New IRA Statement - IRA offer to shoot man's killers

damien

Heard this on TodayFM.

Only beeb has it now:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/4330445.stm

Zulu

God, they're great aren't they! <extreame sarcasm>

Sleepy

What an unbelievable cheek.

mike65

If anyone is going shoot them its the state damnit! :rolleyes:

Mike.

mike65

Representatives of Oglaigh na hEireann met with Bridgeen Hagans, the partner of Robert McCartney and with his sisters before our statement of 25 February was issued.

The meeting lasted five and a half hours. During this time the IRA representatives gave the McCartney family a detailed account of our
investigation.

Our investigation found that after the initial melee in Magennis's bar, a crowd spilled out onto the street and Robert McCartney, Brendan Devine and two other men were pursued into Market Street.

Four men were involved in the attacks in Market Street on the evening of 30 January. A fifth person was at the scene. He took no part in the attacks and was responsible for moving to safety one of the two people accompanying Robert McCartney and Brendan Devine.

One man was responsible for providing the knife that was used in the stabbing of Robert McCartney and Brendan Devine in Market Street. He got the knife from the kitchen of Magennis's Bar.

Another man stabbed Robert McCartney and Brendan Devine.

A third man kicked and beat Robert McCartney after he had been stabbed in Market Street.

A fourth man hit a friend of Robert McCartney and Brendan Devine across the face with a steel bar in Market Street.

The man who provided the knife also retrieved it from the scene and destroyed it. The same man also took the CCTV tape from the bar, after threatening a member of staff and later destroyed it. He also burned clothes after the attack.

Reports in the media have alleged that up to 12 IRA Volunteers were involved in the events in Market Street. Our investigation found that this is not so. Of the four people directly involved in the attacks in Market Street, two were IRA Volunteers. The other two were not.

The IRA knows the identity of all these men.

The build-up to the attack and stabbings was also outlined to the family and subsequently set out publicly in the IRA's statement of 25 February.

The IRA representatives detailed the outcome of the internal disciplinary proceedings thus far and stated in clear terms that the IRA was prepared to shoot the people directly involved in the killing of Robert McCartney.

The McCartney family raised their concerns with the IRA representatives.

These included: Firstly, the family made it clear that they did not want physical action taken against those involved. They stated that they wanted those individuals to give a full account of their actions in court.

Secondly, they raised concerns about the intimidation of witnesses.

The IRA's position on this was set out in unambiguous and categoric terms on February 15 and February 25. Before and after this meeting with the family, the IRA gave direct assurances on their safety to three named individuals who the family believe were the targets of intimidation.

Since we met the family, at that time, the good offices of an independent third party have been employed to reinforce these assurances with two of the three men. To this point the third party has not been able to contact the other man.

We have urged any witnesses who can assist in any way to come forward. That remains our position. The only interest the IRA has in this case is to see truth and justice achieved.

Since we issued our statement on February 25 there has been much political and media comment on what we had to say. Predictably our opponents and enemies who have their own agendas have used this brutal killing to attack republicans and to advance their own narrow political interests. The public will make their own judgment on this.

We sought and held a second meeting with the McCartney family in the presence of an independent observer.

In the course of this we reiterated our position in respect of witnesses, including our view that all witnesses should come forward. We also revisited details of the incident.

We disclosed the following to the family:

The conclusions of the IRA's investigations are based on voluntary admissions by those involved.

The names of those involved in the attacks and stabbings of Robert McCartney, Brendan Devine and the assault on another man in Market Street were given to the family.

This included the names of the two men responsible for providing the knife, using the knife, destroying the knife, destroying the CCTV tape and burning clothes.

In addition we informed the family that: We have ordered anyone who was present on the night to go forward and to give a full and honest account of their actions. That includes those who have already been subject to the IRA's internal disciplinary proceedings.

We are continuing to press all of those involved in the events around the killings of Robert McCartney to come forward. The IRA is setting out all of the above at length because it is important that those issues of truth and justice are successfully resolved.

We are doing our best to work with the family and to respect their wishes."

Mike.

swiss

So it's okay for the IRA to shoot republicans but not the security forces...

Makes sense to me. I see no hypocrisy in this stance whatsoever.

Hairy Homer

IRA STATEMENT wrote:

The public will make their own judgment on this.

You know, they might have a point there.

Are you sure this was an IRA statement? It seems to be missing the ubiquitous 'the ultimate responsibility lies with the British Government'
which is part of its boilerplate.

Villain

swiss wrote:

So it's okay for the IRA to shoot republicans but not the security forces...

Makes sense to me. I see no hypocrisy in this stance whatsoever.

Who said it was ok???

I would like to say that I would condemn any acts of violence by the IRA towards the men involved. However I am awake to the reality of the situation and I realise without the threat of violence to the men involved they would never come forward to accept responsibility for their actions.

ReefBreak

I eagerly await Mary-Lou McDonald's next human rights diatribe where she issues comdemnation of the use of the Death Penalty.

Villain

ReefBreak wrote:

I eagerly await Mary-Lou McDonald's next human rights diatribe where she issues comdemnation of the use of the Death Penalty.

The last time I looked Mary-Lou was a Sinn Fein member not a member of the IRA, BTW I've read that statement and I didn't see any mention of anyone been killed.

AmenToThat

If the men involved in this murder dont come forward and admit their guilt and continue to threaten witnesses exactly what is it that the people who are posting here want the IRA to do about it ,this has never been fully explained to me.

irish1

irish1 wrote:

Who said it was ok???

Well, its clear from what they say that its ok for them to be their own judge and jury independent of the state,the implication in fact is that it was their preference.

As regards the security forces,it does say in the green book does n't it that they are not to engage the forces of the 26 counties.
But they do and have done as you know.

AmenToThat

Earthman wrote:

As regards the security forces,it does say in the green book does n't it that they are not to engage the forces of the 26 counties.
But they do and have done as you know.

This is all very interesting but can we please keep on topic.

Dub13

ReefBreak wrote:

I eagerly await Mary-Lou McDonald's next human rights diatribe where she issues comdemnation of the use of the Death Penalty.

Mary-Lou McDonald is not a member of the IRA.....

cdebru

ReefBreak wrote:

I eagerly await Mary-Lou McDonald's next human rights diatribe where she issues comdemnation of the use of the Death Penalty.

they said shoot not kill

people have been posting on here asking why the IRA have not shot them
now they have their answer because the family don't want them too

monument

irish1 wrote:

Who said it was ok???

Apparently the IRA did.

Mercury_Tilt

This post has been deleted.

FTA69

If Mary Lou-McDonald was a member of the IRA well then yes her stance would be hypocritical but considering she is not a member her stance is not hypocritical.

hawkmoon269

Yet again proof of the sick mentality that infects the IRA.....yet people will still vote Sinn Fein.....strange.

FTA69

I can't see any evidence of a sick mentality, these murderers were IRA members who bound themselves to the Army's rules. They then brought the Army into disrepute as well as attemting to cover their murderous actions, they made their bed and they can lie in it, as far as I'm concerned shooting them is more than they deserve.

Ba_barbaraAnne

If the IRA know who the murderers are, why don't they give the information directly to the authorities and let them track them down?

Offering to deal with the offenders themselves is sick. That kind of thuggish behaviour has no place in a democratic society.

mycroft

also the IRA's williness to cut these men off, when public opinion turns againist them (the IRA shield the men at first, and were forced to this statement)

It kind of lends credience to the claim the IRA allowed the 7 extra hunger strikers die, and they seem to be willing to kill their own for good PR.

The IRA can't put a foot right at the moment. And considering the continued existance of punishment shootings jokes about shots in the foot, should be avoided

flynnser19

well the irish government are stabbing the irish people in the back and you people cant see this.i agree with some of the messages here.when they join the ira they agree to the rules and the rules where broken just like every other army.i doubt it very much that you people would argue as easily over the THOUSANDS of people killed by the british army over the years or by the loyalist paramilatries aswell!!the people in the republic of ireland have their freedom(to a certain extent)and dont care about their friends in the north of ireland and let them fight their own battles!!we need you all to help get ireland back its freedom!!
and somebody said earlier that they wonder why people still vote sinn fein!!!do you ever wonder why people vote fianna fail??a corrupt party run by one of the stupidest men in the country!!this is a man who cant talk properly running our country along with a fat woman who talks crap and i osmetimes wonder whether she is a woman!!!i know im gonna be eate for this message on here so i wont be replying to anything after this (unless i feel like it!but its unlikely!)

Thank you
Slán
Fí

shltter

Ba_barbaraAnne wrote:

If the IRA know who the murderers are, why don't they give the information directly to the authorities and let them track them down?

Offering to deal with the offenders themselves is sick. That kind of thuggish behaviour has no place in a democratic society.

yes i can see that

local IRA leader enters PSNI station

"i'm here on behalf of the IRA i have informati........."7 years later emerges from prison sentence for admitting membership of an illegal organisation

no matter what the IRA does people are going to complain if they don't offer to shoot them
it would be why not one rule for them one rule for someone else etc
if they do it is barbaric

ReefBreak

flynnser19 wrote:

well the irish government are stabbing the irish people in the back and you people cant see this.i agree with some of the messages here.when they join the ira they agree to the rules and the rules where broken just like every other army.i doubt it very much that you people would argue as easily over the THOUSANDS of people killed by the british army over the years or by the loyalist paramilatries aswell!!the people in the republic of ireland have their freedom(to a certain extent)and dont care about their friends in the north of ireland and let them fight their own battles!!we need you all to help get ireland back its freedom!!
and somebody said earlier that they wonder why people still vote sinn fein!!!do you ever wonder why people vote fianna fail??a corrupt party run by one of the stupidest men in the country!!this is a man who cant talk properly running our country along with a fat woman who talks crap and i osmetimes wonder whether she is a woman!!!i know im gonna be eate for this message on here so i wont be replying to anything after this (unless i feel like it!but its unlikely!)

Thank you
Slán
Fí

Erm, riiiight. A very funny post, but not for the reasons flynnser19 would like it to be.

"this is a man who cant talk properly running our country along with a fat woman who talks crap and i osmetimes wonder whether she is a woman!!!i"

You should probably re-read your post.

shltter

mycroft wrote:

also the IRA's williness to cut these men off, when public opinion turns againist them (the IRA shield the men at first, and were forced to this statement)

It kind of lends credience to the claim the IRA allowed the 7 extra hunger strikers die, and they seem to be willing to kill their own for good PR.

The IRA can't put a foot right at the moment. And considering the continued existance of punishment shootings jokes about shots in the foot, should be avoided

this statement is not aimed at you it is aimed at IRA supporters and the broad republican/nationalist community who are wondereing what the IRA are doing about the situation

most republicans would be fairly pleased with the statement in regards that it seems the IRA have investigated what happened expelled the people involved who no doubt would have been shot by now but for the wishes of the mccartney family

the IRA has passed on the information that they have collected to the mcccartney family they have assured the witnesses that they offer no threat to them and they have odered the people involved to account for their actions

ReefBreak

FTA69 wrote:

If Mary Lou-McDonald was a member of the IRA well then yes her stance would be hypocritical but considering she is not a member her stance is not hypocritical.

She is a member of a party with real & definite links to a group of terrorist vermin (the IRA). And you (and Irish1) know full well that Sinn Féin has real and definite links with the 'RA, so don't waste everyone's time denying it.

So Mary-Lou-With-Respect McDonald has real and definite links to people who believe that murdering someone without trial is a form of justice. As I've said plenty of times before: Shame on anyone in Ireland that votes for Sinn Féin - they don't deserve to call themselves Irish.

mycroft

shltter wrote:

this statement is not aimed at you it is aimed at IRA supporters and the broad republican/nationalist community who are wondereing what the IRA are doing about the situation

most republicans would be fairly pleased with the statement in regards that it seems the IRA have investigated what happened expelled the people involved who no doubt would have been shot by now but for the wishes of the mccartney family

the IRA has passed on the information that they have collected to the mcccartney family they have assured the witnesses that they offer no threat to them and they have odered the people involved to account for their actions

Then why not only release it as pamplet and post it to all SF members in the south. Or handbills. It was released to the media, therefore I get to comment.

And as for the Mc Carthy family. I think the fact that they were offered vengence and rejected it for an attempt at justice is to be lauded.

Villain

ReefBreak wrote:

As I've said plenty of times before: Shame on anyone in Ireland that votes for Sinn Féin - they don't deserve to call themselves Irish.

Sorry Mods But I've had enough of reefbreaks sh*t.

F**k You ReefBreak who are you to say I don't deserve to call myself Irish, I have lived in this nation all my life and I am very proud of my culture, I have never broken a law in my life and pay my taxes to this state every week, god damn it I spent the whole day today in Carlow Circuit Court on Jury Duty.

I'm as Irish as you get, and thankfully because of the brave Irish men who fought for our independence I live in a democracy and I can vote for whoever I like.

Sorry again Mods but I'm not going to take this crap anymore.

A Dub in Glasgo

mycroft wrote:

It kind of lends credience to the claim the IRA allowed the 7 extra hunger strikers die, and they seem to be willing to kill their own for good PR.

Really? I don't see juch credence, care to explain it too me?

A Dub in Glasgo

ReefBreak wrote:

As I've said plenty of times before: Shame on anyone in Ireland that votes for Sinn Féin - they don't deserve to call themselves Irish.

Your type of 'shame' is nothing to be ashamed of.

mycroft

A Dub in Glasgo wrote:

Really? I don't see juch credence, care to explain it too me?

IRA men are cut adrift, when for the sake of PR, they must make a public example of them. IRA then offer to execute the men to save face.

IRA release theres a huge groundswell for them political by the hunger strikers continued presence, the strikers find a honourable agreement with the British government the council rejects the plea, because ten martyrs gives your murial artists more creative ideas then three.

The end result is the same when it was benficial to the movement to have the hunger strikers die, they let them die. When it would be benifical to the movement to have Robert Mc Carthy's killers killed, they tried to go ahead with it. They just realised how massively moronic it would be to do so.

Oh and spare me this army at war crap. If three US GIs gutted a civilian outside a bar near an army base, the Army wouldn't seek the victims family's sanction for their execution. This was PR pure and simple.

ReefBreak

irish1 wrote:

Sorry again Mods but I'm not going to take this crap anymore.

During the troubles, the IRA murdered over 800 people that had NO CONNECTION TO ANY PARAMILITARY ORGANISATION. They committed atrocity after atrocity without remorse or regret - and they still have no remorse or regret. In fact Gerry Adams is on record as saying he is proud of the IRA. So deal with it: the IRA are murderous scumbags that disgraced our nation for years, and still continue to disgrace our nation by robbing banks, butchering people outside pubs and running a criminal mafia. If you can't handle the fact that you vote for poeple that have links to murderers, thieves, liars and terrorists, then I suggest you debate elsewhere. Just don't throw a tantrum when someone reminds you of the truth. And I'll repeat it: anyone that votes for Sinn Féin(/IRA) is a disgrace to Ireland and should feel nothing but shame.

I'm as Irish as you get, and thankfully because of the brave Irish men who fought for our independence I live in a democracy and I can vote for whoever I like.

Funny that, if Sinn Féin/IRA got into power, you can guarantee that the one place that Ireland would not be is a free democracy. Say or do something the IRA don't like? Expect the "Secret Police" around to your house to re-design your kneecaps, or your brain.

A Dub in Glasgo

mycroft wrote:

IRA men are cut adrift, when for the sake of PR, they must make a public example of them. IRA then offer to execute the men to save face.

I have no doubt that the men responsible would have been found in a border field if we were sitting here in a situation like we had 10-15 years ago.

IRA release theres a huge groundswell for them political by the hunger strikers continued presence, the strikers find a honourable agreement with the British government the council rejects the plea, because ten martyrs gives your murial artists more creative ideas then three.

You are believing who?

The end result is the same when it was benficial to the movement to have the hunger strikers die, they let them die.

You are believing who?

Oh and spare me this army at war crap. If three US GIs gutted a civilian outside a bar near an army base, the Army wouldn't seek the victims family's sanction for their execution. This was PR pure and simple.

Probably not but if 2 BA sqaddies murdered an Irish civilian, the Army would not have fought ot keep them, re-instate them after their prison spell and promote one of them?

gandalf

irish1 wrote:

Sorry Mods But I've had enough of reefbreaks sh*t.

F**k You ReefBreak who are you to say I don't deserve to call myself Irish, I have lived in this nation all my life and I am very proud of my culture, I have never broken a law in my life and pay my taxes to this state every week, god damn it I spent the whole day today in Carlow Circuit Court on Jury Duty.

I'm as Irish as you get, and thankfully because of the brave Irish men who fought for our independence I live in a democracy and I can vote for whoever I like.

Sorry again Mods but I'm not going to take this crap anymore.

I am sorry too because you have walked into this banning. Reefbreak is entitled to his opinion and while you are a Sinn Fein voter as you continually tell us here he has not attacked you personally but he expressed his opinion that he cannot understand how people can vote Sinn Fein (obviously in a quite unsophisticated manner).

Villain

ReefBreak wrote:

During the troubles, the IRA murdered over 800 people that had NO CONNECTION TO ANY PARAMILITARY ORGANISATION. They committed atrocity after atrocity without remorse or regret - and they still have no remorse or regret. In fact Gerry Adams is on record as saying he is proud of the IRA. So deal with it: the IRA are murderous scumbags that disgraced our nation for years, and still continue to disgrace our nation by robbing banks, butchering people outside pubs and running a criminal mafia. If you can't handle the fact that you vote for poeple that have links to murderers, thieves, liars and terrorists, then I suggest you debate elsewhere. Just don't throw a tantrum when someone reminds you of the truth. And I'll repeat it: anyone that votes for Sinn Féin(/IRA) is a disgrace to Ireland and should feel nothing but shame.

I'm not going to get into a tit for tat argument here I have sent you a pm if you want to insult me do it through a pm. I feel no shame in expressing my democratic right to vote for whatever party I wish. I have said it many times before but I'll say it again, I DO NOT SUPPORT THE MODERN DAY IRA.

shltter

mycroft wrote:

Then why not only release it as pamplet and post it to all SF members in the south. Or handbills. It was released to the media, therefore I get to comment.

And as for the Mc Carthy family. I think the fact that they were offered vengence and rejected it for an attempt at justice is to be lauded.

i didn't say you could not comment it

just saying it is not aimed at convincing people of your opinion of anything
you havve already made your mind up
it is obviously aimed at calming their own supporters for one
and at the wider nationalist community

to let them know what they are doing have done

the fact that you would criticise the statement does not mean it has not achieved what it set out to do

shltter

ReefBreak wrote:

they don't deserve to call themselves Irish.

so who set you up as having a right to determine wether someone can call themselves irish
we live in a democracy people can vote for whomever they choose

ReefBreak

irish1 wrote:

I'm not going to get into a tit for tat argument here I have sent you a pm if you want to insult me do it through a pm. I feel no shame in expressing my democratic right to vote for whatever party I wish. I have said it many times before but I'll say it again, I DO NOT SUPPORT THE MODERN DAY IRA.

Perhaps not, but you do support a party that has real and definite links to the IRA. And that's where the problem lies. This whole off-topic issue begs the question: Yes or No, if it were proven that one or all of Gerry Adams, Martin McGuinness or Martin Ferris were members of the IRA Army council, would you continue to vote for Sinn Féin? And try and actually answer the question, rather than playing Dodge-the-Answer like the usual Shinner politician.

ReefBreak

shltter wrote:

so who set you up as having a right to determine wether someone can call themselves irish
we live in a democracy people can vote for whomever they choose

I'm certainly not saying that people can't vote for Sinn Féin. People can vote for whoever they like. What I am saying is that people should feel shame when they for vote for them. Similarly, people in Germany should have felt shame when they voted for the Nazis (or as Nazi is also known as: Nationalist Socialist) in the 1930s. I use the Nazi comparison on purpose, by the way. Obviously, when you vote for anyone you don't actually feel shame, but that's not my point.

gt-redeye

"Firstly, the family made it clear that they did not want physical action taken against those involved. They stated that they wanted those individuals to give a full account of their actions in court."

How does this equate to the IRA being prepared to shoot those responsible, as the BBC put it?

ReefBreak

ReefBreak wrote:

Perhaps not, but you do support a party that has real and definite links to the IRA. And that's where the problem lies. This whole off-topic issue begs the question: Yes or No, if it were proven that one or all of Gerry Adams, Martin McGuinness or Martin Ferris were members of the IRA Army council, would you continue to vote for Sinn Féin? And try and actually answer the question, rather than playing Dodge-the-Answer like the usual Shinner politician.

Well if you look at Gandalfs post, you will note that irish1 wont be able to reply to your question.
But in fairness to him, he is on record as saying if theres widespread proof of criminality he will reconsider who he votes for.
That would be inconsistent(I think) with not applying the same reasoning to actual cast iron proof of say any of the three names you mentioned being on the IRA army council.

Raskolnikov

ReefBreak wrote:

Yes or No, if it were proven that one or all of Gerry Adams, Martin McGuinness or Martin Ferris were members of the IRA Army council, would you continue to vote for Sinn Féin?

Umm, Irish politics has had a history of being militant from the conception of the state to this very day. Eamon de Valera, Michael Collins, Cuman na nGaedheal, Clan na Poblachta, The Workers Party, the militant wing of Fianna Fáil during the 70's, Pronsias de Rossa and his band of Stickies, etc, etc. Having 'terrorists' in politics is nothing new. What needs to happen is that the decomissioning talks must be restarted. Then Sinn Féin can secure IRA decomissioning and we can all be pals doing politics again.

mycroft

A Dub in Glasgo wrote:

I have no doubt that the men responsible would have been found in a border field if we were sitting here in a situation like we had 10-15 years ago.

Well let me explain what happened tonight. The IRA have carried out community policing in the proveince for 30 odd years. They've killed maimed and murdered with impuity. They've done this because they claimed they had the mandate of the people in those communties.

They went to the Mc Carthy family to have them renew that mandate. They were refused.

You are believing who?

A former IRA man and hunger striker.......

You are believing who?

Who is the other side in my argument? I've used an example of the IRA's williness to create marytrs as cited by a former hunger strike, and the IRA's
williness to create maytrs, in the form of three men they wanted to kill in the name of good PR. I'm demostrating that in two seperate occasions they've offered their own means life up to further the cause

Probably not but if 2 BA sqaddies murdered an Irish civilian, the Army would not have fought ot keep them, re-instate them after their prison spell and promote one of them?

Elaspe time to bring in some accusations aganist british justice, when IRA justice is called into count, 10minutes. Defending yourself by damning the behaviour of another group is no defense. And the British army don't still have the death penalty which is why I used the US. However, what I will say is, in both the IRA and British army, justice for their victims families complain. You're no better than each other.

gt-redeye

Raskolnikov wrote:

Umm, Irish politics has had a history of being militant from the conception of the state to this very day.

OT perhaps, but:

I cant think of a country whose politics arent militant - don't most governments throughout the world have an army?

folk_smith

ReefBreak wrote:

During the troubles, the IRA murdered over 800 people that had NO CONNECTION TO ANY PARAMILITARY ORGANISATION. They committed atrocity after atrocity without remorse or regret - and they still have no remorse or regret. In fact Gerry Adams is on record as saying he is proud of the IRA.

Where are you getting your statistics here - thin air? the nether regions of your barking spider? How does any number of atrocities that you can drum up against the IRA compare to the rape and murder of thousands of Irish Catholics beginning with the Glorious Revolution until today by a ethno-centric, over zealous British Government. The fact is this - the protestants invaded Ireland beginning in 1688 and remain an occupying force in the region. I don't condone the killing of innocents, but if you want to talk numbers friend, your beloved England is at the heart of all the troubles.

Raskolnikov

gandalf wrote:

I am sorry too because you have walked into this banning.

Irish1 tells Reefbreak to 'fúck off' after Reefbreak calls anyone affiliated with Sinn Féin 'vermin' and Irish1 get banned.

Instead of bannings for one; why not just give these two kiddies a lash of the cane and make them shake hands?

Meh

folk_smith wrote:

Where are you getting your statistics here - thin air? the nether regions of your barking spider?

http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/sutton/crosstabs.html Fun fact: choose "religion summary" against "organization" to see that the IRA killed more Catholics (340) than the RUC (44) and British Army (254) put together!

How does any number of atrocities that you can drum up against the IRA compare to the rape and murder of thousands of Irish Catholics beginning with the Glorious Revolution until today by a ethno-centric, over zealous British Government. The fact is this - the protestants invaded Ireland beginning in 1688 and remain an occupying force in the region. I don't condone the killing of innocents, but if you want to talk numbers friend, your beloved England is at the heart of all the troubles.

The rest of us learned that "two wrongs don't make a right" back in primary school, I guess you must have been out sick that day.

Location: Lafayette, LA

I'm sure you have a great view of the situation in Ireland from your vantage point in Louisiana.

Raskolnikov

gt-redeye wrote:

OT perhaps, but:

I cant think of a country whose politics arent militant - don't most governments throughout the world have an army?

True but in most Western Democracies there aren't political groups who have members that are taking part or actively assisting 'terrorism' against other nations. Nearly 90 years after the Irish Free State is declared, we're still at it.

abccormac

I can just picture the meeting where they came up with this idea...
"Jaysus comrades, theres on awful lot of talk about criminality in the IRA going on these day. People don't seem tolike it! What'll we do?"

"Eh... We could offer to shoot some people?"

"I like the cut of your jib! lets do it!"

"They don't want us to shoot anyone? What now?"

"Release a statement about how we were prepared to carry out more criminal acts?"

"Jaysus, you've got all the ideas, I'll get the typewriter"

What planet are these people from? How did they think this would help? Until today I thought the IRA were playing a very clever political game, seeimg how far they could push things before they were called back to the negotiating table, but now I honestly belive the collective intelligence of this organisation is miniscule. Did they not realise the ammunition they would be handing to their opponents?

pogoń

Good pst Meh.

I like your 'fun facts', another interesting one being that the IRA are responsible for the deaths of more IRA members than all the other security forces combined.

However I don't believe sufficient light has been shed on Folk Smith's appalling ignorance.

For example his idea that Protestants came to Ireland in 1688.

But what would one expect from a nation where a significant proportion of the population believe themselves to have been victims of alien abductions.