NEW YORK BOSTON |#Popular: Irish Celebrity Gossip Irish Pubs Irish Festivals Irish Roots Irish Entertainment Offbeat Irish

Home Page > Blogs > News blogs > Periscope > Time to stand up to Northern Ireland killers ---They disgrace the good name of the Irish worldwide

Periscope by Niall O'Dowd

Time to stand up to Northern Ireland killers ---They disgrace the good name of the Irish worldwide

Posted on Monday, April 04, 2011 at 08:34 AM

Larger Text

E-mail

137 Comments

RSS

Archives

Read more: Northern Irish policeman murdered in dissident bomb attack in Omagh

The cowards who planted a bomb under the car of policeman Ronan Kerr in Northern Ireland have disgraced the Irish race.

But the killing has also created a moment when the entire community in Ireland, north and south can finally send the message that the days of these callous killers is over for ever

It is time too for Irish America to stand up and say in the clearest possible terms, they have no support in America, they do not kill in our name.

No question that there are Irish Catholic members of the Dissident IRA today who are somehow proud of how they killed another Irish Catholic, all in the name of Irish nationalism.

Anyone who knows these homicidal maniacs should turn them in to police immediately.

The cowardly act deprived a widowed mother of a beloved son on Ireland's mother's day and left an entire community on all sides in Northern Ireland grieving.

Of all the condemnations the one by the The Tyrone GAA and the Ulster Council of the GAA standout.

During The Troubles they never spoke out when a policeman was killed, knowing the majority of their members considered the police a sectarian force intent on keeping nationalists down.

That is no longer the case since the police service was reformed and 50/50 recruitment commenced.

In the new era of the peace process the fact that those two groups came out firing against the killers, calling it a crime against humanity, is deeply significant.

There is not a townland or parish in nationalist Tyrone where the GAA does not hold vital sway. The words their leaders have now uttered are welcome and heartening

There is a chance at a just society in Northern Ireland. Power sharing is in place between both sides, there is a police force that is creating a new reality of cross community representation.

Yet there are those killers who believe that blowing up a 25-year-old recent recruit somehow puts them back in the game and will increase the chances of a peace process breakdown.

They are wrong and they need only listen to the words of the mother of the dead man.

In her hour of darkness she has delivered an eloquent tribute to her dead son and delivered a stunning blow to those who falsely believe they are somehow speaking for Irish people.

The grieving mother Nuala Kerr said : 'this is at a time when we are striving for a neutral police force for the good of our country and I urge all Catholic members not to be deterred by this. We all need to stand up and be counted and to strive for equality.'

Nuala Kerr continued 'we do not want to go back into the dark days again of fear and terror. We were so proud of Ronan and all that he stood for. Do not let his death be in vain.'

'He was a wonderful son and brother, always had a smile and a helping hand for everyone. He had all the attributes of a great police officer - fair, empathetic, intelligent, humorous, a great communicator and loyal to all who knew him. And he just loved his work.'

Nuala Kerr said 'I would like to appeal to the wider public for any information, no matter how small about this callous crime. Someone knows something. Would you please come forward and do the right thing so that justice can be done.'

Someone knows something indeed, let them come forward and deliver the final blow to those thugs and terrorists who seek to usurp the will of the people in Northern Ireland.

It is time for them to stand up and be counted.

Read more: Northern Irish policeman murdered in dissident bomb attack in Omagh

E-mail

137 Comments

15 - 137 | See all comments

Scotchtommy | Aug 26, 2011, 07:29 AM EDT

What hypocrites.All the years of the Troubles not a word of regret about all the Protestant policemen killed.After all -as Prods they deserved it.But now (God Rest His Soul)when a Catholic policeman is murdered we hear screams of outrage because now they've murdered a human being instead of one of those Protestant animals.

Report abuse

JOHNTOBIN | Aug 26, 2011, 06:55 AM EDT

What ghastly comments by sirpeter and Realist.Talk about living in the past.

Report abuse

peterson | Aug 25, 2011, 08:48 PM EDT

These "bombers" are the lowest of "low life" besides being cowards !!

Report abuse

donal1951 | Apr 19, 2011, 10:49 AM EDT

I'm coming a little late to comment on Mr. O'Dowd's column, but I agree with it 100 percent. The time for violence is over. Yes, it still rankles me that the British rule six counuties in Northern Ireland, but as the Troubles showed, they are not going to leave because of violence, killing of Catholic PSNI officers, or of British troops. The Good Friday and following agreements have given a framework for a peaceful solution. Let's take that path. God rest the soul of this hero cop.

Report abuse

sirpeter | Apr 17, 2011, 10:48 AM EDT

Realist..That he did!!

Report abuse

Realist | Apr 17, 2011, 04:52 AM EDT

sirpeter wrote on 17th April 2011, and I quote, "Got what he deserved like any British soldier in my land."

Report abuse

sirpeter | Apr 14, 2011, 11:57 AM EDT

Dano..I appreciate your rethinking on that matter about museums giving back artifacts if they are asked for. Now that a certain amount of consensus on the subject has been reached. It can move to a more meaningful level in which you stated.There are reasons why large museums don’t want to repatriate stuff.If there is a very good reason. Then that's the end of the argument. If not then there still is a certain amount of consensus on the matter and it can be discussed rationally without anti-British or anti-Irish sentiment. In my opinion the regular posters here need to study the articles first so they at least have a solid foundation on which to base their arguments on. If I was on a British forum and they were discussing the London Blitz I would be very careful not to antagonize the posters because the British people genuinely suffered death and extreme hardship at the hands of the Germans. I could antagonize the British posters by saying it was the harsh treatment of Germany at the Treaty of Versailles after WW1 which gave Hitler the platform to seize power.While there is a certain amount of truth to this.It is going to antagonize the hell out of the British posters if I just posted that and no more. The failure of the British government to act against Hitler sooner is NOT the failure of the British people.When weighing up the fact's the correct conclusion to draw is that it was 95% German government aggression/policy and 5% failure of the British and French Governments.The foundation from which I would base any discussion on the London Blitz on a British forum is that the German government were wrong. The same respect should be shown to the Irish people.

Report abuse

EireinAmerica | Apr 13, 2011, 02:18 PM EDT

You lads are right,....about some people here being British apologists,..I am tired of it,..talk about giving back,..I have an idea,..un-occupy Northern Ireland,..take down that wretched Union Jack,..unite the island. Thank God for people who will not bend,..thank God for those that will not give up the cause,..and God bless Ronan Kerr's family,..because though I am anti-Brit and I am a republican,..senseless murder like this is not promoting the cause.

Report abuse

DanOLoingsigh | Apr 13, 2011, 01:42 PM EDT

Sirpete/Ancavker – Have rethought this and am going to hoist the white flag on this one. There are reasons why large museums don’t want to repatriate stuff, not setting precedence etc but on balance, and given your arguments I’ve come round to agree. Frankly Ancient History bores the arse of me; prefer enlightenment and industrial history…that doesn’t mean I won’t be chipping in in other posts. BTW I don’t think Brits are always right, my overriding point is that they’re not always wrong either.

Report abuse

sirpeter | Apr 13, 2011, 12:32 PM EDT

That's the problem with this place. This site has alot of articles about Irish history and it's impossible to get to discuss finer detail with some posters here. I spend half my time defending basic historic fact about the mismanagement of British rule in Ireland. To study Irish history you can't come to any other conclusion. Yet!! The pro British here will try and turn the tables and say something like. Well!! It was Dermot MacMurrough ousted as King of Leinster who sought military assistance from King Henry II of England to retake his kingdom. So it was an Irishman who invited the English over and that argument is suppose to explain away the 800 years of mismanagement and wholesale atrocities and the pro-British seek out ways of blaming the Irish people for everything in Ireland. Not ONCE will they criticize British policy on anything.

Report abuse

ancavker | Apr 13, 2011, 10:45 AM EDT

Dan: I give up. Now it is the U.S. that should give back artifacts to Europe? (England was in the empire business far longer than the U.S.) I used to enjoy our discussions, but more and more I have come to realize that you appear to be a British apologist for everything. They apparently can do no wrong. Or the wrong can be explained away, yet it only applies to England. England always right, Ireland or anybody who disagrees with any aspect of British policy or behavior over the years always wrong. SO much for your supposed even handedness.

Report abuse

sirpeter | Apr 12, 2011, 08:28 PM EDT

Dano..No!! NOT ALL!! Your getting carried away again. Just the really important pieces Dano..That would be a good start. When a country asked another country for an important artifact to be given back..It should be given back in this modern age. Ye Brits ye always have an excuse not to do the right thing. Pirates and Football hooligans..That's all ye all.

Report abuse

DanOLoingsigh | Apr 12, 2011, 04:11 PM EDT

ancavker - museuwms by their nature have lots of other peoples stuff - return is not quite so simple - if museums like the Vatican returned their bits it could put pressure on others like BM. Anyway, its complicated - how many European artefacts are in the USA? CAN WE HAVE THEM ALL BACK PLEASE?

Report abuse

ancavker | Apr 12, 2011, 01:23 PM EDT

Dan They had no business selling them in the first place. I am sure England would be furious if some national treasure of hers was sold, even if it was allegedly legal. So yes the Elgin marbles should be returned to the Greek people.

Report abuse

hancock | Apr 12, 2011, 12:30 AM EDT

Dan stop your bitching , its tiresome.

Report abuse