Sinn Fein is the NI's richest party

The_Minister

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/northern_ireland_politics/8175840.stm
Interesting.

I'm going to drag this out the next time a Shinner tries to claim they are a disadvantaged group.

lostexpectation

not much options are there?

GarRo247

Hopefully they'll put the money to good use and use it to buy wepons to help get the brittish out, and they should be the richest party, they deserve to be, they're the only party that actually cares about Ireland and not their own profits!

Erin Go Brath

SF public reps only take home the average industrial wage and the rest is put back into the party. This goes a long way to explaining the healthy balance sheet. But lets not let that get in the way of some good conspiracy theories.

DoireNod

The_Minister wrote: »

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/northern_ireland_politics/8175840.stm
Interesting.

I've already joked to my friend about this, but in all seriousness, perhaps it's an indication of how fluently the party is run economically, which can only be a positive?

I'm going to drag this out the next time a Shinner tries to claim they are a disadvantaged group.

Sinn Féin can be seen as a disadvantaged group from various perceptions, regardless of their financial status. They have many 'disadvantages', as it were, most notably the fact that they have to continuously deal with people viewing them as being the same as the IRA. It will be extremely hard to shake that stigma, but as a party, they are showing great progress and figures such as this are further tribute to that fact..

spank_inferno

DoireNod wrote: »

Sinn Féin can be seen as a disadvantaged group from various perceptions, regardless of their financial status. They have many 'disadvantages', as it were, most notably the fact that they have to continuously deal with people viewing them as being the same as the IRA. It will be extremely hard to shake that stigma,

Its not hard to have this view point when Sinn Feins leaders were also the IRA's leaders.

dlofnep

Erin Go Brath wrote: »

SF public reps only take home the average industrial wage and the rest is put back into the party. This goes a long way to explaining the healthy balance sheet. But lets not let that get in the way of some good conspiracy theories.

Correct.

Thread over.

Not to mention, SF as a party operates on a 32 county basis, where it has activists involved in fund-raising throughout the year. All these funds are put back into the party and are used towards campaigns, printing costs, international delegations and so forth.

I'd be interested to see how wealthy FF & FG are. I'm willing to go out on a limb and say that they would make SF's accounts look like pocket change.

Fratton Fred

Erin Go Brath wrote: »

SF public reps only take home the average industrial wage and the rest is put back into the party. This goes a long way to explaining the healthy balance sheet. But lets not let that get in the way of some good conspiracy theories.

Getting an income from the UK tax payer helps as well I would suggest.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/5301510/MPs-expenses-Sinn-Fein-claimed-500000-for-second-homes.html

mike65

LOL, another train wreck of a thread beckons.

The Shinners are happy to be oppressed if they can pick up a nice little earner while being so.

Erin Go Brath

Fratton Fred wrote: »

Getting an income from the UK tax payer helps as well I would suggest.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/5301510/MPs-expenses-Sinn-Fein-claimed-500000-for-second-homes.html

SF don't take up their 5 westminister seats and they don't take any pay for them yet they still provide representation for their electorate. They are in fact saving the UK taxpayer loads of money.

Fratton Fred

Erin Go Brath wrote: »

SF don't take up their 5 westminister seats and they don't take any pay for them yet they still provide representation for their electorate. They are in fact saving the UK taxpayer loads of money.

since when were their electorate in London? unless you are refering to the "Representation" they provide to the Dublin based landlord who they rent all three homes from.

They are taking the piss, just like all the other Westminster politicians.

dlofnep

Fratton Fred wrote: »

since when were their electorate in London? unless you are refering to the "Representation" they provide to the Dublin based landlord who they rent all three homes from.

They are taking the piss, just like all the other Westminster politicians.

They are required to travel often to London to discuss cross-border concerns, and topics surrounding the GFA. They are required to have somewhere to stay while they are there. Fuss over nothing.

turgon

dlofnep wrote: »

They are required to travel often to London to discuss cross-border concerns, and topics surrounding the GFA. They are required to have somewhere to stay while they are there. Fuss over nothing.

Should all delegations who will be going to London be provided with homes there?

Fratton Fred

dlofnep wrote: »

They are required to travel often to London to discuss cross-border concerns, and topics surrounding the GFA. They are required to have somewhere to stay while they are there. Fuss over nothing.

travel Lodge FTW.

MPs get second homes because they spend 3,4 or 5 nights a week in London week in week out, not because they pop down for the odd two day jolly.

dlofnep

Fratton Fred wrote: »

travel Lodge FTW.

MPs get second homes because they spend 3,4 or 5 nights a week in London week in week out, not because they pop down for the odd two day jolly.

They are hardly there for a day or two.

The are entitled to accommodation. I don't see what the issue is. Nitpicking over nothing.

dlofnep

turgon wrote: »

Should all delegations who will be going to London be provided with homes there?

Yes, if they are entitled to it. Which SF delegates are.

Erin Go Brath

dlofnep wrote: »

They are hardly there for a day or two.

The are entitled to accommodation. I don't see what the issue is. Nitpicking over nothing.

The issue is, its been over 24 hours since the last shinner bashing thread. We were long overdue another one.

Joey the lips

The_Minister wrote: »

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/northern_ireland_politics/8175840.stm
Interesting.

I'm going to drag this out the next time a Shinner tries to claim they are a disadvantaged group.

Thats because its the biggest with the most ministers afik. This has no bearing on its spend etc! TBH its a stupid comparission now if you said that the green party being a small group was the biggest that would be interesting but this! Based on size its nothing new based on its distribution of funding.... Now thats interesting.

Oh yes! and they publish there accounts which suspects me to believe they have nothing to hide!

Fratton Fred

dlofnep wrote: »

They are hardly there for a day or two.

The are entitled to accommodation. I don't see what the issue is. Nitpicking over nothing.

They are entitled to accomodation, sure.

does it require two two bed apartments and a three bedroom house? do they need to rent them on a permanent basis?

how come they are paying over the top for them?

How come they managed to coincidentally find three "Convenient" properties all owned by the same person, who is from Dublin?

nothing wrong here no......

I'm not bashing Sinn Fein, I am quite happy to bash any MP, especially the ones claiming for moat cleaning. This is an abuse of public money. Sinn Fein are taking the piss.

turgon

dlofnep wrote: »

Yes, if they are entitled to it. Which SF delegates are.

So you think everyone who pops over to London once and a while, for example Sarcozy, should get a house paid for to? How about the Irish government, should they get a free house?

knoxor

Back to OP, the reason SF put their money back into party coffers is because they are a Marxist party.
While I'm left leaning myself I wouldn't be too in favor of SF getting into govt as a main party in the Republic.

Joey the lips

The_Minister wrote: »

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/northern_ireland_politics/8175840.stm
Interesting.

I'm going to drag this out the next time a Shinner tries to claim they are a disadvantaged group.

Oh and addittionally its a total insult to anybody to suggest that a "Liberal" will every do anything else but bash sinn fein. I am curious why anybody would actually bother answering this thread other than to agree with you because even if any reason actually made sense "a liberal" would have no hope of accepting the reason.

I hear there is some party members in the PD's looking for a new party. Mary Harney makes a great health minister! Your in there i think!

dlofnep

turgon wrote: »

So you think everyone who pops over to London once and a while, for example Sarcozy, should get a house paid for to? How about the Irish government, should they get a free house?

No, only if they are entitled to it. Which SF delegates, working on behalf of the peace-process are entitled to. There is no problem here, just the daily boards shinner bashing extravaganza.

So let me explain it for you, since you have clearly problems in breaking down a very simple issue. They are entitled to accommodation, and as such - receive it. If you have issues with their accom' being paid for - take it up with the British Government and ask them, why they pay accom' fees for politicians.

dlofnep

knoxor wrote: »

Back to OP, the reason SF put their money back into party coffers is because they are a Marxist party

This is true, all politicians in SF take home an average industrial wage and put the rest back into the party.

But let's not that get in the way of the OP stacking up an uneventful, predictable and nonsensical attack on SF.

dlofnep

Fratton Fred wrote: »

They are entitled to accomodation, sure.

Case closed.

Fratton Fred wrote: »

does it require two two bed apartments and a three bedroom house? do they need to rent them on a permanent basis?

Yes. It was 2 properties, not 3. A combined total of 5 rooms between the two of them, for 5 people.

Fratton Fred wrote: »

how come they are paying over the top for them?

It's London, everything is OTT.

Fratton Fred wrote: »

How come they managed to coincidentally find three "Convenient" properties all owned by the same person, who is from Dublin?

Who cares. Fair play to them for keeping a few quid in the pockets of an Irishman in London. Is it illegal to sell or rent property if you are an Irishman from Dublin, living in London?

Fratton Fred wrote: »

I'm not bashing Sinn Fein,

Sure.

Buffy the bitch

The_Minister wrote: »

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/northern_ireland_politics/8175840.stm
Interesting.

I'm going to drag this out the next time a Shinner tries to claim they are a disadvantaged group.

Wouldn't you be rich if you got your hands on 26.5 million

A Dub in Glasgo

forum charter wrote:

Topics should not be verbatim quotes from some article without comment from the thread starter. Add a comment before or after the post, offering your opinion on the subject, or at the very least, your reason for adding the topic.

Please remember that we are not a blog, a news feed nor an announcement forum - if you are not willing to discuss what you post, then please don't post it.

'Interesting' is hardly discussing the topic at hand!

turgon

dlofnep wrote: »

They are entitled to accommodation, and as such - receive it.

I realize, but let me clarify. They are entitled to accommodation by virtue of being MP's right? Not by virtue of them being ambassadors of the peace process, as it were?

irish_bob

this story is old news , everyone knows sinn fein are irelands richest political party , i heard some time back they are europes richest party

Terrontress

irish_bob wrote: »

this story is old news , everyone knows sinn fein are irelands richest political party , i heard some time back they are europes richest party

Yeah, I heard that too. Given the extent of their North American fundraising, they have resources that some of the larger global political parties could only dream of.

Look at the lampposts when there are elections. How does a party with such a small mandate afford to produce and erect so many posters?

Also, the election management which they employ in the North is carried out by some of the greatest political analysts on Earth, none of them Irish.

The SF leadership has also invested heavily in PR, negotiation skills, speaking courses, Tiochfadh-Armani suits and image consultants for its senior members.

It is a very well oiled organisation and the likes of Jerry McCabe and the drug addicts of Dublin have paid for that oil.

rcecil

knoxor wrote: »

Back to OP, the reason SF put their money back into party coffers is because they are a Marxist party.
While I'm left leaning myself I wouldn't be too in favor of SF getting into govt as a main party in the Republic.

Between being a marxist party and a democratic socialist model. Visit www.sinnfein.ie and look at the democratically presented and voted upon policies of Sinn Fein. Your current leaning enables the thieves of the corporate party

Joey the lips

Terrontress wrote: »

Yeah, I heard that too. Given the extent of their North American fundraising, they have resources that some of the larger global political parties could only dream of.

Look at the lampposts when there are elections. How does a party with such a small mandate afford to produce and erect so many posters?

Also, the election management which they employ in the North is carried out by some of the greatest political analysts on Earth, none of them Irish.

The SF leadership has also invested heavily in PR, negotiation skills, speaking courses, Tiochfadh-Armani suits and image consultants for its senior members.

It is a very well oiled organisation and the likes of Jerry McCabe and the drug addicts of Dublin have paid for that oil.

Yawn.... You must write for the sun you seem to have a lot of pented up anger which of course is unprovable....

Do you know how many people are laughing now.... Election management indeed! That has always been the joke in polling stations how can a party WITHOUT the election strategy teams that Fianna Failure and Fine same have

Election posters.. Now thats interesting. I only read an arguement by sinn fein that wants to ban election posters because of the harm they are doing to the environment. The infact recycle theres as dessie ellis can contest to due to the amount he has stored in his garage,

Lastly invested heavly in PR! You did read there pubkished accounts before writing this dident you! Of course you dont believe that!

Can you actually provide likes to any of these acusations or is just the rambleings of a voter who has failed to see fine same get into power.

Its nice to see tabloid reporters writing on boards, I wondered where they got there information

Terrontress

Joey the lips wrote: »

Yawn.... You must write for the sun you seem to have a lot of pented up anger which of course is unprovable....

Do you know how many people are laughing now.... Election management indeed! That has always been the joke in polling stations how can a party WITHOUT the election strategy teams that Fianna Failure and Fine same have

Election posters.. Now thats interesting. I only read an arguement by sinn fein that wants to ban election posters because of the harm they are doing to the environment. The infact recycle theres as dessie ellis can contest to due to the amount he has stored in his garage,

Lastly invested heavly in PR! You did read there pubkished accounts before writing this dident you! Of course you dont believe that!

Can you actually provide likes to any of these acusations or is just the rambleings of a voter who has failed to see fine same get into power.

Its nice to see tabloid reporters writing on boards, I wondered where they got there information

I have read and re-read that. I really have tried but I cannot make out one coherent point from what you are attempting to say.

Why not break your points down in to one per post to make them a bit more digestable.

Joey the lips

Terrontress wrote: »

I have read and re-read that. I really have tried but I cannot make out one coherent point from what you are attempting to say.

Why not break your points down in to one per post to make them a bit more digestable.

Considering the amount of spin in the post I would have no chance of making you see that points raised even if i spoon fed my answer back to you

But to put it another way

Can you back up what you said?

Your american funding bit is very funny though! You obv have been on another plannet for a long long time.

Not a shred of proof can be bore by your post- Simple!

A Dub in Glasgo

Terrontress wrote: »

I have read and re-read that. I really have tried but I cannot make out one coherent point from what you are attempting to say.

Why not break your points down in to one per post to make them a bit more digestable.

I'll translate for you

'You have made unsubstantiated statments in your post, could you supply the forum members with some material to back up what you have said'

Terrontress

A Dub in Glasgo wrote: »

I'll translate for you

'You have made unsubstantiated statments in your post, could you supply the forum members with some material to back up what you have said'

Noraid, Shinners in Columbia, Northern Bank robbery. Votes perfect to the thousand in NI PR elections to get the maximum number of seats and a load of former terrorists wandering round in expensive suits, flashing toothy grins and singing off the same hymn sheet.

Joey the lips

Terrontress wrote: »

Noraid, Shinners in Columbia, Northern Bank robbery. Votes perfect to the thousand in NI PR elections to get the maximum number of seats and a load of former terrorists wandering round in expensive suits, flashing toothy grins and singing off the same hymn sheet.

Here we go again

Noraid have published figures of where the money goes and guess what it does not go to ireland. Log onto noraid and see

Columbia - That has load to do with being rich and this is a new addition, its good to see you getting desperate. what has it to do with this subject or your comments

Voters perfect to the thousends? You either mean the green register which is a policy all political partys practice but sinn fein voters have proved the most trustworthy in there yes indication either that or wtf?

Former terriosts in expensive suits? Sounds like the sun again! Link!

Well done we should go another 5 posts by you. By then you will have the full pile of sh1t out, all with no links all with no fact and all the rantings of a person that even if you seen jesus standing in front of you would still not believe it was him.


Please provide something intersting to show why you actually think sinn fein is the richest party( as i have done) or else continue your childish rant somewhere else. Its constantly ruining thread which do not encourage positive political debate.

For example, I could be discussing why the setting up of nama by Fianna fail is a mistake or benefit, There is no point someone saying charlie haughy is a crook cause it is a useless contrabution to a discussion.

A bit like yours, except yours has no proof!

Are we done yet!

dlofnep

Terrontress wrote: »

How does a party with such a small mandate afford to produce and erect so many posters?

Instead of speculating, you'd be better served researching before you try and make assumptions. Poster funds are gathered at a local level, from each local cumann. All activists in each area will fundraise over the course of a long period to ensure that the local branch has visibility come election time.

So - If you are to ask, how? A dedicated grassroots movement, who consistently works hard to fundraise. That's how.

Nodin

Terrontress wrote: »

Look at the lampposts when there are elections. How does a party with such a small mandate afford to produce and erect so many posters?.

They are the largest nationalist party in the North.....

Terrontress wrote: »

Also, the election management which they employ in the North is carried out by some of the greatest political analysts on Earth, none of them Irish.?.

Names?

Don't FF and FG members work gratis for the SDLP during elections up north?

Terrontress wrote: »

The SF leadership has also invested heavily in PR, negotiation skills, speaking courses, Tiochfadh-Armani suits and image consultants for its senior members..?.

Wow - what a ground breaking move on their part. I wonder why no other party ever did that.

Terrontress wrote: »

the drug addicts of Dublin have paid for that oil.

You have a source for that allegation? A few convictions or something....?

Joey the lips

dlofnep wrote: »

Instead of speculating, you'd be better served researching before you try and make assumptions. Poster funds are gathered at a local level, from each local cumann. All activists in each area will fundraise over the course of a long period to ensure that the local branch has visibility come election time.

So - If you are to ask, how? A dedicated grassroots movement, who consistently works hard to fundraise. That's how.

Actually there is a good point! Is the number of posters an indication of the ability of a local cumman to fundraise?

Imagine the amount of this can be put into local publicity when the posters are banned from posts!

No doubt this simple thought would have been missed by many when it happens!

dlofnep

Joey the lips wrote: »

Actually there is a good point! Is the number of posters an indication of the ability of a local cumman to fundraise?

Yup, pretty much.

A Dub in Glasgo

Terrontress wrote: »

Noraid, Shinners in Columbia, Northern Bank robbery. Votes perfect to the thousand in NI PR elections to get the maximum number of seats and a load of former terrorists wandering round in expensive suits, flashing toothy grins and singing off the same hymn sheet.

Can you explain how this backs up what you are alleging?

DoireNod

spank_inferno wrote: »

Its not hard to have this view point when Sinn Feins leaders were also the IRA's leaders.

Apologies for the late reply, I'm only seeing this now.

I don't know if what you allege is true or not, but even if it were true, it's still not correct to assume that Sinn Féin is the same as the I.R.A. and if one holds such a view, they are either willingly or blindly ignorant.

To put it crudely, George Bush was alleged to be a member of the Skull and Bones society. Does it follow that the Republican party in America is the same as the Skull and Bones society?

On the topic of Sinn Féin and their financial position; dlofnep has it spot on - Sinn Féin are the biggest nationalist party and they do the most grassroots work. Their hard work and diligence as a political entity has evidently paid off as they continue to grow as a party and as I have said, their bank balance can perhaps be seen as a testament to this fact.

The_Minister

DoireNod wrote: »

I don't know if what you allege is true or not, but even if it were true, it's still not correct to assume that Sinn Féin is the same as the I.R.A. and if one holds such a view, they are either willingly or blindly ignorant.

Sinn Fein sell IRA merchandise.

Many of their leaders have admitted to being members of the IRA.

DoireNod

The_Minister wrote: »

Sinn Fein sell IRA merchandise.

Many of their leaders have admitted to being members of the IRA.

That may be true, but it still does not follow that Sinn Féin is the same as the I.R.A. regardless of how often people claim it to be such.

Liam Byrne

While the attitude of SF on some issues sickens me, I think the only valid contribution to this thread has been made by The Minister; the rest of it is a pathetic storm in a teacup.

SF are as entitled to funding as any other terrorist-linked party in the North, and because of the North's history that doesn't put SF in a minority of one.

Yes, I think that funding should be suspended until SF stop making additional monies from selling sick t-shirts, mugs and other crap associated with neanderthal dinosaurs, but other than that they are as entitled as anyone else to anything anyone else is entitled to.

Whether their status as a "cross-border" party skews things or not is a separate issue, because there's no-one to compare them to.

But the ONLY seriously objectionable part of their actual funding is the selling of terrorist crap.

Yes, maybe their grassroot members donated cash from murdering Gardai or robbing banks, but unless there's proof of the main members doing something illegal (which part of me believes is out there, but innocent until proven guilty applies) and unless doing illegal stuff precludes you from getting elected (which unfortunately it doesn't, because there's a good few FF members that would be also out on their ear, including some ACTUALLY found guilty and voted back in) we have to stomach those.

Joey the lips

DoireNod wrote: »

I don't know if what you allege is true or not, but even if it were true, it's still not correct to assume that Sinn Féin is the same as the I.R.A. and if one holds such a view, they are either willingly or blindly ignorant.

The_Minister wrote: »

Sinn Fein sell IRA merchandise.

Many of their leaders have admitted to being members of the IRA.

I am at a loss here to understand the points being chellanged! Are you saying

1. That because Sinn fein shops sell IRA merchanside they are the IRA? Does this also imply the same of the people that buy the stuff! Is this a new theory or anti terrorism that can be used to actually catch terriorists as such. "The terrorist is the one wearing the IRA teeshirt" Very simular to the Brit attitude that the terrorist is the once wearing the GAA teeshirt AFIK! Maybe your onto something here. Imagine all those people who bought the che teeshirts in Dunnes stores! Bloody terrorists shopping in Dunnes!

2, More importantly is Sinn fein shops the reason that Sinn fein is NI's richest party? Are people on masses buying these teeshirts and mugs! Is this what is making them so rich! Bloody shame of sinn fein to sell these to make some finance. after all you'd never see Fianna failue or labour make money of anyone. Yeah so what if fianna failure have a national finance draw and so what if labour takes some of my union fees but at least they are not selling michael collins and eamonn develara teeshirts.

This was never really a discussion because you have nailed you colours to the mast! This is a publicity drive for the "Irish Liberal party".... Best of luck! I am told mary harney is dropping in for round table talks on a merger next week. Her health policys might interest you!

Joey the lips

Liam Byrne wrote: »

While the attitude of SF on some issues sickens me, I think the only valid contribution to this thread has been made by The Minister; the rest of it is a pathetic storm in a teacup.

.

Does this include or exclude your own liam.... Harldly an open minded individual now are you,

If sinn fein ceased anything in the morning you would still never ever consider giveing them a vote so why should they really bow to your request. Put it in comma's if you and others think it improves things but they truly are a "Cross-border" party soon to be non existent border

The rest of what you said is simular hot air to the ministers and obviously unprovable but like many in the media a lame feeble attempt to line it up as guilt by association!

Do you know the Irish liberal party is looking for members?

FTA69

Terrontress wrote: »

Yeah, I heard that too. Given the extent of their North American fundraising, they have resources that some of the larger global political parties could only dream of.

All money raised by Sinn Féin the USA stays there, it has to by law.

Look at the lampposts when there are elections. How does a party with such a small mandate afford to produce and erect so many posters?

No more posters than any other party, and most of the extensive poster coverage is done in a couple of priority constituancies.

he SF leadership has also invested heavily in PR, negotiation skills, speaking courses, Tiochfadh-Armani suits and image consultants for its senior members

.

Most of which are done in-house at workshops, I never saw anyone wearing an Armani suit while I was in Sinn Féin.

It is a very well oiled organisation and the likes of Jerry McCabe and the drug addicts of Dublin have paid for that oil.

Drug addicts in Dublin? You wouldn't know anything about the drug trade if Pablo Escobar himself booted you up the hole, I don't support the IRA or Sinn Féin. But they're not f*cking drug dealers.

Liam Byrne

Joey the lips wrote: »

Does this include or exclude your own liam.... Harldly an open minded individual now are you,

Depends. Does an "open-minded individual" cease to be "open-minded" if he finds someone robbing his house ? Or does he just find that action unacceptable, regardless of the colour or ethnicity of the robber ?

In my mind, he's still open-minded, treating everyone with respect until they cross a line.

Joey the lips wrote: »

If sinn fein ceased anything in the morning you would still never ever consider giveing them a vote so why should they really bow to your request.

If SF ceased anything in the morning, it would take a while to trust them, yes. Just as if FF ceased their dodgy and unacceptable goings-on in the morning, would you agree that someone voting for them the day after was naieve ?

If you stop beating your wife in the morning, when should she trust you ? Tomorrow ? Next week ? Next year ?

Joey the lips wrote: »

Put it in comma's if you and others think it improves things but they truly are a "Cross-border" party soon to be non existent border

The only part of that phrase that should be in quotation marks is "soon to be non existent".

BTW - I'm not baiting with that - I'm just stating facts.

Joey the lips wrote: »

The rest of what you said is simular hot air to the ministers and obviously unprovable but like many in the media a lame feeble attempt to line it up as guilt by association!

So it's unprovable that SF sell IRA crap ? News to me!

And it's ironic that your blinkered views prevented you from seeing that I was defending SF from some of the opinions. They're as entitled as any to whatever's legally on offer.

But yes, if someone makes money from dodgy deals and selling unwelcome crap, I'd stop paying them (a bit like stopping the local drug dealer from getting the dole that he's otherwise entitled to).

Joey the lips wrote: »

"The terrorist is the one wearing the IRA teeshirt" Very simular to the Brit attitude that the terrorist is the once wearing the GAA teeshirt AFIK

:rolleyes: :rolleyes: COMPLETELY DIFFERENT; if there was a laugh out loud smiley I'd add it here because of that ridiculous claim! Wearing a GAA teeshirt means you support a GAA team; ergo wearing an IRA teeshirt means....

Ever seen a Chelsea supporter wear a Man U t-shirt ? Even in cases - like the Heineken cup final, where animocities are left aside and many Munster supporters "supported" Leinster, I couldn't see a Munster supporter wearing a Leinster jersey......

Wearing a t-shirt that someone else interprets incorrectly is COMPLETELY different to wearing a t-shirt that DIRECTLY INDICATES your support.

Joey the lips wrote: »

Do you know the Irish liberal party is looking for members?

Never even knew there was one, and thanks for the tip but I'm far too balanced to join ANY extremist party.

What's that phrase ? "An optimist is someone who accuses a realist of being an pessimist".

Liam Byrne

FTA69 wrote: »

I don't support the IRA or Sinn Féin. But they're not f*cking drug dealers.

Odd that you only rebuked one of the two accusations ?

Also, in the interests of discussion (and enlightening us who don't know things) could you back that statement up with facts ?

Yes, it's unfair if there's an element of "under suspicion until proven innocent", but given the things that they ARE ok with (killing, bank robberies, selling items that glorify violence and murder, etc) I think it's understandable if it appears to the neutral observer that they may not have a problem with other objectionable "fundraising" activities.

But if there are facts to prove otherwise, I'll 100% accept them.