Saturday, February 25, 2006
March called off after violent clashes with Gardai
As both the BBC and RTÉ report, the march in Dublin, organised by Willie Frazer and FAIR, has been called off after a counter-demonstration by Republican Sinn Féin descended into violent confrontation with Gardai officers, the BBC report that journalists were also attacked. Irish blogs cover it too, with some photos at the Dossing Times - lifting an image from the Dublin traffic cameras site - and Back Seat Driver Dick O’Brien provides an eye-witness account
Pete Baker @ 02:35 PM
Right now we got that clear...the reality does change, its the minds that don’t...amply proven by today
Posted by on Feb 25, 2006 @ 03:47 PMSinn Féin TD Seán Crowe said there was absolutely no justification for the scenes and called on those involved to end their confrontation with gardaí immediately
The riots are clearly nothing to do with SF - I fully accept that. However this condemnation sounds equivocal. It sounds just like unionists do when they are condemning loyalists - feeble and half-hearted. Sean Crowe should be calling for arrests and prosecutions, and lending his full support to the Gardai. The people who are orchestrating these outrageous riots need to be in jail.
Posted by on Feb 25, 2006 @ 03:47 PMSean MCL1, I dont speak to Republicanism as a whole, I know my views are bitter sometimes and for a certain reason.
SF does want to build “an Ireland of equals” despite current DUP opinion.Posted by on Feb 25, 2006 @ 03:49 PMIt’s only a propaganda victory if the unionists involved use it correctly (in an operational sense rather than an absolute right or wrong sense) to get such a victory...they won’t..no change.
Posted by on Feb 25, 2006 @ 03:50 PMI suppose the marchers got the reaction they were really hoping for.
The refusal of march organisers to deny that they would carry placards commemorating mass murderer Robert McConnell, also known as ‘the Jackal’,was a clear indication of the true intentions of Willie Frazer and the loyalist protesters
Posted by on Feb 25, 2006 @ 03:56 PMI have to agree with Pat McLarnon and Chris Gaskin on this one. Sinn Fein are in no way responsible for this and should not be selected out for condemnations requests, any more than FF, FG or the PDs.
It’s a bit opportunistic, to say the least, to be dragging SF into this.
Posted by on Feb 25, 2006 @ 03:57 PManyone with an ounce of sense can see that the securocrats were behind today’s violence in order to frustrate sinn fein’s onward and upward march - clearly they suggested the idea of a parade to the loyalists and then they employed their touts in rsf to make sure they would riot - the evil, destructive hand of the securocrats is everywhere comrades, beware!!
Posted by on Feb 25, 2006 @ 03:57 PM‘The reality is that they are associated with this kind of riotous action in the minds of most people in Ireland.’
That is a ridiculous statement to make as you clearly have no insight into the minds of most people in Ireland. I imagine the ‘people’ can ascertain the motives of those from Love Ulster and the counter demonstrators. Both sets of extremists should and will carry responsibility for this. I look forward to the agressive interviewing that Donaldson et al undoubtedly deserve.
‘The rest of your contribution appears to be an assault on free speech. Love Ulster are clearly nut jobs, but they have a right to express themselves and march just like anyone else.’
I assume you have the ability to read so go and re-read my original post and you will see that the allegation you make is false. The march, although deliberately provocative, should have been allowed to go ahead. Likewise a counter protest was necessary to highlight the type of people marching and to the connection Love Ulster has to the people who murdered dozens of people near the stop where they intended to march from.
The people connected to the RSF protest allowed themselves to be provoked by the people who are still involved in violence in the Northern part of this island. For that they are to be strongly condemned.
Posted by on Feb 25, 2006 @ 03:59 PMbut you know Paisley will drag SF into Dualta
Posted by on Feb 25, 2006 @ 03:59 PMActually Robin Jackson from Donaghcloney was the Jackal, but the principle of celebrating murderers as innocent victims is what makes FAIR shameful. The rest dont believe anyone was murdered on Bloody Sunday march either, so…
Posted by on Feb 25, 2006 @ 04:00 PMI think the Gardai and the Minister for Justice will have questions to answer. These people have on many occasions sworn by the veracity of their intelligence gathering yet appear to have been taken completely by surprise here.
If 300 rioters can bring the city to a standstill and force the abandonment of a legal and approved march then the Minister must take responsibility.
He should have ensured the resources were available to face down such an attack. No doubt he’ll try to bluster his way out of it but the buck stops with him.
Henry94
Posted by on Feb 25, 2006 @ 04:05 PMSo far the majority of the above comments are prime examples of why slugger has now reached this stage were many past unionist posters now dont bother anymore…
Nauseating
Posted by on Feb 25, 2006 @ 04:09 PM“One minute Republicans are saying they want to create an Ireland for everyone. They next minute they are trying to wipe out Unionist and Loyalist culture. He also claims SF-IRA couldn’t march in London - senior SF-IRA terrorists have attended parades in London as official guests. And nobody said anything.
I’m sorry that members of the Irish police were hurt but the one good thing to come out of this is that it puts back the notion of one Government for the whole island for a very long time.”
This was only 300 people from a movement with no electoral representation in the South. It is not representative of Southern opinion. We don’t like this march but we were willing to tolerate it in in the name of the right to free speech and freedom of expression. Kindly stop tarring us with the one brush. But then that is something Unionism is good at.
Posted by on Feb 25, 2006 @ 04:13 PMFYU - indeed.
Slug
Posted by on Feb 25, 2006 @ 04:14 PMWe don’t like this march but we were willing to tolerate it in in the name of the right to free speech and freedom of expression.
But we were not, it seems, willing to ensure it went ahead. The thugs won. We need to fnd out why
Henry94
Posted by on Feb 25, 2006 @ 04:17 PMI don’t have much to say about the incident in Dublin except (snigger)so much for the peace process (snigger) so much for a united ireland (snigger)so much for parity of esteem (snigger)Boy did the world get it’s eyes opened as to what this is all about (Ireland for the Irish) and of course SF/IRA had nothing to do with it?
It seems that unionists fears are well founded a united ireland just will not work.Thats is way many people believe that Ulster should look towards either diminon status or Independence.
Posted by on Feb 25, 2006 @ 04:22 PM“Kindly stop tarring us with the one brush. But then that is something Unionism is good at. ”
Does nobody else see the irony in these 2 statements?
Beano
Posted by on Feb 25, 2006 @ 04:22 PM‘’the connection Love Ulster has to the people who murdered dozens of people near the stop where they intended to march from.’’
LOL. And this of course could in no way be compared to SF, whose ‘military wing’ murdered hundreds of their fellow Irishmen and who brought the city centre to a standstill last year with their offensive republican cavalcade complete with replica firearms. Sensitive or what?
‘If 300 rioters can bring the city to a standstill and force the abandonment of a legal and approved march then the Minister must take responsibility.’
It’s the marchers fault for daring to appear, the gardai for being under-prepared and Michael McDowell for not turning O’Connell Street into a military zone—in fact it’s everyone fault except the knuckle-trailers throwing rubble at the police. Is it just Ireland where everyone but the guilty party gets the blame or is this a universal phenomenon?
Posted by on Feb 25, 2006 @ 04:22 PMthere is no place for a unionist in the south , now we can understand the fall in protestant numbers since the state were formed
If your a prod youre not welcome, but if your a terrorist open arms await
Posted by on Feb 25, 2006 @ 04:22 PMThat last post (4:22) was from Gerry Lvs Castro not Yokel5—sorry Yoke I just can’t let you get the credit for it......
Posted by on Feb 25, 2006 @ 04:24 PMFYU
Oh so if you don’t like it you withdraw, maybe thats the problem with large parts of unionism. If you are sure about your case, state it and stop blaming others comments for people’s withdrawal.
If you don’t stand up frankly you weaken your cause and yes I am telling you that. Telling. It isn’t about talking to the converted, but your post is a perfectly good example of why Unionism has failed its adherents, its activits don’t know how to talk to those who are not already in the camp. On paper, unionism has a very rock solid premise, the majority of people in the Northern Ireland, the territory in dispute, want to remain oart of the UK...fundamentally its a case of democracy speaking. Yet unionism appears to have wasted that. Unbelieveable.
Posted by on Feb 25, 2006 @ 04:28 PMsome of you plonkers would ok al qaeda to march in manhattan...shame on whoever allowed this march in the first place...shame on those who condemn the rioters
Posted by on Feb 25, 2006 @ 04:29 PM“"Kindly stop tarring us with the one brush. But then that is something Unionism is good at. “
Does nobody else see the irony in these 2 statements?
Beano”
Well spotted Beano. Says it all, really.
Slug
Posted by on Feb 25, 2006 @ 04:29 PMPat,
“Both sets of extremists should and will carry responsibility for this”.
I don’t think so. It’s not the marchers setting fire to cars in Kildare Street. We’ve also had one (uncomfirmed) report of an attack on a Chinese family.
There’s going to be plenty of time to get the detail on this in tomorrow’s paper and for days aferwards.
Posted by on Feb 25, 2006 @ 04:35 PMLess a case of not being able to see the wood for the trees, as not being able to see the bullshite for the prejudice on this.
FACT: There was an undeniable element of flag-waving provocation about the Love Ulster parade. How much of an element this was is open to discussion.
OPINION: In a relatively stable, democratic society, such undesirable elements of protest should be tolerated.
RELATED FACT - Tolerance does not undermine the criticism which may follow - rather it gives it greater force, coming as it obviously does from a well thought out and dignified sense of the morality of the situation. the pen is mightier than the paving stone/glass bottle.FACT: There are Unionists/Loyalists who will privately be delighted at the violence and will exploit it as political capital.
QUESTION TO RSF/RIOTERS: how does it feel to pander to the dark desires of cynical, no surrender, Loyalism?FACT: As an Irishman, I find the sight of some f**k wearing a green white and gold hat with Ireland printed on it and attacking the Irish police and wrecking shops/businesses on the streets of Dublin, embarrassing and infuriating.
OPINION: A baton to the head is too good for these scumbags.
FACT: (this one to Sean McL:) Sinn Fein could walk bollock-naked with a (toy) armalite clenched in their ass cheeks and a ballot-box balanced on the end of their knobs (sorry SF Ladies) around Parliament Square in London and the only thing that would stand in the way of this dignified protest would be several hundred happy-snapping Japanese tourists. I doubt whether there is a more diverse and tolerant city on this planet, and while I have many grievances about living in it, I am enraptured by the sight of such a conglomeration of different cultures living together in a way we can only dream of on the bitterly divided patch of soil we call home and love so well.
Posted by on Feb 25, 2006 @ 04:38 PM
