A quantity of politicians alleged that the RUC, the courts and the B’ specials did not treat Catholics unjustly. They declared that Catholics were treated unsympathetically because they committed more crimes. The Catholics devotion to the south and the Catholic Church made them an intimidation to the security of Ulster. For this reason a close eye had to be kept on their whereabouts. Some protestant politicians claimed the reason there were more protestant magistrates and judges because Catholics did not want these job. Catholics were said to have refused these jobs when offered. The unionist’s Prime Minster of Northern Ireland in 1943-1963 who was Basil Brooke also believed that Catholics possessed a threat to the security of Ulster. Basil Brooke said, “ Our country is in danger. No Surrender. We are king’s men” and he also said that 97% of Catholics are disloyal and disruptive.
Question 2
Some politicians claimed that Catholics were in the low skill paid jobs because they were uneducated despite the fact they had an opportunity to go to grammar school and university. Some politicians alleged that Catholics were naturally lazy and did not work hard. Other Politicians claimed that Catholics did have good jobs and were not discriminated at all. Politicians like Ian Paisley admitted that there were variations between Catholics and protestant but he said that these differences were necessary in order to maintain the loyalty of the protestant majority. He actively encouraged business to employ protestant in favour of Catholics. Basil Brooke also shared this view. Ian Paisley claimed this is why protestant should have better housing.
Other Politicians used prejudice to clarify the poor housing of the Catholics. They clamed that the unrefined and uncivilised environment of the Catholics meant they could not respect their property because they could not keep control of their large family and they bought down the tone of the neighbourhood. Other politician claimed that there were no economic differences between Catholics and protestant because welfare state existed to eliminate the very disadvantage that some claimed the catholic faced. Politicians, like O’Neil admitted that catholic faced great hosing disadvantages. He believed that Catholics would have better housing, as this would ensure their loyalty to Ulster.
Some politicians claimed that Catholics did not face any disadvantages. They believe the character of Catholics meant they were naturally y lazy and unwilling to improve the situation. Other like Ian Paisley, clamed that catholic religion itself contributed to the social disadvantages that Catholics faced. He believed that
Catholics church is an evil organisation that works to enslave protestant. Also that it keep follower back wards and uneducated. O’Neil was more willing to admit that Catholics did face disadvantages based on religious prejudices.
A vast majority of politician would not admit that Catholics face disadvantages in things such as Politics, Legal, Economic and Social. Some politicians claimed that Catholics had equal opportunity as protestant. Other politicians used prejudice to claim that it was their fault, for example the reason they had bad houses. Very few Politicians like Ian Paisley admitted there were differences and were willing to alter the differences.
