Plausible Deniability
If one were to believe the ramblings of Irish republicans you would be lead to believe that they (and they alone) are the sole bearers of the truth about the Ulster conflict. That, however, is the exact opposite of the situation in reality. For years republicans, especially those affiliated with PIRA/Sinn Fein, have lied, obfuscated, deceived and lied again.
We have the ludicrous sight of Gerry Adams denying that he was ever a member of the Provisional IRA and, just this week, we have learned that a prominent republican and former Roman Catholic priest has finally admitted that he was indeed a senior member of the Provisional movement. .
After decades of denials Tipperary-born Patrick Ryan has admitted his role in procuring arms, ammunition and bomb making materials on behalf of the Provos.
Patrick Ryan was at the centre of one of the highest profile extradition battles of the ‘Troubles’, with the British Government believing it had evidence which could prove he was a terrorist, but in 1988 the Irish Republic refused to extradite him to be tried in a British court.
At the time, Ryan publicly denied, repeatedly, that he had been a member of any organisation other than the Catholic church’s ‘Pioneer Total Abstinence Association’. A denial which, at the time, many knew to be a complete fabrication.
Read More @ It's Still Only Thursday.At the time, Ryan publicly denied, repeatedly, that he had been a member of any organisation other than the Catholic church’s ‘Pioneer Total Abstinence Association’. A denial which, at the time, many knew to be a complete fabrication.
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I initially began to read this uncritically, but as I read I was constantly thinking how it is an article written by some nameless UFF/UDR/RUC terorist who conceals his identity and true credentials just like those he is bemoaning about. So when I checked 'The About' page it got really funny, "A memorial to earnest, unflinching men who gave their lives for their country and their community." My knowledge of most of these men was that they nearly all squelled like piglets on each other and it was always jarring to the mind on hearing these unflinching men grovel to the screws "Mister, Mister will you let me empty my piss pot." I would call out "So you fought for Queen and Country and she locked you up!" I would get one of 2 sullen responses, they'd either fall silent or simply respond "Fuck up Fenian Cunt". Jail was full of routines and that one never grew old for me. If only there was a single unflinching man of valour among them.
ReplyDeleteThe cretin who wrote this drivel is beating his chest that, with the pasage of time, he can say of the countless innocent civilians they murdered he nows feels emboldened because Loughlin Maginn may actually have been a member of the IRA -they were eventually going to get lucky I suppose and it wasn't for the lack of trying.
Correcto Christy. I recall coming face to face with the Torrens knight shortly after he was imprisoned. He couldn't lift his head and look a body in the eye. A far cry from his bravado in public.
DeleteThe author of this piece is simply grasping in order to escape from the reality that unionist terror gangs were primarily focussed on killing any taig because in their opinion every taig was a provie. Unfortunately for him, nothing can be said that will undo the fact he and his ilk killed innocent folk because of their religion rather than them being a combatant. I know of no IRA volunteer(others may do) that set out to kill a Protestant for being a Protestant.
Christy - I think Thursday works best when it sticks to what it is good at: the likes of its Ordinary Voices project which probably gets it listened to outside of its own head whereas the above type of piece rings more in the vein of sermonising from a very narrow pulpit. There is a range of loyalist voices out there some much more strident than others. Clifford Peoples is a hugely talented writer but does not seem to write enough. The Long Kesh inside Out blog had potential but seemed to fade from view.
ReplyDeleteMicko
ReplyDeleteAs coincidence would have it I too encounter TKnight on the Larne train. He sat opposite from me and did the exact same thing, his head kept dropping and when he lifted it he did everything to avoid making eye contact with me. I made a point of staring at him to see his reaction.
AM
Yes, I have have read other articles from that blogg that have been interesting and pretty down to earth pieces which was why I was already uncritical when reading that one, but it seemed more of the same sort of newsletter type pamphalets Loyalists Supporter Clubs used to pump out years ago.