Audio interview with Rev. Gary Mason, Mission Superintendent at East Belfast Mission, by Eamonn Mallie for eamonnmallie.com on 17 January 2013. On 3 December 2012 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. Mason discusses unionist attempts to end the violence. Eamonnmallie.com is an independent forum for opinion on current affairs, established by journalist Eamonn Mallie.
Date of Release/Broadcast: 17 January 2013
Name of First Interviewee: Rev. Gary Mason
Role at time of Interview: Mission Superintendent at East Belfast Mission
Interviewer: Eamonn Mallie
Purpose: News
Media: Audio
Copyright: Copyright EamonnMallie.com. All Rights Reserved.
Link: Listen to the interview
Programme/Book/Article: Eamonmallie.com
Time Period covered: 2012-2013
Key Individuals: Rev. Gary Mason, Eamonn Mallie
Key Words: Flag, protest, UVF, UDA, Red Hand Commando