Robin Livingstone

ROBIN LIVINGSTONE: Gerry Adams appeal was a round too far for battered BBCNI

AFTER the Gerry Adams libel trial, BBCNI had two options: Suck it up or appeal. Given the savage battering that was dealt to the local branch of the corporation, an appeal would at first blush appeared to have been a no-brainer.

ROBIN LIVINGSTONE: Floundering BBC Ulster has no idea Gerry Adams is pulling their chain

THE fact that BBCNI thinks that its adherence to a British ethos is a matter for debate instead of a simple statement of fact is perhaps the most powerful indicator of BBCNI’s adherence to a British ethos.

ROBIN LIVINGSTONE: Adams' libel gamble was as huge as the BBCNI loss – but the verdict could be a win all round

THE victory of Gerry Adams in his libel case against BBCNI could be the best thing that could happen to Ormeau Avenue, if they could but bring themselves to acknowledge it.

BOOKS: Latest Kincora exposé a work of humanity, not just reportage

THE days of journalists being given a week, two weeks, a month, to go off and pursue single stories are virtually at an end. Long-form investigative pieces to all intents and purposes don’t exist any more and as newspapers struggle to come to terms with falling sales and dwindling readerships, the reality of life as a reporter has changed utterly.

REVEALED: The jawdropping evidence that helped Winkie Irvine beat UVF rap

TODAY, we exclusively reveal the two vital documents that saw a court this week clear definitely-not-in-the-UVF man Winkie Irvine of being in the UVF. The first is a Sunday newspaper lifestyle piece from 2021 in which Mr Irvine gives details of a typical day in the life of Loyal Ulster's most famous non-UVF peacebuilder. It provides a vivid insight into the mind of the Ballysillan Gandhi and blows out of the water the claim that Mr Irvine is a member of the feared loyalist paramilitary group.

ROBIN LIVINGSTONE: Rangers fans singing about killing Catholics? Who saw that coming?

SSE Arena management and its various licensees aren’t known to be lacking when it comes to basic forward planning, otherwise they’d be picking up their P45s this week along with those Rangers fans filmed singing The Billy Boys there on Friday night.

ROBIN LIVINGSTONE: The necessary myth of WWII: Loyal Ulster went AWOL

YOU’D have to ask somebody who knows a lot more than I do about military history why VE Day in this little corner of Paradise was marked by duvet-sized union jacks, sword-dancing and loyalist bands.

ROBIN LIVINGSTONE: No surprises as Kneecap All-Stars 2025 team named

Tough decision for judges in a year chock-full of outstanding contributions to consistency

ROBIN LIVINGSTONE: James McClean gets ignored – for once

JAMES McClean has just enjoyed perhaps the greatest moment of his storied career. His team Wrexham claimed their third promotion in a row and this year’s one was a doozie. He’s now captain of a Championship team about to launch an assault on the Premiership summit – and as if that’s not exciting enough for the Derry player, his team is owned by a couple of Hollywood stars.

Martin Brennan: Sligo farmer is the unlikely face of a new rebel army

BOOK REVIEW

Crack on with the UVF Moygashel Mardi Gras

I COULDN’T care less if Moygashel wants to pay tribute to one of the UDR men who slaughtered the Miami Showband.

ROBIN LIVINGSTONE: Billy Boys take on Wolfe Tones in crunch TV tie

HERE’S a simple statement of fact: Linfield fans sang ‘The Billy Boys’ on Saturday during their win over Glentoran at Windsor Park.

All aboard for UVF flags, Irish signs and a DUP bus fuss

DEPUTY First Minister Emma Little-Pengelly is concerned about the prospect of the new Grand Central Station saying ‘Fáilte’ to its customers. So concerned, indeed, that the DUP Lagan Valley MLA felt it her bounden duty to bring the matter up at the Thursday meeting of the Stormont Executive.

ROBIN LIVINGSTONE: David Trimble’s Catholic problem was well hidden

DAVID Trimble didn’t like Catholics.

ROBIN LIVINGSTONE: Me and the drink: How Covid advanced then ended my beer career

I HAD the worst hangover I’ve had in twenty years on Sunday. It started out as a dull but manageable frontal lobe ache, but by mid-afternoon it had promoted itself to an all-cranium eye-scruncher oblivious to the ministrations of Messrs Nurofen and Panadol.

NIFL Premiership: Reds boost playoff hopes with comeback win at Carrick

NIFL Premiership: Magilton excited for Cup final build-up as Reds return to league action

Gaelic Games: Rossa fend off Ballycastle rally to claim opening win

Gaelic Games: Carryduff win cross-city clash at Sarsfield's

TUV want Casement renamed after a British royal – and Andytown doesn't rule it out

ROBIN LIVINGSTONE: David Trimble’s Catholic problem was well hidden

SQUINTER: Loyalist Human Resources departments thrive

WE SAY: Irish language signage victory was inevitable

Robin Livingstone

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