Deirdre Heenan: The DUP, not Brexit, has left angry loyalists in a tailspin

Thanks to a shameful and dangerous lack of political leadership, mistrust and division is rife in unionism – to everybody’s cost

Serious unrest in predominantly loyalist areas of Belfast and Derry led to scenes that many assumed were consigned to history. Picture: Getty

The timing was more than a little unfortunate. “Our door is open” read the headline on a promotional article on why Northern Ireland is a great place for businesses to invest in, which appeared in last Monday’s Financial Times.

The advertorial, placed by Invest Northern Ireland, depicted the region as a land of milk and honey, offering “unparalleled opportunities” and “talent in abundance”. This image of a prosperous, vibrant, welcoming, outward-looking place stood in sharp ...