Silence of unionists is obscene

We have all become acclimatised or accustomed to the shrill voices of protest from Ulster over a whole range of complaints, especially the incessant unionist denunciations of republicans.

Many of the unionist grievances have undoubtedly been justified, but those would be taken more seriously if the unionists also denounced the sordid excesses of those on their own side of the sectarian divide.

David Trimble, Ian Paisley, and Jeffrey Donaldson have been voluble in complaining about both the behaviour of republicans and the failure of Sinn Féin to ensure that their colleagues stopped the thuggery of punishment beatings.

Yet the same unionist leaders have adopted what can only be called an obscene silence in response to the horrific loyalist attack on Harry McCartan, the alleged joyrider who was badly beaten and left almost dead, after he was crucified to a wooden stile in the Dunmurry area of Belfast on Saturday.

The attack bore the hallmarks of a carefully planned execution that all decent people should condemn. Yet the only response from the unionists or loyalists has been a sordid message from the Ulster Defence Association claiming credit for the outrage.

If so-called leaders remain silent in the face of such barbarity, it makes a mockery of their supposed concern for human rights. It could also be a mute and chilling warning of the likely triumph of evil in their midst.