Unionists of integrity, those who reject the New Age DUP’s capitulation to terrorists, will be delighted to learn that a Judicial Review has been launched to challenge the formation of the Victims’ Commission. In this courageous action, Michelle Williamson, left bereft of both parents after the Sinn Fein/IRA Shankill Bombing of 1993, is supported by 15 Protestant Victims’ Groups. In his response Dr Paisley displays further evidence of his conversion to the ideologies of Sinn Fein/IRA. He and Martin McGuinness, our co-rulers, have decided to contest Michelle Williamson in court. After, no doubt, an orgy of chuckling they have issued the following statement:

“The Office of First and Deputy First Minister will robustly defend any legal challenge to the appointment of the Victim’s Commissioners.”

What is Paisley going to “robustly” defend? One of the four commissioners is Patricia MacBride whose brother Anton met his just deserts at the hands of the SAS. Commissioner MacBride has insisted that the dead terrorist is referred to as a “volunteer” who was killed on “active service”. This grotesque terminology is accepted by the other commissioners and endorsed by Dr Ian Paisley and, of necessity, Martin McGuinness.

Thus Dr Paisley is prepared to go to high court to defend the integrity of Provisional IRA. Tacitly he accepts that the terrorists were on a “war” footing and that they were “volunteers”, a definition which carries the aura of respectable soldierly qualities. To plagiarise the late Sir Brian Faulkner, isn’t the “Demon Doctor” becoming more pathetic, day by day, as Martin McGuinness pulls the puppet’s strings?

Ian Paisley, Junior, has stated that he only “knew of” Seymour Sweeney, the property developer. He has paid the price for being “economical with the truth” – to put the most charitable complexion on the Sweeney/Paisley affair. However, I do not think that even the most convoluted political morals of the Paisleys will lead to any rationalisation of the DUP relationship with Michelle Williamson in the past.

Dr Paisley and failed minister, Ian Paisley, Junior, did not only “know of” Michelle. They knew her so well that they supported her vigorously in her campaign to prevent the release of IRA terrorists, notably Shankill bomber, Sean Kelly. Both were fulsome in their praise of Michelle’s courage and forthright in condemnation of Sinn Fein/IRA.

That was during Mo Mowlam’s period as Secretary of State when, as part of the Belfast Agreement, she opened the prison doors. Michelle Williamson mounted a protest, especially indignant at the release of Sean Kelly, responsible for the Shankill bomb.

Father Paisley and son supported Michelle with dissembling vigour.