Unionist MLA for Upper Bann. Former soldier and author. https://xitter.cf/t.co/8yP7w4H0BD

Portadown, Northern Ireland
Joined April 2011
Ireland is not neutral - it’s non aligned. Ending the triple lock won’t end that. 🤷🏻‍♂️
Irish Neutrality is one of the most important foreign policy positions this country has. Don't let the FF, FG and Independent government shred it. Sign the petition. aontu.ie/keep-the-triple-loc…
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Doug Beattie retweeted
When Ireland joined Nato's Partnership for Peace a quarter of a century ago the neutrality fetishists claimed it amounted to the end of neutrality. It never arose in national discourse again. Exactly the same will happen in relation to the triple lock. Former soldier Declan Power in today's Independent.
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Doug Beattie retweeted
Excellent analysis here from an ACTUAL expert in the area. In a world of Tom Clonans and Michael Murphys, Be a Chieftan!
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This is an important political discussion in Ireland as is their inability to protect themselves. I still contend Ireland is not neutral but is non aligned. UK must include NI in the National Defence Command structures with increased naval presence & revert to RAF Aldergrove.
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A campaign for the union shouldn’t just be for 6 days leading up to a BelTel LucidTalk poll - it should be “For the everyday, not just the extraordinary day”
The UUP trying-wisely I think-to attract some attention at a time when Drumcree is making the headlines.
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Doug Beattie retweeted
Well, well. The Gavin, Jim, Jon show last night was a wonderfully bizarre blend of Whac-A-Mole, Pointless and the Sopranos—with Haribos thrown in for good measure. All that was missing was the custard pies.
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Doug Beattie retweeted
A man sexually assaulted two young girls, aged 6, in "communal showers" within a mixed sex changing village in the Orchard Leisure Centre in Armagh. @abcb_council Mixed sex changing is dangerous, leaving women and children at risk. There is no protection available or even recourse for the failure to safeguard. archive.is/eFBcX Read our report and oppose mixed sex changing - Leisure Centres – Putting Women and Girls at Risk | Women's Rights Network | UK share.google/kpNY4UMnmjrlOdW…
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Doug Beattie retweeted
19 years today since my son, Paul, was murdered. 19 years without his smile, his kindness. 19 years of heartbreak, unanswered questions, and a pain that never goes away. Not a day passes that we don’t miss him and wish he were still here. 19 years on.. #JusticeForPaulQuinn
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A grieving mother has said the death of her son in 2007 is “no easier today” as she renewed her call for justice. belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/…
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Join us tonight at a candlelight vigil as we work with the NIHE to support victims. Domestic abuse awareness week ensures more people understand that there can be no excuse for domestic abuse and that #homeshouldmeansafe for everyone; men,women and children. @kellyandrews149
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I was also a Captain in Afghanistan in the dismounted close combat role. I never got time off to go to Kabul HQ. You are dishonest, disrespectful and dishonourable @PeteHegseth You shame your country as @SecWar
Hegseth on Afghanistan: I was a captain in Afghanistan, and we would go to the headquarters in Kabul, and there would be 50 flags at the headquarters. It was a beautiful thing to see 50 different countries contributing to the NATO alliance and the ISAF mission there. Except there were like maybe five that contributed. It was actually closer to one or two that, by the end, were actually involved in kinetic operations. In fact, the ISAF patch, we would joke that it meant "I Saw Americans Fighting."
Readers added context they thought people might want to know
Over 1100 non-American soldiers from 31 US-allied countries were killed fighting in Afghanistan, approximately 1/3 of the total combat deaths. t.co/x4tGhxJiFG
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Yet again Gail shows just how weak our justice system is. It shows how ‘punishment’ and ‘protecting the public’ have been replaced by a perpetrator focused sentencing regime. Proportionality, fairness & transparency are simply not to be found in either of these cases.
It was one of the most shocking road safety ads: a speeding driver kills a man and leaves a woman in a wheelchair. As he quakes in the dock, the message is do this and you’ll pay the price. The problem is, it’s just not true, writes Gail Walker 🖋️ tinyurl.com/5n7nt9px
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Doug Beattie retweeted
A big shout out to @jillybeattie, the investigative journalist who broke the story of Jeffrey Donaldson’s arrest and charge. Justice has indeed been served.
A good day for justice. Child sex predator #JeffreyDonaldson was stopped in his tracks and has been prevented from damaging more lives. The victims must be recognised for their bravery and resilience, not only during this case, but from childhood and through every challenge into adulthood marred by his unconscionable abuse. I hope they know we all lift them up. Fantastic work by the PSNI’s Public Protection Branch. And the PPS team led by the inimitable pairing of Rosemary Walsh KC and Fiona O’Kane. A brilliant summing up by the Head of the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) Serious Crime Unit Catherine Kierans. She said: “Child sexual abuse is a heinous crime. Jeffrey Donaldson exploited his young victims, causing profound and lasting harm that they continue to live with to this day. Despite the devastation he has caused, he has never accepted responsibility for his offending, nor shown any remorse.” The victims found their voice, they were heard and listened to by the police and the PPS. The jury heard them. The judge heard them. Now the world has heard them because the media heard everyone. Donaldson hid in plain sight until he could hide no more. Support the Fourth Estate to help have the truth heard. Find the media you can trust and please support us as we work to uncover people like Donaldson.
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Doug Beattie retweeted
Jeffrey Donaldson was set to dominate tomorrow’s @News_Letter front page - his face splashed across the cover. At the last minute, we pulled it. We chose to deny him the spotlight and amplify the fierce bravery of his victims instead. Their courage broke the silence.
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Most papers running with the 15 year headline. Press has responsibility to headline actual prison time to be served. With remission & remand credit it’s 7 years. A doddle. En plus, Judge Ramsey’s failing to explain concurrent sentencing is questionable. The public deserves better
Donaldson will get 50% remission - that is not the same as being released on supervised license. He will be released after 7 years and it’s my understanding that means with no supervision although he will be on the sex offenders register.
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Donaldson will get 50% remission - that is not the same as being released on supervised license. He will be released after 7 years and it’s my understanding that means with no supervision although he will be on the sex offenders register.
Your News Letter on Friday October 16 2026
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Your News Letter on Friday October 16 2026
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Our understanding (from the PPS) is that Donaldson is expected to serve half his sentence (7.5 years) in prison and half on license upon release.
And at the end of sentencing still confusion - is he entitled to 50% remission meaning he will do 7.5yrs behind bars, remainder on license, or not?!!
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