Conflict

Bruce Arnold writing in yesterday’s Sunday Independent reckons that the IRA’s secret, illegal and wholly unaccountable self investigation will satisfy no one but its own support: The IRA has owned up publicly. It has made some attempt to deliver on promised expulsions, conceding ‘involvement’, but leaving unresolved what the McCartneys want in terms of justice. Having killed their victim and seriously injured his friend, members of the organisation then destroyed the evidence of the crime. The IRA would have done …

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In a thoughtful article in the Sunday Herald, Rebel Hell, Ed Moloney suggests that the Northern Bank robbery was another crafty tactical move to force the hand of the IRA that was knocked off track by the unforeseen savage and barbaric murder of Robert McCartney.Moloney remembers that Adams manoeuvred the ranks of the IRA, who were unaware of his long-term aims, along the path of his peace strategy by allowing them to use the human bomb tactic which put the …

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The quote from Shakespeare’s ‘Hamlet’ certainly seems appropriate for Gerry Adams and the Republican movement. John Burns in the Sunday Times reports in IRA blocked deal to save hunger strikers that the IRA spokesman in the Maze during the Hunger Strikes, Richard O’Rawe, has revealed that acceptable concessions were offered to Gerry Adams before the death of Joe O’Donnell, the fifth man to die, by ‘Mountain Climber’, an emissary of the Thatcher Government but the deal was vetoed by the …

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I’m travelling back from Pisa tomorrow and hoping to be up in London on Monday, so the hiatus in my own blogging may take another short while to reel in. One of the last broadcasts I heard from Ireland (before I left for Italy) last week was a very earnest ‘what is going on’ from Eammon Maillie, who’s had his finger on the Republican pulse since he began as a freelance on Downtown Radio nearly 30 years ago. His colleague …

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Not to try and outdo Mark Devenport whilst he’s in philosophical mode, but since he starts with a quote I’ll blog him one better on the requisite caution re numerous accusations against Sinn Fein and the IRA. This one’s from Francis Bacon: “If a man will begin with certainties, he shall end in doubts, but if he will be content to begin with doubts, he shall end in certainties”. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers …

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JOHNNY Adair has been seen on the Shankill Road and in Portadown. No doubt the Sundays will have plenty more (yawn) on this cretin at the weekend. Meanwhile, the Irish News has reported that Ken Barrett, who was convicted of Pat Finucane’s murder, has been flown to Maghaberry Prison. This means that he isn’t subject to the legal loophole in GB that prevented his early release under the Agreement. Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com

The Guardian assesses where we are after the drama of December and the events that followed, discusses the choices facing voters on both sides of the border who have voted or considered voting for Sinn Féin and wonders if it is time for Gerry Adams and co’ to step aside if they are unable to deliver the goods. Forward not back” At some point in this process, however, this effort demanded a fundamental act of reciprocity from republicanism – an …

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Jeffrey Donaldson has called for a major offensive on the IRA. It’s not known what the IRA’s plans are should the grave crisis in the Peace Process continue. But Albert Reynolds told the Sunday Show that he had about two weeks warning when the IRA last suspended its ceasefire. 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 …

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It pays to be cautious at times like these. What is not in any doubt, is that the Northern Bank was robbed in December. Arrests and police questioning do not equal convictions! Indeed, businessman Phil Flynn is having to play a vigourous rearguard action to deny his involvement in any number of scams. Those eager for an early denoument should be patient! Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on …

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Gerry Adams returns from his book tour in Spain to steady the nerves of the party faithful, and argues there is no crisis within the party. 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 NYT reports that Irish Raids Net Vast Sums That Are Tied to the I.R.A.. Well, as that old worn out saying goes, Time will tell. But again it doesn’t look good. Each time a suspect is arrested and then released many nationalists will continue to believe this is some kind of put up job. But there is a kind of attritional value in these headlines coming out day after day, and from media outlets far from the usual suspects.Only …

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Robin Livingstone, editor of the Andersontown News, has an interesting article in the Guardian, This crisis threatens to halt the advance of Sinn Féin, in which he assesses the impact of the Northern Bank Robbery and the McCartney murder on Sinn Féin.My only objection to this otherwise excellent article is that he ignores the terrorising of the families held hostage during the robbery. His comments about Wednesday’s IRA statement ring true, although the slightly acidic “keening” jars – Sinn Féin’s …

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Well, the news flows are buzzing and they all seem to scent political blood – namely that of Sinn Fein. We’re not sure the animal is quite badly wounded as the majority seems to think. Mairtin O’Muilleoir on Morning Ireland this morning was convinced that Sinn Fein and the IRA were made of stronger stuff (sound file).No doubt that’s true in the heartland, and amongst the core of workers that have driven the party forward with a work ethic that …

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It’s important to remember that we are talking about arrests, not charges as yet. But it seems that the Garda operation has netted a dissident Republican along with the two Sinn Fein members. Curiouser and curiouser! 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

It comes from an aunt of the murdered Robert McCartney, but it is something that will be exercising many of the democrats within Sinn Fein. Margaret Quinn, in a letter to the Irish News yesterday (subs required):The letter ends with: I believe that decent IRA members are not merely disgusted by it, but totally repulsed. Both the vigil to honour my nephew and his subsequent funeral were attended by people who remain supporters of Sinn Fein – for now anyway. …

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On Sunday, Maurice Hayes concluded an insightful piece on the current crisis within Sinn Fein and the IRA with a suggestion that we might be as well just to let them get on with it. Five days later he concludes that in pushing the line that they had nothing to do with anything illegal, until forced to, the party is playing dangerously with its own political fire.There is no indication of a sea change in nationalist areas yet, but: Given …

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Here’s the details from the Examiner on Ted Cunningham the business man arrested yesterday along with seventeen bags of money. Presumably money lenders do keep lots of cash in and about the house, but on the face of it £2.3 million in sterling seems an implausibly excessive amount to keep in a compost bin at the bottom of your garden in Cork! Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on …

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Enda Kenny with another apposite statement of the bleeding obvious. He argues that any other party who had senior party members arrested would be expected to explain themselves to the Irish public, and asked why Sinn Fein feels justified in retaining an ominous silence. 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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Whatever about what Gerry Adams meant the other day when he said he thought the IRA was telling him the truth, the wider world has taken it as a hint that the IRA was behind the Northern Bank raid. 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

Cork based Gavin Sheridan has lots of updates in a single post. 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