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Belfast Telegraph
2 days ago
- Politics
- Belfast Telegraph
Michelle O'Neill on being shaped by ‘killing of local lads by British state' and convincing unionists ahead of border poll
In a lengthy interview with the Irish Times, the Sinn Fein vice president also claimed there are 'many people', including unionists, who are 'open to being persuaded' about a united Ireland. Ms O'Neill, who has been subject to intense criticism for attending republican commemorations and claiming there was 'no alternative' to IRA violence during the Troubles, opened up on how her worldview was shaped during her formative years. The Mid-Ulster MLA said she was aware from an early age that she 'grew up in a family, in a society, in a community that was discriminated against, that was treated with inequality on a day-to-day basis'. '[There was] a lot of loss in the community, many moments when the British state killed local lads, local people, local people that weren't much older than me… all those moments contribute to shaping who you are,' Ms O'Neill told the newspaper. One of those killed was her cousin, Tony Doris. The IRA man was shot dead in an ambush by the SAS along with two others in the village of Coagh in 1991 when Ms O'Neill was just 14 years old. 'It was horrendous for his immediate family, obviously, and all these things have lasting impacts, and that's the same for every family that lost," she reflected. "My experience, unfortunately, was felt by far too many people.' Last year a coroner found that SAS soldiers were "justified" in their use of lethal force. Peter Ryan and Lawrence McNally were also killed when they were intercepted in a stolen car. Mr Justice Michael Humphreys said he was satisfied the use of force was "reasonable and proportionate" because the soldiers "had an honest belief that it was necessary in order to prevent loss of life". He said all three men were members of the IRA's East Tyrone Brigade and were on "active service" when they were shot. Ms O'Neill remembered her father Brendan Doris — who was an IRA prisoner and a local councillor — as a 'community activist' who was 'very much wedded to his community'. 'I liked how he helped people,' she explained. 'So I suppose, maybe it was always organic that I would go down the route that I took in terms of going into politics.' The deputy leader of Sinn Fein said that partition has 'failed' her community as she spoke about her early goal of bringing about a united Ireland, as she expressed support for her party's committent to secure a border poll as early as 2030. However, she said she is 'less fixated on a date' and 'more interested in the actual planning and preparation is done and that we get it right'. 'The Irish Government really, really need to treat this with urgency … give people the tools in which to make an informed decision,' Ms O'Neill continued. Ms O'Neill said she believes there are 'many people', including unionists, who are 'open to being persuaded' as she expressed confidence that they will 'be convinced because it's in their best interests' adding: "The argument to be made is that there is something better for all of us'. Asked about her pledge of being a 'First Minister for all', Ms O'Neill said she believes she has fulfilled her promise and cited her attendance at Queen Elizabeth II's funeral and King Charles III's coronation as proof — in addition to her presence at a PSNI graduation ceremony and a Remembrance Sunday service in Belfast. However, she admitted to finding it challenging to participate in such events in light of her own background when asked if it is 'difficult'. 'Personally, given the experience of my community at the hands of the British state, then, yes, from that perspective it is,' the First Minister said. 'But is it the right thing to do to try and reconcile the people on this island? Yes, it is. 'So, for me, that outweighs any personal feeling.' Ms O'Neill pointed out that at the same time, 'I go to republican commemorations' as she explained the reason. 'Because that's who I am. I've never shied away from that. I don't distance myself from that,' she said. When asked about her critics and those who find her presence at republican commemorations difficult to accept, Ms O'Neill said: 'I do think about it. 'I understand there are many people out there that have a different narrative than me and I respect that that's their view. It's also perhaps their lived experience, but mine's different.' Regarding her relationship with deputy First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly, Ms O'Neill said they are 'completely different characters' with 'completely different backgrounds' and a 'completely different outlook' but 'also very understanding of the fact that we have to work together to try and lead the Executive.' However, the First Minister was critical of what she branded a 'lack of leadership in political unionism, particularly when it comes to issues of bonfires' and its 'faux outrage at times around particular issues'. 'The constant attacks on the GAA tell people who support the GAA and people from an Irish national identity that they're not welcome in this place,' she added. News Catch Up - Monday 28th July 'Political unionism would need to think about that.' Despite a number of rows since the restoration of the Executive last February, Ms O'Neill defended Stormont's record so far. 'We're 18 months in… we have a programme for government, the first in over a decade,' she said. 'We've prioritised health waiting lists and we've put finances in that direction. We've been able to deal with public sector pay.'
New York Times
02-03-2025
- Politics
- New York Times
He Ran a Cartoon About the War in Gaza. Then Gannett Fired Him.
Tony Doris said he never shied away from controversy during his lengthy career at The Palm Beach Post, a Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper in the backyard of President Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort. Mr. Doris, 67, investigated local government, digging into city affairs in West Palm Beach, Fla., over two decades at the paper, most recently as editorial page editor. He didn't expect his career there to end over a cartoon. Gannett, the largest newspaper company in the United States and the owner of The Palm Beach Post, fired Mr. Doris last month after he decided to publish a cartoon about the war in Gaza, Mr. Doris said. The cartoon set off a backlash in Palm Beach, including a rebuke from a local Jewish group that claimed the cartoon was antisemitic, resulting in a quick response from Gannett's senior editors. Mr. Doris said in an interview last week that the cartoon was antiwar, not antisemitic, adding that he thought Gannett's senior editors lacked the fortitude to stand up for their journalists. 'They're afraid of their shadow,' Mr. Doris said, adding, 'I think it speaks to a misunderstanding or failure to engage with the mission of an editorial page.' In a statement, Gannett said that the cartoon 'did not meet our standards,' adding that it 'would not have been published if the proper protocols were followed.' The company did not say what those protocols were or comment on Mr. Doris's termination, citing confidentiality. 'We sincerely regret the error and have taken appropriate action to prevent this from happening again,' said Lark-Marie Antón, a spokeswoman for The Palm Beach Post. In late January, Mr. Doris — who said he was a Jewish supporter of Israel — selected the cartoon to run in a print issue of The Palm Beach Post. The image shows two Israeli soldiers rescuing a hostage captured by Hamas. Under the words 'Some Israeli hostages are home after over a year of merciless war,' one of the soldiers says, 'Watch your step' as he, the rescued hostage and the other soldier walk through a mass of bodies with the label 'over 40,000 Palestinians killed.' Mr. Doris said he expected the image, drawn by a syndicated cartoonist, to cause a minor stir in Palm Beach, which has a vocal Jewish community. But he wasn't prepared for what came next. After the cartoon ran, the Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County bought a full-page ad in the following week's Sunday newspaper condemning the cartoon. After the ad ran, senior editors at Gannett intervened. Mr. Doris said he was suspended within days, and editors at the company met with a group that included Michael Hoffman, the president and chief executive of the federation. Mr. Hoffman said in an interview that the editors from Gannett apologized during the meeting and discussed how the attendees could promote healthy dialogue about issues important to the local Jewish community. Mr. Doris said he was fired the week after the meeting by a senior editor at Gannett who told him that he violated company policies. Mr. Doris said that the editor did not specify what those policies were and added that he was not paid any severance. In an interview, Mr. Hoffman said that he believed the cartoon was antisemitic, partly because it trivialized the plight of hostages captured by Hamas during its Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel and gave more fuel to online hatred of Jewish people. 'Since Oct. 7, the dramatic rise in antisemitism has been the result of how the conflict in Gaza and in Israel has been reported,' Mr. Hoffman said. 'We believe that there has not been a fair and balanced approach toward how the war has been reported.' The cartoonist who drew the image, Jeff Danziger, has drawn many cartoons critical of the war. In an interview on Saturday, he rejected the idea that the cartoon was antisemitic, saying it was 'simply a case of, 'this war's gone on long enough.'' Mr. Danziger, an Army veteran whose father is Jewish, also said that his service as an intelligence officer has made him critical of war. 'I'm a Vietnam veteran, and I think that I know what I'm talking about — at least from the standpoint of war being bad,' Mr. Danziger said. Mr. Doris said in the interview that he did not regret selecting the cartoon that he believes ultimately led to his dismissal. It's fair to 'have the conversation about the horrors of war,' he said, adding that the job of a newspaper opinion page is to raise important issues for their communities. 'I remain convinced that, as corny as it sounds, democracy needs journalists who care about the mission and not just about page views,' Mr. Doris said.
