The DUP thread

[quit yo jibbajabba]

Good man David ta. Bit to go yet then...

[johnnycool]

So David, or any other legal eagles, 10 Sept is the next date, is that when the trial starts or just another step in the process?

That is likely the arraignment date (it may be pre-arraignment mention to make sure there are no issues with the arraignment)

Without getting too technical if the defence accept that there is a true bill, an arraignment is where the defendants will have the charges put to them and asked how they plead. In the event of a not guilty plea a timetable to progress the case (including possibly a trial date) will be set at that hearing.

Is it normally this protracted or is there a big backlog of paedophilia cases to be heard?

[red hander]

What's with wee Jeff's beard?

Giving off Gary Glitter vibes there, alright. And where's his wee 'Christian' fish pin?

[David McKeown]

So David, or any other legal eagles, 10 Sept is the next date, is that when the trial starts or just another step in the process?

That is likely the arraignment date (it may be pre-arraignment mention to make sure there are no issues with the arraignment)

Without getting too technical if the defence accept that there is a true bill, an arraignment is where the defendants will have the charges put to them and asked how they plead. In the event of a not guilty plea a timetable to progress the case (including possibly a trial date) will be set at that hearing.

Is it normally this protracted or is there a big backlog of paedophilia cases to be heard?

Far from protracted this is incredibly quick.  The most recent one I had of this was 11 years from complaint to Court although there were some extenuating circumstances no one was overly surprised.

[Armaghtothebone]

Big night ahead.
Heard a polling expert saying that the election could be a success or a disaster for the DUP over a few thousand votes.
3 seats all to play for.
Lagan Valley( what will the Jeffrey effect be)
East Belfast ( will Robinson pay for support of Donaldsons deal)

One they aren't even contesting but if it goes SF they will be gutted...Fermanagh/South Tyrone.
I have NEVER trusted Tyrone . Prove me wrong midget divers!!

[NAG1]

Anyone seen the polling for East Belfast?
Are Alliance close to taking Robinson out.

Can't see Girvan beating Swann.

[Milltown Row2]

Do you think the UUP knew that Jeff was going to be done before an election, sticking the popular Swann in there as they knew the sleaze was coming would help win that seat?

[NAG1]

Do you think the UUP knew that Jeff was going to be done before an election, sticking the popular Swann in there as they knew the sleaze was coming would help win that seat?

I think with Swann's OO and Farming connections added to his profile through Covid, I don't think the Jeff stuff would have come into it.

Some very staunch areas in that constituency who will go against the DUPers over their protocol stance and split their vote.

[Armagh18]

Big night ahead.
Heard a polling expert saying that the election could be a success or a disaster for the DUP over a few thousand votes.
3 seats all to play for.
Lagan Valley( what will the Jeffrey effect be)
East Belfast ( will Robinson pay for support of Donaldsons deal)

One they aren't even contesting but if it goes SF they will be gutted...Fermanagh/South Tyrone.
I have NEVER trusted Tyrone . Prove me wrong midget divers!!

Time themmuns did something useful alright!

Some people reckon Hazzard could be in trouble in South Down?

[Brendan]

Going by the constituency profiles over on Slugger SF should keep all their seats. Brexit isnt a factor this time like it was in 2019 and the Sdlp were able to push that in the last general election, like in East Derry last time Cara Hunter pipped Sinn Féin to 2nd then in the 2022 assembly election SF got almost 4 times her vote if I remember right

[Armagh18]

Going by the constituency profiles over on Slugger SF should keep all their seats. Brexit isnt a factor this time like it was in 2019 and the Sdlp were able to push that in the last general election, like in Easter Derry last time Cara Hunter pipped Sinn Féin to 2nd then in the 2022 assembly election SF got almost 4 times her vote if I remember right

Be great result to hold all seats esp FST. Ideally take Foyle back but 17k is an awful lot of votes.

[Brendan]

Going by the constituency profiles over on Slugger SF should keep all their seats. Brexit isnt a factor this time like it was in 2019 and the Sdlp were able to push that in the last general election, like in Easter Derry last time Cara Hunter pipped Sinn Féin to 2nd then in the 2022 assembly election SF got almost 4 times her vote if I remember right

Be great result to hold all seats esp FST. Ideally take Foyle back but 17k is an awful lot of votes.

Can't see that happening either, 2017 when they took Foyle was a perfect storm for them with losing an icon like Martin McGuinness and Arlene Foster with her crocodiles

[JPGJOHNNYG]

Going by the constituency profiles over on Slugger SF should keep all their seats. Brexit isnt a factor this time like it was in 2019 and the Sdlp were able to push that in the last general election, like in Easter Derry last time Cara Hunter pipped Sinn Féin to 2nd then in the 2022 assembly election SF got almost 4 times her vote if I remember right

Be great result to hold all seats esp FST. Ideally take Foyle back but 17k is an awful lot of votes.

Can't see that happening either, 2017 when they took Foyle was a perfect storm for them with losing an icon like Martin McGuinness and Arlene Foster with her crocodiles

SF should be focussing on places like upper Bann, East Londonderry and South Antrim. These are places that they could get close if the actually bothered their heads. They need to forget Foyle, it is rock solid safe for SDLP, SF would have more of a chance coming through the middle in a heavily split North Antrim than winning Foyle. The lack of interest from pretty much everyone in this election is unreal considering so many seats could be close in NI

[Snapchap]

Going by the constituency profiles over on Slugger SF should keep all their seats. Brexit isnt a factor this time like it was in 2019 and the Sdlp were able to push that in the last general election, like in Easter Derry last time Cara Hunter pipped Sinn Féin to 2nd then in the 2022 assembly election SF got almost 4 times her vote if I remember right

Be great result to hold all seats esp FST. Ideally take Foyle back but 17k is an awful lot of votes.

Can't see that happening either, 2017 when they took Foyle was a perfect storm for them with losing an icon like Martin McGuinness and Arlene Foster with her crocodiles

SF should be focussing on places like upper Bann, East Londonderry and South Antrim. These are places that they could get close if the actually bothered their heads. They need to forget Foyle, it is rock solid safe for SDLP, SF would have more of a chance coming through the middle in a heavily split North Antrim than winning Foyle. The lack of interest from pretty much everyone in this election is unreal considering so many seats could be close in NI

It's been lowkey for sure, but you have to remember that this is a westminster election, and most people from both sides of the fence (whether unionists will admit it or not), appreciate that westminster elections are absolutely meaningless to this place. Neither Labour nor the Tories care less about here (and why would they?) and don't stand here and wont' start to care about here on the other side of an election. And MPs elected from here are irrelevant non-entities when they go to London. Election count nights are a bit of drama, but there the interest ends for most people.

[Brendan]

Going by the constituency profiles over on Slugger SF should keep all their seats. Brexit isnt a factor this time like it was in 2019 and the Sdlp were able to push that in the last general election, like in Easter Derry last time Cara Hunter pipped Sinn Féin to 2nd then in the 2022 assembly election SF got almost 4 times her vote if I remember right

Be great result to hold all seats esp FST. Ideally take Foyle back but 17k is an awful lot of votes.

Can't see that happening either, 2017 when they took Foyle was a perfect storm for them with losing an icon like Martin McGuinness and Arlene Foster with her crocodiles

SF should be focussing on places like upper Bann, East Londonderry and South Antrim. These are places that they could get close if the actually bothered their heads. They need to forget Foyle, it is rock solid safe for SDLP, SF would have more of a chance coming through the middle in a heavily split North Antrim than winning Foyle. The lack of interest from pretty much everyone in this election is unreal considering so many seats could be close in NI

Foyle/Derry city is more symbolic to nationalists