Saturday, March 01, 2008
McCord and the sash his father wore…
JUSTICE campaiger Raymond McCord - who son was murdered by a UVF gang that included police informers - last night became the first unionist to address a Sinn Fein ard fheis. Wearing his father’s Orange Order sash, McCord told republicans that whereas Gerry Adams had kept to his promise to raise the case of McCord’s son in Downing Street, unionist MP Jeffrey Donaldson failed to name the killers in Parliament. The News Letter reported that Mr Donaldson said he pledged to name the killers if Mr MrCord, who received a loyalist death threat a few days ago, brought inconclusive evidence - but that it never came. That’s certainly never stopped members of Mr Donaldson’s former or current parties before. Mr Donaldson said Mr McCord should “reflect on his new bedfellows and look at the record of the IRA for murder and destruction and ask himself: ‘Are these the people best able to deal with the circumstances surrounding the murder of his son?’” The answer could well be ‘yes’, because there is an almost complete lack of interest amongst unionist politicians about loyalist violence against Protestants. In fact, since the IRA ceasefire, by far the biggest terrorist threat to Protestants has been loyalist paramilitary groups.
Belfast Gonzo @ 02:05 PM
“Very patronising (file under ‘Unionist Outreach’). Perhaps you are the one in your insulated bubble trying to ignore the strong relationship between the peoples of the British Isles (Great Britain and Ireland).”
Oh, but I never deny the strong links between Ireland and Britain. I have many relations living in England, and probably more than yourself too.
What I don’t understand however is the constant denial by Britain (London) throughout history, of independance and sovereignty,(Home Rule) for Ireland. What you readily accept without question, such is your take on history!
Posted by on Mar 03, 2008 @ 01:50 PMGreenflag,
I agree entirely anout the Eames Bradley problem. Opposition to this pointless exercise has been the one cross community part of it. The only bit I disagree with is that they would be better returning to their own jobs. We would all be the better for it but I fear that Eames, Bradley and to a lesser extent the rest rather enjoy their position. It gives them a status and a platform they would now no longer have if they were not running this group. The rest of Northern Ireland would clearly be better without them but they either do not know, do not care, or Nevin is correct and they have an agenda set by the government. Since neither are stupid men I suggest tht latter two options are the most likely. They are in my opinion either consumed by their own self importance or they are corruptly following a preset agenda of the government(s).Posted by on Mar 03, 2008 @ 05:33 PM“As for any orangeman being offended by the wearing of the collarette why? It was his fathers and is proud to show that he comes from a strong unionist family and the I.R.A. members accepted that with applause. Would the same respect be given to a republican at a d.u.p. conference??
If an orangeman is offended by a unionist father speaking the truth about paid loyalist killers wearing HIS fathers collarette then maybe they should look at the loyalist killers wearing the sash on the 12th and explain.”Firstly, Gareth McCord, I repeat, your father has no business wearing a collarette in public when he is not a member. Secondly he has no business wearing it in front of the Shinners and allowing himself to be misused for propaganda purposes. Thirdly, I don’t personally know any loyalist killers in the Orange. If I did, I would go immediately to the PSNI. If you have any evidence about individuals I hope you would go to the police also. But as Bro. Darth has said elsewhere, the Orange Order cannot move against any member who has not been convicted of a relevant terrorist offence. I would be happy if the Orange Order automatically terminated the membership of any person convicted of a terrorist offence.
“The truth is the unionist politicians and people have ignored all the families from both communities who have had a loved one murdered by the likes of haddock. Not because they dont believe it but because they think it makes them a bad unionist to blacken the british state by exposing the collusion with loyalist killers.
I would like any unionist to answer one simple question WHY WONT THE UNIONIST POLITICIANS HELP OR SUPPORT ANY FAMILY AFFECTED BY PAID LOYALIST KILLERS AND THE UNIONIST PEOPLE STILL VOTE FOR THEM???”I don’t know the answer to that question because I don’t know what evidence your father has brought to their attention and I don’t know why the politicians have been unhelpful.
“The unionist know about the republican killers and their activities but strangly they dont know about the loyalist killers they share platforms with and march with and share info with???
Please speak or type your opinion but dont make a fool of yourself by pretending or defending the orange about killers well known HIGH UP in their ranks.”Again, I hope you have brought any relevant information to the PSNI. But I wonder how are the “killers ... HIGH UP”. The kind of people found in leadership positions in Orange districts and above aren’t exactly paramilitary types. Personally, I’d be happy if the Orange Order did make more of an issue about paramilitary-security force collusion.
Posted by on Mar 03, 2008 @ 08:09 PMDarth “but on this occasion he made a mistake, as is shown by the fact that all the Unionist posters on this thread who oppose the idea of forgiving and forgetting terrorists (as opposed to those who are now prepared to turn a blind eye now they are in power) have felt this was a mistake.”
Darth, your keepign some pretty poor company on this thread. And some pretty nimble weasel words to dance round the subject. Castigating the man for seeking the truth but not those who cast him out. So it’s more important that you dont make unionism look bad.
The Watchman “ I don’t know the answer to that question because I don’t know what evidence your father has brought to their attention and I don’t know why the politicians have been unhelpful. “ That was a geberal question, even ignoring the specifics about this one case, why the silence on all the others? Why are unionist politicans only concerned when it’s a republican who is killed?
Why don’t you both come out and just say “We wont criticise our side no matter what”
Posted by on Mar 03, 2008 @ 09:38 PM
