Gerry Moriarty

2 months ago | irishtimes.com | Gerry Moriarty

Humanity prevailed over inhumanity in a Co Tyrone arts centre this week during the first three days of evidence in the Omagh bombing inquiry. The “horror of the Troubles” is a worn phrase but here it was at its most bare – captured in detailed, distressing form. The Real IRA bombing on August 15th, 1998, killed 29 people, aged 20 months to 66 years and two late-term unborn twin girls who were to be called Eimear and Evelyn. It maimed and injured some 200 more.

Nov 28, 2024 | irishtimes.com | Gerry Moriarty

“Like a dark shadow” was how one of Paul Dunleavy’s victims recalled the damage to his life from the abuse inflicted by the former Christian Brother. Dunleavy (89), with an address in Glen Road, Belfast, was handed a further 10 years in prison at Belfast Crown Court on Thursday. The former teacher and principal was found guilty in September of 36 charges of historical sexual abuse against nine boys.

Nov 1, 2024 | irishtimes.com | Gerry Moriarty

Patrick Radden Keefe, wrapped in a long quilted coat, is standing on Kitchener Street in south Belfast during the filming of Say Nothing, his book about the abduction, murder and disappearance of Jean McConville. It’s winter and it’s cold and grey. This is after eight months of filming the television series by FX Productions, to be screened on Disney+ from November 14th. The New Yorker writer, a Bostonian, is also an executive producer and now an old movie hand.

Sep 21, 2024 | irishtimes.com | Gerry Moriarty

It has been a tough year for the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP). Jeffrey Donaldson resigned as leader in generally known circumstances; the party lost three seats in the Westminster election; and Brexit with its attendant Irish Sea border complications hasn’t turned out so well. Gavin Robinson was seen as the heir apparent to Donaldson but because of those circumstances he was rushed into the leadership much earlier than probably he would have liked.

Sep 21, 2024 | irishtimes.com | Gerry Moriarty

The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) leader Gavin Robinson has pledged a “new approach” to revitalise the party after a period which saw it lose three of its eight Westminster seats and the resignation of its former leader Jeffrey Donaldson. Mr Robinson in his first annual conference as DUP leader also deplored unionist internal wrangling and told more than 200 delegates that he had a “plan to chart a path for a stronger tomorrow”.