Audio interview with Tommie Gorman, RTE Northern Ireland editor, by Rachael English for RTE Radio 1 show Morning Ireland on 7 January 2013. 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 from dissident republicans during this period. Gorman is interviewed about the continued protests and potential solutions to the current impasse. Morning Ireland is RTE Radio 1’s daily breakfast news programme.
Date of Release/Broadcast: 7 January 2013
Name of First Interviewee: Tommie Gorman
Role at time of Interview: RTE Northern Ireland editor
Interviewer: Rachael English
Purpose: News
Media: Audio
Copyright: © RTÉ 2013
Link: Listen to the interview
Programme/Book/Article: RTE Radio 1 Morning Ireland
Time Period covered: 2012-2013
Key Individuals: Tommie Gorman, Mervyn Gibson, Matt Baggott, Willie Frazer
Key Words: Flag, protest, economy, Orange Order, PSNI, youth