Almost 16 years ago, Jon Burrows, now leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), stood with the crowds in Derry’s Guildhall Square as the Saville report on Bloody Sunday was published. “I would love Ireland to say that some of their conduct during the Troubles was unjustified and unjustifiable. Burrows joined the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), saying: “I 100 per cent wanted to follow in my dad’s footsteps”. But he also emphasises the need for Ireland “to address … their conduct” during the Troubles, particularly over the extradition of suspects to the UK. He advocates making “the rational case for the union … for those people who are disinterested or just see themselves as Northern Irish or who are nationalist but persuadable”.

Source: The Irish Times February 15, 2026 10:31 UTC