Conflict

Paul Bew, interviewed by Radio Netherlands, reckons that Sinn Fein is solid electorally. He sees no change in the future particularly if Tony Blair continues to protect the previliged position they have enjoyed in negotiations, courtesy of being so close to the IRA. 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. …

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First reports of six men arrested in Manorhamilton in the Republic for intimidation, with RTE reporting that some of their number allegedly in Sinn Fein. Heads up from reader TwoNations. 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

Boris Johnson, no admirer of Sinn Fein, never mind the IRA, is nonetheless surprised at the lack of irony with which the IRA made its offer to the McCartney sisters to shoot the men accused of killing their brother. He also argues that Sinn Fein’s near passive acceptance of the IRA’s right to take such action will not play well in the US. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet …

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Richard Delevan notes that there’s an unprecdented groundswell building of opinion behind the McCartney sisters in the US blogosphere. The Big Guns are not yet there, but it may only be a matter of time. Whether they will do anything like the damage to Sinn Fein’s fund raising powers stateside that they were able to do to through the like of the Dan Rather affair, remains open to question. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers …

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It seems not to matter that the IRA still deny they did the bank robbery. No one believes them. Michael Gove opens with a series of rhetorical questions that encompass the public difficulites of both Sinn Fein and their erstwhile military counterparts, the IRA: HOW DID THE IRA think it could get away with it? How did it think it could plan a £26 million bank heist while negotiating a place for its representatives in Government? How did it think …

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Patrick Murphy detects a moment of history, which has been little remarked on elsewhere, and asks whether the Sinn Fein President crossed a rubicon when he handed the names of members of his party suspected of criminal activity to the Police Ombudsman? 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: …

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Still no witnesses. Even the guy who was attacked has not given the PSNI any useable evidence. And the McCartney sisters state that the IRA is continuing to orchestrate local intimidation of witnesses. 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

If the IRA statement was about damage limitation it may not have worked quite in the way it had intended. Angelique Christafis tracks the ever changing versions of what happened on that night, and thinks she detects that most politically dangerous of ‘creatures’ – a cover up! 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, …

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The McCartney mess as it coming to be known is bringing out a range of difficult headlines and stories far beyond the narrow confines of Northern Ireland numerically small political world. Blair and Brown are disgusted in the Financial Times. The Seattle Times, New York Post, The Canadian Globe and Mail features IRA and murder in its leader and the Whitehouse says the IRA should dissolve. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts …

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Well, despite Gerry Adams’ good offices the investigation is going nowhere. The latest man to have been questioned after ‘giving himself up’ has been released. 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

Whilst the House of Commons is due to debate the cutting of Sinn Fein’s parliamentary allowance today, the problem spreads to the European parliament next month. Interestingly, European funding is also the subject of a Gregory Campbell’s amendment to today’s Commons motion. Update: EU Observer reports. 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 …

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Mitchell Reiss has told the BBC “It’s time for the IRA to go out of business. And it’s time for Sinn Fein to be able to say that explicitly, without ambiguity, without ambivalence, that criminality will not be tolerated.” 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

That’s apparently what the Meath Chronicle is saying in the paper version – there’s no mention on the website! Sinn Féin’s Joe Reilly is on 14.9%, that’s up 5.5% on the previous general election. And welcome Chris to the blogosphere in his own right! 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 …

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Davy Adams argues in the Irish Times that the robbery of the Northern Bank has saved the peace process from locking criminality into the political system. 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 BBC is reporting that a man has handed himself in to the PSNI. 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

According to Hugh Orde the IRA meant shoot to kill when it made the offer to the McCartney family. 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

Fury is got to be most over used word in Northern Irish politics. Once the watchword of Sinn Fein their archenemies at the Daily Telegraph uses it today to describe reaction to the IRA’s offer to shoot the guys who killed Robert McCartney. 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. …

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Henry McDonald believes it’s a gaffe by the IRA and indicates they are rattled. He thinks the first casulty will be Joe Reilly, their candidate in the Co Meath by election on Friday. For good measure, he told Five Live that just last night a former Officer Commanding of the IRA (one of those mentioned in tonight’s statement) in Belfast had to leave a city centre bar when he heard that a gang of criminals were on their way to …

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Eammnon Maillie was at pains on BBC Radio Five Drive (sound file – one hour in) programme to stress that the IRA would not confirm or deny whether shooting meant execution. Anthony McIntyre (and Eammon McCann later in the programme) sees co-ordination by the leadership of Sinn Fein in sending out two contradictory messages, in part to steady the nerve of many within the IRA in the wake of the killing and subsequent inaction over the killing of Bert McCartney. …

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Interesting (and so far abstract) political distinction here. The IRA would happily shoot those accused of the McCartney murder; but Sinn Fein wouldn’t. Mmmm. 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