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Reposted by Patrick Corrigan

Patrick Corrigan @patrick-corrigan.bsky.social · 9d

This Thursday evening Shimna College in Newcastle, Co Down will host a very timely lecture by former International Criminal Court judge Sir Howard Morrison KC:

The International Rule of Law in a Changing World Order

Free tickets: www.shimnaintegratedcollege.org/post/gordon-...

Judge Howard Morrison enters a courtroom at the International Criminal Court – © ICC-CPI

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Reposted by Patrick Corrigan

Patrick Corrigan @patrick-corrigan.bsky.social · 8d

Sunday World journalist Hugh Jordan has revealed he is one of the 8 journalists now known to have had their telephone data accessed by the PSNI. All almost certainly unlawfully.

He was informed by Angus McCullough KC, who has investigated PSNI use of covert surveillance powers.

Sunday World article: summary -- The Sunday World’s Hugh Jordan was informed this week that he was one of eight reporters who had been spied on by the PSNI. Today the veteran reporter says the authorities should always remember that journalism isn’t a crime.

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Patrick Corrigan @patrick-corrigan.bsky.social · 8d

Sunday World journalist Hugh Jordan has revealed he is one of the 8 journalists now known to have had their telephone data accessed by the PSNI. All almost certainly unlawfully.

He was informed by Angus McCullough KC, who has investigated PSNI use of covert surveillance powers.

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Patrick Corrigan @patrick-corrigan.bsky.social · 9d

This Thursday evening Shimna College in Newcastle, Co Down will host a very timely lecture by former International Criminal Court judge Sir Howard Morrison KC:

The International Rule of Law in a Changing World Order

Free tickets: www.shimnaintegratedcollege.org/post/gordon-...

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Reposted by Patrick Corrigan

Amnesty International NI @amnestyni.bsky.social · 10d

Sunday World journalist Martin O’Hagan was shot dead by paramilitaries in Northern Ireland on this day in 2001.

No one has ever been held accountable.

We demand the Police Ombudsman’s report is published — and a fresh investigation into his murder. www.amnesty.org.uk/press-releas...

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Patrick Corrigan @patrick-corrigan.bsky.social · 13d

Thanks Paul. We will keep pushing.

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Reposted by Patrick Corrigan

Amnesty International NI @amnestyni.bsky.social · 13d

Amnesty International has written to Northern Ireland Secretary of State Hilary Benn to request a public inquiry into unlawful state surveillance in Northern Ireland.

Amnesty's @patrick-corrigan.bsky.social spoke to Paul Clark at UTV News to explain why. #PressFreedom

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Patrick Corrigan @patrick-corrigan.bsky.social · 19d

The report of the McCullough Review into PSNI covert surveillance of journalists, lawyers and others will be published on Wednesday 24 September, 11:30am.

More: www.mcculloughreview.org/news/arrange...

McCullough Review: Arrangements for publication of the Review report on Wednesday 24 September 2025

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Patrick Corrigan @patrick-corrigan.bsky.social · 21d

The most telling aspect of Donald Trump's state visit to the UK is that it's all taking place behind closed doors, walls and high barriers designed to keep ordinary people out of sight. Speaks volumes.

Screenshot of BBC report: Trump visit will be out of sight of public.
Photo caption: Security fences have been set up in front of Windsor Castle

There have been protesters in Windsor with anti-Trump placards while US flags are hung along the high street in welcome.

But the visiting president won’t see either opponents or supporters, because the visit is going to take place entirely away from the public.

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Patrick Corrigan @patrick-corrigan.bsky.social · 23d

Latest hearing in the PSNI covert surveillance of journalists scandal will take place today, 10:30am at the Investigatory Powers Tribunal, London.

This time it involves well-known journalists Vincent Kearney, Chris Moore and BBC vs PSNI, the Met, MI5 and others. #PressFreedom

Text: IN THE INVESTIGATORY POWERS TRIBUNAL

At 10:30am

BETWEEN

(1) MR VINCENT KEARNEY

(2) BRITISH BROADCASTING CORPORATION

CLAIMANTS

and

THE CHIEF CONSTABLE OF THE POLICE SERVICE OF NORTHERN IRELAND and OTHERS

RESPONDENT

And

MR CHRISTOPHER DAVID SAMUEL MOORE

CLAIMANTS

and

THE CHIEF CONSTABLE OF THE POLICE SERVICE OF NORTHERN IRELAND and OTHERS

RESPONDENT

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Reposted by Patrick Corrigan

Patrick Corrigan @patrick-corrigan.bsky.social · 28d

There are 2938 publications on the Department of Education NI website, some of them going back to the 1980s.

But it is a research report about the experiences of LGBT pupils in NI post-primary schools that the Department has chosen to delete to keep the site 'up to date'. 🤔

Screenshot of list of documents from the 1980s on the NI Department of Education website

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Patrick Corrigan @patrick-corrigan.bsky.social · 28d

There are 2938 publications on the Department of Education NI website, some of them going back to the 1980s.

But it is a research report about the experiences of LGBT pupils in NI post-primary schools that the Department has chosen to delete to keep the site 'up to date'. 🤔

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Patrick Corrigan @patrick-corrigan.bsky.social · 28d

Findings included:

🏳️‍🌈 lack of teaching about LGBT issues on curriculum

🏳️‍🌈 unhelpful sexual health educ

🏳️‍🌈 almost 4/10 pupils saying they were made to feel uncomfortable by teachers

🏳️‍🌈 those who reported bullying to staff being left unsatisfied by how complaint was handled.

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Patrick Corrigan @patrick-corrigan.bsky.social · 28d

The best way for the Minister to ensure up-to-date research on the experiences of LGBT pupils in our schools is to commission new research.

Previous research found 2/3 of LGBT young people did not feel welcomed or valued in their NI post-primary school. www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-nort...

Two-thirds of LGBT pupils 'feel unwelcome at NI schools'

Almost half of LGBT young people have experienced bullying due to their sexual orientation, research finds.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Patrick Corrigan @patrick-corrigan.bsky.social · 28d

🏳️‍🌈 Want to read the research on experiences of LGBT pupils in NI schools which Minister Paul Givan says has been removed from Department of Education website 'to ensure the information is up to date'?

You can still (at least for now) download it from the Department website: tinyurl.com/4dh78t78

Front cover of research report: POST-PRIMARY SCHOOL EXPERIENCES OF 16-21 YEAR OLD PEOPLE WHO ARE LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL AND/OR TRANSGENDER (LGBT)

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Patrick Corrigan @patrick-corrigan.bsky.social · Sep 3

Given that around a quarter of those arrested (14 out of 53) were children, the % of adult male racist rioters previously reported to the police for domestic violence is even greater than the 36% reported here.

"In the ensuing days of violent disorder, described by police as "racist thuggery", families were burned out of their homes and more than 100 police officers were injured.

Around a quarter of those arrested (14) were aged under 18.

According to police data, minors are statistically rare perpetrators of domestic abuse, accounting for less than 4% of cases each year.

Last month, The Detail reported that almost half of those arrested for the August 2024 race riots in Belfast had previously been reported for domestic abuse. Nine of the 48 people arrested were minors."

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Patrick Corrigan @patrick-corrigan.bsky.social · Sep 3

More than a third of those arrested during the violent disorder in Ballymena and surrounding towns had previously been reported to the PSNI for domestic abuse - @thedetailtv.bsky.social @lukejbutterly.bsky.social www.thedetail.tv/articles/one...

One in three arrested for Ballymena riots had been reported for domestic abuse

“They use the language of ‘violence against women and girls’ as a smokescreen to cover for the racism"

www.thedetail.tv

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Patrick Corrigan @patrick-corrigan.bsky.social · Sep 3

Remember those 'defenders of women and girls'...?

One in three arrested for Ballymena racist riots had been reported for domestic abuse -
@thedetailtv.bsky.social @lukejbutterly.bsky.social

Image of racist violence with headline: One in three arrested for Ballymena riots had been reported for domestic abuse - screenshot from The Detail article by Luke Butterly

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Patrick Corrigan @patrick-corrigan.bsky.social · Sep 1

For context: Policy Exchange is among the least transparent think tanks in the UK regarding its funding sources.

Co-founder and first chairman Michael Gove wrote a pamphlet in 2000 comparing the Good Friday Agreement to the appeasement of the Nazis in the 1930s.

Headline from Belfast Telegraph: Claims NI peace deal stops UK leaving ECHR ‘entirely groundless’ – think tank

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Reposted by Patrick Corrigan

Amnesty International UK @amnestyuk.bsky.social · Aug 28

Racist crimes hit record high in Northern Ireland.

Behind these figures are real families living in fear of racist hate every day.

This crisis has been developing for years, fuelled by complacency and inaction.

Northern Ireland needs an effective anti-racism strategy NOW

@amnestyni.bsky.social

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Patrick Corrigan @patrick-corrigan.bsky.social · Aug 20

Family of migrants including 2-year-old hid in attic while their home was targeted during racially-motivated Ballymena rioting...

...by the self-styled 'defenders of women and children' www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/courts/...

Toddler hidden in attic while migrant family’s home was targeted during racially-motivated Ballymena rioting

A family of eleven migrants hid an attic as their home was broken into during racially-motivated rioting in Ballymena, the High Court heard today.

www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk

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Patrick Corrigan @patrick-corrigan.bsky.social · Aug 18

The recently published PSNI Race and Ethnicity Action Plan has about 5000 words.

None of them is 'paramilitary' or similar.

Meanwhile: A UDA gang is warning that it plans to force every immigrant out of the Rathcoole estate in Newtownabbey www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sunday-life/...

UDA thugs draw up immigrant expulsion hit-list in NI estate

A UDA gang is warning that it plans to force every immigrant out of the Rathcoole estate in Newtownabbey.

www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk

Reposted by Patrick Corrigan

Amnesty International NI @amnestyni.bsky.social · Aug 16

Amnesty International has called on the PSNI to “uphold people’s right to protest against the genocide being perpetrated in Gaza.”

“The police have obligations under the Human Rights Act and international law to facilitate the right to peaceful protest.” www.irishnews.com/news/norther...

Protest organiser warned of potential criminal charges over Palestine Action displays in crowd

Ahead of multiple protests this weekend, Derry organiser told she could face criminal action over her name being on Parades Commission documents

www.irishnews.com

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Patrick Corrigan @patrick-corrigan.bsky.social · Aug 15

Military components made locally ‘may end up in Israel’ for use in Gaza, internal Invest NI emails reveal

Two Sinn Féin Economy Ministers previously said they had “been assured that Invest NI does not support projects that supply arms to Israel” www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/business/nor...

Military components made locally ‘may end up in Israel’ for use in Gaza, internal Invest NI emails reveal

Invest NI believes there are companies based in Northern Ireland “supplying components to larger companies that may ultimately end up in Israel” for use in the current conflict in Gaza, internal email...

www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk

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Reposted by Patrick Corrigan

Amnesty International NI @amnestyni.bsky.social · Aug 12

Amnesty International has written to PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boutcher following the arrest of a woman for wearing a 'Palestine Action' T-shirt.

Arresting people on terrorism offences for wearing a T-shirt flies in the face of international human rights law. www.amnesty.org.uk/press-releas...

Excerpt: I am writing regarding the policing of protest related to the proscription of Palestine Action and the violations of international human rights law that this has involved. I write following the arrest of a woman on Saturday 9th August at a Refugees Welcome rally in Belfast which I addressed.

Since Palestine Action was proscribed on 5th July 2025, there have been a series of protests by groups and individuals opposed to that decision. These protests have occurred in various locations including in Northern Ireland, where protesters have displayed signs or worn t-shirts with messages such as, ‘I Oppose Genocide. I Support Palestine Action’ or similar.

These protests have been entirely peaceful. Nevertheless, as you will know, very large numbers of these protesters have been arrested for offences under Sections 12 and 13 of the Terrorism Act 2000 across the UK, including now in Northern Ireland. The arrest of otherwise peaceful protesters solely for expressing the statement ‘I Oppose Genocide. I Support Palestine Action’ is a violation of the UK’s international obligations to protect the rights of freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

Further arrests on this basis would violate international human rights law. As such, we urge you to instruct your officers to comply with the UK’s international obligations and act with restraint in their response to any such protests that occur, by not arresting protesters who display messages that state they oppose genocide and support Palestine Action.

Under the international human rights framework to which the UK is a party, state interference with expression and peaceful assembly must be lawful, and a necessary and proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim. In this context, protest speech can only be criminalised if it incites violence or advocates hatred or discrimination.

Excerpt: The High Court in England & Wales has recently granted permission for Palestine Action to pursue judicial review proceedings against their proscription. In doing so the High Court has ruled that it is at least arguable that the proscription of Palestine Action was unlawful. The legal foundation for the section 12 and 13 offences under which arrests have taken place up to now is therefore in doubt, and subject to what the court referred to as a ‘serious issue to be tried’. In these circumstances, continuing to implement arrests would be a reckless use of police power, and inevitably risk breaching the test of legality.

People are understandably and justifiably outraged by the ongoing genocide being committed by Israel against Palestinians in Gaza. They are entitled under international human rights law to peacefully express themselves. There is no reasonable basis for peaceful protesters to be regarded as inciting violence. It is therefore disproportionate, and a clear violation of the UK’s human rights obligations, to be arresting and treating them as terrorists.

We urge you to ensure the PSNI’s approach to such protests is in compliance with the international human rights standards to which the UK has signed up.

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