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Mid Ulster byelection sees rivals with bitter pasts face off at the ballot box Troubles haunt Mid Ulster byelection
(about 1 hour later)
A parliamentary byelection in Mid Ulster has turned toxic over allegations and counter-allegations that a Sinn Fein candidate was involved in murdering his unionist rival's father. A parliamentary byelection in Mid Ulster has turned toxic over allegations that a Sinn Féin candidate was involved in murdering his unionist rival's father. With just four days left before voting, the atmosphere in the rural constituency has been further poisoned this weekend by revelations that the Unionist Unity candidate is related to a loyalist paramilitary killer.
With just four days left before voting, the atmosphere in the rural constituency has been further poisoned this weekend following revelations that the Unionist Unity candidate is related to a loyalist paramilitary killer. To grassroots unionists, the candidacy of Nigel Lutton, who works for terrorist victims and is the son of a police officer murdered by the IRA, signals a possible end to internal unionist divisions. At the same time, Sinn Féin's Francie Molloy personifies all that unionists west of the River Bann fear and loathe. Molloy was named under parliamentary privilege as part of the IRA unit that shot dead Lutton's father, Frederick, in 1979. Molloy strenuously denies the claim and stresses his credentials as a veteran supporter of the peace process.
To grassroots unionists, the candidacy of Nigel Lutton, the son of a police officer murdered by the IRA who works for terrorist victims, signalsa possible end to internal divisions within unionism. Inside a "men's shed"– an informal community centre – local men from the Monrush estate in Cookstown throw darts, drink tea, smoke and joke about a Sinn Féin election poster they have pasted on to a wall with Molloy's face covered by a paramilitary-style balaclava.
Meanwhile, Sinn Fein's Francie Molloy personifies all that unionists living west of the River Bann fear and loathe. Molloy was named under parliamentary privilege as part of the IRA unit that shot dead Lutton's father Frederick in 1979. Molloy strenously denies the claim and stresses his credentials as a veteran supporter of the peace process. In the Co Tyrone market town, loyalists in their 20s and 30s say the "Mid Ulster experiment" with the Unionist Unity candidate should be rolled out to every constituency.
Inside a so-called "men's shed"– an informal community centre – local men from the Monrush housing estate in Cookstown throw darts, drink tea, smoke and joke about a Sinn Fein election poster they have pasted onto a wall with Molloy's face covered by a paramilitary style balaclava. Thomas Chambers, who lives on the estate, says while he has always voted, he can think of at least eight friends who will take part for the first time in years, putting their X beside Lutton on the ballot paper. "This is the way forward, to see unionism uniting rather than dividing. It will set a precedent and I hope it is the way to win back seats all over Northern Ireland," the 27-year-old says.
In the Co. Tyrone market town loyalists in their 20s and 30s, say the "Mid Ulster experiment" with the Unionist Unity candidate should be rolled out in every constituency. His friend, Andrew Donnell, agrees, claiming there are people on the estate who have never voted before this week's byelection, which was triggered by the Sinn Féin MP Martin McGuinness standing down. As deputy first minister of Northern Ireland, McGuinness gave up the seat as part of Sinn Féin's policy of no double-jobbing. "I'd go further and say it's about time we had a single unionist party, and stop forever splitting the unionist vote. Selecting Nigel brings that step closer, hopefully," Donnell, 34, says.
Thomas Chambers, who lives on the estate, said that while he has always voted he can think of at least eight or nine friends who will, for the first time in years, put their X beside Lutton on the ballot paper. Mid Ulster is a classic zero-sum game sectarian headcount where nationalists and unionists vote for the best candidate to keep "the other side out".
"This is the way forward, to see unionism uniting rather than dividing. It will set a precedent and I hope it is the way to win back seats all over Northern Ireland," the 27-year-old says. Cookstown is a microcosm of the sectarian divisions with its main street divided in two: the north end predominantlyProtestant-unionist; the south side overwhelmingly Catholic-nationalist.
His friend, 34-year-old Andrew Donnell agrees, claiming that there are people on the estate who have never voted before this week's by-election, which was triggered by Sinn Fein MP Martin McGuinness standing down. As deputy first minister of Northern Ireland, McGuinness gave up the seat as part of Sinn Fein's policy of no double-jobbing. Revelations on Sunday that Lutton's uncle Joey had been jailed for life for his part in sectarian murders for the Ulster Volunteer Force are likely to push more voters in the south end of Cookstown and throughout nationalist Mid Ulster towards Sinn Féin on Thursday.
"I'd go further and say its about time we had a single unionist party, and stop forever splitting the unionist vote. Selecting Nigel brings that step closer, hopefully," Donnell says.
Mid Ulster is a classic zero-sum game sectarian headcount where nationalists and unionists vote for the best candidate to keep "the other side out."
Cookstown is a microcosm of the sectarian divisions with its mainstreet divided in two: the north end predominantly Protestant-Unionist; the southside overwhelmingly Catholic-Nationalist.
Revelations on Sunday that Lutton's uncle Joey was jailed for life for his part in sectarian murders for the Ulster Volunteer Force are turn likely to push more voters on the south end of Cookstown and throughout nationalist Mid Ulster towards Sinn Fein this Thursday.