A leading Ulster Unionist Minister has called on the Irish government to apologize for ‘funding and sheltering’ terrorists.
The North’s Minister for Enterprise Arlene Foster made the startling demand at the annual conference of the Democratic Unionist Party.
Delegates, including the province’s First Minister Peter Robinson, heard Foster and deputy party leader Nigel Dodds accuse the Irish government of aiding and abetting the IRA.
Foster went so far as to accuse various governments in the South of financing and bank-rolling the Provisional IRA.
She stated: “Conference, we are all aware of the role that previous Irish governments had in funding, and sheltering, terrorists.
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“I will do all in my power to push the Irish Government to apologise for their wrong-doing. It is long past the time to acknowledge their part in this past 40 years.
“If we are to have good relations, it must be built on mutual respect.”
Dodds issued similar criticisms of the Republic’s regime and also challenged Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny over recent statements in relation to the murder of Catholic solicitor Pat Finucane by the UDA, a loyalist paramilitary faction.
“Successive Irish governments have been complicit in the years of terror in Northern Ireland,” claimed Dodds to hundreds of party delegates before attacking Kenny’s call for a public enquiry into the Finucane case.
“Mr Kenny, if you come to Northern Ireland to start a selective campaign on the past, we serve notice we are on your case and we are coming after the truth about your State.
“Pat Finucane was murdered. And that murder was reprehensible and justice demands that all those who commit murder or are complicit in murder should be arrested, charged, convicted and sentenced.
“But Pat Finucane was not the only person to be brutally murdered. He was not even the only prominent lawyer to be murdered. No one has ever been brought to account for the murder of Edgar Graham at Queen’s University in December 1983. We hear little about that. He was a unionist.”
The North Belfast MP then told the DUP annual conference that the Irish Government should put its ‘house in order’ before commenting on affairs in Northern Ireland.
“British government apologies have been made but none from Dublin,” added Dodds. “Let’s have a look at successive Irish governments’ direct and indirect complicity in the years of terror in Northern Ireland.
“Let us have a detailed examination of the origins of the IRA campaign. Let’s look at IRA’s financing, their training and who helped arm them.
“Let’s investigate how Dublin allowed its territory to be used as a safe haven for terrorists. All that has been assiduously ignored.
“Sinn Féin is seeking to rewrite history but one simple and absolute truth will endure for all time: the terrorist campaign of the Provisional IRA was criminal, genocidal and sectarian.
“It was unjustified and will always be unjustifiable. Let republicans acknowledge that truth. Then we can all move forward.”
Both Dodds and Foster mocked the current state of the Republic’s economy with the former claiming that ‘the Germans are now in charge’.
Foster claimed that the Euro had failed as a currency and that Northern Ireland should be ‘very thankful’ that the British government maintained sterling.
“Let us not forget that one of the initiatives to help the euro zone was a bailout fund for the Republic of Ireland. Despite our budget being cut from Westminster, money was found to help the Republic,” said Minister Foster.
“Are they grateful? I’d venture to say that Enda Kenny should be expressing his appreciation for the assistance rather than lecturing us all about more costly inquiries.”
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.Madeliene | Jan 10, 2012, 11:01 AM EST
Dig up my mom & pop and kiss their Irish arses!
seanomelbourne | Dec 05, 2011, 05:53 PM EST
Tell that to the trade unionist and so called communists who were jaied and tortured into the seventies.Events over took a dying criminal (Franco)Who's reign of power was a reign of terror as was Salazar in Portugal. The arrogance of your colonialist nature to say "The USA GRANTED INDEPENDENCE TO THE PHILLIPINES AFTER WORRLD WW2" Defending the indeffensible seems to be your hallmark. You seeem to enjoy pouring insults upon me rather than arguing the point. Are you exacerbated by continually being brought to task?
DanOLoingsigh | Dec 05, 2011, 02:17 AM EST
Sean – before you start preening yourself, you should read the posts a little more carefully - I said Spain in the SEVENTIES, ie the post-Franco transformation into a democracy WITHOUT a civil war or resort to arms – Philippines when the USA granted full independence AFTER WW2 WITHOUT a civil war or resort to arms – Cuba – ONLY YOU mentioned Cuba, not me. Sorry mate, the only thing you’re tasting is your own bile…
seanomelbourne | Dec 04, 2011, 04:53 PM EST
Spain,Cuba,Phillipines did not have civil wars. I always know when you a fighting a rear guard action,I can almost taste it.What you are really saying is I proved my case and you are in denial.
DanOLoingsigh | Dec 04, 2011, 08:05 AM EST
None of the countries I quoted had the cathartic, seminal experience of a 1916 or civil war; no legacy of bitter hatred towards their neighbours (of which you are a prime example); no sad little men getting worked up about how badly their forbears were treated.
seanomelbourne | Dec 03, 2011, 06:34 PM EST
If the phillipines was "given independence why then did MacArthur senior murder 1/3 of the civilian population of Manila.I know! his excuse was "someone" sank an American vessel. The spanish American Treaty replaced one colonist with another, Cuba and good old Teddy comes to mind. In Portugal Salazar repressed all opposition and in spain Franco was such a peace loving leader. Have you Heard of the "maori wars" in N.Z. Which ended in a treaty. or the british attempts to stifle democracy in Australia.maybe you have not heard of "Bakers Hill"(read Peter Lalor or the Eureka stockade)maybe you read of the french/british/indigeneous conflicts in Canada or indeed of civil war in the USA or in Britain (not to mention Ireland). Then we can mention all those repressive regimes backed by the U.S.A. in Sth and central America,Iran(Pavlahvi) the arming of saddam to fight it,s proxy war aginst Iran and then their are the other regimes not backed by the USA. Sweden fought to hold onto it's colonies but eventually had to secede them. Anymore peacefully obtained democracies in your arsenal my friend. Democracy is very rarely peacefully attained I could give you a few more examples but I do not wish to overtax you.
IrishInTX | Dec 03, 2011, 03:26 PM EST
Sorry Dan, but Irish Central will not post my response which is thought provoking and timely. Once the globalist take over, they control the media and all censorship. Hope you open your eyes soon.
DanOLoingsigh | Dec 03, 2011, 09:28 AM EST
Sean – You ask where democracy has been won without arms – how about Canada, Australia, New Zealand; Norwegian independence from Sweden, Iceland from Denmark, Philippines from USA, in the seventies Spain and Portugal, later most of the former ‘Eastern bloc’….so what’s your next point?
seanomelbourne | Dec 02, 2011, 06:10 PM EST
Tell me where has democracy been won without arms or violent demonstration.The status quo of colonist and rogue nations are backed by powerful armies.One has to use force to usurp such regimes. As britan found out in Ireland,India,kenya and many other supressed nations.
DanOLoingsigh | Dec 02, 2011, 10:05 AM EST
Seano – I apologise for getting too personal in that last post…My true allegiance is to democracy, so I can never agree that it was right to try and bomb the good people of NI into some indeterminate, 32 county socialist utopia. It is a sad fact that by speaking out against the actions of republican zealots, one is labelled a ‘West Brit’ and worse. I could not defend the killing of (Northern) Irish policemen or prison guards as, in your words, engaging the enemy. The (Irish) government never supported this policy, so no apology (from them) is needed - Warrenpoint -Sorry old chap, you missed the reference, and homage, to WB Yeats ‘Easter 1916’ – ‘All changed, changed utterly’.
DanOLoingsigh | Dec 02, 2011, 10:03 AM EST
IrishInTX - Maybe you can help me out with my comprehension…You say that ‘the North of Ireland’ were terrorists? Not sure how a geographical area can be a terrorist? You started with the ‘downright insult’ stuff, not me…This lady is not the only one ‘stirring the pot’, as she says she is responding to repeated calls from ‘down south’ for apologies from her side. Also it’s historically inaccurate to cite all Irish emigration as because they were ‘hounded by the Crown’, whatever that actually means…many of my own relatives left long after independence, because they were younger sons (no farm) or daughters (not willing to be the drudges that their mammies were). The people living on the island, whatever they class themselves as, are entitled to be left to sort things out without interference from those who have left…or do you think I should tell you how Texas, or wherever you live now, should be governed?
IrishInTX | Dec 02, 2011, 07:27 AM EST
@DanOLoingsign Your reading and comprehension skills leave a lot to be desired. If I was to use Ms. Foster's logic, I was inferring that the North of Ireland and English crown were terrorist as well just better funded. Two wrongs don't make a right. The apology was spawn from the fact that they got caught acting as terrorists bombing, killing and maiming their own and blaming it on the IRA. Ms. Foster is just muck racking, and as part of a government sponsored entity is being politically incorrect and disingenuous. It is easy to throw around the words terrorist and racist, but such words come with repercussions when the people using such language come with such unclean hands and think or believe the rest of world is just ignorant of history. The majority of the people deplores the use of such words and easily sees that they are prompting some political propaganda agenda. Not all people like each other and some even fight with each other. When one finds themselves in that situation it is best to leave, which is the better part of valor and which many Irish ancestors chose or were forced to endure. So based on your diatribe, those Irish ancestors that were mandated to leave Ireland just because they were poor or lived in an orphanage were insulted as well. If the crown makes people leave, it is okay, but if the south of Ireland or some blogger tells you leave, it is a downright insult. I guess it is just a matter of convenience for you. You lack understanding for those that fled or forced to leave Ireland hoping for a better life were still hounded by the crown and those loyal to her cause by spreading that hatred and contempt across the pond. Yet, here we are in 2011, and the only ones stirring the pot by throwing out labels live in the North of Ireland or are immigrants. I rest my case.
seanomelbourne | Dec 01, 2011, 09:46 PM EST
Dan I am shocked at the venom you wrote in your post. If the post is aimed at me I do not support sectarianism in any form.In fact I am an atheist and deplore religious or racial bigotry in any form. Your willingless to overlook the bigotry of the british and their cohorts in the 32 counties is a black mark on your integrity.I am suprised at the hateful ending to your post.Be honest and inform us of your true beliefs, fallrnat and george Dillon would be proud of your anti-Irish stance. You seem to have lost the plot Dan.slan a chara
warrenpoint00 | Dec 01, 2011, 09:29 PM EST
Sorry for nmaking you so sad Dan.I do like your way with those lovely english words though "puerile..wow" and 'dissembling "now that is a scary one and "Mantra" very impressive word that one. I dare say you may be from Oxford old chap.Your government has Failed "Utterly" (lovely upper crustly english word that one) has lost all control of Ireland and Scotland and soon Wales.Your empire is all gone Dan. slan abhaile
Aughavey | Dec 01, 2011, 02:16 PM EST
Sorry warrenpoint but The Troubles were due to civil war in Ireland not `British Occupation`. The Good Friday Agreement signed b y all parties recognises that Northern Ireland`s future will only be determined by the populace of Northern Ireland not by the Irish Republic or England,Scotland & Wales. Two thirds of all murders during the troubles were by Republican groups - well over 2000 people. Loyalist terrorists murdered another 1200. The police and army were responsible for 300 deaths. Not quite sure what you mean by `how did nationalists survive` since it was the army & policethat prevented all out civil war between irish nationalists and irish/ulster unionists.
DanOLoingsigh | Dec 01, 2011, 02:27 AM EST
More sad, puerile dissembling. Most loyal Irish citizens can spot an antidemocratic, embittered ‘so-called’ republican zealot a mile off, so chanting POINTLESS mantras is just that, POINTLESS!! The real Irish know your friends’ terrorist campaign FAILED, failed utterly, and our government’s stance in refusing to assist them certainly helped….
warrenpoint00 | Nov 30, 2011, 09:06 PM EST
Good ould DanMcGlinchey still proudly flying the flag for his british terrorist counterparts..you are one loyal west brit Dan, see old Dan can not come to terms with the fact that britian was and still is the axis for terrorism in Ireland .His friends the BRITISH imperial army in Ireland and in collusion with the MI5, MI6,SAS, UDR,UVF,UDA,RUC,UFF,ORANGE ORDER, ORANGE VOLUNTEERS,UWC, etc,etc (how did Irish Nationals survie these terrorists) could not and will never subdue Irish nationals through their tactics of terror. So run along back to the old boys back home in Britain Daniel and leave the real Irish to figure out our own problems.As Sara Palin might say "shoooh" go on now Dan "shoooh"
DanOLoingsigh | Nov 30, 2011, 06:20 PM EST
Some posters on this site wish to give certain terrorists a leave pass and demonise the Irish Government. I don’t need to wonder where their true allegiances lie; acting as cheerleaders for sectarian atrocities, it’s as plain as the peeling, sunburnt noses on their bitter, twisted little faces.
seanomelbourne | Nov 30, 2011, 06:07 PM EST
Some posters on this site wish to give British terrorist a leave pass and demonise anything Irish. I wonder where their true allegiances really lies. Britain owes Ireland 800yrs. of apologies.
DanOLoingsigh | Nov 30, 2011, 05:04 PM EST
cillowen - curious to know why you wanted a democratically elected government to support the murder of Irishmen, not to mention women and children...don't you think their other friends, like Gadaffi, sent enough munitions? It takes guts to stand up to killers, as Irish ministers and security forces did...
Kilsally | Nov 30, 2011, 12:01 PM EST
Hmm - author, Arlene Foster is a member of the Democratic Unionist Party not the Ulster Unionist Party. Lecorri, you seem to forget the IRA were responsible for two thirds of all murders during the Troubles. Phoenix - why would `England` apologise when it is the British (English, Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish) SAS founded by Sterling a Scotsman and Blair `Paddy` Mayne from Newtownards in Northern Ireland? How about some coverage of the rest of the DUP conference like First Minister Peter Robinson`s call for a united society in Northern Ireland or the Winter Fuel Allowance debate - all available via the DUP website and YouTube channels mydup dot org
IrelandNorth | Nov 30, 2011, 08:39 AM EST
And also let the Irish apologise for 1916-22/1848/1806/ 1798/1641, & apologise for ever having wanted liberty, equality & fraternity in the first place. Interesting how planters decendants' can come up with the most banal nonsense to justify their ancestors native dispossession.
cillowen | Nov 29, 2011, 07:50 PM EST
the irish gov being a supporter of ira - wish it were true. i felt them to being gutless all along.
aloistmartin | Nov 29, 2011, 06:04 PM EST
Stop The Hating ? When (and where) does Justice become Revenge, Vendetta ? The Fat Cats Uptown never Understand This. They build a Nation on Blood meal, a Country on Beer. Only The Rich can afford to keep Swords from Plowshares. All Irishmen are Members of The Republican Army in the eyes of The English "Danelaw". But Only 1% Ride round in Rolls Royce Limo`s... The Real Tragedy Is that this Is exactly the same for The Typical Main lander. Protestant, Catholic, The Real difference is in The Larder
DanOLoingsigh | Nov 29, 2011, 11:58 AM EST
@IrishInTX…Are you claiming that PIRA were NOT terrorists? This will be news to the survivors of countless bombings, shootings, and attempts to ethnically cleanse areas of the border counties. Hatred was inculcated on both sides…’burn everything English except their coal’. I’m not sure what motivated this politician to call for an apology…I would hazard a guess that it was a response to the frequent calls for apologies and enquiries for acts committed, or alleged to be committed by loyalists and security forces (including your own call). Your proposed solution is in your words ‘downright insulting’ to people who have as much right as anyone else to live on the island, and such comments help to reinforce the ‘siege mentality’ of many unionists. If you live in another country, I suspect you or your forebears have been there less time than most unionists have been here…how would you feel if told to leave if you didn’t like things? I don’t think a government apology needs to be given, most Irish governments worked hard to secure the border, but the selective treatment of atrocities committed in the name of uniting the island, as against those by the other side, may need to be acknowledged by some citizens.
IrishInTX | Nov 29, 2011, 11:06 AM EST
Ms. Foster labels the Provisional IRA terrorists and firmly beliefs that the North of Ireland and English crown, because they were better funded, are not terrorists as well. There was no declaration of war, which makes both sides culpable. She obviously does not understand that the inspired hatred cultivated in England and transplanted to the North of Ireland was aimed not just at the Irish in southern Ireland, but the Irish living in Canada and the United States as well. Where’s our apology? It is a long, long pot of history that is best left unstirred, because the North and crown will never take over the whole of Ireland. If they don’t like it, the Unionist like the immigrants can pack up and leave the island at any time and don’t let the door hit your backside on the way out. Additionally, the title North’s Minister for Enterprise conjures up visions of encouraging companies to involve themselves in the economy of Northern Ireland. At minimum her and her cohorts' comments are globally discouraging and inept, if not downright insulting to the sensibilities of people embracing liberty. Why should the Republic apologize for wanting their freedom from the oppression of the crown?
Searlit | Nov 29, 2011, 09:15 AM EST
Eejit!
eibhleann7 | Nov 29, 2011, 08:16 AM EST
As soon as Maggie Thatcher kisses me arse!
sirpeter | Nov 29, 2011, 08:05 AM EST
Let it be Arlene.Where you have injustice you will get resistance to that injustice.All paramilitary groups in Ireland were created out of that injustice.Enda Kenny should be concentrating on safeguarding Irish neutrality and the economic mess they dumped us in.
maireadinmelb | Nov 29, 2011, 02:55 AM EST
And Ms Foster the Republic may consider such a statement when all Irish people receive an apology from the Unionist who added and abetted Unionist Terrorists and bigots for many years!!!
warrenpoint00 | Nov 28, 2011, 10:49 PM EST
Back up into your kitchen with your butcher,s flag around your jolly fat michelins you gorgeous och goatyouonthekitchentable you fine planter thing you.
canadianirish | Nov 28, 2011, 09:56 PM EST
Someone should remind Arlene Foster that this is the 21st century. Move forward! The terrorists she should be most concerned with are the Muslim Al-Qaeda cells who are infiltrating Ireland. They're in Dublin now and sure to be heading North. It's time to wisen up.
Nelsonbarry | Nov 28, 2011, 06:48 PM EST
Where is this egg head coming from. What a peacemaker. Some women still belong in the kitchen and not in politics. She is the reason some guys stay single. Can you imagine listening to that at night?
seanomelbourne | Nov 28, 2011, 05:15 PM EST
Foster changed parties because the U.U.P. was not extreme enough for her right wing views
barneyjo | Nov 28, 2011, 04:18 PM EST
Just a brief response to Minister Foster and Rep Dodds - NAMA"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ratslayer | Nov 28, 2011, 03:25 PM EST
STAKEKNIFE.
merefalow | Nov 28, 2011, 02:45 PM EST
mutual respect,thats a hard one,this lady should wind her neck in,the most important thing in the north of ireland is to have equality of opportunity and justice equally for all.something that was non existent for the catholic population until the civil rights movement..there is ample examples of terrible incidences on both side.surely no one wants a return to the previous horror filled years,so accusations finger pointing tribunals etc etc ,time to try to heal and work to a better future for ALL the people,some things will never come to light as painful as that is,but tearing up old wounds is not the way forward for n.i.
lokionline | Nov 28, 2011, 02:37 PM EST
Wow! She really knows how to open up old wounds. Not a trait of a nation builder...
rugbyplayer | Nov 28, 2011, 02:27 PM EST
Unionists such as Arlene Foster who throw stones should not live in glass houses. Reflect on Unionistne bloody history of oppression and murder, Arle!
ripley838 | Nov 28, 2011, 01:11 PM EST
And the DUP will apologize for over 400 years of British occupation...?
TiocfaidhArmani | Nov 28, 2011, 01:03 PM EST
The difference between the killing of the unionist lawyer was because he was a unionist his killing would have been investigated to the fullest and his killing wasn't state sponsored, Finucane's was. Totally different.
audreybolton | Nov 28, 2011, 12:51 PM EST
Exactly what Phoenix kind of friends do you have who tell you the SAS camp out in the Republic? How do they know.My family are in the Army and Garda (police)including in the Anti-Terrorist and Special Brances squads and they would know if the SAS were doing that.
jackstorey | Nov 28, 2011, 12:23 PM EST
Well - it's ok if Unionists are murdered but nobody must touch or hurt nationalists - the fuss over Pat Finnucane, even though his brother was in the IRA,& this is admitted, leaves law-abiding citizens like me in difficulty.
tomgallagher | Nov 28, 2011, 11:32 AM EST
Why doesn't Arlene the moron, send a member of the old UVF down to Dublin I'm sure something could be arranged.
NYCsheridan | Nov 28, 2011, 11:30 AM EST
Nothing more than a politician soliciting votes. She should be ignored.
lecorri | Nov 28, 2011, 10:16 AM EST
What an eejit! This is simply NOT going to happen given all the horrific loyalist actions (read murders) supported by the prod dominated government in the north during the 'Troubles'! Typical dup/paisley-type waste of time.One would hope this minister would be trying to achieve some remedy for the economy, jobs, etc..alas...per the loyalist norm...apparently not...
Springfield9 | Nov 28, 2011, 09:47 AM EST
She looks like she puts those miserable rags up all 'round Belfast in her spare time. Ms. Dodds - Your apology is waiting for you at the bottom of a well.
PhoenixZouave | Nov 28, 2011, 09:45 AM EST
Apology? How about an apology from England for sending units of the SAS into the North and South of Ireland. My friends tell me the SAS likes to camp out and gather intelligence in the rural parts of Ireland.They couldn't be accomplishing this without a staging area in Ulster. Yeras ago Major Sterling, who founded the SAS, argued against ever using the SAS in Ireland.....his opinion was brushed aside.
IrelandNorth | Nov 28, 2011, 08:58 AM EST
If the British monarchy "... don't do apologies", should the Irish government? 'What aboutery' will get us nowhere. Will Arlene apologise for the RUC exposing Civil Rights marchers to loyalist mob attacks at Burntollet Bridge in 1972, and Unionist subcontracting extra-judicial murders to loyalist paramilitaries.