Audio interview with Tommie Gorman, RTE Northern Ireland editor, by Aine Lawlor for RTE Radio 1 show Morning Ireland on 21 December 2012. On 3 December Belfast City Council voted to only fly the Union flag above City Hall on designated days rather than the entire calendar year. The motion was supported by Sinn Fein, the SDLP and the Alliance Party. This decision led to public protests by sections of the unionist community across Northern Ireland, but particularly in Belfast, during December 2012 and early January 2013. In some areas PSNI members were attacked and death threats were sent to Northern Ireland politicians. Two DUP members were also warned of death threats apparently from dissident republicans during this period. Gorman is interviewed about the impact of these protests on the Peace Process and unionist politics. Morning Ireland is RTE Radio 1’s daily breakfast news programme.
Date of Release/Broadcast: 21 December 2012
Name of First Interviewee: Tommie Gorman
Role at time of Interview: RTE Northern Ireland editor
Interviewer: Aine Lawlor
Purpose: News
Media: Audio
Copyright: © RTÉ 2012
Link: Listen to the interview
Programme/Book/Article: RTE Radio 1 Morning Ireland
Time Period covered: 2012
Key Individuals: Tommie Gorman
Key Words: Flag, UUP, protest, economy, Sinn Fein, SDLP, Alliance Party, PSNI, violence, youth