Brian Feeney in '' The Irish News '' accused Brokenshire of " ineptitude ... though no one would give him the credit of even being aware of the coincidence of the date he chose , when British soldiers killed most innocent victims in Ireland . " ( see Bloody Sunday ) , while the '' Belfast Telegraph '' editorial accused the minister of " playing a dangerous game " : The Secretary of State ... has created further controversy around an already contentious subject . It is an unusual move and by doing so , he has opened himself up to allegations that he is taking sides . He has also put at risk the impartiality with which Secretaries of State are expected to deal with Northern Ireland affairs . Brokenshire resigned as Northern Ireland Secretary on 8 January 2018 on health grounds due to an upcoming lung operation . On 20 January it was announced that he had the operation and had been discharged from hospital
Bloody Sunday
Bloody Sunday (1972)
James Brokenshire