Land grabbers or what ever you want to call them

letterkenny man

Any one see spotlight on bbc last night A SERIES of companies run by a Donegal Orange Order member have been set up to help keep property and land in Protestant hands in Donegal, Tyrone, Derry and Fermanagh.

The revelations were contained in a BBC Spotlight investigation last night.

The programme focused on David Mahon, originally from Donegal but now living in Kesh in Co Fermanagh.

East Derry nationalist MLA John Dallat said it was no secret that sales of property – particularly farmland – between religions was frowned upon in rural areas.

That was not new.

What was new however in the BBC Spotlight expose was the incredible number of companies – fed by Protestant investors – which had been established by Mahon.

We have now learned one of them – called after the Derry and Raphoe Protestant diocese – works across the Border between both counties to offer finance and interest free loans to Protestant farmers and businesses to prevent the assets going onto the open market and then, possibly, into Catholic ownership.

Mahon admitted some investors were members of the Orange Order. The workings of the companies and what they invest in are closely-guarded secrets.

For years, the Orange Order has been accused of controlling secretive “land funds” which have been used by individual Orange Lodges to protect Protestant land in their communities.

Orange Order Grand Secretary Drew Nelson admitted to the existence of such funds, and defended their use in an interview with Spotlight reporter Declan Lawn.

“There are some funds in existence which do that type of work and that is something that strategically we regard as one of the roles of the institution, to help Protestant communities that are in distress, particularly around border areas, or areas where Protestants are in the minority.”

When the reporter put it to Mr Nelson that the existence of such funds was in danger of artificially skewing the property market, he offered a rationale which some may find surprising: that proceeds of illegal diesel smuggling were flooding into the coffers of republicans in rural areas, and that this was itself resulting in an unfair playing field when it came to the purchase of land.

mayota

Wonder if I learned The Sash would I qualify for an interest free loan.

freedominacup

I don't see where the land grabbing is going on.

ganmo

This is just going to reinforce the us vs them attitude

Conparing what they're doing to the disel laundring is strange...the ra are ripping everyone off not just the protestant.

Nekarsulm

That's more a case of an unregistered banking industry, or moneylending, than land grabbing .There are often land sales "off the books" where a seller may favour a particular buyer, or not want it advertised that they are in financial difficulties.
A lot depends o the interest rates being charged.

grazeaway

ganmo wrote: »

This is just going to reinforce the us vs them attitude

Conparing what they're doing to the disel laundring is strange...the ra are ripping everyone off not just the protestant.

have to agree with ya there. not a big fan of the whole us and them sh1te that goes on but having lived up by the border for a while i know its not quite as black and white as we like to think down south.

private institutions using private funds and loans is not that uncommon, company loans to directors and members is very common so its unlikely that they are doing anything wrong from a legal point of view.

don't forget there are plenty of folks down here that wouldn't sell to people of a different religion either. my OH is protestant and she does the talking in some places we have been up north cos as soon as i open my mouth you could hear the necks cracking as they turned. that said it has been the other way round down here too and i have had to tell a few people to cop themselves on with some of the comments we have had to listen to.

Miname

Dramatised sectarian bull**** . This is just another silly stunt to keep everyone in the dark ages. I thought all this muck was finished with. there are a few small minded people out there that just want to stir up trouble. I'm talking about the program.

frazzledhome

Miname wrote: »

Dramatised sectarian bull**** . This is just another silly stunt to keep everyone in the dark ages. I thought all this muck was finished with. there are a few small minded people out there that just want to stir up trouble.

Are you referring to Spotlight or people doing deals that are nobody's business other than their own.

Land doesn't need to be advertised, monies do not have to be borrowed from banks and interest doesn't have to be charged.

Non story, slow day

Bullocks

Hard to see an organisation of any sort working to give someone an interest free loan . No harm to see a community pulling together to help out one another . I'd be wait a while for the catholics around me to help me out . Might turn protestant

ganmo

Does this make catholic farmers better? When they have to pay interest too?

Fraz what they're doin isn't illegal but just not in the spirit of uniting the communities...it's pretty much the opposite.

Arrow in the Knee

Protestants and/or Unionists in the North of Ireland are back to the walls sort of people.

If they don't get what they want or they think they are slighted they'll whing about it and blame everybody bar themselves.

In relation to what the OP is describing.

What do you expect from a Backwards organization?

Willfarman

Yes indeed they should be more forward thinking and get in on the auld diesel washing!

Miname

frazzledhome wrote: »

Are you referring to Spotlight or people doing deals that are nobody's business other than their own.

Land doesn't need to be advertised, monies do not have to be borrowed from banks and interest doesn't have to be charged.

Non story, slow day

My reference is to the fact it's only a way of stirring trouble. Everyone reckons lads are in league together when a lot of the time it's the opposite. I'm only delighted that round me that the majority of people whether Catholic, Protestant black white or anything else they all pull together. This is just another way to create a divide that shouldn't exist.

Nekarsulm

The oul diesel is yesterdays game. Moved on to the Baccy up here.

rangler1

Miname wrote: »

My reference is to the fact it's only a way of stirring trouble. Everyone reckons lads are in league together when a lot of the time it's the opposite. I'm only delighted that round me that the majority of people whether Catholic, Protestant black white or anything else they all pull together. This is just another way to create a divide that shouldn't exist.

Yea, was surprised at your previous statement....there's good and bad in every race and creed.

Miname

rangler1 wrote: »

Yea, was surprised at your previous statement....there's good and bad in every race and creed.

Sorry if it came across the wrong way but this muck sickens me. I must give it a re read

AntrimGlens

I know of one farm not far from me was sold by two brothers moving to Scotland about 20 years ago. Under no circumstances was it to be sold to a papish, so one local brethren bought it at discounted price. He managed to hold onto it for about a year until his 'financial circumstances' changed and he had to sell up. He had no qualms about who bought it, It's now owned by three different catholic families.
Didn't see the programme but I'm sure it's over dramaticised bullsh&t, it happens very rarely and nobody gives a flying fcuk when it does. Think townies are looking for a story when's there's nothing really there. Country folk understand the reasons why it happens and aren't bothered.

grazeaway

Local COI family sold up a great holding near me a few years ago, had been in their family for generations but none of their own kids were interested in farming. The couple farming it were very particular about who would get it. They had built but a family farm and wanted it to stay that way. In the end they turned down a couple of big offers from large farmers up the country and sold to 3 local people. House and main yard and half the place was bought by a young farmer starting off.

Big thing with them wasn't the owners background but what kind a farmer they were.