, since there were no crowds. Full marks to the ingenious camera crew using a crane to get a bird's eye view of the proceedings.

Extreme security measures

High level Anti-terror security procedure or someone's idea of a joke.

This litter bin is on the route that GW Bush's cavalcade took, on the way to Stormont, but pulling a plastic bag over the bin to prevent suspect devices from being planted there must be a leg pull.

Mustn't it!!?

Reconciliation

This statue, entitled 'Reconciliation', can be found in the grounds of Stormont and carved into the stone are names of cities such as Berlin and Hiroshima but not Belfast. Hardly surprising really since I don't think the word 'reconciliation' appears in the vocabulary of the majority of those employed up in the 'big house'.

MORE HERE:

Michael Stone: the truth behind the Stormont attack?

Wednesday, July 04, 2001 :

Loyalist killer Michael Stone was today preparing for the first public showing of his art, featuring work valued at up to £25,000.

Thousands of people were expected to visit the exhibition of 25 paintings and sculptures which opens tomorrow in loyalist east Belfast. (link:)

The above excerpt was taken from BREAKINGNEWS.ie and it may have no bearing whatsoever on the previous post but there are many in Belfast who jokingly suggest that the reason for Michael Stone's attack on Stormont was not for any political gain but a purely monetary one. It has been suggested by some cynics that in the wake of this incident the price of his artwork will increase. It has also been suggested that there is another book in the pipe-line and he needs the publicity. Whatever the reason I think it is despicable that a man such as this is allowed to profit from his criminal activities - if he had not been a convicted killer, if he had not been a terrorist his so-called artwork would never have seen the light of day. In my opinion this man's assets should be frozen and used to compensate the families of his victims. The British and American governments are freezing assets of 'terrorist organisations' - why are they not doing the same with people like this?