Why Belfast is not on my short-list of business investment options

[Neil McCauley]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-13854027

I find it hard to not conclude that inherent in part of that society is a burning desire to fight. The reason, only important to them it seems, do appear to defy logic.

The paradox and the pity is that in academic terms at least, the quality of their education system is of a high order. For me, as an investor in software start-up businesses I'd no more invest in Belfast than i would in Damascus. Fortunately, there are myriad investment opportunities elsewhere. I guess that the decent people (quite possibly the majority in Belfast) must despair at both the uncivilised behaviour and its impact on the creation of new jobs.

[idc]

You can apply the same reasons for not investing in parts of London as well. The murder rate in N Ireland is lower than where I live in Scotland. I take it you will not be investing in any business in Vancouver either

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-13788491

I have relatives in N Ireland who like the vast majority of people live peacefully, run and work with successful businesses and easily stay out of the way and are largely unaffected by the tiny majority of thugs who get inordinate publicity. We as a family were caught up near the Brixton riots of the 1980s, when the crime levels of both London and Glasgow far exceeded anything going on in N Ireland.

I think you need to provide a bit of perspective to this situation. :)

[WAD62]

...you should take a trip to 'Woodend', 'Willenhall', and 'Hillfields' in Coventry :doh:

It's all over the country ;)

[Neil McCauley]

You can apply the same reasons for not investing in parts of London as well. The murder rate in N Ireland is lower than where I live in Scotland. I take it you will not be investing in any business in Vancouver either

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-13788491

I have relatives in N Ireland who like the vast majority of people live peacefully, run and work with successful businesses and easily stay out of the way and are largely unaffected by the tiny majority of thugs who get inordinate publicity. We as a family were caught up near the Brixton riots of the 1980s, when the crime levels of both London and Glasgow far exceeded anything going on in N Ireland.

I think you need to provide a bit of perspective to this situation. :)

I think you make a good point very well. Thank you. I'll ponder on it. Sincerely, Howard

[Neil McCauley]

...you should take a trip to 'Woodend', 'Willenhall', and 'Hillfields' in Coventry :doh:

It's all over the country ;)

Like "idc" earlier today on this thread, I think you make a good point very well. Thank you. I'll ponder on it.

[Rich Conroy]

I'm from Belfast. What you have to realise is that these riots take place in very restricted locations. Where I live in Belfast, if it wasn't for the news and the police helicopters in the air then you wouldn't know it was happening.
The terms used by the police are "recreational rioting" or "text rioting".
Look at what happened after the G20 summit in London. There will always be "the usual suspects" in ANY society looking to riot.
Belfast (and N. Ireland) has a lot to offer any tourist or person looking to set up a business.

RC

[Cosey Man]

have to agree with all that's been said , i have been up north a good few times ,i find the people their very nice & friendly ,same as down south ,same as in many parts of the uk i have lived in & worked in , thing is theirs good & bad every where.

[worthingpagan]

since the tories got back in there has been more negative press about NI. I know some people who come from that part of the world and they are sound individuals. |I think it's unfair of the media to stigmatize NI the way they do. There is more continuous widespread violence elsewhere, ie London, where barely a day goes by without reports of shootings, stabbings, robbery's or rapes.

[aquapiranha]

As a resident of NI, I can tell you that the vast majority here just want to get on with their lives in peace. There is however a small minority who want to kick off because they are bored, but as has been mentioned elsewhere we are talking about a couple of streets in one part of a big city. Where I am, we simply do not have any of this and it could be a world away. there is of course other stuff going on like the 12th and other things but it never degenerates into rioting, at least not here.

[hifinutt]

...you should take a trip to 'Woodend', 'Willenhall', and 'Hillfields' in Coventry :doh:

It's all over the country ;)

nearly bought a house in hillfields once !

[Rich Conroy]

Here we go. Back issues of the incomparable "Portadown News".
This was an online satirical magazine and shows "Norn Iron" humour at it's best/most cynical.

http://www.portadownnews.com/archive.htm

RC

[Neil McCauley]

As a resident of NI, I can tell you that the vast majority here just want to get on with their lives in peace. There is however a small minority who want to kick off because they are bored, but as has been mentioned elsewhere we are talking about a couple of streets in one part of a big city. Where I am, we simply do not have any of this and it could be a world away. there is of course other stuff going on like the 12th and other things but it never degenerates into rioting, at least not here.

Indeed. However surely the point of issue is that commercial decisions are made on commercial perceptions and - rightly or wrongly, the perception is that investing in NI is too much of a risk. It'll take a cleverer man than me to figure out how to change that perception.

[aquapiranha]

Here we go. Back issues of the incomparable "Portadown News".
This was an online satirical magazine and shows "Norn Iron" humour at it's best/most cynical.

http://www.portadownnews.com/archive.htm

RC

Haha! I have just spent ages reading those, thanks Rich, very very funny.

Howard, you are correct, the NI situation is indeed a toughy, it doesn't matter what you do there will always be some who are not happy and are not afraid to take action to prove it (both sides I am talking about here), There is hope with the young people but unfortunately some are indoctrinated by their parents before they have the chance to reach their own decisions.

* ( Rich, I hope you don't mind me calling you that, I see it differs from your 'official' title)

Steve