McGuinness’s less than surprising attitude to booze

James Forsyth says it is “deeply comic” for Martin McGuiness to complain:

“I am not a fan of East-Enders or Coronation Street but my wife and my children, particularly the girls, watch the programme. I am appalled at the drunkenness that is quite clear for everybody to see and all of that before the 9 o’clock watershed when children as young as 8, 9, 10 and 11 are watching. Now I regard that as irresponsible broadcasting and I think something should be done about it.”

Now of course, James is right to point out that Mr McGuiness’s role in murdering countless civilians scarcely gives him the clout to act, in James’ words, “a moral arbiter”.

Perhaps so. But I couldn’t help recalling all the hard-faced Republicans I used to meet at debates in Dublin. They were never much of a party crowd (the Unionists – at least those Unionists prepared to come to Dublin – were much more fun) and, in fact, I can’t recall any of them accepting a drink, let alone cracking a joke.