Conflict

Damien Kiberd welcomes the IRA’s move, but he argues that they may have left Catholic populations in Northern Ireland. It’s probably true that that is a thought in many peoples’ mind in the light of their historical experience. Although as Father Brian D’arcy pointed out on RTE this afternoon, the ‘Pogroms’ of 1969 were actively backed by individual B Specials – a situation that no longer applies. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the …

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P O’Neill makes a return… Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty

A lot of callers into RTE in Dublin are cock a hoop at the General’s verdict and have expressed the opinion that Unionists must now take the initiative. “It represents progress and it also represents a massive U Turn on the part of the Republican movement”. He also believes that Loyalist paramilitaries must now decommission, not least because the General has committed to keeping the IRA inventory secret until they reciprocate. He reserves his opinion on the outcome of the …

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Well it’s the move that was required. Not quite the best terms for the DUP. But for most independent observers. Richard Delevan is cautiously optimistic. But he correctly notes that this is just the first line on the last page of the last chapter of the book. We’re not quite at the end of history. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is …

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The head of the decommissioning body, John de Chastelain, was severely grilled by the assorted media at the press conference.. and, although he emphasised that the Decommissioning Body itself is satisfied that the PIRA arsenal has been fully decommissioned – based on security forces’ estimates, and on the matériel they witnessed – when asked if there could be other weapons still being held by PIRA, he acknowledged that, in a phrase that is likely to resurface in the weeks and …

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Too early for reaction. The General is still talking. But Mary Fitzgerald has been out in East Belfast talking to ordinary people on recent security and political moves. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty

Harold Good has just spoken. “Father Reid and I have spent days, many days watching [the decomm team] decommissioning a vast amount of arms on a minute by minute basis”. De Chastelain has note how much of it there was. There may be missing – but infinately small amounts. Most of it was the manufacturers packaging. It was also clear he said that there was also a lot of material in belts and small bits and pieces, clearly brought in …

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They have made an inventory which accords to a joint governments inventory that was compiled when the commission was established. “An important milestone has been reached. We believe that all the arms held by the IRA have been decommissioned”. It leaves the Loyalist paramilitaries out in the cold. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across …

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De Chastelain has just apologised for the lack of clarity of previous acts of decommissioning. He says it was important for him to use the independent status of the commission to establish the methodology. “It was not for us to editorialise. Getting armed groups to put aside their arms voluntarily is not easy”. Confidentiality was crucial. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and …

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With great finesse, I have managed to re-locate myself to Dublin for the day, having spent the last three days within a mile and half walk from where John De Chastelain is expected to announce (according to Dublin sources) that his work with IRA is done. The choice of Harold Good is not a bad one. It hasn’t gone down well with DUP, but if his account is sufficiently graphic, he may just get this process off to a plausible …

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Brian Feeney see little practical worth in the decommissioning of IRA weapons, but a symbolic significance the power of which will only become obvious in Sinn Fein’s next electoral performance. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty

Interesting letter which appeared in several papers. It argues that the most effective way of uniting the people of Ireland is for nationalists to lift the siege on unionists – by ceasing to be nationalists. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty

The word seems to be that the decommissioning act is now complete. But it may not be all of the IRA’s arsenal. The Sunday World today reported that up to 50% of it’s remaining weapons have been disposed of – for instance it believes none of the South Armagh weapons have been scrapped. We’ll have to wait for John De Chastelain, who has a full inventory of what’s in the arsenal, to confirm or deny. He’s the only one with …

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Alex Kane is highly sceptical of the Secretary of State’s claim that violence doesn’t pay. He’s clearly not a fan (nor is he of Tory Lord Ancram). The bottom line, he argues, is that if Hain’s claim is to stand up, then the British government needs to make sure there are sufficient outworkings from a re-established Agreement that settle in Unionists favour.By Alex Kane The first thing to do with any speech by a Secretary of State, and particularly one …

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UTV Live has flashed up that the two churchmen, one protestant and one catholic are said to be in position to witness the final act of decommission of the modern IRA. It follows choreographed moves in Dublin today when Martin McGuinness and Gerry Adams met the Taoiseach for the first time since the Northern Bank robbery, and is followed tomorrow by the largest rally the party has organised in many years. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has …

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Just watched the Big Heist – a tv documentary on robbery of the Northern Bank in Belfast. In the words of Robert de Niro’s Al Capone, they certainly ‘don’t got the book keeper’, but they ain’t got nothing. It was a classic case of the whole adding up to substantially more than the sum of the parts. As Kevin Toolis repeats ad nauseum there have still been no charges.But someone had form. In May 2004, Macro in Belfast a member …

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One of the most noticable things about the period of the Loyalist rioting in Belfast has been the relative silence of Unionist politicians. Brian Feeney, though he glosses over important changes in the DUP in recent years, reckons that unionism has for too long been dominated with negative conspiracy theories. I’d add the obvious caveat: “Just because you’re paranoid, doesn’t mean they’re not out to get you”! The conspiracy takes various forms. Last week it took the shape of the …

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No pun intended I’m sure, but the Examiner reports that Gerry Adams is to rally the Sinn Fein troops before the final act of decommissioning is to take place. He’s already visited the last official IRA prisoners in Castlerea, and there’s to be a large party gathering tonight, in advance of his first meeting with the Taoiseach since the Northern Bank robbery. It also notes dissatisfaction amongst SF insiders as to how the last IRA statement was received. Mick FealtyMick …

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