Conflict

For months Northern Ireland was old news on the blogosphere. The Northern Bank robbery seemed to light a fuse and the murder of Bert McCartney sees it is well and truly alight. Kitty Litter’s invented a logo for Gerry Adams’s forthcoming visit to the US. Brainster’s been following every bend in the road. The Connolly Column comes from a party loyalist, who believes the IRA must end attacks on innocent people.Other bloggers having their say include: Armed Liberal, Crooked Timber, …

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Right, the disclaimer. There’s nothing in this statement that suggests what level of punishment the IRA had in mind for these guys. Two, they have noted the fervent wish of the family to see justice done properly through the courts. The IRA is staying its hand. The message is subtle, but potentially important. The problem is that it may be too subtle for the wider audience that’s currently attempting to understand the shocking import of the initial headlines. Broom of …

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Here’s a copy of the full IRA statement:The IRA statement: “Representatives of Oglaigh na hEireann met with Bridgeen Hagans, the partner of Robert McCartney and with his sisters before our statement of 25 February was issued. The meeting lasted five and a half hours. During this time the IRA representatives gave the McCartney family a detailed account of our investigation. Our investigation found that after the initial melee in Magennis’s bar, a crowd spilled out onto the street and Robert …

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We’ve just heard that the IRA has made a statement saying that it is willing to shoot the people accused of murdering Bert McCartney. It may demonstrate its serousness to the accused men and (perhaps) its bona fides to the outside world. But what will the outside world make of such a threat? Particularly when it’s the general inability to effect due process that is the main concern of both the family and the larger part of outside opinion. Mick …

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Jim Gibney, writing in the Irish News (subs), focuses on the need for more dialogue not less, criticises the recent intervention of the Presbyterian Church’s General Board, and highlights what he sees as at the heart of dialogue with Protestant clergy ‘denial by unionists about their responsibility for creating the conditions for the conflict; fifty years of unionist mis-rule, decades of military occupation.’Extracts from the article The Presbyterian’s statement was arrogant and self-righteous. It reminded me of the early dialogue …

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Damien Kiberd, former editor of the Sunday Business Post is alarmed by the torrent of criticism levelled at Sinn Fein and the IRA in the months since the Northern Bank raid. But, he argues it may backfire.Also, he has an impressive compendium of reasons why he beleives the media is playing the Sinn Fein man, rather than the ball: A whole army of commentators now appears dedicated to attacking the party president, Gerry Adams in particular. They include writers who …

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Suzanne Breen outlines another forgotten killing, allegedly by rogue IRA men after a relatively trivial clash of personalities in a Falls Road pub. 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

Mark Langhammer with his usual incisive view, believes that Unionists are not worried about the current suspension of politics in Northern Ireland. As one DUP supporter told Slugger a few days back, most of us are just enjoying the schadenfreude offered by Sinn Fein’s difficulties. 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 …

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Anne Cadwallader believes that a skewed media focus on the McCartney killing has riled many within the Short Strand community. She states that, contrary to popular belief, some thirty people have posited an account with the PSNI, but that continuing adverse attention from the press may stop people from further co-operation. Thanks to reader Dec for the heads up. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the …

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The next skeleton in the cupboard would seem to be Bart Fisher, the man convicted of the manslaughter of James McGinley. He issued a statement at the weekend stating that he was not a member of either the IRA or Sinn Fein but, according to Morning Ireland, is currently being held on the political wing (sound file) of Magherberry Prison. Update: The family has denied most of the allegations. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers …

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Harry’s got in ahead of any of us on Henry McDonald’s analysis in Nik Cohen’s spot in yesterday’s UK Observer, which argues that the IRA will not remain quiescent so long as it continues to exist. He argues that the IRA will never willingly leave the playing field, and that the only viable way forward is for Sinn Fein to say their goodbyes to their military colleagues. Tom McGurk devoted considerable time in his Sunday Show to how DeValera engineered …

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Well he wasn’t there, but the politician who produced the most mentions in the whole conference was the party’s collective bête noire of the moment, Justice Minister Michael McDowell, according to Fionnán Sheahan. 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 weekend’s UUC meeting was eclipsed by Sinn Fein’s Ard Fheis in Dublin and Sammy Wilson, who defied critics by calling on voters to vote for Paula McCartney (should she stand for the Belfast City Council election), rather than for him. So much for not wanting a Fenian about the place!Though Sammy may have other fish to fry in East Antrim at the next General Election, which is widely expected to be held on the same day. Mick FealtyMick is …

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In the absence of any actionable evidence, the world’s media seems to have made up its mind on who precisely was responsible for the Northern Bank raid. The Economist is in no doubt that the Belfast Agreement left the IRA the lattitude it would require to conduct organised crime on the scale its accused of. It is a curious feature of the Good Friday Agreement, the deal which got Northern Ireland’s peace process under way, that while it proscribes a …

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Paul O’Brien in the Examiner does not believe that Sinn Fein’s president Gerry Adams quite managed to shake off the ghost at the feast: “It [the sppech] was meant to be one of triumph, of a party celebrating its centennial, as sure of its destiny as it was of its past. But events of the last few weeks had changed all that. The quagmire SF has found itself in of late meant a strong measure of introspection was unavoidable”. Mick …

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Danny Morrison occupies one of the most difficult positions in Nationalist Northern Ireland. Journalists are often frustrated that he doesn’t say more than he does, whilst he often says more than his former colleagues within Sinn Fein might like. But he remains one of the few reliable weather veins for the intensely private discourse taking place inside the movement. His tussle with former editor of the Telegraph, Charles Moore in the Guardian, gives little away.But it reflects the sentiment of …

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In what seems like something approaching the hysteria surrounding Sinn Fein and the IRA over the last few months, it’s easy to miss the significance of Gerry Adams’ appeal to those who know know anything about the killing of Robert McCartney to report what they know. As one Unionist commentator told Slugger, “five months ago it wouldn’t have happened never mind five years ago”.Although as Catherine McCartney points out: “The bottom line is that, until those who committed Robert’s murder …

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Gerry Adams has promised to come out fighting (a month later) on Justice Minister Michael McDowell’s assertion that for Sinn Fein and the IRA the latter’s Army Council is the legitimate government of Ireland. McDowell’s defining line at the time may have been the old Orwell line: …who controls the past, controls the future. Is Sinn Fein recognising the new lines of engagement too late? Keep watching this space. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers …

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Excellent live blogging from the Sinn Fein Ard Fheis. Richard Delevan writes his dispatches as a participant in what he thinks may be a stunning coup de theatre by the Sinn Fein president as the McCartney sisters defy earlier press speculation and turn up in front row seats for his address to 2000 of the party faithful! They received a standing ovation from the floor. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of …

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Central to the ethos of nationalism and republicanism is the figure of Mother Ireland.Now it seems women, so long side-lined in both constitutional and physical force Irish politics are fighting back. In the Times Ben McIntyre looks at the power of women’s protests since the French Revolution in Beware the apron and painted sheet.In a previous Blog, IRA: long dark journey ahead, Mick referenced a Guardian article looking at the three families who are demanding that the IRA act against …

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