A fair deal for RIR soldiers – no pun intended ;)
The DUP have successfully negotiated a good severance package for RIR soldiers faced with redundancy.
The RIR announcement last Autumn had the potential to become the DUP’s political equivalent of the UUP and the Patten Report but the DUP seem to have avoided significant political damage though isolated border communities in particular will still have security concerns.
Is this successful negotiation an omen of things come? Proposals for some form of devolution seem delayed rather than stopped and David Hanson’s plans are still awaited.
Yet the DUP cannot afford to rest on its laurels. It identified a series of measures that would create an “enabling environment”, as these measures are achieved it needs to transform this good news into positive attitudes to renewed devolution.
A great result for DUP negotiators. I imagine they’ll get an even more generous deal when they negotiate the end of the Grammar schools. Great warm up for negotiating the Union away.
The fact that the DUP is adept at getting maximum pay offs does not impress, whilst the UUP were clueless, the DUP are just dangerous.
Observer,
Why did you draw the comparison based on unsanctioned UDR/IRA attacks then?
Anyway the UDR/RIR are gone now, they’ve gotten a generous package to make themselves scarce, which is more than most soldiers get when they are discharged at the end of their service. As I’ve said elsewhere seems like a win/win to me, or if you’re from the north-east a lose/lose which seems to be as much as anyone hopes for there…
Regards,
Pope Buckfast XVI
Pope,
it was to dispel the myth that the UDR were catholic killers,
The UDR didnt need to kill catholics, they did a good enough job on their own
Observer,
Can you see the win/win (or lose/lose for the zero-sum-gamers) here?
I’m over the moon that these valiant men who, when i were a wee lad of 7 or 8 habitually ransacked my family home in the small hours, forcing me and my younger brother to leave our beds and assemble with my parents in the living room where 3 guns waved around our heads and my mother being labelled a whore as they stomped about the carpetted floor with muddy boots and raised voices. I remember it well.
Is it any wonder i hate confrontations even now?
I’m glad they get this lump sum to invest in property as they were never a sectarian force…wonder what the janjaweed redundancy packages will be like?
cladycowboy…yeah@mopery.com
RIR? UDR!
UDR? UDA+UVF+UFF+RHC etc etc…..
Michelle whinged for SF on Talkback about this. I think their main gripe is that the Provo pension fund only got £46 million and the UDR gets
£250 million
Just another case of the men with guns filling their pockets with ill gotten gains.
If this is some kind of victory, I’d really hate to see what a loss would be like.
Poor oul Slab will have to sell up to finance a similiar package for the Provos!
Maybe Gildernew was just pissed off that a UDR soldier saved the life of the PRM President.
Circles
what exactly is your point?
I think its a terrible shame that these excessive redundancy payments are being handed out when the government are treating public sector workers so badly
Well pakman, its like this.
Some guys got to prowl our countryside and cities for years, waving guns in peoples faces, harassing people and generally spreading a feeling of severe unease in areas where they were not welcome.
Now thankfully times have changed, but I don’t think our gratitude should extend to ensuring that the gunmen whoever they might be get a nice big fat bank account for services rendered.
Eugene
what public sector workers have to check each morning for under car devices?
Circles
your use of “gunmen” says more about your 05.47 pm rant than I ever could.
Thank you for the insight.
aye I forgot – ythe RIR had flowers
A despicable deal for a despicable, rotten sectarian gang. I don’t need the lectures on the ‘few bad apples’. They were driven by sectarianism, though if the money means they will rot away like their equally rotten forebears in the USC then it is money well spent, good riddance.
I said it before but what the hey:
Never, ever trust an organization with “Defense” in its name.
I believe the families of Fran O’Toole and the others should get a cut of that payoff.
The BBC’s analysis
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4790610.stm
(No, bo’shanks, I haven’t been standing over him with my baseball bat or left any horses heads either
)
fair deal
Pope Buckfast XVIL I believe that is the UDR as an organisation were officially responsible for 5 catholic deaths, I think you’ll find a higher level of responsibility attributable to individual members.
Same applies to (e.g.) the GAA, doesn’t it? Any statistician out there got the numbers to hand?
(Reader)
Is it true, is it true? The B-specials are disbanded! Wow the times they are a changing.
The FACTS of the UDR/RIR ( and yes BSpecials )behaviour will never be understood by the Unionist/Loyalist community, becasue they never behaved in their own communities in the way they did in other places, and because they were part of the Unionist/Loyalist community.
We, in nationalists areas, bore the brunt of these savages each and every time they set up ‘checkpoints’ on the roads. There are too many young men and women with stories to tell about how the UDR/RIR harassed and beat them around country roads, for years, without any reason, except they were Nationalist. The UDR/RIR have never been held accountable for that. I know that my family, if we had to be stopped at all, preferred to be stopped by British Soldiers and to a lesser extent the RUC, because of what the soldiers of the Ulster regiment were likely to do, and often in fact did.
The IMPORTANT thing about this, is that WE ( Nationalists) did not make this all up, the evidence against this regiment has been well documented, and Unionists need to take notice of what was done in their name, by these brutes. And to assume it was a few bad apples is ridiculous, they were THUGS, who openly colluded with Loyalist Death sqauds and were in FACT members of same squads.
Bad Bastards!
Again to repeat, the upswing of this is, the DUP are quietly selling their own down the river,despite the rhetoric, and whatever millions theTHUGS of the UDR/RIR get, I for one say, GOOD RIDDANCE TO BAD RUBBISH- most of them will proboably spend it on drugs anyway.
Sean
i laff when they talk about collusion with loyalist death squads
The real deaths squads are teh provos who killed more catholics than anyone else
The UDR served its purpose – it saw the defeat of the IRA who are squirming around trying to get stormont on the go again.
‘The UDR served its purpose – it saw the defeat of the IRA who are squirming around trying to get stormont on the go again. ‘
Even if there were ANY truth to this, I would bet it is a small consolation for Unionists tonight who never would have believed the DUP would do a deal, when the price was right. What’s next?
The significance of this development, is drip by drip, dawning on me. Unionists who voted in record numbers for the DUP in the last westminster election, because they believed the DUP would NEVER accept any concessions, (and especially on an issue as important as this appeared to be to the DUP in the last election,) abandoned the UUP for what they believed were too many concessions to Republicanism ( a mistaken assumption I might add). Now if those voters begin to understand that the DUP is just as likely to succumb to the cash factor, and sell out, what now? Where will these voters go? Will the UUP now play up this concession and sell-out by the DUP ( that will be very smart politically) and leave Unionism and its voters in a state of confusion?
I couldn’t care less if the thugs of the UDR/RIR got 263 BILLION dollars( why am I thinking Doctor Evil/ Austin Powers now) they are GONE!!! The question remains, after the payments have been made, what does this mean for the DUP and Unionism?
the 10.53 post, before this one is mine,
Sean
“i laff when they talk about collusion with loyalist death squads”
What a strange sense of humor you must have.”
“The real deaths squads are teh provos who killed more catholics than anyone else”
No, they were/are terrorists. We expect terrorists to terrorize. The UDR were SUPPOSED to be a force of law and order. Turns out they were terrorists. Not exactly the “heroes” some folks imagine them to be.
“The UDR served its purpose – it saw the defeat of the IRA who are squirming around ”
The IRA bombed and shot Unionists to the table. They could have gone on ad infinitum, ad nauseam. Any more years of slaughter and the British would have washed their hands of Ulster. I’m glad they did not. It would have turned into an Iraq.
“trying to get stormont on the go again.”
I thought Stormont was a Unionist parliament. Was I wrong?
sean
theyre not gone, theyre still living here with loadsamoney, many will apply to join the psni
but weres the provos, grovelling with the british to open the doors of stormont.
The B Specials/UDR/RIR have all played their part in defeating and humiliating the Provos, rememeber “Not a bullet, not an ounce????”
Up the UDR!!!!
jill, how is stormont an unionist partliament today? It wasnt even used as a building for the majority of the last 35 years
If you have evidence of wrong doing of udr members i suggest you take it to the police, but i doubt you have as SF propaganda isnt evidence
Wheres is the provos war now? theyve killed moer catholics than the Brits ever did for what? A seat in stormont? A cross border body of fishing or healthy food…what a win eh?
the UDR won and Unionists won, the provos have signed up to the Status Quo
“jill, how is stormont an unionist partliament today? It wasnt even used as a building for the majority of the last 35 years”
Are you a loyalist troll? Stormont has always been unionist, never nationalist.
“If you have evidence of wrong doing of udr members i suggest you take it to the police, but i doubt you have as SF propaganda isnt evidence”
Are you paying attention to the posts here? You think this is all propaganda? That’s the trouble with keeping a mad dog: you imagine it’s yours and will protect you, but a mad dog by its nature will eventully turn on you as well.
“Wheres is the provos war now? theyve killed moer catholics than the Brits ever did for what?”
Yes, we’ve had all this. They were terrorists trying to be soldiers. The UDR were terrorists masquerading as soldiers. Big difference.
” A seat in stormont? A cross border body of fishing or healthy food…what a win eh?”
I definitely think you’re a republican troll.
“the UDR won and Unionists won, the provos have signed up to the Status Quo”
If they won, then why is the Rev. Parsley still bleating on about concessions to republicans?
Status Quo are a crap band.
Nice to see the usual unionist fantasy about how the UDR / RIR behaved trotted out after their fat hand out.
And to think there was a programme on TV tonight suggesting NI needs truth and reconcilliation hahaha. Truth, seriously.
Ive never even been to a bloody St. Patricks day parade so Im not exactly your provie marxist revolutionary and I could ream off story after story of UDR / RIR harassment in Fermanagh. I know- I saw it with my own eyes. A protestant mate used to get it too because he had a catholic name – funny or what. Alas you dont want to know, wouldnt believe it, never happened.
So keep taking your tablets folks, there really was only one side in the conflict – it was those horrid fenians – if only they had known their place.
Glad to see the British Government continuing to dismantle the remnants of the Orange state.
The provos were very correct in making peace with the Major / Blair governments.
And the Major / Blair governemnts were very correct in switching policies to equality and parity of esteem instead of pre-designed majoritarism.
To Observer,
You keeep stating that the IRA killed more catholics than anyone else during the troubles. Where are you getting your information from. Is it from the Cain website.
I looked at this database and from 1969 to 1972 (I got bored at this date)there were 43 members of the IRA killed in premature bombs and these deaths were attributed to the IRA. Now you can’t seriously suggest that the IRA as an organisation intended to kill these people.
If the RIR were out on patrol and one member shot another by accident would you blame the RIR as an organistion for his murder.
Lies, damned lies, and stats
niall
look at those figures 5 deaths attributed to the UDR
nearly 400 to the provos the protectors of catholics
Jill- how was the assembly a unionist government?
Were is your evidecne for all this udr wrongdoing.
This is all IRA propaganda which you seem to want to propigate
The Provos are defeated, tell me what they won if I am wrong
paisley is correct, we should have nothing to do with the republican s*cum
Well, we always knew that eventually the British would declare victory, pack their bags and piss off home.
It’s a nice bonus that it comes just before Paddy’s Day.
“Jill- how was the assembly a unionist government?”
It was? If you say so. I was talking about Stormont.
“paisley is correct”
Rev. Parsley is ALWAYS correct. Line dancing is the Devil’s work, the world is 6,000 years old, Mom and Pop Brontosaurus rode in the Ark alongside a couple blue whales, and the moon is made of cream cheese.
This is fun, isn’t it? Though maybe not for the people the “heroes” of the UDR murdered and maimed.
jill , why dont you face the facts
Firstly stormont elections were open to everyone to vote as they chose, the problem was that nationalists couldnt muster enough votes – its called democracy ,the conversatives are in teh same boat
as for the UDR there were 5 deaths attributed to them, obviously you have a file full of evidence waitning to show to the DPP any day now
Observer,
5 deaths attributed to the UDR may be the official figures according to Cain. But how many deaths were caused by collusion between members of the UDR and loyalists. The Reavey’s, the O’Dowds, the Miami Showband and Donnelly’s pub in Silverbridge to name a few. Please don’t say that this is republican propaganda and collusion never happened as it is well known that members of the UDR from South Armagh were involved in these murders.
jill – Sinn Fein colluded wiht the IRA to murder more catholics than any other organisation or group
the real catcholic killers are the catholics themselves
The UDR was a fine group of men and women who saw the provos brought down form “not a bullet” to “please can we have our seats in stormont back”
Niall posted the 2.54 message not Jill
Observer,
in 50 years, there was one opposition motion passed in Stormont – on the plight of wild birds.
You confuse democracy with dictatorship of the majority.
If your democratically elected representatives are permanently excluded from decision-making an power then it isn’t a democracy I’m afraid.
You’ll have a different view on democracy if you are ever in the minority.
“jill , why dont you face the facts
Firstly stormont elections were open to everyone to vote as they chose, the problem was that nationalists couldnt muster enough votes – its called democracy ,the conversatives are in teh same boat ”
I’d just LOVE to hear your take on the civil rights marches. Hmm, there again, maybe not.
I still think you’re a republican troll.
maybe if they had stopped demanding the destruciton of the country and changed the policies ala new labour they may have got somewhere
But democracy rewards the majority , get over it
jill, the civil rights marches were used a cloak to destablise the country
There were no rights available to ordinary protestants that were not availbe to ordinary catholics, same applies today
(for a country were they were so oppressed , catholics seem to have thrived , unlike protestants in the south)
Observer,
I am sure that there were pobably some very fine men and women in the ranks of the UDR, but there was also some murderous colluding scum. Don’t make me laugh about them bringing the IRA to heel
Niall
niall, and were are the provos today
Up to the necks in petty sick criminality, begging for their seats in stormont
is that why they murdered nearly 400 catholics and a few thousand others for?
Looks like there may be a medal as well
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4793322.stm
fair_deal
Observer,
Where will the RIR be tomorrow,
Sinn Fein are not exactly begging to get back to Stormont. I even think that they would be quite happy to sit it out and wait for joint authority, which will happen if the Unionists don’t pull their heads out of the sand
Niall
“jill, the civil rights marches were used a cloak to destablise the country”
LOL. I take it all back, you’re not a republican troll. You’re the Rev. Parsley posing as a republican troll.
A bit like Ronnie Bunting’s son
observer,
are you talking about the SDLP wanting to destroy Northern Ireland?
Maybe you could explain how you square this with John Hume calling on Catholics to support the UDR when it came into being.
Didn’t bring the unionists any closer to wanting to share power with the other community.
You reap what you sow.
BTW, all of the above posts, including the ones attributed to Observer are mine.