87 Comments

• Realist | Dec 01, 2012, 11:59 AM EST

  seamus60: You were asked if you condoned the murder of David Black. You have yet to answer this. Again, would you please tell me, in precise legal detail, what was illegal about the Marian Price case or the action taken by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland in connection with this? Finally....terms like "themings" and "your kind" are only used by sectarian bigots so spare me your squirming my friend, you knew exactly what you were doing when you employed them. Yet again.....shame on you.

• seamus60 | Nov 12, 2012, 08:57 AM EST

  Realist. Themings being people with a differance of opinion to your own.If the law (being abused as it is with Marian Price) was being deployed in the same manner for non political aledgations would you still endorse it as you do. If yes, I wouldn`t want to live in your democrecy. You mentioned earlier about the SOS`s intervention in Marians case. Which one of them interventions was that ?

• seanomelb | Nov 10, 2012, 05:39 PM EST

  Get your head out of the glass Phlutie. Unrealist is floating his I love Britain "theme" again

• Realist | Nov 10, 2012, 01:59 PM EST

  seamus60: Now who, precisely, do you mean by "themings"?

• seamus60 | Nov 10, 2012, 01:13 PM EST

  Realist your kind being , them who believe in everything good for everyone equally, except for themings there.

• seamus60 | Nov 10, 2012, 01:10 PM EST

  Realist, I unlike yourself have no difficulty in answering direct questions as I am not trying to ride 2 horses at the same time. You asked me earlier did I condemn the killing , that was a NO. what alternative to that is there ?. I am now however more interested in your agenda, as answering questions definitivly has landed people before the courts.

• PhlutiePhan | Nov 10, 2012, 11:54 AM EST

  The goal of the IRA always has been the creation of a socialist Ireland in the image of Cuba and Venezuela and now the U.S. The penultimate goal is the overthrow of Britian itself. Officer Black is only one small piece of the puzzle. I haven't heard Gerry Adams crying in his Guinness over his unfortunate death. The manipulative lad without a doubt condoned this message to those who dare to forget his goals.

• Realist | Nov 09, 2012, 04:15 PM EST

  seamus60: By the way....what, precisely, do you mean by "your kind"?

• Realist | Nov 09, 2012, 04:10 PM EST

  seamus60: I have asked you a simple straight question, more than once....Do you or do you not condone the murder of David Black? More than once you have declined a straight answer. You clearly do not have the courage of your "traditional Republican" convictions to give that an answer. I call that a lack of backbone....and I still do. What other way is there to see it?

• seamus60 | Nov 09, 2012, 01:30 PM EST

  Sorry that should have read granda was an RUC man blown up by the IRA.

• seamus60 | Nov 09, 2012, 01:28 PM EST

  Just watched the UTV news that ended with a lovely wee story of a newborn baby. Whose granda was blown up 25 years ago. Scraping the barrell to say the least.

• seamus60 | Nov 09, 2012, 10:35 AM EST

  Realist. insults a sign of a looser. I have not been insulting you ,Have I ? You want me a consistant traditional republican to be as 2 faced as yourself. It is you and your kind who have diffuculty marrying your own contridictions in what pass`s for equality. Can`t have it both ways.

• Realist | Nov 09, 2012, 09:39 AM EST

  IrelandNorth: "I'm a good deal older than your estimate"? Lol....you surprise me....I thought 12 was generous. "How can native Irish Catholic/nationalist/republicans have "... full and free access to the democratic process ...""? I suggest you ask the SDLP and Sinn Fein, they represent about 99% of voting Nationalists in Northern Ireland. How many people do the masked murderers that you seem to support represent? How many votes did they get at the last election? What's it like to pine after murder and violence? What's it like to be branded a "futile" "traitor to Ireland" with "no strategy whatsoever" by the likes of Martin McGuinness? What's it like to be despised by all decent peace-loving people? What's it like to be left behind (where you belong)?

• IrelandNorth | Nov 09, 2012, 09:03 AM EST

  séchóntaebréathan! The call is "Allah[u] Akbar/God is great! Realist! I'm a good deal older than your estimate. PS My reference to British imperialism was back to 1922/1800, ie the start of the whole unionist lie. (I could of course go back to 1169, but we don't have the time.) Riddle me this! How can native Irish Catholic/nationalist/republicans have "... full and free access to the democratic process ..." in a neo-provincial statelet which was specifically constituted to make a minority of a national majority. GordonDuggan! Criticising political violence is untenable unless the 26 county proto-republic statelet is handed back to its rightful annexers, from whom those 1916 terrorists stole it back from. Lives are lost becausae live a lie.

• Realist | Nov 09, 2012, 06:30 AM EST

  seamus60: Cold comfort....I dare say Mrs Black and her children would far rather have her husband and father back than any pension or mortgage payment....but you don't seem to care about that....he was legitimate target to you. You will not condemn his murder. What does that make you?

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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".

• 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?

• 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.

• 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)."

• 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.

• 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??

• 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.

• 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?

• seanomelb | Nov 07, 2012, 06:09 PM EST

  Moses (Dano)has come down from the mountain with his little gems of anti Irish rhetoric. BTW Curtis Dano does not live in Ireland.

• Realist | Nov 07, 2012, 05:28 PM EST

  curtisjohnson: "I simply have not pre-judged the situation."? Really? Days earlier you wrote the following on this very thread, and I quote, "This guy was probably an integral part of the torture and death chambers run by the terror state in the occupied 6." I know you don't do questions, condemn murders, or substantiate your claims with any sort of verifiable evidence but it is clear you've no problem making a fool of yourself....lol.

• DanOLoingsigh | Nov 07, 2012, 05:11 PM EST

  Curtis - Shooting and killing someone on a highway is ‘Prima Facie’ a major crime in most jurisdictions... I believe this is now the case even in your ‘Deep South’...long a bastion of bigotry and ‘summary justice’...so do let us know when you have weighed the evidence and reached a considered judgement, you can’t stay ‘pre-judged’ for ever?

• curtisjohnson | Nov 07, 2012, 05:06 PM EST

  Ireland North, the british terror state only selectively and slowly allows "truth" to escape - see the journalist intimidated into silence during the troubles and the massive cover up efforts over bloody sunday, Ballymurphy (the former of which was disclosed in a stage managed fashioned after almost four decades - of course, no compensation for the victim's families and the "soldiers" keep their positions and pensions ), etc.

• curtisjohnson | Nov 07, 2012, 04:34 PM EST

  @Realist - you need to relax big girl, I don't answer questions on command from brit trolls. I simply have not pre-judged the situation. Who knows what types of atrocities still occur in the terror state prisons against indigenous populations. It is clear historically that the terror state does not try or convict offenders but, in fact, promotes them.

• IrelandNorth | Nov 07, 2012, 08:25 AM EST

  Ulster Television (UTV) teatime news (6 pm) reported an ongoing dispute in Maghaberry Prison between republican prisoners and the authroties there over the institutional sexual abuse of unnecessary strip searching. Four prisoners have died there this year alone, the latest after Officer Black's regrettable assasination. Reprisal, perhaps? All this horry will contiue intil the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth is told.

• Realist | Nov 07, 2012, 02:54 AM EST

  curtisjohnson: Lol....my friend you cannot expect to be taken seriously when you behave like a child. I suggest you make a fresh start by answering the following question (which, incidently, I have already asked): Do you or do you not condemn the murder of this 52-year-old man and condemn his killers as murderers?

• curtisjohnson | Nov 06, 2012, 08:43 PM EST

  Yeah, you're really witty in the face of overwhelming facts Realist.

• DanOLoingsigh | Nov 06, 2012, 07:02 PM EST

  Seano - when you have NOTHING to say...

• seanomelb | Nov 06, 2012, 05:58 PM EST

  Dano and realist remind me of Moses.When they open their mouths the bull rushes.

• DanOLoingsigh | Nov 06, 2012, 03:24 PM EST

  seamus60 - GFA endorsed by the people of Ireland...how hard is that to understand?

• Realist | Nov 06, 2012, 02:46 PM EST

  curtisjohnson: This is a big boys chat. Next time, go ask a grown-up to help you crayon a reply....lol.

• curtisjohnson | Nov 06, 2012, 02:32 PM EST

  "due legal process" lol. Something made up or enforced by the british terror state on an ad hoc basis to oppress indigenous populations.

• ancavker | Nov 06, 2012, 02:03 PM EST

  The dissidents are an absolute disgrace. They must stop this madness!! And yes the provo's campaign of violence was wrong too.

• Realist | Nov 06, 2012, 10:46 AM EST

  seamus60: If you have grievencies with any official government body, collate evidence to substantiate your claims and follow the political and legal channels freely available to progress complaints of this nature. You do not put on a mask, procure heavy duty automatic weapons, gun down a 52-year-old man on a busy public motorway, and then tell us that, somehow, this was a legitimate and justified thing to do. What is wrong with you?

• seamus60 | Nov 06, 2012, 09:53 AM EST

  Any one dissagreeing with the Proclamation has every right to call this mans death what ever they like. No one is denying them that. However the man was part of a regime that has a long and continious history of aiding the occupation and abuse on republican prisoners. Simple as. Not that hard to understand.

• seamus60 | Nov 06, 2012, 07:06 AM EST

  There is a lot of injustice; more than enough to fill volumes and the British ill treatment of Ireland is well documented but.... this man was murdered and it was wrong.

• Realist | Nov 06, 2012, 03:23 AM EST

  curtisjohnson: Price is being dealt with under due legal process - she has not been executed. Now, I will pose the same question as I have to others on this site, "Do you or do you not condemn the murder of this 52-year-old man and condemn his killers as murderers?" If no, then you are in no position to criticize any legal process or even fit company for decent law abiding people.

• Realist | Nov 06, 2012, 03:14 AM EST

  maireadinmelb: Would you please point out, with evidence, the non-legal aspects of Marion Price's treatment? Now, if Price's rights so concern you, will you not then condemn the murder of David Black who was denied even the right to life by his "jury"?

• Realist | Nov 06, 2012, 03:04 AM EST

  seamus60: My answer is simple and consistent on this. There is never any justification for violence unless in self defense or to protect the lives of defenseless others. If agents of the state have broken the law....I fully support the application of the same legal process against them. I condemn without reserve the actions of both Loyalist and Republican terrorists. It is a pity that you cannot or will not do likewise. I say again....shame on you.

• maireadinmelb | Nov 05, 2012, 09:45 PM EST

  Where is the democracy - court with no jury, being held without charge or conviction, police failure in investigations look in today's ic about the massacre in down during the football match! government coverups, like bloody sunday! You reap what you sow and if you rule in an undemocratic manner you must expect undemocratic results!!

• curtisjohnson | Nov 05, 2012, 08:48 PM EST

  Realist goes on about "democratic process" and then vomits " Price is held at the pleasure of Her Majesty's Secretary of State."

• seamus60 | Nov 05, 2012, 08:02 PM EST

  Realist. I`ll ask again, was there ever any justification for violence ?

• seanomelb | Nov 05, 2012, 06:52 PM EST

  Realist and his usual apologies for British injustice.

• Realist | Nov 05, 2012, 05:21 PM EST

  maireadinmelb: Price is held at the pleasure of Her Majesty's Secretary of State. This is all open and legal. Price has access to legal aid to challenge this and, as far as I know, she has exercised her rights on this. In contrast, and like all terrorist victims, there was no democracy, no evidence, no arrest, no trial, no right of appeal for David Black. No prison for him. His wife and children will be visiting him in a cemetery.

• Realist | Nov 05, 2012, 04:27 PM EST

  seamus60: I suggest you read again what I have written to IrelandNorth. He intimated that the people who did this are "the unheard" and that violence is their reaction. I stated that they have full and free access to the democratic process and therefore have no justification for violence. I guess listening to senior members of Sinn Fein condemning this murder as "wrong" (colleagues of Gerry Kelly - himself a convicted murderer of a prison officer) must leave you somewhat perplexed. Some people might even ask, "if this murder is wrong, what about all the other murders?"

• maireadinmelb | Nov 05, 2012, 04:17 PM EST

  REalist - Marion Price accessed the courts was released and on an order of 1 politician has been held without charge for over a year! Access to democracy in the occupied territories is like access to democracy in Palestine or Gitmo! prison conditions in Maghaberry are deteriorating to those of the 1970's. And an interesting perspective from the Australian papers and here is that I understand that Colin Duffy was released as there was not enough evidence - no reports here or in Australian papers - quick to note the arrest!

• seamus60 | Nov 05, 2012, 12:29 PM EST

  Realist. are you then saying there was never any justification for violance ?

• johnshiel | Nov 05, 2012, 11:59 AM EST

  pompous... that's the word exactly... whoever wrote it gets the writer's prize today, students... now, class dismissed...

• Realist | Nov 05, 2012, 10:35 AM EST

  IrelandNorth: Lol....the British Empire ceased to exist over 50 years ago. What age are you? 12? The men who took this prison officer's life are not "the unheard". They have full and free access to the democratic process. There is no justification for violence. This was murder, plain and simple.

• IrelandNorth | Nov 05, 2012, 08:38 AM EST

  British imperialism the active cause - republican paramilitarism the reaction - loyalist paramilitarism the counter reaction - Christian forebearance and atonement the cure! Violence is the language of teh unheard! To understand all is to forgive all!

• Realist | Nov 05, 2012, 04:01 AM EST

  seamus60: My friend, please come out of the closet....do you condemn or condone this murder?

• seanomelb | Nov 04, 2012, 06:31 PM EST

  Maybe Dublinloyal could stop his Orange mates from fire bombing nationalists who live in "mixed areas" and forcing them and their children onto the streets. Some hypocrite you are.

• KerryGold | Nov 04, 2012, 05:42 PM EST

  This article annoys me. Does he think that this murder was committed in the name of the Irish people and Ireland. All reasonable minded Irish people have nothing to do with this and detest this cowardly act. What is this article trying to suggest. Insulting is one word.

• seamus60 | Nov 04, 2012, 04:35 PM EST

  Dublinloyal. Yet another trying to display the expression of preferable targets ( Servants of the state) for their religion and not their occupation.

• Dublinloyal | Nov 04, 2012, 04:17 PM EST

  I fear for the bloody response. If fascist republican violence is directed towards the loyalist people; the small shop keeper or the child going to school. To date, most of the violence has been directed toward servants of the State. Both States will have to get on top of Republican violence.If peace and democracy is to work on the Island of Ireland.

• WoundedKnee | Nov 04, 2012, 12:03 PM EST

  What a deluded article from O´Dowd. "Not in our name"--Is it possible tht O`Dowd is so inflated with his own importance and that of Irish Americans that he thinks the men who went out to carry out this attack were thinking for one nanosecond that they were representing Irish America? That someone in Lurgan or wherever it was was saying "We`ll do this attack for Irish America"? You`re crazy, O`Dowd, if you think that. Why would these guys in North Armagh give a damn what you think? And by the way, I don`t think this attack was justified either, but I am not so stupidly pompous as to believe that it was done in my name.

• curtisjohnson | Nov 04, 2012, 10:56 AM EST

  Why don't you ask the british government - they supports all the U.S. actions like a good lapdog.

• maireadinmelb | Nov 04, 2012, 01:57 AM EDT

  Hope these americans retain this view when there is discussion of Osama Bin Laden, where was his court?? Not to mention those still being held against international law in Gitmo??

• seamus60 | Nov 03, 2012, 09:07 PM EDT

  Gordan. What does it matter who can prove what from afar, it has been established he dawned the uniform. Including fire arm and vest.

• seamus60 | Nov 03, 2012, 08:46 PM EDT

  Paulpaulpaul. Please keep up. They already have all that shyte at their disposal and abuse even that.

• seamus60 | Nov 03, 2012, 08:40 PM EDT

  Strongbow. So abuse is okay depending who is being abused ?

• Strongbow | Nov 03, 2012, 07:53 PM EDT

  Another veteran dedicated public servant cut down by cowards. Prison officers perform a vital public interest in any civilised society whereby law abiding citizenry is protected from brigands and those with a propensity for violence. Of course there were abuses in the prisons but their charges were no angels.

• Smyrnian | Nov 03, 2012, 07:45 PM EDT

  Clevelander - Very well said! 6CountyJerk - Clearly, you are a moron.

• seanomelb | Nov 03, 2012, 07:44 PM EDT

  Towngate considers the heroes of Easter week as fascist racist and has said so.No one knows why the man was killed but the prison service of the north is known for their torture and degrading punishments of nationalist.

• Gordan Duggan | Nov 03, 2012, 07:27 PM EDT

  Sean Curtis and Clevelander with their usual IRA rubbish from outside Ireland. Can they prove this man tortured anyone? Thank God they can't vote here.

• Towngate | Nov 03, 2012, 06:55 PM EDT

  Niall, you're at it again! Claiming to speak for the Irish community in America without Poll or research statistics.~ However, this IS a chilling killing as it shows that rightly or wrongly this Instrument of the Establishment was identified by the dissident unit, his movements tracked,and execution carried out by them; proveing they 'have not gone away'. However unwelcome it was, for you to write in PARA's seven and eight that: "Those who still take up arms despite the wishes of overwhelming majorities... ... allows them their stupid delusions of grandeur.... It ( Irelands future) certainly does not depend on those who will wantonly take life in support of a violent ideal..." .... Now, Niall, I know the Americans don't 'do' irony, but you can surely see you could be describing exactly, the activities of your pet Dissidents during Easter Week! _ 'Sandy' has not managed to blow away any cobwebs,we see.

• seanomelb | Nov 03, 2012, 06:27 PM EDT

  The prison service in the north has a long history of torture and resentment of nationalist.Maybe someone has a long memory.

• DanOLoingsigh | Nov 03, 2012, 05:28 PM EDT

  Curtis and co. can't condemn dissident 'so-called republican' execution squads...so was it 'probably' done in their name, after all?

• curtisjohnson | Nov 03, 2012, 04:36 PM EDT

  This guy was probably an integral part of the torture and death chambers run by the terror state in the occupied 6.

• curtisjohnson | Nov 03, 2012, 04:35 PM EDT

  Ironically, 6countybrittroll, sharia law under the taliban would be much less repressive to the indigenous Irish population than the rule of your beloved terror state.

• 6countybrit | Nov 03, 2012, 03:45 PM EDT

  That's nice you support the cause, that's fine as I support the Taliban with their cause. You might even be interested to know that the cause you support provides direct support to Taliban with bomb making etc. Allah Akbar.......

• Mickey Ryan | Nov 03, 2012, 01:10 PM EDT

  We'll always support the cause Niall. It's the tactics that sometimes make us queasy. Either way - RIP officer David Black and his family are in my prayers.

• Bogside1234 | Nov 03, 2012, 12:57 PM EDT

  I am sure in the 30 years he was a screw he never performed a strip search, beat a prisioner I am sure he was a saint and not singled out for a reason. How come if was OK when the provos did it Niall, as ke Gerry what the difference was then and don't give me the vast majority of the people line because the provos did not have the support of the majority of the people or ireland

• paulpaulpaul | Nov 03, 2012, 11:29 AM EDT

  Niall O Dowd, you`ve always had a very good handle on events north of the border. Once again you hit the nail on the head. This kind of dissident butchery has to be stopped, with extreme prejudice. Could there be an argument advanced that special powers of arrest and detention need to be examined. In my opinion, a cross-border committee with sweeping powers of investigation and apprehension could root out this cancerous minority from society. The appointment of someone like General de Chastelain as overseer/chairman would guarantee independence, and a military background might just impose enough shock and awe on these gurriers that the entire dissident movement would be crippled. Yeah, time to start thing outside the box!

• clevelander | Nov 03, 2012, 10:11 AM EDT

  Right or wrong, as long as there is a british presence in Ireland this will continue to happen. No politician or political party can or will settle anything as long as the british remain. It is sad, but very true.

• seamus60 | Nov 03, 2012, 09:39 AM EDT

  Niall. Yet again you buy into the SF hypocrecy. For over 30 years PIRA killed prison officers against the wishs of the majority. Do we hear Adams or Mc Guinness say their deaths were in vain along with the thousands of others carried out whilst John Hume spoke the same words they speak now.