Talk:Martina Anderson

Latest comment: 6 years ago by InternetArchiveBot in topic External links modified

Brighton bombing edit

I've removed the claim that Anderson was convicted in relation to this, because she wasn't. It's confusing because although all five people arrested in Glasgow were tried at the same time, only Magee was charged over the Brighton bombing but he was also charged in the conspiracy case involving the other four as well. See this Guardian article for more information. One Night In Hackney303 10:50, 21 March 2007 (UTC)Reply

Office edit

Is it an apprpriate use of the template to list her office as "Director of Unionist Engagement"? This is her job in Sinn Fein, not an official (ie government) post. beano 13:45, 23 May 2007 (UTC)Reply

Racism edit

A revert has been made without any new edit summary. What has been added is a extended quote that repeats much of the background earlier in the para. Wikipedia is not a soapbox.Traditional unionist (talk) 21:57, 20 April 2008 (UTC)Reply

LEditors cannot ignore discussion. The article is currently a soapbox for Anderson. It repeats the same piece of information twice in the same para.Traditional unionist (talk) 18:30, 21 April 2008 (UTC)Reply

TU you added "Employment monitoring by the Equality Commission records solely religion, and not political affiliation." I have attempted to now put it into context, though as a footnote it would work equally as well. --Domer48 (talk) 19:05, 21 April 2008 (UTC)Reply

The article still reads like a propaganda sheet. The extensive quote is unnecessary.Traditional unionist (talk) 11:06, 22 April 2008 (UTC)Reply

The editor who first introduced this section intended it to be negative propaganda, with the addition of text not contained in the sources. I simply placed the context of the remarks in their true light and based on the sources provided. It was not me for example who titled this tread "Racism," which was also the context that was implyed on the article itself. --Domer48 (talk) 12:12, 22 April 2008 (UTC)Reply

What that user intended is irrelevent. She said it, and it was reported. What Wikipedia should not be doing, is reproducing extended quotes. What you should not be doing is turning on POV into another.Traditional unionist (talk) 12:14, 22 April 2008 (UTC)Reply

What that user intended is not irrelevent. I put what she said (qouted) in context, with no POV at all. --Domer48 (talk) 12:22, 22 April 2008 (UTC)Reply

What you did, was add an extended quote, which largly remains. That is not encylopedic.Traditional unionist (talk) 12:25, 22 April 2008 (UTC)Reply

Your an editor, change it. Just make sure the substance and context remains, and not this racism spin. --Domer48 (talk) 12:31, 22 April 2008 (UTC)Reply

And you know very well that discussion is how concensus is arrived at. Yet you seem reluctant to engage.....Traditional unionist (talk) 12:32, 22 April 2008 (UTC)Reply

This has nothing to do with concensus, I have suggested you change the text. In place of a quote, insert text which reflects what she said, and avoide the rasism spin which was placed on it. Simple! --Domer48 (talk) 12:37, 22 April 2008 (UTC)Reply

Actually, thats not my spin. It was brought up at what is in effect a journal of note on NI politics.Traditional unionist (talk) 15:50, 22 April 2008 (UTC)Reply

I have re-insted the encyclopedic content of the original edit, and have provided a reference to justify the "controvercy" word, it is a published piece by an elected representitive, this is a primary example of a controvercy prompted by Ms Anderson's words. My edit is free from any agenda, and conforms to all wikipedia policy and has good encyclopedic value, extended quotes, which can themselves be found in the references DO NOT. Case closed.Ulster_Vanguard (talk) 01:10, 23 April 2008 (UTC)Reply

Controversy edit

At the most, the letter-to-the-editor only proves that a Unionist politician wrote a letter complaining about Anderson's comments. That hardly indicates a larger controversy. All-in-all, Mr. Vanguard, you have failed utterly to prove your point or back up your POV. ---RepublicanJacobiteThe'FortyFive' 01:54, 23 April 2008 (UTC)Reply

Well, Mr Jacobite, or may I call you Republican, I have now supplied a full article and reworded my edit to read "attracted criticism" rather than "caused controvercy". In the words of Margaret Richie; "no surrender"....Ulster_Vanguard (talk) 04:26, 23 April 2008 (UTC)Reply

I have undone some recent edits, the revision to my edit were not encyclopedic - if you want to includes all that then write a new page about it. Also, describing them as "migrant workers" is not correct, as they are perminantly resident in the UK and have no intention whatever of returning to their country of origin, if in fact they are not already "second generation" as it wereUlster_Vanguard (talk) 07:59, 23 April 2008 (UTC)Reply

Well get your references? --Domer48 (talk) 08:03, 23 April 2008 (UTC)Reply

Try the latest edit for sizeUlster_Vanguard (talk) 08:26, 23 April 2008 (UTC)Reply

letters to an editor from an opponent are hardly relaible. BigDunc (talk) 09:07, 23 April 2008 (UTC)Reply

I reverted this unreferenced information per WP:BLP. --Domer48 (talk) 10:37, 23 April 2008 (UTC)Reply

Recent edits edit

This article has recently come under POV attack with WP:BLP violations being repeatedly added.

  • First attempt - Claims of controversy and racism were sourced by a blog, which is a BLP violation. Not only were they sourced by a blog, they were not even sourced by the original blogger, but random people commenting on it. This is totally unacceptable per BLP. Also nowhere in either the original blog or the BBC article was the term "Eastern European" ever used.
  • Third attempt - claims her remarks caused controversy and solely sourced by the BBC article which says no such thing, and again makes the unsourced Eastern European claim. This despite a BLP warning on the editor's talk page.
  • Fourth attempt - claims her remarks caused controversy because some Loyalist councillor had written to complain to a newspaper. Sorry, but the best that sources is something along the lines of "Her remarks caused a Loyalist councillor to write to a newspaper". Agains makes claims about Eastern Europeans not supported by the source, and similarly with just the PSNI. Second BLP warning ignored.
  • Fifth attempt - claims she attracted criticism. The source says nothing like that. The exact phrases used by the source are "DUP MP Gregory Campbell said Sinn Fein was trying to obscure the true picture" and "He said Sinn Fein had a problem with what the figures were showing" - nowhere is Anderson criticised. And yet again, unsourced claims about Eastern Europeans and just the PSNI.
  • Sixth attempt - yet again unsourced claims about Eastern Europeans.

In addition there has been constant removal of what Anderson actually said, claiming it is not a soapbox for her. Well neither is it a soapbox for Loyalist councillors to criticise her without giving her the right of reply and being quoted properly as the secondary sources do. NPOV demands both or neither are included. BigDunc (talk) 13:02, 23 April 2008 (UTC)Reply

Calling Ross Hussey a loyalist could be deemed defamatory, and is highly pejorativeTraditional unionist (talk) 13:06, 23 April 2008 (UTC)Reply

TU is that really the best you can do?--Domer48 (talk) 13:08, 23 April 2008 (UTC)Reply

In what way is calling someone a loyalist going to harm the reputation of an individual, which is what is needed for Defamation. Are they not loyal to the crown. Or is loyalist a dirty word not to be uttered? BigDunc (talk) 13:12, 23 April 2008 (UTC)Reply
Loyalist has come to be a term for paramilitaries. Ross Hussey has 30 years service in the RUC reserve. If I were him, I'd consider myself defamed.Traditional unionist (talk) 13:18, 23 April 2008 (UTC)Reply

Cool it please edit

Please can all participants in this dispute calm down and if necessary take a break from the subject.

I have protected the page to bring an end to the edit war, because the discussion on this talk page seems unlikely to lead to any agreement soon unless there is a marked change of tone, with an assumption of good faith on all sides. (And yes, I probably have protected The Wrong Version).

So far, I see multiple accusations that people have been libelled, and too many editors who seem to be excessively quick to take offence as provocative political labels are exchanged.

This does not appear to be a particularly complex issue: a politician made some remarks and got criticised. Both sides perspectives should be reported fairly, using reliable sources, and with care taken about how much prominence is due to the different perspectives.

I want to remind all the editors working on this page that Wikipedia:Requests for arbitration/The_Troubles#Probation_for_disruptive_editors can be applied to this article and to the editors involved in this dispute. Please take care to assume good faith and to ensure that any comments made on this talk page are designed in tone and in substance to help to reach a consensus, not to score points off opponents.

Thanks. --BrownHairedGirl (talk) • (contribs) 13:43, 23 April 2008 (UTC)Reply

I tried discussion and was criticised for not edit warring!Traditional unionist (talk) 13:47, 23 April 2008 (UTC)Reply


Sadly the mentality of division still exists in that region of the world and it is very difficult for people there to post without POVing. As soon as I started reading the actual article I guessed there would be a heated discussion in the talk page. Sure enough I found this mess and was less than surprised and definitely left unimpressed by the squabbling on this page.

Bottom line, don't trust Wikipedia when it comes to the poltics of division, especially in Northern Ireland related issues. There are too many people who have ulterior motives. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Johnsiem (talkcontribs) 22:40, 18 May 2012 (UTC)Reply

Categorisation edit

The following discussion is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.


Martina Anderson is a Member of the European Parliament for the United Kingdom. The European Parliament lists her as representing the United Kingdom. Anderson has previously been convicted of a number of criminal offences. She was sentenced to life imprisonment. She had been placed in the category Category:British politicians convicted of crimes some months ago, which serves as a navigational tool of politicians from the UK convicted of crimes. However, another editor has removed her from the category and placed her in the Category:Irish politicians convicted of crimes. Which category should she be placed in? AusLondonder (talk) 02:45, 9 November 2015 (UTC)Reply

My view is that it is very misleading to place her in the Irish category, as she is not an MEP for Ireland. Those seeking to use the categories to, for example find or compare politicians from the UK convicted of crimes will be unable to find her. Also, in the Category:Politicians convicted of crimes by nationality the number of entries for Ireland will unfairly be increased. AusLondonder (talk) 02:48, 9 November 2015 (UTC)Reply
You write "she is not an MEP for Ireland". That's simply not true. Gob Lofa (talk) 09:01, 9 November 2015 (UTC)Reply
Do you dispute the European Parliament source? AusLondonder (talk) 09:18, 9 November 2015 (UTC)Reply
I dispute any source that says Northern Ireland is not in Ireland. Does the Parliament say this? Gob Lofa (talk) 09:23, 9 November 2015 (UTC)Reply
Well I am afraid you are wrong as the Constitution of Ireland implicitly recognises as does the European Union (see the map here). Disputing facts is unhelpful, POINTY and disruptive. AusLondonder (talk) 09:51, 9 November 2015 (UTC)Reply
You didn't answer my question. Gob Lofa (talk) 11:15, 11 November 2015 (UTC)Reply
Standard procedure in cases like this in the past was to place people in Northern Ireland categories, which were subcategories of both a UK category and an Ireland category, reflecting not only the disputed status of NI, but the fact that Northern Ireland is, y'know, in Ireland. In this case Category:Politicians from Northern Ireland convicted of crimes would be the solution.Valenciano (talk) 20:26, 14 November 2015 (UTC)Reply
  • Comment. Ugh. This sounds like nationalist bickering to me. Isn't Ireland/The Troubles under discretionary sanctions? It looks like she was moved to "Northern Irish politicians convicted of a crime", which looks like a perfectly valid compromise. If this is resolved, then the rfc can be closed. NinjaRobotPirate (talk) 00:19, 28 November 2015 (UTC)Reply

QS, Snappy makes a good point at Talk: Eamon de Valera that politicians included in similar categories by nationality have to be politicians when they commit their crimes. Gob Lofa (talk) 01:47, 29 November 2015 (UTC)Reply

I don't know. It is noteworthy if/when a politician, officeholder or other public servant has a criminal record, whether or not the crime was committed during his or her tenure. And yes, that goes for loyalists as well as politicians/officeholders/public servants from any other country/nation. Perhaps Category:Northern Ireland politicians convicted of criminal activity/Category:Northern Ireland officeholders convicted of criminal activity or Category:Politicians from Northern Ireland convicted of criminal activity/Category:Officeholders from Northern Ireland convicted of criminal activity or Category:Northern Ireland politicians with criminal convictions/Category:Northern Ireland officeholders with criminal convictions or Category:Politicians from Northern Ireland with criminal convictions/Category:Officeholders from Northern Ireland with criminal convictions or Category:Politicians convicted of terrorism-related offenses. Quis separabit? 23:05, 29 November 2015 (UTC)Reply
Any ideas? Quis separabit? 14:23, 30 November 2015 (UTC)Reply

List of American federal politicians convicted of crimes only includes politicians whose crimes were committed while in office; why have a different standard for Irish politicians? Gob Lofa (talk) 14:33, 30 November 2015 (UTC)Reply

Good question. I don't know. It's a list I did not create or ever contribute to. Maybe because of the volume, i.e. the sheer number of names. Also, these things are more interrelated in NI. But I agree with keeping things consistent -- fits in well with my OCD, also. Quis separabit? 14:44, 30 November 2015 (UTC)Reply

Good. Gob Lofa (talk) 16:57, 2 December 2015 (UTC)Reply

Anything to add, QS? Gob Lofa (talk) 17:10, 2 December 2015 (UTC)Reply

Rms125a@hotmail.com (talk · contribs)? Gob Lofa (talk) 12:43, 9 December 2015 (UTC)Reply

Martina Anderson is not an MEP for Ireland because she represents a Northern Ireland constituency, as far as I know. As far as politicians who are criminals or terrorists (Category:Politicians convicted of terrorism-related offenses??) I stand by what I posted before: "It is noteworthy if/when a politician, officeholder or other public servant has a criminal record, whether or not the crime was committed during his or her tenure. And yes, that goes for loyalists as well as politicians/officeholders/public servants from any other country/nation." Quis separabit? 17:06, 9 December 2015 (UTC)Reply
Btw, @Gob Lofa -- I see no emerging consensus on this issue based on the posts of this talk page. Quis separabit? 17:06, 9 December 2015 (UTC)Reply

The nationality question has already been addressed. I don't have a strong opinion on whether or not politicians ought to have been politicans at the time of their crime in order to be included in this category, but I strongly oppose having a double standard on the issue. Gob Lofa (talk) 17:24, 9 December 2015 (UTC)Reply

I've put the question here: Wikipedia_talk:WikiProject_Ireland#Politicians_convicted_of_crimes Gob Lofa (talk) 18:24, 9 December 2015 (UTC)Reply

The discussion above is closed. Please do not modify it. Subsequent comments should be made on the appropriate discussion page. No further edits should be made to this discussion.

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