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Is Gerry Adams the greatest leader in all of Irish history

2

Comments

  • Posts: 5,369 [Deleted User]


    If by brilliant you include sanctioning the killing of a widow and leaving her children orphans at Christmas. Yeah, he's Numero uno.

    Top man for defending Garda killers too.

    He's streets ahead of the rest when it comes to protecting your paedophile brother too.

    In terms of delivering on promises? I'll give him 50% for at least delivering a reasonable peace in the north. He does deserve his credit for that.

    SF however never had any desire to be in power. It's far easier to sit on the other side shouting.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,597 ✭✭✭tdf7187


    Peregrinus wrote: »
    Factcheck: The claim that Mandela ever led a terrorist group would be, ahem, strongly contested. You'd need to adopt a very expansive definition of terrorism to make it stand up. (As, indeed, the South African government of the time did. But you don't necessarily want to be togging out with them.)

    Well, that's simply not the case. The ANC was widely regarded, including by most Western countries, as a terrorist organisation at least in the earlier decades of its existence. Similarly to Sinn Fein, basically. Of course, those who want to demonise northern Irish republicans, portraying them as vermin simply for defending their communities don't like to acknowledge this, but it happens to be the historical truth. It is also the historical truth that the Troubles started when violent Loyalist mobs attacked nationalist civilians in the apartheid statelet that was Northern Ireland.

    In fact, the ANC committed and sanctioned not just violent acts against the apartheid era SA government, but also violent acts that killed civilians, just as did PIRA (*)

    Thatcher was at least consistent, always regarding both the ANC and IRA/SF as terrorists. Modern Tories, including our own native Tories, the FG party and FF under its present leader, want to idolise Mandela and the ANC while demonising Gerry Adams and anyone who votes for SF. It would be so hilarious if it wasn't so pathetic.

    * https://www.nytimes.com/1988/08/21/world/anc-acts-to-halt-civilian-attacks.html


  • Posts: 5,369 [Deleted User]


    Barry904 wrote: »
    Hume was a complete and utter joke I seen a video of him on youtube where he was going on about Catholic rights and the whole place was laughing and cracking jokes at him.

    Ah well, if you "seen" a YouTube video then we stand corrected.


    Stand down folks, lest this man butcher the English language any further.


  • Registered Users Posts: 5,611 ✭✭✭The Golden Miller


    He's good, but no. The answer is Padraig Pearse. An unwavering unyielding spirit. The father and symbolic leader of Ireland


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,597 ✭✭✭tdf7187


    If by brilliant you include sanctioning the killing of a widow and leaving her children orphans at Christmas. Yeah, he's Numero uno.

    Top man for defending Garda killers too.

    He's streets ahead of the rest when it comes to protecting your paedophile brother too.

    In terms of delivering on promises? I'll give him 50% for at least delivering a reasonable peace in the north. He does deserve his credit for that.

    SF however never had any desire to be in power. It's far easier to sit on the other side shouting.


    In terms of deathcount, Gerry is in the halfpenny place compared to Zanu FF/FG. The financial collapse killed hundreds due to suicide.

    As for child abuse, the FF/FG run institutions facilitated mass child abuse on a monstrous scale over decades, as testified to in numerous investigations and inquiries.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,597 ✭✭✭tdf7187


    Hume falls somewhere between both posts , like most politicians he had a large ego, not helped by a short temper and a wandering eye, despite this he did more towards peace on this island than anyone else, Adams ,Ahern and Blair helped, Bruton hindered

    A fair assessment. Bruton was indeed a disaster.


  • Registered Users Posts: 5,611 ✭✭✭The Golden Miller


    If by brilliant you include sanctioning the killing of a widow and leaving her children orphans at Christmas. Yeah, he's Numero uno.

    Top man for defending Garda killers too.

    He's streets ahead of the rest when it comes to protecting your paedophile brother too.

    In terms of delivering on promises? I'll give him 50% for at least delivering a reasonable peace in the north. He does deserve his credit for that.

    SF however never had any desire to be in power. It's far easier to sit on the other side shouting.

    "Garda killers"? Who exactly were Garda killers? You see this thrown about alot


  • Posts: 0 [Deleted User]


    No fan of sf but leading them/ira from where they were to their current position, and the credit owed him for the GFA and all after, you simply have to acknowledge his contribution to an enormous achievement


  • Posts: 0 [Deleted User]


    tdf7187 wrote: »
    In terms of deathcount, Gerry is in the halfpenny place compared to Zanu FF/FG. The financial collapse killed hundreds due to suicide.

    As for child abuse, the FF/FG run institutions facilitated mass child abuse on a monstrous scale over decades, as testified to in numerous investigations and inquiries.


    Equating citizens dying in a democracy to people actively killed by terrorism is one of the laziest and most easily dismissed tropes consistently pulled up


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 28,382 ✭✭✭✭blanch152


    Barry904 wrote: »
    Gerry Adams led SF for decades, brought a party from nothing to the most popular party in the Republic of Ireland and the second most popular party in the north with SF being the only all Ireland party.

    To me and I'd say a good half the country would consider Gerry Adams matched only with the likes of Nelson Mandela or Gandhi.

    Mandela and Gandhi are the wrong comparisons.

    Adams can compare with the likes of Pol Pot, Stalin, Kim Il Sung, Hugo Chavez, etc, who brought poverty, misery, violence, death and division to their countries. However, it is a pale comparison, yes, he managed to make West Belfast the most impoverished part of the British Isles, and he managed to oversee the killing, raping, mutilation of many thousands of people, but thankfully, the extent of it was contained somewhat. That should not be taken as downplaying the terrible impact he had on innocent victims of his political actions.

    A man to be forever reviled. He is the coldest, strangest, scariest person I have ever met.


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,807 ✭✭✭Sunny Disposition


    A political genius, possibly, but a quite malign one.
    If he had turned his energies to peaceful politics from the start we might have a UI by now.
    Had huge energy, courage and dedication, but misused his talents largely. But at least he helped end the conflict, despite promoting it for so long.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 24,371 ✭✭✭✭Larbre34


    Gerry Adams isn't even the greatest leader in his own house.

    Bringing people to your way of thinking through the use of a private army, including one that dispensed rough justice to his own side, is no leadership at all.

    Adams isn't fit to lace the boots of the genuine great leaders of Irish history from O'Connell to Hume.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,213 ✭✭✭bobbysands81


    Was the main driver in convincing militant Republicanism to put down the gun and drive forward through entirely peaceful and Democratic means.

    Incredibly he kept almost the entire Republican movement unified in doing so despite constant attack from a hostile media and unionism who were hell bent on a complete surrender from the movement rather than accepting that the guns were away forever.

    Whilst I’m not arguing that he is the greatest leader in Irish history, there has not been anyone in Irish politics who has achieved anything of similar value in the last 50 or more years.

    Drivelling idiots will of course disagree but that’s due to them being myopic and letting their own political prejudices cloud their judgement.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,213 ✭✭✭bobbysands81


    
    
    blanch152 wrote: »
    Mandela and Gandhi are the wrong comparisons.

    Adams can compare with the likes of Pol Pot, Stalin, Kim Il Sung, Hugo Chavez, etc, who brought poverty, misery, violence, death and division to their countries. However, it is a pale comparison, yes, he managed to make West Belfast the most impoverished part of the British Isles, and he managed to oversee the killing, raping, mutilation of many thousands of people, but thankfully, the extent of it was contained somewhat. That should not be taken as downplaying the terrible impact he had on innocent victims of his political actions.

    A man to be forever reviled. He is the coldest, strangest, scariest person I have ever met.

    I pity you.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 28,382 ✭✭✭✭blanch152


    Was the main driver in convincing militant Republicanism to put down the gun and drive forward through entirely peaceful and Democratic means.

    Incredibly he kept almost the entire Republican movement unified in doing so despite constant attack from a hostile media and unionism who were hell bent on a complete surrender from the movement rather than accepting that the guns were away forever.

    Whilst I’m not arguing that he is the greatest leader in Irish history, there has not been anyone in Irish politics who has achieved anything of similar value in the last 50 or more years.

    Drivelling idiots will of course disagree but that’s due to them being myopic and letting their own political prejudices cloud their judgement.


    Any man who stops beating his wife and keeps the family together is deserving of equal praise.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,213 ✭✭✭bobbysands81


    blanch152 wrote: »
    Any man who stops beating his wife and keeps the family together is deserving of equal praise.

    Ireland’s relationship with Britain is exactly that... we are the abused partner always seeking the love of the abusive partner... a love that is never going to come but we keep on hoping it will.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,809 ✭✭✭PommieBast


    Gerry Adams for all his faults was an ingredient in making NI a lot less bad a place than it was in the last century. Greatest Irish leader in history? Nope.


  • Posts: 5,369 [Deleted User]


    tdf7187 wrote: »
    In terms of deathcount, Gerry is in the halfpenny place compared to Zanu FF/FG. The financial collapse killed hundreds due to suicide.

    As for child abuse, the FF/FG run institutions facilitated mass child abuse on a monstrous scale over decades, as testified to in numerous investigations and inquiries.

    And? He's no Hitler either, so what? Not being the worst doesn't make you the best!

    Typical SF deflection.


  • Posts: 3,637 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    Ireland’s relationship with Britain is exactly that... we are the abused partner always seeking the love of the abusive partner... a love that is never going to come but we keep on hoping it will.

    Would that be the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland now?

    I’m from the Republic of Ireland. From where I stand, few give any thought to what happens in Northern Ireland these days (as long as they’ve stopped killing each other up there) and less give a damn what the neighbours next door have to say or might think.

    I don’t think Northern Irish republicans/natonalists realise just how little the Republic of Ireland want to have to do with them, generally speaking. It’s like getting a call from your angry moany cousins saying they’re planning on stopping by: you’ll always find something to be busier with at the time they’d planned.

    Adams, McGuinness and all the other ‘RA-heads, headcases one and all and not one of them a good Irishman. All the same kind of angry cousins with some notion their brand of lunacy will be welcomed.


  • Posts: 5,369 [Deleted User]


    "Garda killers"? Who exactly were Garda killers? You see this thrown about alot

    Eh? You can't be serious. The provos killed over 20 Gardai directly. Adams was their leader. He shielded them and actively campaigned for the killers of Gerry McCabe


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  • Posts: 2,725 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    A read of A Secret History of the IRA by Ed Moloney gives huge insights into the workings of the provos and Gerry Adams. There can be no doubt that the PIRA were compromised at the very highest levels by the time they called the ceasefire.

    A murky man operating in very murky waters.


  • Registered Users Posts: 5,611 ✭✭✭The Golden Miller


    Eh? You can't be serious. The provos killed over 20 Gardai directly. Adams was their leader. He shielded them and actively campaigned for the killers of Gerry McCabe

    My father was a gaurd and regularly dealt with pIRA members, was stationed at various places on the border. Had two other immediate relations in the Gaurds too. Not one of them would suggest the pIRA were "Garda killers".

    Several unfortunate events happened where Gardai were killed unintentionally or members acting independently of orders. But the organisation made a point of not targeting Gardai. Most Gardai stationed on the border during the bad times would testify to this Id believe, infact when caught, they were more respectful than anyone towards the Guards.

    You can choose to believe that or not, but it's how it was. Calling them "Garda killers" is disingenuous in the extreme


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 13,256 ✭✭✭✭flazio


    In reply to the OP.
    Yeah, no. Just NO.


  • Posts: 2,725 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    My father was a gaurd and regularly dealt with pIRA members, was stationed at various places on the border. Had two other immediate relations in the Gaurds too. Not one of them would suggest the pIRA were "Garda killers".

    Several unfortunate events happened where Gardai were killed unintentionally or members acting independently of orders. But the organisation made a point of not targeting Gardai. Most Gardai stationed on the border during the bad times would testify to this Id believe, infact when caught, they were more respectful than anyone towards the Guards.

    You can choose to believe that or not, but it's how it was


    The murderers of Jerry McCabe were given a standing ovation at the SF Ard Fheis. SF don't recognise the legitimacy of the Irish Republic; its constitution, or its Defence Forces.


  • Registered Users Posts: 5,611 ✭✭✭The Golden Miller


    The murderers of Jerry McCabe were given a standing ovation at the SF Ard Fheis. SF don't recognise the legitimacy of the Irish Republic; its constitution, or its Defence Forces.

    I'm aware they don't. Well they do the Irish Republic, not the Republic of Ireland.

    That said, they didn't actively target the Gardai. Far more would of been killed had they been. PIRA members caught on the border would speak of the Gardai in favourable terms I'd believe, in how they were treated


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 28,382 ✭✭✭✭blanch152


    My father was a gaurd and regularly dealt with pIRA members, was stationed at various places on the border. Had two other immediate relations in the Gaurds too. Not one of them would suggest the pIRA were "Garda killers".

    Several unfortunate events happened where Gardai were killed unintentionally or members acting independently of orders. But the organisation made a point of not targeting Gardai. Most Gardai stationed on the border during the bad times would testify to this Id believe, infact when caught, they were more respectful than anyone towards the Guards.

    You can choose to believe that or not, but it's how it was. Calling them "Garda killers" is disingenuous in the extreme

    It is not a bit disingenuous.

    Whether it is Garda Fallon or Garda McCabe, or all of the others inbetween, the PIRA chose to target gardai, chose to kill them, and did so without a second thought. In nearly every case, the PIRA and their political sleeveens in SF downplayed the Garda killings, sometimes blaming the Garda themselves.


  • Registered Users Posts: 5,611 ✭✭✭The Golden Miller


    blanch152 wrote: »
    It is not a bit disingenuous.

    Whether it is Garda Fallon or Garda McCabe, or all of the others inbetween, the PIRA chose to target gardai, chose to kill them, and did so without a second thought. In nearly every case, the PIRA and their political sleeveens in SF downplayed the Garda killings, sometimes blaming the Garda themselves.

    Why weren't far more killed then? They were unarmed sitting ducks on the border. I suppose your talking from experience though, ye?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 413 ✭✭neiphin


    FFS? He wouldn’t wipe Tom Barry’s ass

    Tom Barry certainly didn’t agree with the conflict up there

    Adams like Dev before him brought the gunmen around to the democratic principles (iam no fan of dev)

    Adams possibly was one , Castro Washington Mao Mandela and Dev were gunmen

    Barry (one of my hero’s) fought a different war

    Adams probably like dev lives into old age and melt away but
    “Raised n songs and stories, and hero’s of renown’

    Watching Alex Ferguson the other day “ the good ones will find a way “
    Adams too was a leader of men (and women)
    And he has led his community in a different direction, when you have no options everything is on the table
    He got his community to buy into a new departure


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 28,382 ✭✭✭✭blanch152


    Why weren't far more killed then? They were unarmed sitting ducks on the border. I suppose your talking from experience though, ye?

    Yes, I am talking from experience, but it is the experience of the victims of PIRA violence.

    But in your mind, there is an acceptable level of Garda casualties, and it wasn't exceeded. In asking why far more weren't killed, you condone and accept those that were. I won't go there.

    Any garda killing by the PIRA was wrong, absolutely wrong.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 59 ✭✭Barry904


    Why weren't far more killed then? They were unarmed sitting ducks on the border. I suppose your talking from experience though, ye?

    The guards were far too slick and well organised for them.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 4,723 ✭✭✭zimmermania


    My father was a gaurd and regularly dealt with pIRA members, was stationed at various places on the border. Had two other immediate relations in the Gaurds too. Not one of them would suggest the pIRA were "Garda killers".

    Several unfortunate events happened where Gardai were killed unintentionally or members acting independently of orders. But the organisation made a point of not targeting Gardai. Most Gardai stationed on the border during the bad times would testify to this Id believe, infact when caught, they were more respectful than anyone towards the Guards.

    You can choose to believe that or not, but it's how it was. Calling them "Garda killers" is disingenuous in the extreme

    Of course they were garda killers,women killers,child killers,they killed innocent men,women and children for a cause that they abandoned,no 32 county republic,full recognition of the majority in Northern Ireland to retain their link to Britain.

    Adams achieved very little,he was the Sinn Fein leader at a time when sex abuse was swept under the carpet and sex offenders were protected.


  • Registered Users Posts: 5,611 ✭✭✭The Golden Miller


    Barry904 wrote: »
    The guards were far too slick and well organised for them.

    The Gaurds on the border dealt with them on a regular basis, and were very soft with them up until the hunger strikes, where there was a big clampdown from the top brass to appease Britain.

    PIRA were more concerned with the north, not making enemies in the south. Gardai on a human level often had some sympathy for their cause, infact my father said a bigger problem was when they were forced to engage and run joint operations with the RUC, from the Gaurds point of view the ones upholding the state murdering Irish men and women.

    The pIRA knew the Gaurds were just doing their job and there was a great mutual respect. I can guarantee you pIRA members would talk highly of the Gaurds in how they were treated, and the Guards in how IRA members behaved. There's former members of the Gaurds and pIRA who would be friends to this day. That's the reality of the relationship between the two

    If a member of the Guards was ever killed you can guarantee there was huge internal repercussions. Why bite the hand that feeds, in the sense of those who treated you fairly when no one else did?


  • Registered Users Posts: 5,611 ✭✭✭The Golden Miller


    Of course they were garda killers,women killers,child killers,they killed innocent men,women and children for a cause that they abandoned,no 32 county republic,full recognition of the majority in Northern Ireland to retain their link to Britain.

    Adams achieved very little,he was the Sinn Fein leader at a time when sex abuse was swept under the carpet and sex offenders were protected.

    Ye ok


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 28,382 ✭✭✭✭blanch152


    Of course they were garda killers,women killers,child killers,they killed innocent men,women and children for a cause that they abandoned,no 32 county republic,full recognition of the majority in Northern Ireland to retain their link to Britain.

    Adams achieved very little,he was the Sinn Fein leader at a time when sex abuse was swept under the carpet and sex offenders were protected.

    Nail on head with this post.

    The long list of IRA victims is nauseating. Adams was the de facto leader of the infliction of misery. If he was dead, I would be wishing him to rot in hell.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 59 ✭✭Barry904


    JayZeus wrote: »
    Would that be the Republic of Ireland or Northern Ireland now?

    I’m from the Republic of Ireland. From where I stand, few give any thought to what happens in Northern Ireland these days (as long as they’ve stopped killing each other up there) and less give a damn what the neighbours next door have to say or might think.

    I don’t think Northern Irish republicans/natonalists realise just how little the Republic of Ireland want to have to do with them, generally speaking. It’s like getting a call from your angry moany cousins saying they’re planning on stopping by: you’ll always find something to be busier with at the time they’d planned.

    Adams, McGuinness and all the other ‘RA-heads, headcases one and all and not one of them a good Irishman. All the same kind of angry cousins with some notion their brand of lunacy will be welcomed.

    What are you on about, a vote in the South would pass easily no matter how much the partionists try to convince the gullible otherwise, the partionists and unionists are terrified of a referendum, there's a reason why Republicans are so badly trying to get a referendum and the partionists and unionists are trying their utmost to make sure it doesn't happen.


  • Posts: 5,369 [Deleted User]


    My father was a gaurd and regularly dealt with pIRA members, was stationed at various places on the border. Had two other immediate relations in the Gaurds too. Not one of them would suggest the pIRA were "Garda killers".

    Several unfortunate events happened where Gardai were killed unintentionally or members acting independently of orders. But the organisation made a point of not targeting Gardai. Most Gardai stationed on the border during the bad times would testify to this Id believe, infact when caught, they were more respectful than anyone towards the Guards.

    You can choose to believe that or not, but it's how it was. Calling them "Garda killers" is disingenuous in the extreme

    I'll stick to the facts thanks. Your father is a disgrace to the uniform if this is how he explained it to a child but I seriously doubt it and I seriously doubt you know any Gardai / Guards considering you can't even spell it.

    Didn't kill Gardai? What complete and utter bull**** are you sprouting? They riddled the car in 1996! Gardai are dead, they were shot by provos. They are Garda killers. It's that simple and only a 14 year old singing rebel songs wouldn't get that.

    Provo scum being polite means **** all when they were killing my colleagues and yes, I have dealt with them professionally. The fact that I was professional is in no way a reference to my personal opinion of the scum.

    Now back to bed with ya, it's way past a child's bedtime


  • Registered Users Posts: 5,611 ✭✭✭The Golden Miller


    I'll stick to the facts thanks. Your father is a disgrace to the uniform if this is how he thought his child but I seriously doubt it and I seriously doubt you know any Gardai / Guards considering you can't even spell it.

    Didn't target Gardai? What complete and utter bull**** are you sprouting? They riddled the car in 1996!

    Provo scum being polite means **** all when they were looking my colleagues and yes, I have dealt with them professionally. The next that I was professional in no way that's to my personal opinion of the scum.

    Now back to bed with ya, it's way past a child's bedtime

    A disgrace how? By dealing with the pIRA in a lawful and fair way?

    Provo scum? Some were, joined for more sinister reasons. Most weren't at the start, decent normal people who families and livelihoods got destroyed.


  • Posts: 5,369 [Deleted User]


    A disgrace how? By dealing with the pIRA in a lawful and fair way?

    Provo scum? Some were, joined for more sinister reasons. Most weren't at the start, decent normal people who families and livelihoods got destroyed.

    That's some classic SF reading right there.


  • Registered Users Posts: 5,611 ✭✭✭The Golden Miller


    That's some classic SF reading right there.

    I'll take the word of someone who worked on the border for 30 years, to paraphrase his words, never once had to worry about being attacked by the pIRA when leaving the station.

    These things are more nuanced and the Gardai had to have some relationship with the pIRA to deal with the situation in a tactful manner


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  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 59 ✭✭Barry904


    neiphin wrote: »
    Tom Barry certainly didn’t agree with the conflict up there

    Adams like Dev before him brought the gunmen around to the democratic principles (iam no fan of dev)

    Adams possibly was one , Castro Washington Mao Mandela and Dev were gunmen

    Barry (one of my hero’s) fought a different war

    Adams probably like dev lives into old age and melt away but
    “Raised n songs and stories, and hero’s of renown’

    Watching Alex Ferguson the other day “ the good ones will find a way “
    Adams too was a leader of men (and women)
    And he has led his community in a different direction, when you have no options everything is on the table
    He got his community to buy into a new departure

    Tom Barry was a sectarian lunatic, a murderer of innocents, his unit under his command killed 16 civilians for alleged "informing" 9 of the 16 were protestants (a minority in west cork) he also burnt dozens of protestants out of their homes.

    That's not how I actually think of Tom Barry I'm just using him as an example to what some people would say if it was of strategic interest to damage Sinn Fein or something.

    The only difference is it's not politically strategic or worth anyones while to ramble on about all the horrible actions that him and the unit he commanded partook in.

    Yes he did condemn the provos for any civilians that were killed but he also said "they have a perfect right to attack occupying forces" which is what most provo victims were.


  • Posts: 5,369 [Deleted User]


    I'll take the word of someone who worked on the border for 30 years, to paraphrase his words, never once had to worry about being attacked by the pIRA when leaving the station.

    These things are more nuanced and the Gardai had to have some relationship with the pIRA to deal with the situation in a tactful manner

    We had a relationship, they were criminals and I arrested them. Like all criminals that killed my colleagues.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 59 ✭✭Barry904


    I'll take the word of someone who worked on the border for 30 years, to paraphrase his words, never once had to worry about being attacked by the pIRA when leaving the station.

    These things are more nuanced and the Gardai had to have some relationship with the pIRA to deal with the situation in a tactful manner

    Countless times they could have escaped but didn't and took countless years in prison rather than harm Gardai.

    On the few occasions they did kill Gardai (provo members killed about ten guards) it was always because they couldn't handle going to prison and opened fire to avoid capture.

    True that would never have have to worry about being attacked only when they were in pursuit of them and even then 99.999% of the time they would not harm them no matter what.


  • Registered Users Posts: 5,611 ✭✭✭The Golden Miller


    We had a relationship, they were criminals and I arrested them. Like all criminals that killed my colleagues.

    You stationed on the border? What happened them when they were sent to Dublin up until the hunger strikes?

    If you were a guard on the border and during the troubles you know rightly what I'm saying is true, if not you were stationed far away and far more recently


  • Registered Users Posts: 5,611 ✭✭✭The Golden Miller


    Barry904 wrote: »
    Countless times they could have escaped but didn't and took countless years in prison rather than harm Gardai.

    On the few occasions they did kill Gardai (provo members killed about ten guards) it was always because they couldn't handle going to prison and opened fire to avoid capture.

    True that would never have have to worry about being attacked only when they were in pursuit of them and even then 99.999% of the time they would not harm them no matter what.

    Don't talk sense. It was black and white, pIRA spent their time murdering unarmed Gardai


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 989 ✭✭✭ineedeuro


    The PR campaign to convert the PIRA into the friendly neighbour terrorist continues I see.

    Back to the original point, Gerry Adam’s, the answer is no on so many levels but the worst thing he has done is protecting paedophiles. Nobody should defend him over that but I’m sure someone will

    For that alone he should be fired into a jail cell and never see the light of day again.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 2,004 ✭✭✭FileNotFound


    Barry904 wrote: »
    What are you on about, a vote in the South would pass easily no matter how much the partionists try to convince the gullible otherwise, the partionists and unionists are terrified of a referendum, there's a reason why Republicans are so badly trying to get a referendum and the partionists and unionists are trying their utmost to make sure it doesn't happen.

    A romantic notion. But reality may be very different.

    Tell people they lose their flag, anthem, pay more tax, cement SF as largest party, allow Poots rant in the Dail.

    All of a sudden its a little less solid


  • Registered Users Posts: 5,611 ✭✭✭The Golden Miller


    ineedeuro wrote: »
    The PR campaign to convert the PIRA into the friendly neighbour terrorist continues I see.

    Back to the original point, Gerry Adam’s, the answer is no on so many levels but the worst thing he has done is protecting paedophiles. Nobody should defend him over that but I’m sure someone will

    For that alone he should be fired into a jail cell and never see the light of day again.

    Say what you want about them, but the Gardai would rather converse with them then the RUC, although I don't blame them


  • Registered Users Posts: 5,611 ✭✭✭The Golden Miller


    A romantic notion. But reality may be very different.

    Tell people they lose their flag, anthem, pay more tax, cement SF as largest party, allow Poots rant in the Dail.

    All of a sudden its a little less solid

    It wouldn't be a landslide but would pass. Those who try to convince themselves otherwise are only fooling themselves as one last bit of hope to prevent unification if a border poll passed. If the north votes for unity, it will pass in the south no question.

    We don't really have a vote on it anyway, it's amending our constitution


  • Registered Users Posts: 2,004 ✭✭✭FileNotFound


    It wouldn't be a landslide but would pass. Those who try to convince themselves otherwise are only fooling themselves as one last bit of hope to prevent unification if a border poll passed. If the north votes for unity, it will pass in the south no question.

    We don't really have a vote on it anyway, it's amending our constitution

    Right now I am of the opinion it would pass but not by much.
    In general I find the bite for it dying as people realise the actual impacts.
    I am on the fence myself. Heart says yes but head says no.
    I do think that the longer we go without a vote the lower its success chances are.

    The costs to the state to support NI businesses switch to euro, wage equalisation, deficit to fill, all at the expense of services in the South or cost to tax payer would be well discussed. Most haven't even really considered the impacts.


  • Registered Users Posts: 5,611 ✭✭✭The Golden Miller


    Right now I am of the opinion it would pass but not by much.
    In general I find the bite for it dying as people realise the actual impacts.
    I am on the fence myself. Heart says yes but head says no.
    I do think that the longer we go without a vote the lower its success chances are.

    The costs to the state to support NI businesses switch to euro, wage equalisation, deficit to fill, all at the expense of services in the South or cost to tax payer would be well discussed. Most haven't even really considered the impacts.

    If a border poll passed, FF and FG will have to be seen to support the GFA and the wishes of the people. The narrative in the south will change from the media I'd say and will have support. Even if it's tight, it will always just pass here


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