This paper has condemned sectarian attacks by thugs from nationalist areas on their Protestant neighbours. We do so without hesitation and in a forthright and unequivocal manner. Futhermore, we expect no-one in this community to give succour, support or cover to sectarian louts involved in interface violence. Sinn Féin and the SDLP have echoed this stance.
How come then that we can't get the DUP to adopt a similarly robust attitude to the organised, systematic campaign of violence being waged by loyalist paramilitaries against isolated Catholic communities?
On RTÉ yesterday (Sunday), the DUP leader Ian Paisley claimed that he enjoyed good relations with "law-abiding" Catholics in his North Antrim constituency, where attacks on Catholic homes, churches and schools have been most prevalent.
One wonders just what differentiates law-abiding Catholics from law-breaking Catholics in the DUP leader's eyes. What an absurd differentiation.
The suggestion that some Catholics in North Antrim are law-breakers will be welcomed by loyalist paramilitaries already emboldened by the daft PSNI suggestion that the bigots behind the Ahoghill attacks on Catholics were not motivated by sectarian hatred.
But more importantly, what is the DUP going to do to demonstrate to loyalist paramilitaries that their activities are unacceptable? Words are all very well but nationalists want to see deeds. That means an end to meetings where DUP elected representatives sit down with paramilitaries to discuss parades, the issuing of propaganda newspapers, or any other issue.
When the DUP can show — in word and deeds — that it will have no truck with the paramilitaries then nationalists will consider them fit for government.
