A show of unity
I'm feeling fairly sleep deprived after a day which started at 5.30 am reading the local papers for a newspaper review on the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ World Service. So if my thoughts are less cogent than usual I'd advise you to turn to our main news website where Martina Purdy will be publishing an analysis of the day.
But here are a few thoughts. The Stormont assembly session at noon felt quite impressive. Most leaders struck the same note, rejecting the dissident violence. Peter Robinson made his most statesmanlike speech to date, sounding like a First Minister rather than just a DUP leader.
Gerry Adams had a harder task, still trying to avow his republicanism whilst denouncing a killing which in an earlier era he would have justified. That said, he filled in the gaps from his statement yesterday by offering condolences to the families of those killed and injured.
Hailing from Antrim, David Ford sounded the most upset. He insisted that the cross community vigil represented the true spirit of the town.
Under the show of unity there are abiding tensions. Sir Reg Empey told MLAs he didn't think the Executive was mature enough to assume justice powers. Both the SDLP and Sinn Fein, appearing on Stormont Live, begged to differ.
The argument over army special units has faded into the background but hasn't disappeared.
The PM will no doubt hope that his visit will show the government's determination to isolate the dissidents. But during the troubles, murders, however terrible, rarely prompted such prime ministerial visits so maybe those behind the Masserene attack will regard it as yet more proof of the impact they have made.
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