Friday, March 14, 2008
Unsung hero of the Troubles worth remembering…
YESTERDAY saw the funeral of Gerry McLaverty, the only survivor of the bloodthirsty gang of loyalist serial killers and sectarian psychopaths known as the Shankill Butchers. McLaverty’s courage - in identifying members of the UVF gang who slashed his wrists (pictured), stabbed him, hacked him with an axe, tied a noose round his neck and left him for dead - undoubtedly meant that lives were saved. Members of the gang were eventually convicted of 19 murders, although suspected of up to 11 more, and McLaverty, described as a gentle giant, eventually recovered, although he rarely spoke of his harrowing experience. You can read McLaverty’s statement to the police in this extract from Martin Dillon’s book on the Shankill Butchers (page 196). I think we’ve good reason to be thankful for Gerard McLaverty; perhaps his bravery deserves to be remembered in some way other than newspaper tributes?
Belfast Gonzo @ 06:04 PM
I’d reckon Nevin’s response a classic strawman Joe, mine was just an outrageous analogy. Still couldn’t compete with nevin’s original scandalous statement. Do you consider Nationalists would elect a sadistic monster?
Nevin I could care less whose mandate you respect, for my money you are now into the comparisons game, same as harry. That is the issue, that and projecting some crazy, what can only be described as a fantasy scenario, a baseless one at that on nationalists.
I grow weary of all this petty crap. People can make of it what they will.
Posted by on Mar 18, 2008 @ 05:26 PM“a baseless one at that on nationalists.”
You seem to have lost the run of yourself, Eoghan. Perhaps you should limit yourself to what I’ve posted rather than basing your argument on your own twist.
I was referring to the ‘moral’ electorate that voted for the parapoliticians from the PRM and it’s lesser monsters, the nutting squad and those who brutally attacked Eamon Collins.
Posted by on Mar 18, 2008 @ 07:45 PMYou misunderstood me, Prince. It was Nevin’s outrageous statement that I was calling a strawman.
Posted by on Mar 18, 2008 @ 08:04 PM*To me its not that their deaths were less repugnant but they atleast were given the benefit of a rigorous investigation, the Shankhill victims seemed to be forgotten by the ruc till one had the temerity not to die!*
Unlike the Shankill Butchers, the killers of the victims I listed were never brought to justice. What a truly weird pretzel shape Republicans get themselves twisted into when they try to make the case that their psychos were a better class of psycho than the Huns!
*How anyone can equate the IRA killing of a UDR soldier with what Lenny Murphy done is simply beyond reasoning.*
Were the innocent civilian victims I listed above members of the UDR? No, they weren’t but they were still horribly murdered by the “nice” sectarian serial killers of the Republican Movement.
Posted by on Mar 19, 2008 @ 02:34 AMWhether they were brought to justice is immaterial to the appearance of effort. No effort was seemed to be put into the butchers crimes till as I said one crazy taig had the temerity not to die and the rudeness to expect a result
Posted by on Mar 19, 2008 @ 03:03 AMJoe
I’m afraid my mind is puggled from all these strawmen and wasn’t sure. I was referring to Harry’s ‘defence’ if I may call it that of the butchers, which anchors on our supposed defence of Republican killings here. Since no such defence is offered his point is null and void. I reckoned that fitted the bill as a strawman.
Nevin
>>You seem to have lost the run of yourself, Eoghan.<<
Not at all, weary with Harry’s nonsense aye. I’d argue that your projection was simply unbecoming of you. A normally sober commentator, not one that I’d noticed prone to fantasy scenario’s. The murder of Collins simply doesn’t stand up as a comparison, horrific though it was, but horrific enough?, perhaps. personal emnity was at play there there, a one off blood curdling type of crime committed up and down the country on a weekly if not daily basis. Even the case of John White or other similar Unionist killings don’t stand up simply because they were usually a one off, even though the barbarity did come close to reaching the butchers standards.
Simply stated the crimes of the butchers are unparalleled. However I am glad to see that you have *finally* shown your colours, so to speak.
Posted by on Mar 19, 2008 @ 05:43 PM
