There are two parts to making this a whole picture. Both its components are the NIO.

Slipping out on New Year’s Eve that the British government had decided to appeal the High Court decision to compel a public inquiry into the murder of Seán Brown was of course to try to bury bad news.

It was more than that, however. First, because the reason for the timing fooled no-one for a second. It was a typical demonstration of the arrogance, insouciance and sleekit behaviour that has characterised the NIO for the whole of its malign existence. So, it wasn’t only to try to bury bad news.

The timing was because the NIO doesn’t, and never has, given a damn about what people here think. The crocodile tears added to a subsequent statement, piling insult on injury, prove they couldn’t care less.

Cormac Moore: Hitler, Lord Londonderry and the warnings from history as we face an unshackled Trump

Brian Feeney: Britain will do anything to cover up the illegal actions of its security forces

They don’t because they can get away with anything. As a colonial administration........

© The Irish News