QUB ‘silent’ on student social media rules after IRA Facebook row

A former Queen’s University Belfast (QUB) lecturer is asking why it failed to mention student regulations which forbid social media support for terror groups when speaking about a row on the subject.
By Philip Bradfield
Published 5th Mar 2020, 06:30 BST
Updated 5th Mar 2020, 09:14 BST
Dermot Nesbitt, above, said his fellow lecturer Edgar Graham was shot by the IRA as they chatted outside QUB. Photo: Freddie Parkinson/Press Eye.Dermot Nesbitt, above, said his fellow lecturer Edgar Graham was shot by the IRA as they chatted outside QUB. Photo: Freddie Parkinson/Press Eye.
Dermot Nesbitt, above, said his fellow lecturer Edgar Graham was shot by the IRA as they chatted outside QUB. Photo: Freddie Parkinson/Press Eye.

Last week students described feeling ‘saddened and unwelcome’ after finding incoming Students Union president Grian Ní Dhaimhín made a series of posts over the past year which appeared to support the IRA or endorse posts by others that did so.QUB responded by pointing out that Ms Ní Dhaimhín would not be subject to the code of conduct of an external organisation – the Students Union – until she takes office as its president in July.

However, this prompted one student to contact the News Letter to point out that QUB’s comment “avoids the point” that all students are already subject to the university’s own student code of conduct and disciplinary procedures.

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The code gives one example of student misconduct as “using social media to express support for illegal activities or organisations” as well as expressing or supporting “sectarian” views.

Incoming QUB Student Union President Grian Ní Dhaimhín with then Lord Mayor of Belfast, Sinn Fein Councillor Máirtín " Muilleoir.Incoming QUB Student Union President Grian Ní Dhaimhín with then Lord Mayor of Belfast, Sinn Fein Councillor Máirtín " Muilleoir.
Incoming QUB Student Union President Grian Ní Dhaimhín with then Lord Mayor of Belfast, Sinn Fein Councillor Máirtín " Muilleoir.

Former Stormont minister and ex-UUP MLA Dermot Nesbitt said he had always found QUB supportive when he lectured there in the 1980s.

However, he noted that Ms Ní Dhaimhín “is still a student even though she might not be president until July”, adding that it was “disappointing” that QUB did not acknowledge its own social media code of conduct for students when commenting on the row last week.

“The question needs to be asked - why did they not do it?” he asked.

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He added that she had ‘liked’ republican posts of women with Armalites and asked if QUB’s failure to reference the code of conduct was because it was “reticent to challenge the republican agenda?”.

Incoming QUB SU President Grian Ní Dhaimhín, 'liked' this post which was placed on her Facebook page by a friend.Incoming QUB SU President Grian Ní Dhaimhín, 'liked' this post which was placed on her Facebook page by a friend.
Incoming QUB SU President Grian Ní Dhaimhín, 'liked' this post which was placed on her Facebook page by a friend.

In 1983 Mr Nesbitt was chatting to fellow QUB lecturer and UUP MLA Edgar Graham when he was shot dead by the IRA.

“It brings it all back to me and it is very sad that a student who is going to be president displays such a negative republican agenda,” he said.

Asked why it did not mention the code of conduct in response to inquiries on the matter, QUB responded that it would not be adding to its previous statement and will not be providing any comment on individual cases of student conduct and associated internal processes.

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Ms Ní Dhaimhín, Sinn Fein and the QUB Students Union were all invited to comment.

A new change.org petition entitled ‘End the Sectarianism towards Protestants and Unionist Students at QUB!’ has been signed by almost 2,300 people.

Related topics:IRAFacebookStudents