Spirit of heartbroken families shines through, while political stability and a little progress are made in the wake of Stormont elections
IN NORTHERN Ireland 2011 was a year of trials, tribulations, triumph and despair. There were elections, sensational court cases, and murders that caused deep sorrow and great revulsion. Through it all, political stability and even some progress was achieved while heartbroken families would not be beaten down.
In January, the terrible news came through that Michaela Harte had been murdered in Mauritius while on her honeymoon with her husband John McAreavey. That such a beautiful young woman, a teacher and former Rose of Tralee contestant, who had been at the side of her father Mickey Harte for the great days of Tyrone football, could die in such a fashion generated a wellspring of horror, sadness and compassion throughout Ireland.
Less than four months later another family was in mourning when dissident republicans murdered 25-year-old Catholic PSNI officer, Ronan Kerr from Beragh in Co Tyrone, in an under-car bombing in Omagh. His mother Nuala said the murder must not deter young Catholics joining the police and urged the community to “stand up and be counted” against the killers. Which it did decidedly at his funeral.
In March, Hazel Stewart went down for a minimum 18 years for the double murder of her first husband, Trevor Buchanan and of Lesley Howell, wife of her former lover and accomplice Colin Howell, in a trial that gripped the public’s attention.
In October after another astonishing trial Dublin pharmacist Karen Walsh was convicted of the murder by physical and sexual assault of 81-year-old Maire Rankin on Christmas morning three years ago at the pensioner’s home in Newry.
Horror too the same month at the Crown court in Armagh where a jury heard how Scottish paedophile child serial killer Robert Black murdered 9-year-old Jennifer Cardy 30 years ago. The dignity and Christian charity of the Cardy family somehow triumphed over the evil that was done to them.
Friends Marion Graham and Kathy Dinsmore were murdered in Turkey, allegedly by Recep Cetin, boyfriend of Ms Graham’s 15-year-old daughter Shannon.
There were Assembly elections, with the DUP and Sinn Féin continuing to dominate over the Ulster Unionists and the SDLP. The SDLP elected a new leader, Dr Alasdair McDonnell, who despite a catastrophic opening leader’s speech hopes to revitalise the party.
At the first ever Sinn Féin ardfheis in Belfast – before his presidential candidacy was announced – Derry Presbyterian minister the Rev David Latimer said Martin McGuinness was “one of the true great leaders of modern times”. Gerry Adams spoke of persuading unionists to join a united Ireland. Peter Robinson spoke of persuading Catholics to join and vote for the DUP to safeguard the union with Britain. The Northern Executive published an ambitious programme for government.
People again rioted at Ardoyne on the Twelfth. A tribunal found the RUC and the Northern Ireland Office failed to take “reasonable and proportionate” steps to safeguard the life of Lurgan solicitor Rosemary Nelson who was murdered by loyalists in 1999. David Cameron ordered a review into the 1989 UDA murder of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane instead of the inquiry the family demanded. Police Ombudsman Al Hutchinson was put under pressure.
Bringing a smile during the year were Darren Clarke who won the British Open, Rory McIlroy for winning the US Open, Lady Gaga and the MTV European Music Awards which came to Belfast, and a wonderful new Lyric Theatre which rose up beside the Lagan.
