The civil rights of Irish citizens in the Six Counties have received yet another regressive blow in the past week with the announcement by Stormont minister for culture Edwin Poots that he intends to cease state assistance to the Irish Language Broadcast Fund.

Ian Paisley Jnr, junior minister in the Six County executive, came under fire last week amid further allegations of misconduct and abuse of power.

Revelations in the past week that tens of thousands of children in the Six Counties are living in poverty have thrown into stark contrast the prosperity being experienced by some in our society.