58 Comments

• audreybolton | Oct 16, 2012, 04:14 PM EDT

  sean: Tut Tut Tut. You;re still an eejit.

• audreybolton | Oct 16, 2012, 04:12 PM EDT

  sean: Dad was a Colonel when he retired. Tut tut tut. He still thinks you're an eejit.

• seanomelb | Oct 11, 2012, 05:26 PM EDT

  Good on ya daddy your little girl is proud of you. She just gifted you a rank of colonel because she was ashamed of your rank as major.end of discussion. Hey duggie maybe he was Chief of staff who cares.

• Gordan Duggan | Oct 11, 2012, 04:45 PM EDT

  Seanonelb: You seem to know so much about military rankings, what was Admams' rank in the IRA? Were you and your friends in it too?

• audreybolton | Oct 11, 2012, 04:39 PM EDT

  Sean, BTW dad was a Colonel when he retired. End of discussion.

• seanomelb | Oct 10, 2012, 06:15 PM EDT

  Tell me audreybolton to quote you the "army in the dark ages" was a slight on the quality of the armed forces at a certain time in its development. daddy,s little girl needs succour and justification him and your squaddie's. Daddy can think what he likes little girl who cares. The fact he was a major means little. A rank given to retiring captains just prior to their retirement so they can milk the retirement fund.

• audreybolton | Oct 10, 2012, 12:57 PM EDT

  sean in melbourne: You're gas. You obviously need a pair of glasses as you read my post wrong if you think I was denigrating the army in which I serve ( or where you diliberatly being insulting. My father who was an Army Major in the Sixties thinks you're an eejit! He's right.

• Gordan Duggan | Oct 10, 2012, 12:41 PM EDT

  Seano: What part of Irish military did you serve in? The naval service?

• seamus60 | Oct 10, 2012, 09:57 AM EDT

  Ireland north. There you go. Jepordise the peace process, damage the peace process, collaspse the peace process. LOL HOW ?

• IrelandNorth | Oct 10, 2012, 08:10 AM EDT

  Uniformed band members of the British Army's (BAs) Irish Guards (a non-royal regiment!) performed in aid of the Jack & Jill Foundation children's charity recently at the K Club in Straffan, Co Kildare (attended by current Irish Army Chief of Staff, Lt Gen Sean McCann). They concluded with a rousing rendition of the Irish National Anthem - Amhrann na bhFiann/Soldier's Song. Both Irish and British militaries are currently restructuring under the auspices of EuroMil and NATO, with BA 'Irish' Regiments being repatriated to the north. In an age when the Orange Order re-embrace the St Patrick's Cross flag with a superimposed raised crown-over-harp motif, a reunited Ireland within the Commonwealth of Nations seems an amicable constitutional compromise formation between former ideological adversaries on the Island of Ireland. Against such a reconciliatory backdrop, it's difficult to understand how possible personal vendettas of retired RUC officers rehired by the PSNI could be allowed jeopardise the hard one peace process won with the active assistance of Citizen Adams.

• DaithiSuibhne | Oct 09, 2012, 07:42 PM EDT

  Ah Gerry me boyo looks like the headhunters are out for blood again.Look I tried to let you know before the people you were getting in bed with only wanted to cut off your willy. As I see it Ger you should have kept quiet when you were speaking about the past. From now on you'd better be looking over your shoulder Mr. First Minister, oh thats right you gave that job up so you could retire on your stipend from the Queen. Gerry I once admired you because I thought you were really true to your convictions about a United Ireland, but now I can see your true colors,it's all about you isn't it , just another gombeem man. Gerry your the bane of the Irish race.

• seamus60 | Oct 09, 2012, 07:23 PM EDT

  My apoligies folks. That last post should have read Isreali jews.

• seanomelb | Oct 09, 2012, 07:03 PM EDT

  The sixties Audrey!! denigrating the history of the military in which you serve is ignorant and ill conceived just like your take on political parties. Go have a good laugh in your insular bivouac.

• seanomelb | Oct 09, 2012, 06:59 PM EDT

  In the sixties Audrey!! denigrating the history of the military you serve in is typical of your type. Ignorant and ill conceived.

• RedBranch | Oct 09, 2012, 04:05 PM EDT

  Insightful as always Seamus.

• seamus60 | Oct 09, 2012, 03:24 PM EDT

  Gordan. He`s survived more than most unscathed so teflon is his protection. I think you under estimate the feelings in the 26 to the larger parties who have bluffed their way for decades. As one party leaves power the first job for the new Gov is always an inquiry into what went before. The young will see SF as a breath of fresh air as they talk the talk. Though as proven in the North thats all it is. About time there was an opposition in place that would say whats going on up on the hill. But thats not so easy on rooling by fooling. The party needs rid of its leadership, for as long as they stay the party will continue to be run like the Army and Armies are not a democrecy.

• Gordan Duggan | Oct 09, 2012, 12:44 PM EDT

  Seamus60: I would not worry too much. GERRY IS TOXIC TO MOST PEOPLE IN THE REPUBLIC AND THE OTHER POLITICAL PARTIES AND INDEPENDANTS WOULD NOT TOUCH HIM. HE DOES NOT FRIGHTEN THE MAJORITY OF US. WE HAVE BEEN ON TO HIM AND HIS FRIENDS FOR A LONG LONG TIME. THE IRISH SECURITY FORCES ONLY HAVE TO RELEASE THE FILES THEY HAVE ON HIM(NOT TO MENTION THE FBI/CIA) AND THAT'S THE END FOR HIM.

• seamus60 | Oct 09, 2012, 12:25 PM EDT

  Gordan. More and more people in the North believe Adams toxicity goes off the scale. Only a matter of time before the brits throw him to the wolves. Unless they believe he is the best man for them to do business with should he obtain a senior position within the 26 Gov. Afterall the more he has done to aid their agenda, the more they own him. Just worry when they begin to take over small community groups etc, they will shuffle their faithful yes-men into controlling positions with ease. Nothing like having influence with the children.

• seamus60 | Oct 09, 2012, 12:06 PM EDT

  Cillowen. Its a differant fear these days for anyone atempting to interfere with Adams and his associates. Many forms are used to keep people in check. We have measures from Internment right down to defamation of character within the communities. As the later gradually declines with more people smelling the coffee we may well see an increase in the more extreme measures. There has been a serious influx of people like social, community and youth workers prepared to front propaganda exercises on SF`s behalf. Understandable when we consider who decides how much of the financial cake many of these groups recieve. Dev got the media, SF got the community groups.With Many of the communities residents actually believing they would have got nothing only for SF. Various families are also doing much better than most with the only thing saving it from being transparent is change of names through marriage etc. Lets not forget either Adams is the expert at turning himself into the victim no matter what the issue.

• seamus60 | Oct 09, 2012, 05:49 AM EDT

  Thetint. How do you know what she believes ? Gerry on the other hand must have arrived at a simular decision long ago.

• thetint | Oct 09, 2012, 04:31 AM EDT

  Why does Price think becoming a tout will advance the cause of a free Ireland?

• cillowen | Oct 09, 2012, 12:08 AM EDT

  whether mentally ill people or not - the fear of Gerry is so great that its akin to John Mitchel's plight in 1849. John was sent off to VDL for a term of 14 years. Gerry makes the anglophile creamers in the Republic of I most uneasy. All thru the Apartheid troubles they sat on their hands as northern bros were left to manly defend the abuse heaped on them by Mother and her planted oranges.

• Woodman | Oct 08, 2012, 11:14 PM EDT

  Price doesn't even claim to have any direct knowledge that Adams was involved, she claims he must have been involved in the decision making process, but cites no direct evidence that this happened. And she claims touts or informers should be "executed" but what exactly is she doing now?

• barneyjo | Oct 08, 2012, 07:58 PM EDT

  @seanomemb - not at all. I am merely seeking to challenge the "racing certainties" present in the minds of some posters. And in keeping with your Military past, I would also commend to you the article in the electronic edition of the Belfast Telegraph to which I also referred (not related to the general jist of discussions but interesting nonethe less )

• audreybolton | Oct 08, 2012, 07:29 PM EDT

  With respect Sean you cause a great deal of laughter in my Irish Army barracks and when we are overseas with your comments. Over and out.

• barneyjo | Oct 08, 2012, 07:26 PM EDT

  @anyone - as a further adjunct to the present discussion, the Belfast Telegraph electronic edition has the following article "GAA and Ministry of Defence cut an historic ground deal" Provides food for thought for all!!

• seanomelb | Oct 08, 2012, 07:22 PM EDT

  barneyjo!! you are stating the" bleeding obvious" and power by the ballot box is the only way forward for any political party,singling out Sinn Fein and saying they have to obtain more seats is a "no brainer" as that applies to all political parties. Are you subtly stating that there are different rules for different parties??

• audreybolton | Oct 08, 2012, 07:18 PM EDT

  Sean, you were in the Irish military? Well I never would have guessed. Which service? Please enlighten the rest of us. Was this in the Dark Ages before the Irish military became the hightly trained elite it is now? Go on tell us.

• barneyjo | Oct 08, 2012, 07:16 PM EDT

  @Gordon Duggan - With respect, I for one am not interested in wardrobe malfunctions of any political hue!!

• leahkinsella | Oct 08, 2012, 07:08 PM EDT

  Toirease also claimed in the same interview she didn't have a nice childhood because the big bad Irish Government put her daddy Martin in jail because he smuggled guns for the IRA on the Marita Ann and was caught. My brother was shot by the IRA and his children also did not a proper childhood. My sister-in-law challenged her later about that and she had nothing to say. Obviously my niece and nephew don't matter. She's since disappeared and I believe has her own children so she might think on that a while.

• barneyjo | Oct 08, 2012, 07:04 PM EDT

  @seanomelb - For Sinn Fein to take power or share in it, the party has to win enough seats for either of these scenarios to happen. To win seats, they have to get votes. You will have seen the numbers quoted elsewhere. I would dispute that the current share of the vote Nationwide enjoyed by the party is sufficient to propel them into office either by an outright majority, or as part of a coalition. And in evidence to support that, I would point to the last Assembly election within Northern Ireland. The poor turnout means that a very significant rump of Northern Nationalists prefer not to vote for either Sinn Fein or the SDLP and they abstain. The result is that we get the government we deserve (not!!) In ROI party will try to get elected with populist policies, but their political opponents will rightly point to their participation in an administration in NI which is implementing deep cuts in public spending that is having a profound effect on the lives of many within their own natural constituency up to this point. The cutting of health and social services, the closure of hospitals and the cancellation or deferment of major infrastructure job generating projects in NI will not in my view endear Sinn Fein to voters in ROI at the next election. The "poacher turned gamekeeper" in the North will have to have some very creditable answers for the electorate, and especially for that section which has supported Sinn Fein up to this point!!

• Gordan Duggan | Oct 08, 2012, 06:59 PM EDT

  Toireas also wore a belt for a skirt on Irish tv and claimed later she didn't know the camera could see her knickers!

• barneyjo | Oct 08, 2012, 06:41 PM EDT

  @Gordon Duggan - Sure wasnt it Toiréasa Ferris, daughter of Martin Ferris who actually posed the question as to what role the Sinn Fein party could have in a post conflict Ireland, and I seem to recall she got her knuckles well and truly wrapped for doing so by the leadership!!

• Gordan Duggan | Oct 08, 2012, 06:33 PM EDT

  Well said Audrey Bolton and Seamus60! Exactly what I have been trying to point out all this time. Sinn Fein have no understanding of most IRISH people's thinking nor have they any understanding of real economics. BARNEYJO YOU ARE SO RIGHT, Telling the ECB/EU to f###k off would not be a good idea at present besides they don't have the power. Mary Lou comes from a MIDDLE CLASS FAMILY AND WENT TO AN EXPENSIVE SCHOOL so she is in no position to lecture the rest of us. She's after Adams' job of course. We need to get through this as a nation. It will some time of course. Maybe the Shinners want a poorer Ireland so they can decimate us and take Power "with the ballot box in one hand and the Armalite in the other". We may be in trouble now but we would be in worse trouble if they took over. Don't think we Irish would put up with that sort of thing. Ordinary people would start a Resistance group like they did in other countires under the Facists and Nazis.

• barneyjo | Oct 08, 2012, 06:21 PM EDT

  @audreybolton - Respectfully, I think you may have been a little harsh on Ciaran1433. I see a lot of traits similar to those of Allan07, a poster from the "other side of the wall" so to speak. Same mantra, and unwavering acceptance of the party line. Nothing new there. I would rather they did the math and figure it out for themselves, BY THINKING FOR THEMSELVES (in many cases perhaps for the first time in their lives) I must also be candid when I say that it would be foolish to discount the possibility of a Sinn Fein presence in Government in Ireland at some stage. Two things have to change though, before that will happen. 1)The development of more "centrist" policies that will not scare the bejesus out of the middle ground and make them run back to FG or FF. 2)Perhaps, more importantly the replacement of the Adams/McGuinness Leadership with leaders who can convince voters that they are about "Real Politic" and not populist policies just to get elected. Admittedly thats gotten them a fair way, particularly up North, but I would be of the view that the party aint far from peaking in its present guise. Like I said in my earlier post, a significan rump of Nationalist voters in NI prefer not to vote when faced with the poor choice of the ailing SDLP or the one trick pony that Sinn Feinn is at present. In NI they are implementing savage cutbacks in government spending, closing hospitals in the west, cant deliver on promised infrsstructre projects, because they are hamstrung by their partners in government in the shape of the DUP and others who will do their best to stop them achieving anything positive.

• seanomelb | Oct 08, 2012, 06:16 PM EDT

  As a former serving member of the Irish military I support Sinn Fein and its policies. The establishment (as usual) is conducting a fear and smear campaign aided and abetted by the mainstream right wing Irish press.They fear a resurgent Sinn Fein and will do or say anything to discredit Adams and his colleagues. The price sisters have more to fear from the established press or the PSNI/RUC than from anywhere else. Waxing on and on about Adams and his economic credentials lacks any credibility considering the establishment parties F@@ked Ireland with economic advisers and their banker mates and forced the working people into almost servitude to pay the banks audreybolton then claims Adams has no economic savvy. Maybe you should rethink your own economic savvy audreybolton.

• audreybolton | Oct 08, 2012, 05:55 PM EDT

  Ciasran1433: I have been setting foot in the 6 counties since the 1960s. I don't read Ruth Dudley Edwards. I am a Dubliner born and bred. I'm quite capable (like most thinking Irish People) of discerning which newspapers I can trust or not. I have visited many countries both in my job as a peacemaker (the Irish Army) and seen what real war is like and the suffering it brings. I also travel for pleasure. Oh Sinn Fein are "the 2nd most popular party in Ireland" are they, 220,000 votes are nothing in the Republic where over 3 million people are entitled to vote. If Gerry Adams is so popular in the Republic, why is he not in the Irish Government. It is because the majority don't trust him! Nothing is inevitable. The border does exist as far as most Irish people are concerned and if there was a referendum tomorrow, you would soon have to face the inevitable truth.the Republic does not want to hook up with Northern Ireland and become a Marxist state but people like you can of course continue to dream while the rest of us are moving on. Adams, McGuinness and the rest of you don't really understand our democracy they just pay lip service to it. Adams does not understand the economics among other things. McGuinness tried and failed to become President (Higgins got over a million votes the most votes in Irish Presidential history). Take some time to face those facts will you and wake up.

• seamus60 | Oct 08, 2012, 05:48 PM EDT

  Barneyjo. The antics of SF in the North will hardly inspire southern voters either. Just today read that Martin and Peter are being taken to court in relation to ignoring freedom of information requests. Shows their contempt for transparency and accountability. 2 of the main things promised pre-election. Martin has recently lamblasted the Fair employment agency demanding to know where they got their mandate. Done the same with Northern Ireland Housing Executive when they admitted there was indeed political interferance that resulted in hundreds of Catholic families not getting promised housing.Typical politicians.

• barneyjo | Oct 08, 2012, 05:30 PM EDT

  @ciaran1433 - if Sinn Fein want to be in power on both sides of the border like you say, then they have to get my vote; and not only my vote, but 10s of thousands of others like me. Who am I, who are we? We're the generation who grew up and were raised in a time of blood and conflict, and not only that, but bad Government. In effect we are disenfranchised Nationalists who are not buying the politics (so called) of any parties, including (but not especially) Sinn Fein. 220,000 votes in an election you say? Ok, so who exactly did all the rest vote for? Why has Fine Gael, Fianna Fail, and Labour consistently said that Sinn Fein are at present "untouchables" as coalition partners. And even if Sinn Fein do manage to increase their representation in Dail Eireann next time round, you think that they will have an overall majority? Not, so. Show me any poll that even points to that. If you want to point to a particular event which will keep Sinn Fein out of Government for at least two more elections in my opinion, it would be the day that the party's financial guru Mary Lou McDonald espoused that her Party's approach to negotiations with the EU and ECB would be to tell them to F**k off, rather than negotiate the bail out that is keeping Ireland afloat at present. Oh, and in "the six" the turnout in the last election was just over 52% I believe; so 48% didnt bother voting. And they werent all Unionists either :)

• seamus60 | Oct 08, 2012, 05:13 PM EDT

  Audrey. Meeting people like that was water off a duck to Mc Guinness. Although he was very very mellow to them in his reply compared to Derry people who have atempted the same tactics. Ciaran. That imaginary line you are talking about is now called the border by Mc Guinness.What has Gerry done for anyone to endorse his performance. Can he even get the vat rate right now.

• garbo55 | Oct 08, 2012, 03:32 PM EDT

  Price stated that if you are an informer you deserve to die, if she did indeed say these things about Adams then doesn't that make her an informer who deserves to die ...Just an observation..

• ciaran1433 | Oct 08, 2012, 03:24 PM EDT

  audreybolton you're a fine west Brit who likely never set foot in the 6 counties but believes all of rubbish you've read from "journalists" such as Ruth Dudley Edwards and her likes in the Dublin media. I think you should take some time to reflect on a few facts. Sinn Féin are the 2nd most popular political party in Ireland obtaining about 180,000 votes in the 2011 6 county election and about 220,000 votes in the previous 26 county election. Since then the Sinn Féin vote has surged upwards and very soon they'll be the most popular political party in Ireland. Gerry Adams is consistently the most popular political party leader in the 26 counties with approximately 40% of voters in the 26 counties being very satisfied with his performance. I think its time for you to move on and realise that a Sinn Féin government on both sides of the imaginary border led by Gerry Adams in the south is inevitable.

• audreybolton | Oct 08, 2012, 02:01 PM EDT

  Yes, Seamus60, McGuinness was recived by several children of Army and Garda whose fathers where shot by the IRA, never became President of Ireland and Pilib04 what makes you think Adams is the most popular of all Irish public officials when he is the most despised (13,000 votes only) and Sinn Fein "victory" is not inevitabe so no "tiofaidh ar la". The IRA shoot jounalists in the back btw. And would everyone leave us in the Republic of your constantly harping going backwards in history, we're trying to move on.

• Jacob | Oct 08, 2012, 02:00 PM EDT

  The IRA's justification for torturing and murdering Jean McConville is that she was an "informer" but there was no reason why she would have come by any information to inform with. She was tortured and murdered for having been born into a Protestant family and giving first aid to an injured soldier. According to the confidential US Government material published by Wikileaks, IRA/Sinn Fein justified their actions on the basis that they were entitled to state powers and therefore normal rules did not apply. Ask yourself what kind of state claims unlimited powers to itself with no accountability. Ask yourself what kind of Government the IRA would have set up if they had won.

• kubs | Oct 08, 2012, 01:42 PM EDT

  Could care less if Mr. Adams was IRA or KGB or CIA or AFL-CIO for that matter. Ireland was at war with a foreign regime on her soil, & Irish people took up the fight. As in some wars, an eventual peace process is accepted. Former warriors from both sides now face each other daily. Which way to look?? Keep looking backwards & hostilities will surely arise again, as backwards is where the war lies. Any chance of the good citizens of all the 32 decideing to look forward?

• pilib04 | Oct 08, 2012, 01:16 PM EDT

  As others have already posted here, this is just another Brit attempt to forestall the inevitable Sinn Fein victory in a future Dail election. Gerry Adams remains the most popular of all Irish public officials. Tiocfaidh ar la.

• JeffGallagher | Oct 08, 2012, 01:13 PM EDT

  This is what happens in a country where they have no protections for journalists. Let the English do their darndest. We'll see how their bullying tactics work in a true republican democracy that actually has a Constitution. Or, maybe they can just shoot a few journalists in the back to get what they want.

• pilib04 | Oct 08, 2012, 01:12 PM EDT

  I really feel badly for Dolores Price. Her and her sister Marian, were great fighters for Irish freedom. To see her fall like this is so heartbreaking. She really should be encouraged to seek proper medical and psychological treatment. Drugs and alcohol are not the answer, nor are calumnies and slander. Republicans need to be ready to assist Dolores in her recovery, in any way we can.

• seamus60 | Oct 08, 2012, 01:01 PM EDT

  Tooreenagrena. Thats why the brits elected him Adams "the man they could do business with".

• seamus60 | Oct 08, 2012, 12:56 PM EDT

  Audrey. Be careful when blowing that trumpet. The good people of the 26 with all their wisdom have been voting gangster politicians into power for decades. Many now of the thought, they can`t do any worse voting in SF. The afternoon Mc Guinness left Derry to tour the 26 when standing for president, there were about 40 people there to cheer him off, half of that journalists. And only a fraction of the expected crowds , no need for the big screen that was located in the middle of the Bogside. Yet he was well recieved at his destination.

• CanadianPat | Oct 08, 2012, 12:44 PM EDT

  The Price girls are brave womem from a strong republican backround who have suffered greatly from the troubles.To see they used in such a manner is heartbreaking and so moraly wrong!

• audreybolton | Oct 08, 2012, 12:32 PM EDT

  People in the Irish Republic find those who claim Adams is the President-in-waiting (or indeed Taoiseach in waiting) of Ireland very hilarious. Have these people not learned anything from the rejection of McGuinness as President.? Sinn Fein/IRA AND THEIR SUPPORTERS MAY PUSH AND PUSH BUT THE PEOPLE OF THE REPUBLIC HAVE MORE SENSE. If you have nothing to hide Adams then come clean and you will have nothing to fear.

• donegalcali | Oct 08, 2012, 12:12 PM EDT

  @JohnnyMac. Absaloutly spot on. @Tooreenagrena. Your almost right. The Brits will do everything in its power to protect Adams as he is the president in waiting. As JM says, He plays for both sides.

• Searlit | Oct 08, 2012, 12:08 PM EDT

  I think this story is a diversion tactic, to get people's attention away from the economic/euro crisis.

• citizen69 | Oct 08, 2012, 11:49 AM EDT

  Many people here would say the want truth & justice from the legacy of troubles in Northern Ireland but it seems to me a lot of them only want it to be one-way traffic. Let the Boston tapes and this interview be investigated and if Gerry Adams has nothing to hide, if he wasn't a director of terrorism then he has nothing to fear has he? This "publication" seems to think the sun shines out of Gerry's ass... not that you would see it though as Niall O'Dowd is jammed so far up it! :-D

• Tooreenagrena | Oct 08, 2012, 11:43 AM EDT

  gerry Adams is the president of irelaqnd in waiting. The brits will do everything they can to stop thaqt happening. The war is still on just not by force.

• JohnnyMac | Oct 08, 2012, 10:21 AM EDT

  Gerry WAS an IRA leader. For many years. Sad truth is that while he was an IRA leader, he was also an insider for the British. Gerry plays for both teams. Be very careful who accuses whom. One way or the other, only the accuser will suffer...not Gerry Adams. He's protected from both sides.

• seamus60 | Oct 08, 2012, 09:11 AM EDT

  An attack on Journalism. Of course thats what its been all along. Whistle blowers will not be tolerated. History will not be distorted by the truth rearing its ugly head.