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THE DEFEATED UUP candidate in North Down has told the BBC this evening that people in Northern Ireland “don’t understand” comments he made about owning and insuring a Rolls Royce.
Former SAS officer Tim Collins ruffled some feathers during the campaign when he spoke about owning the luxury vehicle, raising it in the context of what he said was price gouging by insurance companies.
He had said that the insurance he pays on his Rolls Royce in England is the same as what someone would pay for a Ford Fiesta in Northern Ireland.
As he conceded defeated this evening, Collins was asked what had gone wrong for him.
Although he said he didn’t know, he suggested it was because he didn’t live in Northern Ireland and that people in the area vote on local issues, like hedges.
“People in North Down, I think they don’t want somebody that doesn’t live in Northern Ireland,” Collins told BBC News Northern Ireland.
“They want the homegrown boy, they’re interested in local politics, they’re not interested in cutting VAT, they’re not interested in international affairs. They’re interested in potholes and hedges. “
"People in North Down are interested in potholes and hedges" - Col Tim Collins says he believes he is third behind Alex Easton, Independent, and Stephen Farry, Alliance deputy leader, in the race for North Down.https://t.co/yV7E6qGBId pic.twitter.com/vOwH2dODZB
— BBC News NI (@BBCNewsNI) July 4, 2024
Collins said he was “happy” he chose to run and that he had financed the campaign himself.
Asked about the Rolls Royce comments, he defended making them:
They completely misunderstood, it’s Northern Ireland, they don’t understand these things. The point I was making is, an expensive car is cheaper to insure in England than it is here. People are more able to, out of whatever sort of hubris that exists here in Northern Ireland, they leap on that as opposed to saying, hang on, we’re being taken for a ride.
Collins was running in the North Down constituency, which is currently represented by Stephen Farry of the Alliance Party.
The UUP candidate said that it is early days in the count so far but that it looks like Independent unionist candidate Alex Easton could unseat Farry.
Easton himself was asked by the BBC about his chances and said he was “quietly optimistic” about winning North Down on his third time running for the seat.
Northern Ireland is not included in the exit poll which predicts gains for Labour across the UK, with the first results from Northern Ireland expected at about 2am.
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He needs to be replaced with a judge who will refuse to use the words “suspended sentence” and learn the words “life imprisonment”.
Same goes for his liberal colleagues.
H.S.B.C. 350 ?
I agree the Wayne O’Donoghue case was a particularly lenient sentence for a child killer – especially considering his actions after he killed young Robert. However Wayne seems to be enjoying his new life now in the UK so that’s a happy ending (not).
“Carney’s decision in 2006 to hand Wayne O’Donoghue a four-year sentence for killing his 11-year-old neighbour Robert Holohan was upheld by the Court of Criminal Appeal following an appeal for ‘undue leniency’ from the DPP.
In its 33-page judgement, the three-judge court said Carney’s ruling had been the correct one.
Prior to imposing that sentence, following a verdict of manslaughter, the judge had warned the victim’s mother to prepare herself – saying the sentence he would be imposing would be upsetting for her, before explaining the reasoning behind his decision.”
Judges need to be re educated. And get with the real word. From their privileged position and privileged past.they seem to live in a different world then the rest of us .
Judges also need to be replaced from time to time. There’s still no sign that an apolitical appointments process has been put in place.
“Ken Murphy, Director General of the Law Society of Ireland, said he was “one of Ireland’s’ greatest ever criminal judges”.
“He did society’s dirty work,” Murphy added.”
For 24 Years!
Despite my original comment above, I wholeheartedly agree with Ken Murphy.
IMO, he was as inept as a one legged man in an ass kicking contest. The entire judicial system in this country needs to be overhauled and brought into the 21st century. I know some of this may need referendums, well if that’s the case do it, stop putting the criminal first and the victim second.
A judge that would jail the person for not paying their bills but suspended sentence for the real criminals
The article focussed on the issues of controversy in the long career of a man who dealt with some of the worst crimes in the history of the State and with a cohort of vicious criminals. It did not focus on the many routine decisions made by the Judge. Any Judge dealing with the complex criminal cases this man dealt will inevitably attract criticism. Strangely the article focuses on appeals where his sentences were increased and not on the cases where his sentences were actually reduced on appeal; a source of public complaint by this Judge and a reason, ironically, why some of his sentences were subsequently perceived as lenient by the Appeals Court. This is how our judicial system works in common law countries with Appeal Courts often establishing the guidelines for sentencing. There is too much ignorant populist commentary on the Journal about Judges from people who clearly haven’t a clue how any judicial system works and don’t actually have any facts beyond newspaper headlines at their disposal. This man dealt with cases and sat though evidence which would most of us in prolonged psychotherapy. He deserves praise and not the ignorant criticism he is attracting from “the usual suspects”.
Agreed, to dedicate his working life to considering the details of the most savage acts to be committed in the state is indeed to do the state a great service. He could have simply lined his pockets and become a developer. Hope he enjoys his retirement.
Very well said.
He should take the judge, that sent the woman by taxi, from Donegal to Mountjoy, for not having a TV licence, with him.
The judge had nothing to do with the taxi
The judge should be informed enough to know that it would happen – that is the point !
Wasting tax-payers money while feeding from the same pot and all that !
Judges will become figures of ridicule when certain insider information is revealed within the coming weeks !
I was actually a juror on a murder trial Justice Carney presided over. He seemed fair and professional. I did, though, love his summing up where, as the defendant scowled in the dock, he reminded us that just because the defendant was an unpleasant, even despicable, person, it was not a basis for conviction of murder.
Was he found guilty?
Never knew there were so many legal experts on the Journal. The usual Journal commenters. Opinions on everything and answers to nothing.
I see no answers here either, just your opinion.
We’re all guilty.
The ultimate legislators in the State are the citizens – through the ballot – you should understand this Alan !
I’ve an answer. Stop giving out suspended sentences. You don’t need to be a legal expert to read the papers.
Judging by some of his judgement’s which is difficult to do because there may be thing’s he know’s and we don’t at the time ,he was pretty well off the wall with some of his decisions
Judge fudge
He was complete out of touch with the wishes of the people he was supposed to serve and protect. Good riddance.
Off course he made mistakes but thats part of the human condition. Let the man rest in peace.
-When anyone decides upon a career in the legal profession they must accept that in exchange for their 200k + salary and pension , prestige, security , short working hours and long holidays that there are some disadvantages.
-One such disadvantage is that they may have to listen and make judgement on some horrific cases.
-Another disadvantage is that they have a huge responsibility to dispense justice.
-another disadvantage is that they are in the public eye. If they consistently made bad judgements then the public will be outraged.
-Anther disadvantage is that if their peers and friends try to paint a picture of a great legacy of professionalism then just maybe some of the public will be outraged again.
-I don’t wish to dance on the man’s grave. If there is a maker up there then i expect he/she is judging him now not just for some good work but also for those outrageous decisions where he allowed rapists to walk free. A purgatorial sentence would be a fair judgement imo with no suspended sentence and no 100 euro bail.
Mistakes that had a huge impact on people (victims and their familys lives.) !
If Wayne O’Donoghue went through a proper justice system with a competent Judge he’d be in a small grey cell somewhere now in my opinion. Carney was born and died an utter idiot, I never read of court proceedings he had a bizarre hand in without feeling shock and dismay – this passing is no loss to Irish Society…..
a three judge court ruled that it was a correct one .
For those eager to pile on to Carney on the basis of the couple of worst decisions he’s made, this article from a couple of years ago probably gives a better, rounder picture of his achievements and faults over a quarter century on the bench.
A judge is supposed dish out justice every time presides. His bad decisions have ruined lives.
A judge is simply a banker for the court corporation.
He wasn’t exactly a ‘hanging judge’. Let’s hope his replacement has a pair! I note there was no mention of him criticising Joe Duffy when callers to the live line criticised his sentencing of O’Donoghue!
Good riddance
A Woman’s Worth …. reporting and sentencing of violent crimes against women.
Judge Paul Carney RIP was also the Patron of VSAC…..victim support at court. This is an organisation run in the main by volunteers….and these volunteers give support to victims of crime during their time in court. Wonderful organisation much needed and appreciated by Victims of crime.Judge Paul Carney called these volunteers an empathetic benevolent group of people.We were at his funeral Mass today.RIP Judge you’ll be very missed.
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