Seán Óg

Jesus Moore, you’ve developed quite an obsession with the “rule of law” now that it suits your argument, I have to call you out on your comments and replies here During loyalist unrest and unnotified protests, your language was rather different, you 100% all over the right to protest and explained that a political “vacuum” meant the loyalist grassroots were “taking action.” And that isn’t the only inconsistency. You appear to support protest when it is carried out by people from your own community, but condemn it when nationalists use the same democratic rights. You invoke legality when challenging nationalist voices yet seem far less interested in it when loyalist disorder, intimidation or unlawful parades are involved. You demand that elected representatives respect legal processes, while defending political pressure and street mobilisation when they advance your preferred cause. You have also been quick to condemn nationalist representatives for standing alongside communities during contentious disputes, while treating loyalist politicians’ engagement with protesters, parade organisers and street movements as legitimate political advocacy. When loyalists block roads, threaten disruption or mobilise against political decisions, you frame it as frustration that must be understood, I can find quotes you had made in the past if ye want? When nationalists protest or challenge an arrangement through lawful democratic means, you frame it as defiance of the law. You cannot demand that one community accept every ruling without question while excusing the other community’s refusal to accept decisions it dislikes. Nor can you condemn “political interference” when nationalists speak out, then defend political pressure when it comes from loyalist representatives. The rule of law isn’t a slogan you dust off when nationalists exercise rights you dislike. It applies equally to loyalists, republicans, politicians, protesters and everyone else. And elected representatives standing with residents does not give them the power to “dictate” anyone’s legal rights. Those rights, and their lawful limits, are determined through the relevant legal and statutory processes. If you genuinely believe in the rule of law, Moore, defend it consistently. Otherwise, what you’re defending isn’t the rule of law at all,’it’s the rule of law when it’s in the loyalist community