Northern Ireland is the name of the place Sinn Fein help to govern, it is not ‘this district’

Their recent motion addressed housing quality in the North of Ireland. The most northerly point of Ireland is of course Malin Head in the most northerly county which is Donegal. That’s true north. And in the Republic to boot.

Claiming Belfast council has jurisdiction there is a stretch even for Sinn Fein.

Of course the real motive behind choice of title was deliberate. Sinn Fein coat trailing to wind up unionists. It worked.

Then after half an hour of argy bargy and because Sinn Fein still refused to use the proper title of Northern Ireland a ludicrous compromise was struck. Northern Ireland referred to as “this district”. Wee bit big for that isn’t it lads?

Alliance’s Michael Long then presumed publicly to tick off both lots of bickering childer instead of suggesting that Sinn Fein, should show some respect for the place they have a share in governing.

Alliance ever since their re designation scandal of 2001 at Stormont when they helped Sinn Fein get what they wanted by creating a false unionist majority Alliance has at times looked like Sinn Fein’s little helper in councils and the assembly.

What Oliver Napier would think of how his party’s current approach sits with his founding principles?

Davy Wight, Carrickfergus

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