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Northern Ireland Minister demands IRA apology from Republic

Claims Irish ‘funded and sheltered terrorists’ during Troubles

CATHAL DERVAN,

IrishCentral Staff Writer

Published Monday, November 28, 2011, 8:02 AM

Updated Monday, November 28, 2011, 9:32 AM

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The North’s Minister for Enterprise Arlene Foster

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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.

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49 Comments

15 - 49 | See all comments

Madeliene | Jan 10, 2012, 11:01 AM EST

Dig up my mom & pop and kiss their Irish arses!

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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?

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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…

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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?

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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.

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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’.

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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?

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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.

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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

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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

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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.

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