Tuesday, January 05, 2010
On Adams, we are still being asked to believe not what we see but what we are told we should see…
Given the amount of stick Peter Robinson is getting from the MSM, I’d hate think what would have happened to him if it had been found he was shielding a brother he suspected of child abuse, and promoted him through the party ranks, and then persuaded a senior party front bencher to lie about it afterwards. If you read nothing else today, read Suzanne Breen’s excellent account of how Gerry Adams lied about his brother Liam’s role in the party in Dundalk. And consider just how you might feel about an MP who allowed his constituents send their kids to youth projects he’d kept in the dark about his own suspicions? If it was Robinson and not Adams, and the clubs were in Tullycarnet and the lower Newtownards Road and not Clonard and Beechmount, the likelihood is he would be fried for his sins. And not simply by the media, but by his party. Adams on the other hand…
Gerry Adams said he believed his brother was a paedophile from the moment Aine made her allegations in 1987. Yet 10 years later, he went canvassing with Liam through the streets of Dundalk in the southern general election. Photos show them laughing and smiling.
This was at a time when Sinn Fein had previously led us to believe Liam had been expelled from the party and was estranged from Gerry. Would Peter Robinson, Jim Allister or Mark Durkan get away with taking someone they believed to be a paedophile on a canvass? I think not.
It has to be safe to assume that if Adams (and his party) were lying over his brother’s role in Louth, then they are also lying over his role in various youth projects in West Belfast. Yet today’s piece by Breen is the first serious piece of journalism from the BelTel on the subject since before Christmas. Sometimes you have to take the view that what’s important is not just the top down piece process (which always favours in the interest of the various elites), but the interests of the ordinary citizen who still buy newspapers.
There is feverish speculation about a future Panorama programme and what it might or might not reveal about Robinson. If it is a genuinely new and serious revelation, he may have to walk. But if as is perfectly possible, it turns out a damp squib then people like Breen are entitled to ask just why “we are still being asked to believe not what we see but what we are told we should see”.
Mick Fealty @ 10:19 AM
Mick, seems like a Road to Damascus conversion for you. I’ll have you believing he’s the Antichrist yet.
Posted by on Jan 05, 2010 @ 01:04 PMThe media would be best served to let the issue of Adam’s brother lie until the legal process has run its course or perhaps find itself sucessfully being used by his solicitors to prevent his extradition or his trial proceeeding and we now have the media speculating on the personal matters afflicting the leadership of the two main parties both of which have the potential to destabilsie the current politcal situation further at the very time these parties should be setting about resolving the difficulties between them which seem to be more about appearance than substance.
Posted by on Jan 05, 2010 @ 01:07 PM“There is feverish speculation about a future Panorama programme and what it might or might not reveal about Robinson. If it is a genuinely new revelation and anything approaching the territory that Adams currently finds himself in, he will have to walk.”
Well thank you, Mick, you have now ensured a dramatic increase in the temperature caused by “feverish speculation” (don’t you mean “fevered”?) on whatever skeletons might be about to rattle their way free from the First Minister’s cupboard.
You tantalise us with the suggestion that forthcoming revelations might be akin to those ‘family troubles’ now plaguing Gerry Adams but surely there must be some even more tantalising leaked titbits abroad which you are not sharing with us.
As a former Paymaster General, the late George Wigg might have put it, “I am all ears”.
Posted by on Jan 05, 2010 @ 01:10 PMProbably one of the most objective posts I’ve ever read on Slugger, and, mind you, I’ve been hanging around for years!
Posted by on Jan 05, 2010 @ 01:12 PMSince when have we started to ask ourselves why it is that things are not being reported properly in N.Ireland?
We should be use to it by now; we have had almost forty years of it.
Good old Panorama ...not that they have ever put stories on N.Ireland to bed, in the interests of the “peace process” ...
Posted by on Jan 05, 2010 @ 01:17 PM“On Adams, we are still being asked to believe not what we see but what we are told we should see…”
Which is exactly what you are doing when you follow up with such hyperbolic assertions as:
”...promoted him ruthlessly through the party ranks, and then persuaded a senior party front bencher to lie about it afterwards”
This is exactly the problem on this issue - neither you or Breen have any firm facts and have only the word of disgruntled ex-members and dissidents (Hanratty) to support your assumptions. Breen might be able to get away with it in the Tribune with it’s limited circulation and limited northern interest and you on your ‘big fish in small pond’ blog, but higher standards are presumably expected from the so called MSM.
When Breen can come up with a story that doesn’t rely on unnamed sources or the word of dissident republicans, I expect then people may sit up and take notice. Until then she is merely picking over someone else’s rather unsightly sore.
Posted by on Jan 05, 2010 @ 01:20 PMSo Ulick: What about the photos?
1. argue the facts: cannot.
2. argue the circumstnces: trying.
3. call names: dissidents, securocrats. GUBU.Would you like Sinn Feiners to be canvassing your area? Would children be safe?
Paddy Power should be taking bets on Adams going. It is time these people were hekld up to ridicule. As regards the Power sharing falling, is covering up pederasty the cost of keeoing it together?
Posted by on Jan 05, 2010 @ 01:28 PMWould you like Sinn Feiners to be canvassing your area?
Paddy Power should be taking bets on Adams going. It is time these people were hekld up to ridicule. As regards the Power sharing falling, is covering up pederasty the cost of keeoing it together?
Posted by Paddy on Jan 05, 2010 @ 01:28 PMExcellent post paddy its time gerry adams resigned and resigned NOW.
Posted by on Jan 05, 2010 @ 01:33 PMSo Ulick: What about the photos?
I seem to remember photos of Adams posted here recently with him posing with three headers bedecked in red, white and blue. What did that prove? Absolutely nothing other than lots of of people will try to get their photo taken with him.
Posted by on Jan 05, 2010 @ 01:35 PMSo have the DUP been silent on Adams shameful behaviour because they are scared whats coming their way?
Posted by on Jan 05, 2010 @ 01:43 PMAny party leader would of gone by now down south or anywhere else but not adams thats the sinners for you folks.Gerry adams has no moral authority his reputation he never had any anyway as far as i am concerned this is a man who said he was never a member of the IRA yes and my names father xmas and now his blantant public untruths hes told and the strong whiff of a cover up.Adams reputation is in TATTERS
Posted by on Jan 05, 2010 @ 01:50 PMI seem to remember photos of Adams posted here recently with him posing with three headers bedecked in red, white and blue. What did that prove? Absolutely nothing other than lots of of people will try to get their photo taken with him.
Posted by Ulick on Jan 05, 2010 @ 01:35 PM
Oh GAWD another sinner/troll/spinner trying in vain to deflect attention away from the mounting pressure on the sinners/gerry adams lot by spinning
Where do you lot get off hey.???Posted by on Jan 05, 2010 @ 01:55 PMWhen Breen can come up with a story that doesn’t rely on unnamed sources or the word of dissident republicans, I expect then people may sit up and take notice. Until then she is merely picking over someone else’s rather unsightly sore.
Are you saying Gerard Hodgins is a dissident ? The letter and article The Irish News carried from him was very revealing, A former hunger striker and lifelong republican of his calibre would not post something like that in the open media without having established “Facts” first.
Posted by on Jan 05, 2010 @ 02:05 PMAre you saying Gerard Hodgins is a dissident?
I wouldn’t class him as a dissident, though as he is a prominent member of éirígí, others may do. Either way that organisation is very opposed to the SF approach and would be only to do a bit of damage.
Posted by on Jan 05, 2010 @ 02:11 PMBeing opposed to the Sinn Fein “approach” and exposing the present leaderships lack of moral standards can hardly be described as being unfounded and taking a cheap shot at them, Gerry said he believed Aine the first time she revealed the accusations to him. The photo’s from Dundalk are not fake, its not an untruth that he worked as a youth worker in Clonard, Beechmount and in Dundalk and that Gerry was aware of it, he allowed our children to be exposed to a child rapist. Are people lying about that ?
Posted by on Jan 05, 2010 @ 02:29 PM‘he allowed our children to be exposed to a child rapist’
Mick, in the rush to demonise Adams, have you dispensed with mundane issues such as justice and libel laws?
When was Liam Adams convicted of child rape?
Posted by on Jan 05, 2010 @ 02:35 PM‘he allowed our children to be exposed to a child rapist’
Mick, in the rush to demonise Adams, have you dispensed with mundane issues such as justice and libel laws?
When was Liam Adams convicted of child rape?
You’re right chewnic ! Mick could you cange that line to read alledged child rapist, Who went on the run down south because the british controlled judical system wont give him a fair trial.
Posted by on Jan 05, 2010 @ 02:53 PMchew,
Did I say that? There was a bit of looseness in the last paragraph which I have tightened up…
Posted by on Jan 05, 2010 @ 03:11 PMI seem to remember photos of Adams posted here recently with him posing with three headers bedecked in red, white and blue. What did that prove? Absolutely nothing other than lots of of people will try to get their photo taken with him.
Posted by Ulick on Jan 05, 2010 @ 01:35 PMWhat this post proves is that the desperation level amongst the Adamsite camp is reaching the critical point. Those with any brains are exercising their lack of integrity offline as they don’t want to be hung out to dry like Arthur Morgan. What we have instead are trolling feejits who invariably miss every golden opportunity to say absolutely nothing. I suppose it’s not their fault really as they are only taking their line from Dear Leader.
Try as they might, this story isn’t going to go away.. it’s only going to get worse and we can be thankful that there are still some journalists with the integrity to pursue the liars and enablers.Posted by on Jan 05, 2010 @ 03:19 PMYou’re right chewnic ! Mick could you cange that line to read alledged child rapist, Who went on the run down south because the british controlled judical system wont give him a fair trial.
Posted by tacapall on Jan 05, 2010 @ 02:53 PMSure this is about Gerry’s behaviour in regards to Liam and as far as Gerry is concerned he is a paedophile. Gerry has never treated anyone fairly where Liam is concerned; not Aine Tyrell not Liam’s colleagues in PSF and particularly not the children GA’s silence enabled Liam to come into contact with up until 2006.
No point in trying to portray Liam Adams as some type of victim of British injustice. He is far fro the victim in this case.Posted by on Jan 05, 2010 @ 03:28 PMI wonder does the “British controlled legal system won’t give him a fair trial” line mean that SF will be opposing Liam’s extradition?
Perhaps Gerry’s widely reported statements about how he believes his brother to be guilty are an effort to give him a defence too (“he can’t get a fair trial because of the publicity”).
Posted by on Jan 05, 2010 @ 03:49 PM“he can’t get a fair trial because of the publicity”
That might be a distinct possibility, Aldamir, which would come close to a miscarriage of justice.
These allegations need to be tested in court and the chips fall where they will.
On a related issue, it may nigh well to get justice after so many years have passed.
Following the recent report on child abuse in a small part of the Republic, the Justice Minister said that the accused would be vigorously pursued and brought to justice no matter what their age. I have yet to hear of any charges being laid.Posted by on Jan 05, 2010 @ 04:01 PMI wonder does the “British controlled legal system won’t give him a fair trial” line mean that SF will be opposing Liam’s extradition?
I was being sarcastic with that line, as chewnic rightly pointed out, that Laim Adams has not been convicted of child abuse YET, but who wont return to the 6 counties to face the charges nor face his daughter in the jurisdiction where it alledgely happened,
Posted by on Jan 05, 2010 @ 04:29 PMUlick hit the nail on the head earlier when he criticised the following:
”...promoted him ruthlessly through the party ranks, and then persuaded a senior party front bencher to lie about it afterwards”
Feverish speculation indeed. I should point out that I am neither a supporter of Adams nor a SF voter, a critic in fact.
However the words promoted him ruthlessly (how does one promote someone ruthlessly anyway?) don’t take any account of the fact that here in NI, politics can be a family business. Did Peter the Punt promote Iris ‘ruthlessly’? What about the Paisley’s, were they promoted ‘ruthlessly’? I could go on, the point is the fact that Ian Og was Big Ian’s wee’un was enough to ensure political success (for surely no-one could argue that Paisley Og got where he is on merit?!).
The point is for Gerry, like Peter the Punt and Big Ian before him, if he has a sibling/parent/child looking to break into politics, they won’t need ‘ruthless’ promotion. The electorate here would vote for a vegetable if it had the right surname.
As for whether or not Gerry convinced anyone to lie, I’m assuming you don’t have proof of this, for if you had it would be produced. Nope, this is ‘feverish speculation’, perhaps he lied, or was mistaken, and if he lied perhaps his motive was for self, or for party, as opposed to Gerry pulling strings.
Hell you could be correct in your assertions, however they are and will remain speculative. Gerry has serious questions to answer, your post asks them. He needs to explain about a) exposing his electorate’s children to a possible pervert b) campaigning beside someone he claims he knew was a rapist etc. I just feel by couching your points in along with your speculation (stating for example that Gerry convinced a party colleague to lie - information which I’m certain you cannot definitively know) you detract from your own argument. The SF internet police will be able to rip into your speculative points, and ignore your substance.
Posted by on Jan 05, 2010 @ 04:57 PMI’ve just been on to phone to someone in N.I. who says there is a rumour that Robinson is shortly to retire.
Anyone hear anything?Posted by on Jan 05, 2010 @ 05:26 PM
