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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

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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

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sirpeter | Apr 11, 2011, 07:40 PM EDT

Dano..The fact is it's unfair on a nation to take their heritage out of there country.Especially really important artifacts and in this modern age,they should be given back to their country of origin where the people of that country can appreciate and educate their own people about their past.Dano your just a big meany defending stolen goods. Purchased from people who stole them in the first place. Half the stolen artifacts aren't even on display.

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DanOLoingsigh | Apr 11, 2011, 05:05 PM EDT

Hancock/Maloney Twins - Try constructing a meaningful sentence or two. You know the sort of thing, it normally has a beginning, middle and end

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DanOLoingsigh | Apr 11, 2011, 04:58 PM EDT

Ancavker – the items you refer to are known as the Parthenon Marbles or Elgin Marbles. These were NOT STOLEN, but acquired legitimately in the 19th century, from the then title holders, the Ottoman Empire, and PURCHASED for the museum by the British Government. Other parts of this collection are in several European museums, including the Vatican and the Louvre. The Greek government has been seeking their return in recent years, but to argue they were stolen is to buy into the usual misinformed rhetoric.

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maloney | Apr 11, 2011, 04:27 PM EDT

There is nothing legitimate about the Brits. Theft and murder does not make a country good let alone great. Old offences are still offences.

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ancavker | Apr 11, 2011, 04:25 PM EDT

Dan: Speaking for myself I am certainly not promoting the anti Brit campaign, merely stating that if items in the British museum were stolen, they should be returned to the countries they were stolen from. I know Greece in particular has been trying for years to get some artifacts back that were stolen from Greece. They should be returned.

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hancock | Apr 11, 2011, 02:50 PM EDT

Good thing we have you to counter with Brit ass kiss angle.

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DanOLoingsigh | Apr 11, 2011, 11:46 AM EDT

I'm not claiming anything...I don't know how much of the BM collection has disputed ownership...certainly some, maybe most of it is legitimate. Its a world class collection, but as always, some posters need to promote the 'Anti-Brit' angle...pathetic.

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ancavker | Apr 11, 2011, 11:18 AM EDT

Dan You are stretching here. IF you took something you should return it. The fact that you claim your keeping it is preserving it for everybody is weak.

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sirpeter | Apr 10, 2011, 11:24 PM EDT

The British Museum plundering countries heritage since 1753. Not really that old compared to public museums in Rome Dano.The oldest public museums in the world opened in Rome during the Renaissance.Dano.The Uffizi Gallery in Florence, which had been open to visitors on since the 16th century.The first truly public museum was the Louvre Museum in Paris,opened in 1793 during the French Revolution.

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sirpeter | Apr 10, 2011, 11:03 PM EDT

Well Dano..patriot was talking about the Stone of Destiny.So I thought I'd cheer him up some more. Thing is Dano..Saved isn't a word I'd use when it comes to other countries artifacts. If you save your neighbours wedding ring,a gentleman would give it back. Not the Brits..It's plunder and keep. What's the Jewish holocaust section about Dano..It's not even British history. I mean they should have the Irish holocaust..That's more British history isn't it? or isn't a million Irish dead enough. We will never ease up on the Anglophobia Dano..It's a phobia..It's a fear of what the Brits are up too.

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hancock | Apr 10, 2011, 10:59 PM EDT

Why don't you ease up on the ass kidssing.

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DanOLoingsigh | Apr 10, 2011, 06:53 PM EDT

maloney - No, you don't. Read the history of the BM, not much different to other national museums, but a lot older...and do try to ease up on the Anglophobia...given the week we've had.

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maloney | Apr 10, 2011, 06:34 PM EDT

So if pirates display for all to see their ill gotten booty at no charge to the looker then there was no crime committed in the stealing and killing? Do I have that right?

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DanOLoingsigh | Apr 10, 2011, 06:22 PM EDT

Sirpete – an excellent suggestion. The British Museum, founded in 1753, and therefore before US Independence, The French Revolution, Napoleon, abolition of slavery etc etc has saved many artefacts for the world and admission is FREE. Not sure how such a visit is relevant to this story though?

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sirpeter | Apr 10, 2011, 03:42 PM EDT

@patriot..You should take a trip to the British plunder museum in London..Half the stuff is stolen property from other countries.Hard to know why they call it the British museum.

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