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Home Page > Blogs > News blogs > Periscope > Not in our name -- Irish Americans deplore Dissident IRA killing --Time to stand up and be counted on slaying of prison officer

Periscope by Niall O'Dowd

Not in our name -- Irish Americans deplore Dissident IRA killing --Time to stand up and be counted on slaying of prison officer

Posted on Saturday, November 03, 2012 at 09:19 AM

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David Black

The murder of prison officer David Black in Lurgan, Armagh by dissident IRA members who ambushed his car, was not done in the name of Irish America.

This community has made clear for years now that it stands with the peace process and not with those who wish to continue to visit death and tragedy on the people there.

We agree with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton who said "There is no justification for this outrageous and cowardly act. I offer my sincere condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Officer Black, who had a long and distinguished record of service."

It is a futile cause and a death in vain as it only solidifies the belief among the peace process parties and among Irish Americans that the current progress must continue.

It was never going to be a 100 per cent break with the past and violence but the killing of the prison officer, a Protestant, was yet another example of the lunacy at work in some quarters.

Does the killing of a prison officer or a policeman move the goal of a united Ireland one centimeter closer?

Of course not, quite the opposite. Those who still take up arms despite the wishes of overwhelming majorities in both communities who support the process know that too.

It allows them their stupid delusions of grandeur that they are players in a conflict that has actually ended with the Good Friday peace agreement between all sides.

Nobel Prize winner John Hume referred to his goal as that of an agreed Ireland. As far as we can that has been achieved with a huge helping hand from Irish America and President Clinton and other presidents since.

Whether the future holds a united Ireland or the status quo depends on the future generations who will vote on such issues.

It certainly does not depend on those who will wantonly take life in support of a violent ideal that has now receded into history.

It was heartening to see Northern Ireland’s two leaders, Peter Robinson and Martin McGuinness issue a joint statement on the killing, condemning it in the strongest terms.

Such is the only way to proceed in the North. The peace process has now been operational in one form or another since the early 90s. A generation has grown up not knowing violence or the despair of earlier generations.

That is how it should be, persuasion by political means not violence remains the goal of all who wish the peace process well.

We here in America want to reiterate again these killers do not speak for the overwhelming majority of Irish Americans.

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Realist | Nov 09, 2012, 06:23 AM EST

seamus60: "No commission ruled on the beatings I mentioned below"? Maybe Mr Nugent and the other prisoners suddenly became shy about complaining to the European Commission of Human Rights(funded by the British Taxpayer, I might add)? Lol....somehow, I doubt it. If they had even the slightest evidence to back up their claims, they would have been all over the ECHR. It seems the ECHR didn't read the PIRA script in 1980 - Nugent didn't like it much then and you don't like it much now. Incidently, what's it like being so badly out of step with decent peace-loving people that you feel compelled to condone murders like that of David Black? I don't expect you to answer this or any of my questions as that would require a backbone, nevertheless, I'm still curious.

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seamus60 | Nov 09, 2012, 06:15 AM EST

Facts. Financially Mrs Black will have a pension to fall back on, their mortgage will be squared and a substantial compensation package for her loss. A lot more than the Volunteers families have ever received, but thats right they weren`t in it for financial reward with their services being free down to their last drop of blood in some cases. Realist if your surname is Black or you`re with MI5 just say so, you`ll have more credability.

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Realist | Nov 09, 2012, 06:01 AM EST

curtis: Lol...."David Black was probably...."? "Realist is probably...."? No facts, yet again? You have already been exposed as a laughing stock and a liar. You have no credibility my friend.

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curtisjohnson | Nov 08, 2012, 09:58 PM EST

Realist is probably the type of supremacist sicko that celebrates the murder of indigenous children by burning their effigies at bonfires (see Michael McIlveen). No doubt he agrees with the retention and promotions of the beastly "soldiers" that carried out the Ballymurphy and Bloody Sunday atrocities.

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seamus60 | Nov 08, 2012, 09:12 PM EST

Carefull folks to the manner in which you answer some of these questions certain posters are intent on having answered for some reason. They surely have the drift by now.

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seamus60 | Nov 08, 2012, 07:46 PM EST

No commission ruled on the beatings I mentioned below.Because not one single officer was ever charged. As for the mens conditions being self inflicted brings the mens very good reason for their protest. They were POLITICAL prisoners being treated as CRIMINALS.

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seanomelb | Nov 08, 2012, 07:25 PM EST

Moses(Dano) has finally recognised a 32 county Ireland by referring to Mr. Black as an Irish public servant. Indeed who Knows what his opinions were Moses from the mountain.

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Realist | Nov 08, 2012, 07:12 PM EST

In June 1980 the European Commission of Human Rights rejected a case brought by four H-Block prisoners including Kieran Nugent that conditions inside the prison were "inhuman". The Commission's ruling was that the conditions were self-inflicted and "designed to enlist sympathy for the prisoners' political aims".

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DanOLoingsigh | Nov 08, 2012, 07:01 PM EST

maireadinmelb - Are you serious? Comparing an anonymous Irish public servant with the likes of Osama BL is barely credible...Osama gloried in the misery he created...who knows what the late Mr Black's opinions were?

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seamus60 | Nov 08, 2012, 06:16 PM EST

Thousands of beatings dished out during the H block dirty protests . How many officers charged with anything ?, that is charged not found guilty.

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Realist | Nov 08, 2012, 08:15 AM EST

mairead: Lol....Irish Republican terrorists (who you seem to support) don't take prisoners yet are afforded, in full measure, the civil, legal, and human rights they routinely and cheerfully deny their victims (like David Black). The British taxpayer even funded the legal challenge to the policy and practices of the NI Prison Service brought by prisoner Brendan Conway. In reponse: "Mr Justice Treacy, sitting on Thursday 5th May 2011 in the High Court, ruled that the routine full body searching of prisoners on each occasion when they enter or leave the prison is lawful. He also found that the policy of forcible full body searching of non-compliant prisoners is lawful and not incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR)."

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Realist | Nov 08, 2012, 08:03 AM EST

curtis: I was obviously speculating....not making a definitive judgment" Lol....that is clearly untrue my friend and you are a liar.

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maireadinmelb | Nov 08, 2012, 05:09 AM EST

Dan do you have the same view of the summary execution of OSama Bin Laden?? no trial no evidence!! ANd guantannamo bay now there is a bastion of american democracy - Maghberry and Maze british democracy on show! But You Irish if you are republican you must act fairly and democratically but not the brits and not the yanks or the israelis!! Is that it??

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curtisjohnson | Nov 07, 2012, 09:58 PM EST

I was obviously speculating based upon the long history of the treatment of the indigenous population - I was not making a definitive judgment. Strange that no british forces have been even tried over the numerous summary executions of non-combatants (in the real and almost random sense). In fact, many of them were promoted for their work.

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DanOLoingsigh | Nov 07, 2012, 07:14 PM EST

Seano - It's your heroes who are 'anti-Irish'...unless you think reviving 'summary executions' somehow promotes the cause of uniting Irishmen?

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