IRA terrorist dies.

[vinty]

If he truly believed in what he was doing, were they crimes or victims in his eyes?
If not, he would logically believe he had nothing to apologise or show remorse for?

If he really believed that he hadn't done anything wrong why did he give up terrorism

He wanted independance for Northern Ireland and he achieved this through violence. Surely no worse than what her majesty inflicted on the peoples of Northern Ireland in a bid to make them submit. People die in conflict, this is life. You don't get anywhere waving banners and protesting the terms of your own enslavement, you take it into your own hands. I don't have a particular horse in the race but I identify with a man who doesn't want to be enslaved. You could say Hitler was trying to achieve the same thing, to escape from the IMF and the privately owned banking cartels, he failed but he went down trying. Look at Germany now and the rest of Europe.

Personally I think there are two sides to any conflict in 99.999999% of cases.

And before anyone jumps on me for defending the man, don't. I won't be.

He didn't want an independent Northern Ireland, he wanted a United Ireland even though a majority in Northern Ireland opposed it.
The IRA's demands from the beginning of the troubles were quite straightforward, they wanted a British withdrawal and the Unification of North and South because they couldn't achieve this aim though the ballot box they turned to terrorism.
All the IRA's campaign achieved was to wreck the economy and spark a loyalist backlash against Catholics.
Their core demand of a United Ireland has not been achieved, any gains which they have made could have been achieved without the loss of a single life that is the tragedy.

 

[HawkEye244]

History written by whom? How do you know what they wanted? Any personal experience? Ever lived there?

 

[Brigadier]

If he really believed that he hadn't done anything wrong why did he give up terrorism

Because it was clear that terrorism wasn't getting anywhere in itself?

It might be argued that, while directly futile in itself, the terrorism was an effective lever in getting UK government's attention.


As previously posted, the republican movement (inc paramilitaries) was riddled with informants, and therefore had run it's course in its current state?

 

[Doug99]

It is said he went into politics when he realised the error his ways, (earlier methods) but in denying what he'd done, that suggest cowardice, or untrue redemption.

More likely he realised that once the IRA funding from USA dried up after 9/11, his only option to stay out of prison was to play the political peacekeeper gag.

 

[Ihavenojob]

If he really believed that he hadn't done anything wrong why did he give up terrorism

He couldn't grow the required beard.

 

[crystal ball]

More likely he realised that once the IRA funding from USA dried up after 9/11, his only option to stay out of prison was to play the political peacekeeper gag.

Good Friday agreement was signed in 1998.....

 

[Doug99]

Good Friday agreement was signed in 1998.....

The IRA were still bombing london until 2001

 

[crystal ball]

The IRA were still bombing london until 2001

That was the RIRA, MM was involved in the GF agreement in 1998, lets have your figures on funding pre and post 9/11

 

[JohnD]

I'm pretty sure that the multi-faceted splinters of the IRA have never published their annual accounts.

Have you seen copies?

How about Noraid's figures?

http://www.nytimes.com/1984/09/30/world/trawler-s-seizure-called-major-setback-for-ira.html

 

[crystal ball]

No and I guess that Doug99 has not either

 

[JohnD]

And when do you think IRA groups will stop bombing, shooting, drug-running and extortion?

 

[durhamplumber]

RIP Martin Mcguinness.You were a product of your environment.The war was brought to your doorstep by the brits using a form of apartheid in your community.You had the balls to lay down the gun and negotiate with your tormentors.Dialogue had failed.It was a david vs goliath situation...

 

[Ihavenojob]

RIP Martin Mcguinness.You were a product of your environment.The war was brought to your doorstep by the brits using a form of apartheid in your community.You had the balls to lay down the gun and negotiate with your tormentors.Dialogue had failed.It was a david vs goliath situation...

And a big thumbs up to Khalid Masood ?

 

[durhamplumber]

And a big thumbs up to Khalid Masood ?

Not really comparable.

 

[crystal ball]

And when do you think IRA groups will stop bombing, shooting, drug-running and extortion?

Why are you asking me? like the rest of mankind, no idea