118 Comments

• seamus60 | Jan 01, 2012, 10:20 AM EST

  One man and one group will benefit most from this whole episode. Lord Gerry and SF. The art form of applying the impression the brits are still being relentless in persuit of Gerry and a few others in the leadership has become boring. Boring because republicans in Ireland are now content in the knowledge that every time Gerry ,Marty and the party are feeling the pinch from grassroots its the brits who come to the rescue. Common practice too when ever questions arose as to the direction of the Armies leadership during the PRM war. But i bet they`ll be booking them even more expensive tickets to have dinner whilst being told lies from Gerry in the USA.

• seanomelbourne | Sep 01, 2011, 09:26 PM EDT

  !st day of spring today Dan 22deg.cent.Remember Dan without Sinn Fein and the IRA we would still have an oppressive regime in the six counties

• DanOLoingsigh | Aug 31, 2011, 09:08 AM EDT

  Seano, you need to get out of that hot Aussie sun before it fries your brain completely, cobber.…being against an indiscriminate IRA bombing campaign does not make one pro-British, just as being against the Nazi holocaust does not make one pro-Israel.

• seanomelbourne | Aug 30, 2011, 07:45 PM EDT

  Dan Dan the orange card man.Dan Lynch should leave the cupboard and have the mettle to say "I am pro British"

• DanOLoingsigh | Aug 30, 2011, 11:08 AM EDT

  Maireadinmelb - The IRA SF were quite entitled to follow any political persuasion of their choice…my main point was that to portray them as peaceniks, when they were blowing up bars in NI and UK in an unsuccessful attempt to get the Brit government to pull out of the north, was a bit of a stretch.

• DanOLoingsigh | Aug 30, 2011, 10:45 AM EDT

  Banal Comments Do Elude Facing Grim History of Ireland. ‘Just Keep Lying’ Means No Other Poster Quite Realises Seano Types Unerringly Vacuous Waffle. Xenophobic Yokel Zealot!!

• maireadinmelb | Aug 30, 2011, 05:38 AM EDT

  Oh Dan really?? You must be kidding, Republicans were as marxist as Thatcher was democratic!! Yes there was an element of socialism in republican thought but after years of oppression and centuries of economic oppression who could blame them. Recent history has shown many faults in Democracy!!! ie Uk USA and israel even Australia!!!

• seanomelbourne | Aug 29, 2011, 07:33 PM EDT

  Dan is limited to words that begin with "A". "B" to "Z" Somehow escapes him,one might be forgiven for thinking he uses the english language "Abstemiously".He probably drinks "Absinthe" so as not to overtax his limited vocabulary.Maybe that's why his comments are "Assinine"

• JamesDempsey | Aug 29, 2011, 04:02 PM EDT

  cheers pilib04

• sirpeter | Aug 29, 2011, 09:04 AM EDT

  Dano.I know alot of the IRA were against Sunningdale.There were other problems too.The nationalists were politically naive at the table.I agree the British couldn't just up and run,though they did just‘cut and run’leaving most countries to civil unrest.Nothing was going to be simple.But NI is a problem,and the British needed to face up to their responsibilities in finding a solution.They didn't do that and dragged their feet all the way through and including the peace process.

• DanOLoingsigh | Aug 29, 2011, 05:37 AM EDT

  Seano’s archaic Antipodean Anglophobic analysis appeases assassination always.

• seanomelbourne | Aug 29, 2011, 01:06 AM EDT

  dan has always been an apologist trying to walk a middle road when all he is doing is dancing to a lambegh drum and unfortunately he is oblivious to the fact. he reminds me of the "kings new clothes".

• DanOLoingsigh | Aug 28, 2011, 06:35 AM EDT

  @JamesDempsey – you’re right to say there is something very dark at the heart of extreme loyalism, which carries across to the West of Scotland – Glasgow Rangers fringe. I don’t think they have too much support in the wider unionist community

• DanOLoingsigh | Aug 27, 2011, 11:49 AM EDT

  Sirpete, My argument isn’t that PIRA ran NI, although they did run many local fiefdoms within it, dispensing their own version of ‘justice’ in the process; To claim that the UWC strike was the only obstacle to peace in 1974 is at best a half truth ( I do not dispute any of your facts over that btw). PIRA and most republicans in the 1970’s were hostile to any ‘Sunningdale’ type settlement. They thought they could ‘persuade’ successive Brit governments to ‘cut and run’, leaving them free to deal with the unionist/loyalist groups on their own terms. It took many years of pain for them to realise that no democratic government could leave any of their citizens to such an uncertain fate…and if they had succeeded in NI, imagine what was in store for the south? It suits many people to airbrush the past, and forget the Marxist element of 1970’s Republicanism. To portray these guys as a positive force for peace at that time is ‘Kim Il-sung’ school of modern history stuff.

• pilib04 | Aug 27, 2011, 11:21 AM EDT

  Boston College should be ashamed of themselves for having participated in this anti-Sinn Fein project in the first place. Those participating have openly opposed the Good Friday Peace Agreement. Those participating oppose the participation of Sinn Fein on the Policing Boards and in the coalition government in the Northern Ireland. Those participating in Boston College project only serve to promote continued British interference in Irish affairs. BC should be boycotted in much the same way as Captain Boycott was!

• pilib04 | Aug 27, 2011, 11:06 AM EDT

  seamus, from what i have read by realist in the past months, he seems to be what the kids would call a "tool." his anti-irish diatribes have nothing to do with reality. don't waste too much of your time countering his obfuscations, nonsense and down right lies. slan go foill mo chara.

• pilib04 | Aug 27, 2011, 11:02 AM EDT

  Father Desmond Wilson gave a speech and then had it printed as a pamphlet, called British Army, the real terrorists. James Dempsey's post is very gives the history. go raibh maith agat, a seamus

• JamesDempsey | Aug 27, 2011, 08:22 AM EDT

  I cant help but feel that unionists brought the violence on themselves in that they voted (in an unfair system to give them the advantage) for governments whose stated aims were to oppress catholics and nationalists. And when there was even a hint of reform from a very mild reformer Capt Terence O neill he was swiftly voted out of office for an extremist. honestly what did they expect was going to happen when they voted for a huge proportion of the population to be made second class citizens in their own country. Now they claim that IRA were terrorists and have used their superior access to power and media to portray them as such, while all through history they have used the threat of violence at the slightest hint that things werent going their way (home rule and Irish independence) HYPOCRICISY! IRA undefeated army ........ Beidh an lá linn

• JamesDempsey | Aug 27, 2011, 08:08 AM EDT

  I find it funny the way so many unionists want the republican leadership to be brought to justice. So why dont nationalists ask for justice compensation or at least an apology for decades of discrimination and intimidation

• JamesDempsey | Aug 27, 2011, 08:05 AM EDT

  @Realist, at least tell us this much about yourself do you consider yourself Irish, British, both or neither ?

• JamesDempsey | Aug 27, 2011, 08:02 AM EDT

  @Unrealist Why would I ever want to know your ethnicity or skin colour ?, as you should know us Nationalists have welcomed other peoples with open arms. You only have to look at the murals on the Falls road to see Blacks and Arabs celebrated. This would be in sharp contrast to the loyalist areas of belfast where thousands of foreign nationals have been intimidated or burned out of their homes by racist loyalist paramilitaries who are aligned with Nazi groups like Combat 18 and blood and honour. BTW i suspect your skin colour is orange lol

• JamesDempsey | Aug 27, 2011, 07:52 AM EDT

  DanOLoingsigh, Thats a fair point and somrthing I had not considered. I have a feeling the IRA might have been right in saying that sunningdale/GFA will not lead to a lasting solution. GFA as it currently stands will not lead to a lasting peace, unfortunately the seeds of discontent were sewn and now are definitely sprouting from both sides. I can never see how there will ever be peace unless Ireland is united in a fair republic society.

• sirpeter | Aug 26, 2011, 11:25 PM EDT

  Dano.In all fairness.You can't be posting that sh*t and think it's an argument.The PIRA were not running NI at all.The Ulster Workers' Council, a loyalist organization, called a general strike for 15 May. After two weeks of barricades, shortages, rioting and intimidation,Brian Faulkner resigned as Chief Executive and the Sunningdale Agreement collapsed on 28 May 1974.The most crippling aspect of the strike was its effect on electricity supply — the Ballylumford power station controlled Belfast's electricity and that of most of Northern Ireland.The workforce was overwhelmingly Protestant and effective control was firmly in the hands of UWC.Dano this is NI.Pointy heads only they are orange.Ulster kept saying NO!! with violence.

• sirpeter | Aug 26, 2011, 11:24 PM EDT

  Dano.In all fairness.You can't be posting that shite and think it's an argument.The PIRA were not running NI at all.The Ulster Workers' Council, a loyalist organization, called a general strike for 15 May. After two weeks of barricades, shortages, rioting and intimidation,Brian Faulkner resigned as Chief Executive and the Sunningdale Agreement collapsed on 28 May 1974.The most crippling aspect of the strike was its effect on electricity supply — the Ballylumford power station controlled Belfast's electricity and that of most of Northern Ireland.The workforce was overwhelmingly Protestant and effective control was firmly in the hands of UWC.Dano this is NI.Pointy heads only they are orange.Ulster kept saying NO!! with violence.

• seanomelbourne | Aug 26, 2011, 07:32 PM EDT

  Realist is a smug anti Irish,bitter moron with no grasp of historical facts,pushing his pro-brtish line.

• sirpeter | Aug 26, 2011, 04:44 PM EDT

  @UnRealistic."Your kind" Want those confidential records not for justice but for a political motive.Any fool can see that it could be a threat to the power-sharing government in Northern Ireland.No one in their sane mind would want to risk that just to try and bring down one man.Tick Tock Tick Tock.That's not the ticking of justice.That's the ticking of a powder keg that is NI.You have no sympathy for the victims if you want more victims.Those tapes are there so we can find out the truth at a safer time for NI.Now you know why I say crawl back under your rock.Now do you understand the reason why I say those things?

• DanOLoingsigh | Aug 26, 2011, 04:27 PM EDT

  @JamesDempsey – re your argument that it was mainly the ‘unionist community’ who destroyed Sunningdale; this is only a half truth, as PIRA was also vehemently against the agreement. P. O’Neill wrote in a 1974 front page ‘An Phoblacht’ article, ‘the agreement contributes nothing to a lasting solution’. Later that year they murdered 21 non-combatants in Birmingham, an event now remembered for the unjust conviction of the Birmingham 6, whilst the main victims lie unremembered and unremarked. PIRA had other options, as they later slowly realised…they were slow learners tool!!

• themurphia | Aug 26, 2011, 04:04 PM EDT

  sir/peter is an avatar for Townturd...what self respecting 'republican' would call himself sir/peter... Haven't you noticed Turdytown doesn't comment on republican issues...He talks to his alter ego a lot tho'...you will have noticed wherever Turdytown comments sir/peter comments immediately afterwards...cop on...!

• sirpeter | Aug 26, 2011, 02:59 PM EDT

  @UnRealistic.LOL.You are dreaming and in some sort of self-delusion.British law!!Don't make me laugh.British law has never worked in NI.The "lawful" security forces have never worked in NI.WHY? Quote"We are a Protestant Parliament and a Protestant State~~James Craig.That was a good start wasn't it? I'm sure you know the rest.Your British law and your "lawful" security forces were no good.Incarcerating 300,000 Catholics against their will and treating them like dirt under this British law.It was your law Billy Boy.By the way if you quack like a duck here on IC you are a duck.If you comment like a loyalist orangeman,you are a loyalist orangeman. The lawful security forces in Nazi Germany were the Gestapo and the SS.If the Jews started armed resistance I guess you would support those laws too.Of course you would have a different opinion if you were a Jew."The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing"Surely that statelet was run by evil men with all those murders and killings and burning people out of their houses.Croppy lie down is the only law you support.Otherwise you wouldn't be defending British law.Also you know exactly what I mean by coming down south.

• Realist | Aug 26, 2011, 02:07 PM EDT

  sirpeter: My friend, every now and then you seem to need reminding about yourself: "Now crawl back under your loyalist rock and be quiet.You are your kind are self-destructive and very few here agree with ya."? What, exactly, do you mean by "your kind"? Please explain.

• Realist | Aug 26, 2011, 01:53 PM EDT

  sirpeter: "They will be opening up direct one way flights from Belfast to Scotland pretty soon.Make sure your big square orange head is on one." Why do you write comments like this and what have they to do with this discussion? Do you even understand why I'm asking?

• Realist | Aug 26, 2011, 01:28 PM EDT

  sirpeter: Lol....where have I supported those who break the law? Please provide one example. Loyalist and Republican terrorists were just that - terrorists. I support the security forces and the law of the land in any democratic country. In Northern Ireland that is HM Governmant and British Law. The security forces arrested both Loyalist and Republican terrorists and the legal system sent both to prison. Therefore the stats are 90% terrorists to 10% forces of law and order. I present the figures for Republican deaths against those caused by the lawful security forces because that is the comparison people like you elect to make in your comments (e.g. Roman Catholic deaths: IRA vs RUC). What I, and I'm sure many other civilized contributers to this site, would like to know is why you choose to make assumptions about my ethnicity, my religious persuasion, and my nationality? By the way, what does "come down south and try it" mean?

• sirpeter | Aug 26, 2011, 01:02 PM EDT

  @UnRealistic.You crashed and burned despite your twisting and turning months ago.Every Unionist Orangeman here on IC does.When it comes to NI I have a bible full of unsavory facts about the history of that incarcerated piece of Ireland.Why didn't you put up the total the loyalist gunmen killed? You only put up what the British were responsible for.By omitting those figures alone.You are DISTORTING the FACTS.Therefore YOU LOSE.Between 1969 and 2001, 3,526 people were killed as a result of the Troubles.Republican paramilitary groups 2057.Loyalist paramilitary groups 1019.British security forces 363.Approximately 60% of the dead were killed by republicans,30% by loyalists and 10% by British security forces.There's your facts.60-40.Not as much of a difference now.You're not fooling anybody here Billy Boy.Now take your flag and your ammo Billy Boy and see can you find some innocent Catholic to intimidate.Better still come down south and try it.

• Realist | Aug 26, 2011, 12:44 PM EDT

  JamesDempsey: Lol - message and messenger....if presenting the facts constitutes an "anti IRA agenda" then I suggest you take it up with them - they did all those things. As for the delicate sensibilities of cold-blooded terrorist murderers - well, like most normal people, I reserve my sympathy for their victims. You would like to know my nationality and government? I suppose you'd also like to know my ethnicity, religion, and skin colour? What has any of that got to do with the this discussion? My friend you have done precisely what I predicted you would do i.e. go after the man and not the ball.

• JamesDempsey | Aug 26, 2011, 12:07 PM EDT

  Realist, you have something to hide! You have an anti IRA agenda and are not in the least concerned about the lives of people as proven when you celebrated the death of mairead farrell. As to your comment that I am not able to provide a credible response to your message, I have argued every point that you have made on this thread, even your last message is a complete joke, youre one moment criticising me and then switch to sirpeter who you say runs out of ammo (something i certainly cannot be accused off) and then says he goes off topic, which is exactly what you have just done! .... you are simply an unrealist with double standards.

• Realist | Aug 26, 2011, 11:12 AM EDT

  JamesDempsey: "I have asked you twice before to reveal your nationality and the government you support. Now I ask a third time. Why will you not?" Simple....because, as you are unable to provide credible responses to the message, you wish instead to attack the messenger. If, for example, you examine the behaviour of sirpeter....he runs out of ammo extremely quickly when confronted with the facts. He then resorts to petty off-topic remarks as exemplified by his last 'contribution'. It is his way of raising the white flag....lol.

• Realist | Aug 26, 2011, 10:56 AM EDT

  JamesDempsey: "I shall continue to defend the name of a small organisation that has tried to establish a fair system of government in their own country under very harsh conditions. fair enough the IRA did make some mistakes and a very small number of attrocities which have been used to blacken its name"? When did the IRA try to establish a system of government? There has been a one-man, one-vote system in Northern Ireland since before 1973 - the last time I checked the IRA sectarian murder campaign continued into the late 1990s. As for blackening the name of the IRA well, it has done that for itself; it is simple historical fact that the Provisional IRA were responsible for, by far, the greatest number of deaths during the ‘Troubles’ in all of the following categories; women (139), old age pensioners (90), children (47), innocent civilians (512), Protestants (795), and Roman Catholics (342). In total the IRA killed 1709 people. By way of comparison, the British Army was responsible for 297 deaths.

• Realist | Aug 26, 2011, 10:44 AM EDT

  JamesDempsey: The McConville and Farrell cases couldn't be more different. Mrs McConville was abducted and shot dead on the apparent say so of some IRA kangaroo court (if the comments on this page are to be believed). The official ombudsman's report on her death, from 2006, found that there was absolutely no evidence that she was a security force informant. Farrell, on the other hand, was a known and convicted IRA terrorist with a long prison record. She and her two 'comrades' were in possession of a significant quantity of illegal explosives with the intent of taking life (both civil and military). It was believed, quite understandably, that one or all of them were carrying a remote detonating device linked to those explosives. It was therefore decided that the lowest risk option to prevent yet another IRA atrocity was to use lethal force. The fact that they were unarmed was unknown at the time but is irrelevant. They posed a clear threat to innocent life and limb and were dealt with accordingly. The right decision was made and many lives were saved as a result. That is the logic of any decent right-thinking person the World over. The fact that you deem it to be “warped” is a sad indictment of whatever you have for a moral compass.

• sirpeter | Aug 26, 2011, 08:10 AM EDT

  @UnRealistic.Always the same with you.You pick out tit for tat killings.But you dare not go to the core problems that was at the heart of that little bigoted oppressive statelet.They will be opening up direct one way flights from Belfast to Scotland pretty soon.Make sure your big square orange head is on one.

• Realist | Aug 26, 2011, 07:44 AM EDT

  JamesDempsey: "the nationalist community in west belfast turned to the IRA for law and order"? Look how well that worked out for the likes of Áine Tyrell. By the way, doesn't she have a famous uncle? Now what was his name?

• JamesDempsey | Aug 26, 2011, 07:27 AM EDT

  @DonoLoinsigh "as to the war, what did they achieve that wasn’t available by the mid seventies? They sit in a partitionist assembly, they support policing etc. I’m glad they do, but I profoundly regret the misery they, and the loyalist killers, caused before they chose the road of non-violence." The Good friday agreement is also referred to as Suningdale for slow learners, the problem was that i was regected by unionists because they were unwilling to give an inch. In my opinion the blames lays with the unionist community who voted for extremists that wanted to oppress a large part of the population. Violence was the only option left to the IRA to bring about a fair state. "You can buy nearly anything in life with money but freedom can only be achieved by suffering"...libyan man i heard on news last night

• JamesDempsey | Aug 26, 2011, 07:21 AM EDT

  @ Realist "As I stated earlier, the truth will out....tick, tock, tick, tock." everbody already knows and has done so for some time now!

• JamesDempsey | Aug 26, 2011, 07:18 AM EDT

  @Realist you say that the RUC only killed 44 Catholics lol, what planet do you live on. Have you ever heard of colusion? Where do you think the loyalist death squads received there intelligence from. What exactly is that figure supposed to be anyways? the number of catholic civillians killed by "accident" by on duty RUC

• JamesDempsey | Aug 26, 2011, 07:14 AM EDT

  @Realist following your logic based on the argument we have been having about comparing McConville and Farrell being given a second chance, I am led to believe that you mean to say that it was fair justice to shot Mairead Farrell while she was unarmed in a car. Your logic is warped! warped by years of propaganda and possibly biogotry. You keep on supporting an imperial power that has shown a "bewildering and disgusting disregard for human life" and has killed and terrorised people all over the globe for centuries, while I shall continue to defend the name of a small organisation that has tried to establish a fair system of government in their own country under very harsh conditions. fair enough the IRA did make some mistakes and a very small number of attrocities which have been used to blacken its name.

• JamesDempsey | Aug 26, 2011, 07:01 AM EDT

  @Realist " The British security services perceived the threat, issued the orders, and the soldiers did their duty. A job well done". Im glad that you have shown the same "bewildering and disgusting disregard for human life" that you accused me of. I have asked you twice before to reveal your nationality and the government you support. Now I ask a third time. Why will you not ? Would it be that the people you support are guilty of the same things you accuse the IRA of on a far greater scale?

• JamesDempsey | Aug 26, 2011, 06:53 AM EDT

  @realist regarding Robert McCartney I dont deny that there have been isolated instances of thuggery by individuals within the orgaisation, but you cannot deny that on large the nationalist community in west belfast turned to the IRA for law and order and protection from loyalist mobs during the troubles. FACT

• Realist | Aug 26, 2011, 06:21 AM EDT

  JamesDempsey: "the catholic community felt safe when the IRA were around"? I suggest you ask Robert McCartney's family just how safe they feel when the IRA is around.

• Realist | Aug 26, 2011, 05:08 AM EDT

  JamesDempsey: "McConville was given a second chance while Farrell was shot on site"? Wrong yet again. Facts really aren't your strong point, are they? Farrell had already been arrested (not executed) in 1976 for her part in attempting to plant a bomb in Dunmurry. She then served 10 years of a 14-year sentence after which she chose to pick up her career as an IRA terrorist where she left off. Anyway, she eventually joined her IRA boyfriend, Sean McDermott, in the sweet by and by. He was shot dead by the off-duty police officer he tried to murder. A truly heartbreaking Romeo and Juliet story that, even now, years after, brings a tear to one's eye.

• DanOLoingsigh | Aug 25, 2011, 07:15 PM EDT

  @sirpete. The IRA, in their various guises, appointed themselves as custodians of Republicanism, just as loyalist killer gangs did as protectors of union ism for their own communities. No oversight of their activities…they may well have ‘agonised’ before blowing some women’s brains out, I don’t pretend to know what goes on in their heads, and apologists will always try to justify their deeds…as to the war, what did they achieve that wasn’t available by the mid seventies? They sit in a partitionist assembly, they support policing etc. I’m glad they do, but I profoundly regret the misery they, and the loyalist killers, caused before they chose the road of non-violence.

• Realist | Aug 25, 2011, 06:03 PM EDT

  As I stated earlier, the truth will out....tick, tock, tick, tock.

• Realist | Aug 25, 2011, 06:01 PM EDT

  sirpeter: "There was no non-judicial summary executions by the IRA"? Really? I ask again, can I see the court notes then? Let's start with the trial of Jean McConville. Who was her defence lawyer? P. O'Neil? Was she granted right of appeal? Also, how many PIRA prisoners in the Maze or Crumlin Road were "executed"? Not one. However this was not reciprocated (the IRA being a terrorist gang not abiding by the rules of war), and I quote, "All the security force personnel were guilty of upholding British and Unionist tyranny and were shot on sight". My friend, you're a comedian. The Iraqis had comical Ali, I guess that makes you comical Paddy lol.

• Realist | Aug 25, 2011, 05:44 PM EDT

  maireadinmelb: Would you please name the government or legal body which has stated that the convicted IRA terrorist Mairead Farrell was "murdered"? She and her 'comrades' were known to have possession of significant quantities of illegal explosives (almost certainly supplied by their Libyan benefactor) with the clear intent of taking life on a grand and horrific scale. The SAS believed that they had the means about their person to remotely detonate those explosives. The British security services perceived the threat, issued the orders, and the soldiers did their duty. A job well done.

• Realist | Aug 25, 2011, 05:23 PM EDT

  JamesDempsey: "the catholic community felt safe when the IRA were around because the RUC were quite simply a force of oppression"? Well, let's examine the facts, shall we? During the Troubles, the RUC were responsible for the deaths of 44 Roman Catholics whilst the Provisional IRA killed 343 Roman Catholics. I'm not sure how taking the lives of the greatest number of Roman Catholics translates into keeping that community safe, but you know best....lol. By the way, one of those 343 was Jean McConville.

• maireadinmelb | Aug 25, 2011, 06:28 AM EDT

  Realist, no matter who Mairead Farrell was with or what she believed in, she was murdered! No arrest, no search, no weapons! Riddled with bullets as she held her arms up in surrender! Majella O'Hare aged 12 was walking to church with other children and was shot! No british police man or soldier was charged or punished, let alone investigated, either let it go or prosecute them all - Starting with the Rev Ian Paisley who incited violence based on religion, not even politics!

• JamesDempsey | Aug 24, 2011, 08:39 PM EDT

  @realist the catholic community felt safe when the IRA were around because the RUC were quite simply a force of oppression which actively took part in pograms such as the burning of Bombay st 1969, the attack on the short strand when the famous billy McKee held off a few hundred loyalists intent on destruction of catholic homes within the loyalist east belfast, with a tommy gun. This is the same short strand that was attacked two months ago by loyalist paramilitaries. THe may also have looked to the "lawless" IRA to provide law and justice because the RUC were involved in colusion with murder gangs whose stated mission was to terrorise the catholic population who harbored the IRA. I feel it is you realistic who has put through an school boy argument that is completely tainted by anti sinn fein IRA propaganda. researching the origins of the conflict from both sides like i have done and maybe then you will be able to keep up with the pace of the argument

• JamesDempsey | Aug 24, 2011, 08:23 PM EDT

  @realist, Why dont you reveal yourself, where are you from and what government do you support?

• JamesDempsey | Aug 24, 2011, 08:21 PM EDT

  @ Realist Vol Mairead Farrelll was a member of the Provisional IRA. She was killed during a reconassance mission in gibraltar while unarmed and not carrying any explosives. She did however have access to explosives in gibraltar. Vol Farrell knew the dangers she faced and was told that she would most likely end up in prison or dead when she joined the IRA.The reason McConville has received so much attention was the fact that she was a woman. In my last post mentioning her I was trying to contrast the killing of the women mcconville and farrell who both were carrying out intelligence operations. McConville was given a second chance while Farrell was shot on site. Im sorry if your intellect is incapable of following the logic of my last argument but I hope this helps you. BTW Sinn Fein are using politics as a strategy to end british rule in ireland after stalemate. "its only a matter of time tick tock"

• JamesDempsey | Aug 24, 2011, 08:06 PM EDT

  @ realist reference for Jean mcConville being an informer are brendan hughes testimonies in the book voices from beyond the grave, the same book that claims that Adams was a member of the IRA a fact that every body already knows but cannot prove. Also the argument that she was shot for helping an injured soldier has been discredited because records show no soldier was injured in her area for a long long period before her dissaperance.

• sirpeter | Aug 24, 2011, 07:58 PM EDT

  @Dano.There is no self-appointed positions in the IRA.The most capable person gets the position.There was no non-judicial summary executions by the IRA.These executions were agonized over and over.The jury was the community.One wrong unjustified execution and the community would shut the door on you.If the IRA lost the community they would have lost the war.But they didn't lose the war did they.So if Sinn Fein///////////IRA were careless in who they executed.How come they kept the support of the people at the ballot box? By the way if you tied 3 or 4 lambeg drums together and put UnRealistic on them would the tide take him to Scotland? It doesn't have to get him all the way there, just enough that when the tide turned it doesn't take him back.

• seanomelbourne | Aug 24, 2011, 07:16 PM EDT

  Realist lacks realism

• sirpeter | Aug 24, 2011, 07:00 PM EDT

  @UnRealistic.Queot"The IRA do follow rules of war?" They had their own rules much the same as the British had bombing German cities during WW2,which was against the Geneva convention.Queot"What uniform did they wear?"Same uniform as the plain clothed armed cops.Queot"How many security force personnel were released by them under the terms of the Belfast Agreement?None.All the security force personnel were guilty of upholding British and Unionist tyranny and were shot on sight.The enemy was clear.Quoet"Can you list the military trials they held?"Can you list the amount of interment without trials that the Brits held?Quoet"Did Mrs McConville have a trial?Yes.She was found guilty and she appealed for mercy and it was granted.She broke her pledge and was executed.Quoet"If so, may I see those records also? No!!But we have a tape of her guilt in Boston College.I have a great idea though.I can give you the address of some loyalist paramilitaries who took part in the project.You should go and ask them for their tapes.But give them a ring first.They really want to give up the tapes.But go at night late and don't tell anybody.Nobody OK?

• Realist | Aug 24, 2011, 06:01 PM EDT

  JamesDempsey: Was Mairead Farrell in the Provisional IRA? Was she on an IRA operation in Gibraltar? Perhaps she was on holiday with all those explosives in her car trunk? Was she in uniform at the time? If in the IRA ('army') and not in uniform, then she must have been a spy or informant? You've just explained to us how they should be dealt with, or did I misunderstand? My friend, what you've written is Republican school-boy nonsense. Even Sinn Fein have packed in that little routine years ago, right after they signed up to help administer British majority rule in Northern Ireland....lol.

• Realist | Aug 24, 2011, 05:48 PM EDT

  JamesDempsey: "The facts are that she was a paid mercenary carrying out intelligence work during a war and she was given a second chance"? Please share your source for these "facts". What is your evidence? Can't wait to read this rubbish.

• Realist | Aug 24, 2011, 05:38 PM EDT

  Lol....during the entire period of the Troubles and beyond, the Provisional IRA was a proscribed terrorist organization in the U.K., the U.S., and in the Republic of Ireland (the very country with which they wished Northern Ireland to unite and to whom they claimed to pledge allegiance). They also killed the greatest number of people during the Troubles (1709), 347 of whom were Roman Catholics (from the same community they claimed to protect). Anyone who claims they, "felt safe BECAUSE the IRA were around" is either an idiot, a liar, or (most likely) both.

• Realist | Aug 24, 2011, 05:17 PM EDT

  The truth will out folks....tick, tock, tick, tock.

• DanOLoingsigh | Aug 24, 2011, 05:08 PM EDT

  So non-judicial summary execution by self-appointed ‘patriots’ is ‘OK’ in time of war…so does that apply for both sides then?

• Realist | Aug 24, 2011, 05:03 PM EDT

  "They don't like drug dealing either"? Really? I guess that's why they sent 3 of their 'comrades' to the Columbian jungle to train the drug barons of FARC how to blow people to pieces from a safe distance? Lol....this is hilarious.

• Realist | Aug 24, 2011, 05:00 PM EDT

  aoibhinn: "The IRA do follow rules of war"? That's one of the funniest things I've ever read....lol. What uniform did they wear? How many prisoners did they take? Where were their prisons located? How many security force personnel were released by them under the terms of the Belfast Agreement? Can you list the military trials they held? Did Mrs McConville have a trial? If so, may I see the court records? I assume, like all captured IRA terrorists she was granted right of appeal? If so, may I see those records also?

• sirpeter | Aug 24, 2011, 04:54 PM EDT

  @kilsally.She was an informer.She got a warning to stop.She didn't.The Brits wouldn't have thought twice about shooting any volunteers if they had solid information from the spy. It was war.Informers are shot during wartime.Chances are Jean McConville got her justice,but nobody here can be fully sure.Those tapes could destabilize the Peace Process because we don't know what they contain and could be used by those to break the Peace Process.Where would be the justice in that? The Peace Process has to be protected or the killing will start again.Personally I think you don't give a damn about Jean McConville.You just want to find something that might stick to Gerry Adams and Sinn Fein

• sirpeter | Aug 24, 2011, 04:12 PM EDT

  @Searlit.To be honest Irish people don't have that much interest in Gerry Adams or the North or those tapes.There is a hell of alot of talk about the Church Crisis though.

• sirpeter | Aug 24, 2011, 04:07 PM EDT

  @JamesDempsey.Cheers for the compliment.You're doing a good job yourself ;)

• Searlit | Aug 24, 2011, 02:27 PM EDT

  I think it's a distraction, to get people to pay less attention to the Church Crisis.

• JamesDempsey | Aug 24, 2011, 01:38 PM EDT

  @kilsally justice for her family? she was a paid informer! who was given a second chance! The story that she was shot because she helped a dying soldier has been proven to have been highly unlikely. she is the only one who can be brought to justice for her death not the IRA or Gerry Adams, she took the money and endangered her neighbours

• CanadianPat | Aug 24, 2011, 12:27 PM EDT

  Kilsally,In the taps reportedly Jean McConville is stated as to admitting to being an informer. The taps ruin her good name as well as Gerry Adams' .Why do you accept what you choise and reject what you do not? ; as well wanting that only one side of the conflict be examined? Have you your own agenda?

• Kilsally | Aug 24, 2011, 11:12 AM EDT

  Also policing, justice and the legal system and courts are all devolved to Northern Irish politicians and currently adminsitered by Justice Minister David Ford of the cross community Alliance Party.

• Kilsally | Aug 24, 2011, 11:09 AM EDT

  So who`s going to tell Jean Mcconville`s family that they are not entitled to justice for the murder of their mother? The peace process does NOT technically stop the justice process - it released convicted Loyalist and Republican terrorists early on licence (parole) . This doesnt stop others being prosecuted, but under the Good Friday Agreement , if their crime was pre 1998 they will be entitled to early release - so for instance former Sinn Fein IRA terrorist (convicted in the USA for arms dealing) who was recently convicted for the attempted murder (shot him) of a post man (part time soldier as well) delivering letters and got something like 20 years will in fact only serve 2 years due to the peace process.

• JamesDempsey | Aug 24, 2011, 07:43 AM EDT

  And also to all the residents of the republic of Ireland who criticize the provisional IRA and vote for parties Fine gael and Fianna Fail (being the majority of the country) who celebrate the violence of "the good old IRA" of 1916 and the 1920s by having a parade outside the GPO at easter, you too are hypocrites and have been duped by the propaganda of FF and FG who were worried about loosing power to SF. That said I voted FG 1,2,3, during the last election because I did not believe SF had a decent candidate in my area or neither the technical know how to run a country as a whole. However you will never hear me criticizing SF members for their past. Sadly Sinn fein do not seem to draw many candidates with 3rd level education probably due to the very admirable fact that any elected candidate is only allowed to earn the average industrial wage with the rest of the MP or TD salary being fed back into the party, which proves to me that these people are really concerned about change for the better and not just power and a cushy job. It should have been Gerry Adams who was given the Nobel peace prize he was the one who put his neck on the line with his own people to bring about peace. Gerry Adams a great man.... Tiocfaidh ár lá

• aoibhinn | Aug 24, 2011, 07:33 AM EDT

  GUERRILLAS sirpeter and phinsman. Terrorists is not correct even if using that term as the main IRA changed its tactics to disruption and financial damage many years ago. JamesDempsey in his post beginning "The fact is" makes an important point that is usually missing from the media reports: Warnings are given before bombs which are often ignored by the police forces or they drag their heels, which is why they started giving them to the media outlets instead and would give two as a backup. The IRA do follow rules of war. They do not purposely kill those not directly involved. They don't like drug dealing either, which the loyalists are fighting each over for turf. When I travelled in the north in 1991, I felt safe BECAUSE the IRA were around. The English army border crossings had nothing on Berlin and were surreal.

• JamesDempsey | Aug 24, 2011, 07:21 AM EDT

  My amazement never ceases when I hear residents of the UK or USA criticize the IRA for fighting foreign and oppressive forces, former being the british army and latter RUC who identified themselves as being foreign in their own neighbours. While at the same time they proudly support their military using the exact same tactics on a far larger and more bloody scale without warning. ABSOLUTE HYPOCRISY ! Just shows you the power of media

• maireadinmelb | Aug 24, 2011, 07:02 AM EDT

  Realist, We may take the lawless murderers tag more seriously when you hold governments and their military to the same standard, ie Israel, Britain, USA, China and the list goes on.......

• JamesDempsey | Aug 24, 2011, 06:51 AM EDT

  @realist So which country do you come from and which government do you support? The facts are that she was a paid mercenary carrying out intelligence work during a war and she was given a second chance. The SAS didnt give mairead farrell that same second chance and showed the same"bewildering and disgusting disregard for human life" when they shot her during an intelligence operation. Just remember the IRA werent the ones who exported military terror all over the world for the past few hundred years

• maireadinmelb | Aug 24, 2011, 06:37 AM EDT

  When British soldiers and security forces are pursued, charged and appear in Courts for the murders of Majella O'Hare, those on bloody sunday, Eamonn Davitt and others, we might take their sudden interest in JUSTICE more seriously!

• Realist | Aug 24, 2011, 06:03 AM EDT

  JamesDempsey: "The McConville woman was an informer....and summarily executed for her crime"? Well, apart from your bewildering and disgusting disregard for human life, this yet again exposes the Provisional IRA for what they were - cold blooded, lawless murderers (that's exactly how they're remembered the World over - oh, apart from in places like Syria, Libya, and Iran of course). If Adams had a part in this or any other murder the evidence will come to light sooner or later. It's only a matter of time folks, only a matter of time....tick, tock, tick, tock.

• TiocfaidhArmani | Aug 24, 2011, 03:51 AM EDT

  McConville was a tout who got a chance and then did it again. Male touts didn't get a second chance. She can consider herself lucky. You tout to the British you get killed, she knew the score and continued to do it.

• JamesDempsey | Aug 24, 2011, 02:52 AM EDT

  @bluesuede A very interesting point, i doubt the unionists in power want to derail the peace process, but it could well be some sort of distraction

• JamesDempsey | Aug 24, 2011, 02:50 AM EDT

  @sirpeter I agree with your last two posts 100% The "terrorists" are always the side with the smaller propaganda mill. Well done on a well written argument.

• AlunPalmer | Aug 24, 2011, 12:53 AM EDT

  This is difficult for me, as an Englishman but one who is descended from Irish who came from what is now the Republic. However, it seems to me that if a peace agreement means anything, it should mean you don't later prosecute the other side. I also agree that it is hearsay, which means it can't be used in evidence, but that doesn't mean it couldn't be used to find further leads. I am suspicious of what they are up to. I am sure the British government in London don't want to endanger peace, but I'm not so sure about the unionist factions in the North.

• bluesuede | Aug 24, 2011, 12:01 AM EDT

  Have you thought that maybe the powers that be, don't want peace? Sounds like their stirring the pot to keep it unsettled and for what purpose? In America, when the powers behind politics don't want to be noticed for what they're doing with the government, they create civil unrest to distract us from noticing what they're up to. Works some of the time, with some of the people.

• djroche | Aug 23, 2011, 09:15 PM EDT

  we stand with Gerry Adams

• sirpeter | Aug 23, 2011, 08:32 PM EDT

  @cynicus.IRA-Gadaffi.You are a fool.I could name twenty tyrants worldwide the American Government happily supported and went to bed with when it served their purpose and most of them killed tens of thousands of their own people.There is alot of ghosts out there.People like you are the first to gallop away on your moral high horse to save your own skin.You hide behind your morality but do nothing to change injustice.Who was Gerry Adams? He was a man who suffered torture and risked his life every day for the betterment of his oppressed community.No doubt a better man then you.Have you risked your life and family ever for the greater good. Yeah!! Didn't think so.

• seanomelbourne | Aug 23, 2011, 07:48 PM EDT

  phinsman's love of Ireland semms paper thin to me.If it were not for successive generations of Irish nationalists he would be singing "God Save the Queen" and be proud to do so.Cynicus would do well to change his/her blog name to cynical.James O'shea is correct revenge is the raison d'etre .If justice was the aim why ignore murder by the british and their orange allies in occuppied Ulster

• JamesDempsey | Aug 23, 2011, 07:47 PM EDT

  Please read my four comments below as a whole, it seems there is a word limit on comment size, which took me a while to figure out

• JamesDempsey | Aug 23, 2011, 07:45 PM EDT

  @Phinsman and all the other IRA critics out there All western nations especially countries like the USA and UK use violence to impose their will (im not anti USA or anti UK because they are vital for our economy) There has been a lot of anti IRA propaganda coming out of Ireland since the mid 1970s when the Irish government realised that IRA/Sinn fein were a threat to their power. The same governments have hypocritically celebrated an arguably more bloody and vicious guerilla war during 1920s

• JamesDempsey | Aug 23, 2011, 07:44 PM EDT

  The fact is that the provisional IRA was the most civilised irregular armies in the history of mankind. The vast majorities of their bombing came with (do USA or UK give the same warning when they drop 1000lb bombs?) Yes the IRA have commited atrocities but mostly accidentaly. The IRAs campaign was born out of a very justified cause to remove the status quo of a horrible state that has been an injustice since the day of its creation whereby a minority were aloud to retain the maximum amount of territory including entire counties and cities that were majority catholic/nationalist. Northern Ireland was to be a "Protestant parliment and a protestant people" James Craig the first prime minister of NI

• JamesDempsey | Aug 23, 2011, 07:44 PM EDT

  When the nationalists tried for many years without violence to bring about change through the civils rights they were brutally crushed by the protestant parliment and the protestant people. The ONLY option left was to resort to violence ! FACT ! and they only ever used violence in and around their own homes and sometimes in places where UK had used violence to colonise. To the people who say that the IRA had no mandate from the people of Ireland you can tell that to Bobby Sands Member of Parliment and Kieran Doherty Teacht Dail (who were willing to sacrifice themselves and not the lives of others for what they believe in) and also to the countless numbers of people that housed, feed them hide their arms etc!

• JamesDempsey | Aug 23, 2011, 07:44 PM EDT

  So for any of you out there Irish Bitish or American who would like to criticise the IRA for their actions please think about the actions of your own governements first or the actions they support. Once again id like to say in the actions of the IRA were reserved constrained and considerated of needless killing for the most part. Finally id like to say personally that i do not agree with the killing of idividuals in most cases because it only the will of the enemy. lots of young soldiers who probably couldnt point out NI on a map died at the hands of snipers but thats as much the fault of their government for putting them there in the 1st place too).

• JamesDempsey | Aug 23, 2011, 07:30 PM EDT

  @Cynicus "The McConville Woman" was an informer who had caught with a radio to transmit details of IRA movements in return for her 10 pieces of silver, because she was a woman she was told not to do it again and was spared form even a sentence of exile. She persisted in endangering the young lives of the men and women in her own neighbourhood who fought for a fair nation and was caught with a radio for the second time and summarily executed for her crime. Horrible it may seem but it was war. Who are you to criticise the IRA ? Are you a nationalist from NI? What has your own government done or supported ?

• cynicus | Aug 23, 2011, 07:15 PM EDT

  The 'McConville woman' so lightly dismissed by mamaginnty was a human being; a woman with a family, and defenceless against the murder-gang. A Peace Process dependent on a rag-bag of murderers, green and orange, changing their evil ways is hardly a Peace Process- rather, it is supping with the devil. Who is Gerry Adams to be placed on a pedestal? What did he do? What did his accomplices do? Ask the McConville Family; ask the Boston Globe- and ask them under the processes of the law. And ask Brendan Hughes and other fellow-travellers of Gerry Adams in their 'war' of cowardice and rapine. And ask the ghosts of their women and children murder-victims! And spare us bullshit of the moron Irish-American sympathisers of the murder-gang. Shitheads like you that paid the way for women-and-children murderers and fascists to blight Ireland, North and South, for decades. We don't want you; we don't need you - and I suspect all decent Americans have had enough of your crying into your drinks and sad-ass whinge-history. PLease join that ogre and benefactor of the IRA - Gadaffi, the friend of the murder-gang and bomber. He will get his just deserts any day now! And the same to all his killer-friends in America - and Ireland! You know who you are.

• SeamusMor | Aug 23, 2011, 07:04 PM EDT

  "Fiat justitia ruat caelum!" (Let justice be done, though the heavens fall!)

• Woodman | Aug 23, 2011, 06:14 PM EDT

  phinsman - The IRA created the Republic of Ireland, through violence and murder, planting bombs and shooting innocent British soldiers and their collaborators who were just doing their duty. You must have some shame over that? And, I guess like Brendan Hughes you are against Adams because he negotiated a settlement. Brendan Hughes wanted the war to continue. He thought there should be renewed London bombing campaign. And the British are raising this because it has do with the impartial administration of justice, they have no ulterior motive. So you support them. Right?

• sirpeter | Aug 23, 2011, 05:36 PM EDT

  @phinsman.I'm not trying to be a smart ass and I know where you are coming from.But could you enlighten me on how a small nation which is occupied by force of arms and disarmed by force and it's political system set up to overwhelmingly support that occupation,how do you get rid of them if they steadfastly refuse to go?Did you ever notice that it was always the weaker,oppressed,occupied people who were/are called the terrorists?Whose ethical philosophy is the honorable one? Caucasian ethical philosophy? I read that the native American Indian's had a very high ethical philosophy.It didn't do them much good.They nearly ended up exterminated by Caucasian ethical philosophy.Ethical behaviour? What Government or Religious body practice that?.It's just another fairy tale.I like insect ethical philosophy.They don't have any.At least when they eat eachother alive they don't soothe the victims misery by telling them there is an after life.

• phinsman | Aug 23, 2011, 03:45 PM EDT

  I love my Irish heritage and the Republic of Ireland, but have never respected the IRA. The IRA needs to realize that in order to gain respect and make progress for the Republic of Ireland, they need to avoid violence against others (unless it is self defense), and have an ethical philosophy on how to get the UK out of Northern Ireland. Those who murder, plant bombs and do other terrorist acts will never gain my respect.

• mamaginnty | Aug 23, 2011, 01:39 PM EDT

  This really has nothing to do with the McConville womans death, the Brits, Northern heads and our own government in the south are all in cahoots to get rid of Gerry. They know that if there is another election Sínn Féin votes will be a hell of a lot more than the last election. Kenny and Gilmore will be finished. The north of Ireland...well none of them dreamed that Mc Guinness would end up being Deputy Minister. The Sínn Féin party is growing, this does not go well with both governments or the north, but getting Gerry is not going to end the party, many good people in it now. Will only cause to start the troubles again. Also why only interested in this death, we know why...the name...Gerry Adams.

• lecorri | Aug 23, 2011, 01:07 PM EDT

  Confucious say: Before you embark on a journey of revenge...dig two graves. One will most likely be the hard-won peace process if this rubbish is allowed to continue.

• sirpeter | Aug 23, 2011, 12:40 PM EDT

  @Unrealist idiot has crawled out from under his loyalist rock again.Truth has to be given out in small doses in NI and over a period of time.We don't know whats in that can of worms.The old saying "Ignorance is bliss when it's folly for NI" You will get the truth when the time is right WHEN ye lot up there can handle the truth without battering eachother brains out.Now crawl back under your loyalist rock and be quiet.You are your kind are self-destructive and very few here agree with ya.

• Nicomax | Aug 23, 2011, 12:39 PM EDT

  BC plans on washing all the tapes in acid and then sinking them under the ice in Conte Forum. Only the goalie will know exactly where they are.

• cillowen | Aug 23, 2011, 12:35 PM EDT

  gerry is a superhuman 'pears to be everywhere doing the nasty. Is such possible? Cong. King of homeland secutity will be next.

• Realist | Aug 23, 2011, 12:10 PM EDT

  The lawful authorities in Northern Ireland will be given the items requested. If Mr Adams, as he claims, was never a member of the Provisional IRA and had no part in the murder of Mrs McConville, then he will have nothing to worry about. If, however....lol.

• greensod | Aug 23, 2011, 11:56 AM EDT

  Let the hare sit. The troubles are over.Give the pease a chance to prevail.Burn those records,they serve no purpose,other than to get things started all over again.

• Realist | Aug 23, 2011, 11:54 AM EDT

  Gerry Adams, calls for a truth commission, 25th September 2008, "There are vested groups who will not want the truth; and who will oppose the creation of a meaningful truth recovery process". I agree Mr Adams, it seems most of them have commented here lol.

• Realist | Aug 23, 2011, 11:50 AM EDT

  Brendan Hughes, "Voices from the Grave": "I never carried out a major operation without the okay or the order from Gerry. And for him to sit in his plush office in Westminster or Stormont or wherever and deny it, I mean it's like Hitler denying that there was ever a Holocaust ... There was only one man who gave the order for that woman to be executed. That man is now the head of Sinn Fein."

• mlawless | Aug 23, 2011, 11:31 AM EDT

  The war is over!! Stop revenge mongering and seek reconcilliation so we can put this history behind us.

• sirpeter | Aug 23, 2011, 10:50 AM EDT

  CanadianPat is correct.Those tapes are based on hearsay and were given on the basis of confidentiality.Gerry Adams has played a big part in stabilizing NI.All can be revealed at a much later stage.But not now!!Much wrong has been done in NI.The Peace Process is paramount.It seems to me that the Irish Government,CERTAIN Northern Ireland authorities and the British Government is behind this.Sinn Fein is the common enemy of all three.Those tapes are now a risk to the Peace Process and should be destroyed if they don't back off.

• SAirish | Aug 23, 2011, 10:48 AM EDT

  The investigations into past cases durng the troubles should be dropped, it is only creating unnecessary divisions. This applies to all cases.

• joeustace | Aug 23, 2011, 10:30 AM EDT

  If South Africa can get past revenge and embark on reconciliation, why can't Northern Island. I guess there's no Mandelas up there.

• feliciamaisey | Aug 23, 2011, 10:04 AM EDT

  Well doesn't it figure that revenge would be at the core, as it so often is. The Peace Process must be permitted to flourish, and with this type of witch hunt, it will surely become unraveled before long. Cullen has made excellent observations!

• CanadianPat | Aug 23, 2011, 09:55 AM EDT

  Witch hunt baced on heresay , not acceptible in any Irish,British,or American court.If it were so ,charges would have been made baced on the book "Voices from the Grave" alone.The only reason for this is to serve those who's interest is in distroying the peace process.

• JamesDempsey | Aug 23, 2011, 09:47 AM EDT

  Well said Kevin Cullen, agree 100%