13 min read âYou have very few real friends in politicsâ. Former minister for justice says he will never fully get over circumstances that led to departure from cabinet
Alan Shatter doesnât know what to do with his cacti. One cactus with long, sharp spines has grown very tall. He has moved it from an indoor conservatory to an outside greenhouse where it takes up a lot of space.
Gardening is one hobby that has helped the former minister for justice and defence take his mind off the events of 2014 that ultimately spelt the end of a three-decade career in politics.
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The head of a Co Wicklow-based centre for peace and reconciliation, which has played a key role in building bridges between communities in Northern Ireland, has called for the establishment of a state-of-the-art centre for conflict resolution.
Barbara Walshe, chair of the Glencree Centre for Peace and Reconciliation, said raising awareness of the complexity of Northern Ireland in the Republic of Ireland over the next five years will be crucial if a border poll takes place.
In an interview with the New York-based Irish Central website, Ms Walshe said: It s unfair and short-sighted to ignore the concerns of the unionist community.