| Greetings on the first fully grey Saturday in weeks. This fire in a shoe shop, Cordners, was in the very heart of Newtownards, its fine square. Happily it did not spread. Tomorrow Ann Ingram from Belfast will be the first person from the island of Ireland to judge the most auspicious show at Crufts It is more than 50 years since James Chichester-Clark was prime minister of Northern Ireland. His widow Lady Moyola has died The big story in today's paper is the Kenova report into the agent Stakeknife. Here William Matchett, ex special branch, says they were presumed guilty and the report does not reflect realities of NI in the Troubles. And Sir Jeffrey Donaldson says the report is a reminder of the intelligence success in penetrating the IRA
I put to Mr Boutcher yesterday that almost all the media questions at the press conference were framed against the state and was it correct that he was saying state operators and terrorist were equally guilty? Here is my column in which I reflect on the wider issue of agents and how we will never know why some of those IRA men turned informant.
There is a lot of interest in plans for high speed rail from Portadown to Londonderry. I am a big fan of major rail and road infrastructure but I must agree with this Trinity Dublin academic that it is a ridiculous proposal for such two small population urban centres. Here the department has defended its plans. And here is Jackie McGregor on siblings falling out, which she has experienced. Enjoy your reading and your weekend, Ben | 