// if (isOntologyTriplePattern ==
// ISONTOLOGYTRIPLEPATTERN.YES) {
// then delete the old triple pattern
final BasicOperator po = tp.getPrecedingOperators()
.get(0);
po.removeSucceedingOperator(tp);
// } else {
// // otherwise do not delete old triple pattern and
// // make the union operator its succeeding operator!
// tp.setSucceedingOperator(new OperatorIDTuple(union,
// union.getPrecedingOperators().size()));