2 Dead several others shot outside Army base Antrim

We really are back in the Eighties in so many respects, aren't we?

I can't, thankfully, see trouble breaking out in any meaningful way up there again. As an aside, thanks to some enterprising republican bigot on Youtube, I watched one G. Adams masterfully fend off an attempted attack by Uncle Gaybo and a group of movers and shakers of the time that are now all dead or as good as. I remember watching it at the time from an anti Sinn Fein perspective-I'm pretty much the same on that score these days, and thought it, then and now, was an attempted ambush, and did more to aid the Sinn Fein party than hinder it.

At the time, 15 years ago, the media censorship on republicans had just been removed, and the ceasefire was two months old. People were just discovering what Gerry Adams sounded like.

A few things stick in my mind. Catholics/republicans/whatever, had no faith whatsoever in the RUC. There was something like a million guns up there, both legally and illegally held. Punishment beatings were rife, as factions felt they had to act as defacto police, or were just thick enough to go along with others. The tactics of what we now deem extremists, while not populist, had a great deal of support among the populace who suffered most. An eye for an eye leaves the whole world (half) blind.

Anyway, go back further again. The whole thing kicked off in the first place over inequality. Catholics had no vote in local elections.

We are not starting from such an unequal perspective today.

Mairt wrote: »

By who, the BRITISH? .. :eek:

Like their justice system has been a shining example to us all!.

Maybe not, but we have nothing to be proud of either.

Really shocking watching the Sky News. I was under the impression though that all British soldiers had left NI.

Dudess wrote: »

:eek: West Brit traitor!!!

I love the phrase "punishment beating"... as opposed to "reward beating".

We prefer to think of it as an 'attitude adjustment' thank you very much...

RoundyMooney wrote: »

We really are back in the Eighties in so many respects, aren't we?

I can't, thankfully, see trouble breaking out in any meaningful way up there again. As an aside, thanks to some enterprising republican bigot on Youtube, I watched one G. Adams masterfully fend off an attempted attack by Uncle Gaybo and a group of movers and shakers of the time that are now all dead or as good as.

At the time, 15 years ago, the media censorship on republicans had just been removed, and the ceasefire was two months old. People were just discovering what Gerry Adams sounded like.

A few things stick in my mind. Catholics/republicans/whatever, had no faith whatsoever in the RUC. There was something like a million guns up there, both legally and illegaly held. Punishment beatings were rife, as factions felt they had to act as defacto police, or were just thick enough to go along with others. The tactics of what we now deem extremists, while not populist, had a great deal of support among the populace who suffered most. An eye for an eye leaves the whole world (half) blind.

Anyway, go back further again. The whole thing kicked off in the first place over inequality. Catholics had no vote in local elections.

We are not starting from such an unequal perspective today.

But at the heart of the matter there's still an occupation of the six counties, like it or lump it - brush over it all you like, but scratch the surface and thats what you'll find.

And although the people of the south voted away our constitutional claim on the six counties, it was a luxury not afforded to the nationalist population up there.

I'd truely hate to see violence returned to the streets and country side of N.I. but you can bet your life there are people on both sides choming on the bit to get going again, because the cause is still there.

.

Dodgykeeper wrote: »

DO we have examples of miscarriges of justice where innocent people were locked up for years for crimes they didnt commit!

Ammmmm, do the McBreartys in Donegal ring any bells?

Don't kid yourself, it happens...

Mairt wrote: »

But at the heart of the matter there's still an occupation of the six counties, like it or lump it - brush over it all you like, but scratch the surface and thats what you'll find.

And although the people of the south voted away our constitutional claim on the six counties, it was a luxury not afforded to the nationalist population up there.

I'd truely hate to see violence returned to the streets and country side of N.I. but you can bet your life there are people on both sides choming on the bit to get going again, because the cause is still there.

.

One of the causes, definitely. TBH, it's probably the primary motivation among republicans (and hoop wearing chav goons) down here, as opposed to over the border, where the issue was a much more pressing one of inequality and bigotry applied by the establishment, as opposed to the desire for a united Ireland.

It is there of course, I agree with you totally. Like Gerry's IRA of the late nineties, it "hasn't gone away you know".

What we'll probably see in the short term (recession driven again, to a point) is civil disobedience on a larger scale than has been seen for years.

Organised terrorism with political backing (however veiled)? I certainly hope not.

Trying to find a silver lining to this whole sorry situation, from a PDF perspective, at least the border patrols might remain a while longer now