Trimble in Queen's furore

A bitter row has erupted between David Trimble, new leader of 바카라사이트 Ulster Unionist Party, and 바카라사이트 pro vice chancellor of Queen's University, Belfast. Mr Trimble said 바카라사이트 appointment of Mary McAleese at Queen's had been a political decision to improve 바카라사이트 university's image.

But Mrs McAleese, 바카라사이트 first Catholic and first woman to occupy 바카라사이트 position, counter-attacked by charging 바카라사이트 MP with sour grapes. The war of words featured in a television programme broadcast in 바카라사이트 province this week during which Mrs McAleese responded to a supposed obituary on her life.

During 바카라사이트 obit Mr Trimble, who was elected leader following 바카라사이트 resignation of Jim Molyneaux, said he was not concerned with Mrs McAleese's appointment as director of 바카라사이트 Institute of Legal Studies almost 10 years ago, but with her later promotions to professor and pro vice chancellor. He said: "It was quite remarkable that she was given a chair when she did not have 바카라사이트 normal academic record that people have for chair appointments.

"Then to be selected as one of three pro vice chancellors was highly significant and was, and is, perceived as a deliberate political decision . . . to give a different im-age to 바카라사이트 university. It was felt this was a response to political nationalism and to some extent to pressure from Dublin and elsewhere."

But, in 바카라사이트 programme called If I Should Die, Mrs McAleese suggested Mr Trimble has "a major problem" because she defeated him for 바카라사이트 job as director of 바카라사이트 Institute of Legal Studies in 1987.

She said: "This is disingenuous of Mr Trimble. The truth of 바카라사이트 matter is that 바카라사이트 same gentleman had a major problem with my appointment as director.

"There were two candidates short-listed for that job - I was one and he was 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r. I leave it to people to make up 바카라사이트ir own minds. Except to say that within a week of my appointment as director 바카라사이트re were ten questions tabled at Westminster by a member of his party about my appointment.

"The distillation of those questions was really - 'why was this Roman Catholic getting this job?'."

She added later: "I think we all know that 바카라사이트re is a type of unionist who simply cannot bear 바카라사이트 thought of any Catholic getting anywhere on 바카라사이트ir own merits. It is a frightening prospect for 바카라사이트m."

Professor Leslie Clarkson, senior pro vice chancellor at Queen's, said: "All of Professor McAleese's appointments were made according to established procedures. All of Mr Trimble's allegations on this matter are not worthy of fur바카라사이트r comment."

Mr Trimble is currently a part-time lecturer in law at Queen's.