Northern Ireland Archives

Queen Elizabeth II statue sparks backlash, critics say it misses the mark

September 12, 2024
A newly unveiled statue of the late Queen Elizabeth II is sparking controversy in the United Kingdom. While officials in Northern Ireland described the bronze statue as capturing her grace and dedication, reactions online were anything but flattering.

The statue, created by artist Anto Brennan, stands alongside Prince Philip and their corgis in Antrim Castle Gardens. Brennan is known for his political caricature work, and some feel his style didn’t translate well in this tribute to the late monarch.

Some compared the statue to the movie character Mrs. Doubtfire, while one critic suggested it should be “removed and melted down.” Even British art historian Richard Morris called it a “very poor representation,” saying he couldn’t identify the queen until reading the plaque.

With social media reactions turning hostile, comments were later turned off on the official online post. The local council is standing by the statue, saying it is being “warmly received by most who have seen it in person.” The council is now encouraging visitors to see it for themselves.
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Anti-immigration signs spark hate crime probes in Northern Ireland

November 30, 2023
United Kingdom police are investigating a potential hate crime after anti-immigration signs were posted throughout Belfast, Northern Ireland. Signage in the area declares that the community “will no longer accept the re-housing of illegal immigrants.”

This is the second investigation into similar signage in Northern Ireland’s capital city this month. Political leaders condemn the signs but express concerns about housing in the area, leading to “resentment and anger.”

Northern Ireland Secretary of State Chris Heaton-Harris encourages elected officials to help temper rhetoric as a measure against an increase in anti-immigrant extremism.

“We need to, as a society, have a proper debate about migration, immigration, what we need in skills, and how we treat people and what pressures it brings to our domestic services,” Heaton-Harris said. “These need to be articulated by mainstream politicians because if we don’t articulate them, then we do leave a vacuum for other people who might not be as benign as we are.”

Reuters

It comes in the wake of riots in Dublin after an Algerian naturalized Irish citizen was accused of stabbing three children and a caretaker outside a Dublin Catholic primary school last week. Social media commentators incorrectly identified the alleged assailant as an undocumented immigrant, leading anti-immigration rioters to set fire to Dublin’s city center.

Reuters

Justice Minister Helen McEntee has said she is looking to meet with social media company X, formerly known as Twitter, concerning its response to riots in Dublin.

The minister has said that Gardai — the Irish national police — had “actively engaged” with the social media companies on the day of the riots in Dublin, which saw vehicles set alight and shops looted. Tens of millions of damage to public infrastructure has been done in disorder involving 500 people, according to Irish police estimates.

Reuters

Days before the riot, hundreds of people gathered in Rosslare, Ireland, to oppose plans to convert a second hotel into refugee accommodations. Ireland saw a nearly 900% increase in refugees last year.
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Top 3 security stories so far this year that are raising major intel concerns

April 14, 2023

Over the last several months, the United States has seen numerous incidents of classified documents having been either mishandled or leaked to the public. Here are three of the biggest examples of this occurring so far this year, and why concern has grown over the government’s handling of mishaps like these.

1. Classified documents at homes of Biden, Trump and Pence

First, there was a bevy of classified files that several members of past presidential administrations had improperly been keeping at their private residences. President Joe Biden, former President Donald Trump and former Vice President Mike Pence were all found to have brought documents back to their homes after their terms in office. The records found in Biden’s Delaware home were from his time serving as vice president in the Obama administration, while the Department of Justice has been probing the classified files discovered at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence.

2. Biden security plans on streets of Belfast

Next, local police documents detailing security protocols for Biden’s visit to Ireland were discovered after having been left on a street in Belfast. This came amid heightened security concerns and a rash of political violence in Northern Ireland. The terrorism threat in the area had been raised to “severe” ahead of of the president’s visit. The names, phone numbers and addresses of top Northern Ireland police officers were shared in the found material.

3: Air National Guard member’s intelligence leaks

Meanwhile, most recently, the FBI arrested Jack Teixeira, a 21-year-old member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard, over classified documents that were leaked on the internet. That leak exposed potentially hundreds of pages of intelligence about Russian efforts in Ukraine and spying on U.S. allies. Charging documents reveal that one of the posted documents “described the status of the Russia Ukraine conflict, including troop movements.”

As the government ponders this recent rash of security concerns, CNN’s What Matters newsletter has pointed to the more than 1 million people that currently hold Top Secret security clearance as a possible source of these problems. Information is classified as top secret if it “reasonably could be expected to cause exceptionally grave damage to the national security,” according to a 2009 executive order that describes the classification system.
Biden security scare after secret itinerary, police document found in Belfast street

April 13, 2023

A mishap during President Biden’s visit to Northern Ireland created a security scare. A top secret document detailing the president’s itinerary and security operation was stumbled upon by a man on the streets of Belfast.

The police of Northern Ireland confirmed there was a security breach around the United States president’s visit to their country. The classified document ended up in the hands of a resident who just so happened to come across the document out in the open.

The document contained highly sensitive information, including a detailed schedule of Biden’s trip along with information about officer personnel assisting the president during his travels. The names, phone numbers and addresses of top Northern Ireland police officers were shared in the found material.

The security scare comes at a time of unrest in the region. Pipe bombs were discovered in a cemetery on the day of President Biden’s arrival. Additionally, police patrol cars have been firebombed as attacks on police became more prevalent ahead of the president’s arrival.

The Secret Service has acknowledged reports of the classified document leak on the streets of Northern Ireland and says the president’s travel plans have not been impacted.

This comes as the federal government is facing scrutiny amid the greatest military and intelligence leak in more than a decade.