Irish police officers want to honor Black and Tans killed by the IRA

ancavker asks: audrey: Was your Grndfather murdered because he was a school teacher? I suppose ancavker hints at a more 'valid' reason for the teacher's murder! Murder is murder and a murderer is a murderer; no amount of snide questions or hints or conscience-salving self-delusion changes these facts.

Hi, Read the Book 'The IRA and its Enemies.' It shows exactly how a dirty war was carried out by the IRA as well as others, in the war of independence in Ireland. Seems that ethnic cleansing was well-practised by the IRA in the '20s as well as along the border more recently. Patriot just wants blood-letting, the Hard Man! Where was he when the real fighting was being done? Usual latecomers to the scene of action; bitterest of all, especially when it is safe to spout hatred and a crazed desire for someone else's blood. How many more Jean McConvilles does Patriot envisage in his blood-lust? Or informers, or high-ranking touts and wanna-be politicians? Will some people never learn?

@itsjustmacker Right on, lad. I was right there with you. I had an unpleasant discussion on the BT recently with A Loyalist who swore the Catholics had burned the houses in Ardoyne. I was there. It was the Tartans who came in. And well I remember the Brits standing watching as a friend of my Da was bayoneted by a couple of UVF. I have a hard time finding much history on the burning. Do you know of any?

Patriot-stay in America because you have nothing of any value to offer the Irish.You say a million stand behind you? You obviously dont have a majority so. Audrey, very well articulated. I had a great uncle who fought with the Brits in the war and another relative who was in 'The Squad'. My family understands our history too. We accept it and respect it and like yourself,none of us harbours any bitterness. Each side of the family did what they felt they had to do back then and I am very proud of my history.

audrey: Was your Grndfather murdered because he was a school teacher?

Niall, I think this article is rather shameless and the amount of hate spewed by the comments on this site is distressing to me as a modern Irish Citizen. As the granddaughter of a man who fought in the First World War and was murdered by the IRA in 1922 during the savage Civil War while carrying out his duties as a School Teacher and buried in an unmarked grave which we never found(my grandmother and her 8 children,including my father who was three weeks old at the time having to flee Limerick to Dublin) and the grand niece of a man who was in the RIC - both families lived in the same house -(who later had to flee to America with his family the descendants of whom still live there and have visited Ireland many times), none of us have harboured any bitterness. We are all of mixed religons. We know our Irish History (its history now)and think this hatred which some of the peiple on this site still have will do no good to the Island of Ireland. BTW I would ask again what is a West Brit? We have not been called Eire since 1948. Regards Audrey

I am not alone. A million Irish men & women stand behind me. each and every one has lost thisr kin to brits or west brits. We are hard men and we will never forget. You've been warned. Go back to britain where you belong. There will be no place for west brits in the new Ireland and I have not one scintilla of guilt or problem with their blood filling up the sea.

God bless the Provos, and the IRA and above all the ICA. They had guts and fought the enemy amongst us. Thank god they used violence and killed as many west brits as they caould. This has led to an Irish Republic and Irish co=control of the north of our Island where we are rapidly becoming the majority. So yes, Violence does work! And yes, the IRA are FREEDOM FIGHTERS whether you old west brits like it or not. BTW we hate you and want you gone and this will never change!

And many happy returns itsjustmacker.Dont over-indulge and be careful on the roads.

Hi seanomelbourne ,Poignant has various meanings. a. Profoundly moving; touching: a poignant memory. See Synonyms at moving. b. Physically painful: "Keen, poignant agonies seemed to shoot from his neck downward" c. Keenly distressing to the mind or feelings: poignant anxiety. D.Neat, skillful, and to the point: poignant illustrations supplementing the text E.Astute and pertinent; relevant: poignant suggestions F.Agreeably intense or stimulating: poignant delight. I have assumed you mean , "A". hope you and yours have a very Merry christmas and a Happy new year.

barneykx - so you accept that the unionist view of PIRA is akin to the Black n Tans, if so forgiveness won't happen on the island of ireland forever, i guess that you have to be forgive, but never forget or just whinge on about ancient prejudices,

HONOUR THE BLACK AND TANS ,ARE YOU SERIOUS AFTER WHAT THEY DID IN THIS COUNTRY,OH FOR ANOTHER MICHEAL COLLINS

A poignant post, itsjustmacker.

seano - i can say that the RA was just as bad because that it is fact, I have the family history to prove it, the difference is I'm not afraid to recognise the wanton murder & destruction caused by the republican side. youse just can't/won't accept any wrong doing by the PIRA, I assume therefore that Teebane, Enniskillen & Bloody Friday were justified killings

After reading these posts i feel dumfounded, everyone is mostly on about the recent troubles, I have been through these troubles, and i will state, i am not happy with SF, but i do know, there is good and bad everywere, some RIC were supporters of the 1916 uprising, so, i would say, Reluctantly ,allow a memoriam for the RIC, BUT, i would say NO to one for the Black and Tans, for those who support one for them, Just remember the Croke Park massacre, thats just one of many caused by the Black and tans, i am also an ex British Soldier, But when i saw what was happening to my comunity in Ardoyne, i refused to wear my uniform, i went AWOL, and informed the appropiate people in my area that i was in BA and AWOL, i was questioned for over 24 hours by PIRA, and was accepted into the community, i have no regrets for giving up my military career, i was arrested and handed over to military police, im not going to brag what happened to me, or what i done whilst AWOL, i was given a DD, "Dishonourable Discharge", my red book and all our belongings were lost when protestants decided to leave the upper part of Ardoyne (Glenard) when they set fire to there own houses so as catholics could not live in them , some of whom were B-Specials who fired into the lower streets before making a hasty retreat, Whilst the BA stood and watched,Now, Do you see my point ,and to this very day, i am proud for doing everything , and , would do it all over again, if i had to. I know life has to go on, but the days of your landlord having your vote and Orange domination is now over. Our country is an Island, Surrounded by water, and i come from a mixed family, my grandfather was an Orangeman who lived with us until his death and was buried out of Holy Cross Chapel Ardoyne and his Sons and grandchildren , Law abiding god fearing Protestants came to the service, i was so proud of my uncles and cousins that sad day, but no one from his LOL R.I.P. Grandad. need i say anymore!.