According to the BBC report, dissident republicans are being blamed for an armed robbery on a post office in Strabane in which two women were held hostage overnight. Which is a relief.. ’cause for a minute there I thought it might have been individual members of an organisation acting without sanction from the leadership…
‘news’ is often a polite way of saying ‘editor’s whim’ Given the shift from print to online and e-ink, maybe Tom Rachman’s The Imperfectionists was a suitable first first book for me to finish reading on the Kindle. Considering the economic pressures on the newspaper industry, his novel perhaps captures the spirit and soul of [...] read our review »
I’ve been catching up on some reading, recently. Most pleasantly surprised by John Drennan’s latest opus from Gill and Macmillan, Cute Hoors and Pious Protestors… It’s early days yet, but I was struck by this paragraph, part of a dissection of Fianna Fail near the beginning: One of the more fatal consequences of our colonial [...] read our review »
They are pretty much dissidents by definition, even if they are Provos. A Provo engaged in criminality now is dissenting from the mainstream Provo line.
Stop using weasel words, tell me what organisation they are from or just call them ‘unknown republicans’.
Strange how they should know so quickly that the three who robbed the bank were republicans, were they wearing badges?
Perhaps of more importance is the statement by Commissioner Conroy (head of the Gardai) today that the ‘The IRA has completely abandoned all crime in the Irish republic’ (and we must also assume in the 6 counties, if what he means by Irish republic is the 26 counties)
Also, he said, “We know from our intelligence work on the ground that as an organisation I can say without doubt that’s the case, they are totally away from all that area of criminality.”
So, anyway, tell us more of this minor robbery in Strabane? It seems ever so important…
Good point ss. Loyalists have a track record of committing crimes with a view to republicans getting the blame.
“They are pretty much dissidents by definition, even if they are Provos.”
Indeed, Aaron… although it would mean straying into one of those grey areas.
the title of this thread says it all…yawn…this site has been rubbish for at least the last month….we’ve even got threads about threads now.
Maybe people should remember that just because you can start a thread doesn’t mean you have to.
During his spell as a sub-editor on The Times, Claud Cockburn and some colleagues had an unofficial competition to devise the most factually accurate yet most boring headline. Cockburn claimed the honours with “Small Earthquake in Chile. Not many Dead.”
Could I suggest “Small robbery in Strabane. No political impact” as a suitable headline for this thread.
threads about threads? Well we’ve had talks about talks about talks so go with the flow as Paisley said to the Archbishop. Wonder did they swap collars at the final whistle?
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Well thanks for the advice, all.
I don’t know how I’ve managed up to now..
I feel people are a bit jaded.
There is a malaise in the air; a deal will probably done in Scotland, or Plan B threatened ..or maybe a deal later. Who cares?
Shinners will accept the PSNI and vice versa.
People will rob banks – at arms length.
Other people will be given money – for ermm.. community improvement schemes.
Etc etc etc.
NI is starting to resemble a married couple who fought bitterly in their 20s and 30s, each imploring their inlaws and friends’ help; they got counselling and realise now in their 40s that they are stuck to each other for the forseeable future.
They have agreed to be polite; no love will be exchanged; no fights in the street. Just jaded resentment at having to live in the same house, and none of the neighbours care once they can get some sleep at night.
The long war is over. Welcome to the long sullen toleration.
“They have agreed to be polite; no love will be exchanged; no fights in the street. Just jaded resentment at having to live in the same house, and none of the neighbours care once they can get some sleep at night.”
Not an inaccurate assessment, pid.
Of course, a lot of the credit for that must go to the marriage counsellors.. who just happen to own properties in the adjoining streets.. and never mind about the rest of the actual residents..
I wouldn’t be surprised if it transpires that it was actually three old Catholic codgers collecting their old age pensions. No doubt the sight of that would be enough to raise the hackles of all God-fearing dacent folk out in the boondocks.
“Indeed, Aaron… although it would mean straying into one of those grey areas.”
Grey area? Former members of the IRA accused of robbing bank. Possibly of course, because no one has been caught or tried.
What do you want them to do about it?
If only NI were like elsewhere where there are no terrorists, like the US, GB etc. Then, there would no longer be bank robberies, just like there are never bank robberies in those countries.
If they are/were members of the IRA surely the IRA would know about it. They would also have some indication of which members had held onto personal weapons. The key question is then what will the IRA do about it? If they are committed to peace they won’t tolerate their members or even former members carrying out these sorts of crimes, especially for personal gain. The true test of the IRA’s willingness to turn away from their criminal and violent past is whether they are prepared to engage with the state in routing out such people from our society.
Skintown lad,
Doesn’t work like that. Even organisations like police and armies etc close ranks (where does that term come from I wonder) and protect its own even when they do wrong. It is always thus.
“If they are/were members of the IRA surely the IRA would know about it.”
Not necessarily. The difference between knowing and knowing and being able to prove it is huge, and a distinction that is suddenly important now that the IRA cannot take other measures.
Moreover, turnign them in is highly unrealistic in a organisation where “touting” was the greatest crime. Not to mention that he people involved might disagree but not want to see their mates in jail. Or might be related. Etc etc.