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How shall Gerry extoll thee?

Mark Devenport | 13:44 UK time, Sunday, 18 October 2009

I am just off air with Inside Politics, where we discussed serious matters like Friday's booby trap bombing and the continuing negotiations on policing and justice. Sinn Fein junior minister Gerry Kelly condemned the attack in East Belfast and criticised the faction responsible as having no support and no strategy.

Together with my guests Seamus Close and the Institute of Directors' Joanne Stuart we also touched on politicians' expenses and the Hillary Clinton visit.

On a lighter note, though, I discovered that Gerry Kelly was the speaker at a recent NI Construction Employers Federation As each winner went to pick up their award, they were accompanied by a rousing piece of classical music.

But when the Junior Minister went to present the overall winner with their prize he got to his feet to the accompaniment of "Land of Hope and Glory". The irony of a former IRA prisoner being beckoned on stage with an anthem which extolls the British empire was not lost either on the North Belfast MLA or the rest of the audience. Much mirth ensued, and perhaps a red face for whoever recorded the backing tape.

P.S. On the topic of "red faces" I see my Dawn Purvis howler made the Sunday Times. Fame, at last!

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