It is not just the chief constable who should think of his position but unionist leaders too

If truth be told, unionists in Stormont have lost control, because those on the ground are not listening to those, they feel have failed them.

When there was even a suggestion of a border in the Irish Sea, they should have told Boris Johnson that they would bring an end to the assembly if he went ahead with it.

Unionists played around with the idea of the protocol by dipping their toes in the water to see what the temperature was like.

They joked and laughed with the prime minister at the DUP conference — then he went out and committed the dirty deed with Varadkar.

We have seen so many behind back deals done with republicans by the British government in the past it makes you wonder what other things are to come?

When the horse had bolted, the DUP then called for an end to the protocol.

Unionists are crying out for responsible leadership! Not only should the chief constable Simon Byrne consider his position, so should many unionist politicians.

Boris Johnson and the Tory government must take their fair share of the blame for what has happened. The secretary of state even tried to deny that there was a border.

Did he think all unionists were fools? Johnson allowed two foreign powers to dictate their wills on this part of the UK and place a border between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK.

Did the authorities really think that there would be no unionist reaction or did they think it was the less difficult option?

Now they have opened up a can of worms and the justice system has topped it off with the refusal to prosecute the offenders at a republican funeral.

I just hope and pray that those with the power may think again and remove the barrier in the Irish Sea and that the law is carried out equally and without favour.

They have driven a coach and horses through the Belfast Agreement and unionist politicians must refuse to implement it.

John Mulholland, Doagh

——— ———

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers — and consequently the revenue we receive — we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to newsletter.co.uk and enjoy unlimited access to the best Northern Ireland and UK news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit https://www.newsletter.co.uk/subscriptions now to sign up.

Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them. By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Alistair Bushe

Editor