Who robbed the Northern Bank?

[Éanna]

What actual evidence did Mr PSNI/RUC actually produce for this statement ?

exactly. FFS, if this was a specific criminal we were talking about, and he went out and blamed him without being able to prove it, he'd be open to a lawsuit. I wouldn't be in the least bit surprised if it WAS the IRA who did it, but in the absence of proof, people should watch their words

[SaucyJack]

gets more kooky

[SÓC]

Like people have said it most likely was the Provos but I dont like the way everybody has taken the word of a bloody Gman as gospel.

Proof cannot just be pubished during an ongoing criminal investigation but neither should the gman go around saying such things ffs

However IF it is proven (IMC perhaps) to be the PIRA then Provo SF have to be told where to go.

[Macy]

I certainly don't like the way Orde's word has been taken as gospel, particularly down here, and particularly given past cases that the provo's have been accused, with big media fuss at politically sensitive times with no actual charges or convictions.

However, until P O'Neill says the RA didn't do it, I'll be sceptical of the shinners denials.

[patsh]

Like people have said it most likely was the Provos but I dont like the way everybody has taken the word of a bloody Gman as gospel.

Proof cannot just be pubished during an ongoing criminal investigation but neither should the gman go around saying such things ffs.

Maybe your leader should have a word with the arsehole in the Justice dept so, and get him to keep his big gob shut too.

However IF it is proven (IMC perhaps) to be the PIRA then Provo SF have to be told where to go.

I agree, but a lot of people vote for that party, and they have seats in the Dáil, in the Northern Assembly and in Westminster, so how can you actually keep them out of the political process?
In the North, there does not seem to be any point in treating the SDLP as the main Irish/nationalist/republican party, when they clearly do not have the support. (mores the pity)

[exile]

well something has to be done about the criminal acts scum fein/ira are doing but in saying that orde done alot of damage with his remarks saying the provos did it but our glorious leader bertie said on the weekend show on rte radio 1 that and i quote "our own security services have told me that the provisional ira are responsible for this robbery"

[patsh]

well something has to be done about the criminal acts scum fein/ira are doing

Well what should be done is get the evidence to arrest and convict anybody involved in law-breaking, no matter who they are. If Orde, or any other policeman, has any evidence which allows him to say that such and such a gang did it, they should be testing this evidence in a court of law, not expressing opinions to a media press conference.
McDowell has come out with the same type of stuff on numerous occasions over the last few years, but there seems to be remarkably little follow up by the DPP in bringing charges or convictions.
I think that the GruppenFeuhrer should either put up, or shut up, especially as he was the first to scream and shout due process when it suited him.
Otherwise though, personally, I'm sick to death of Sinn Fein, their endless criticising of other people/parties while ignoring their own sins, their creepy, two-faced TD's (All of them), their gobsh*te MEP, and most of all, their endless flyers in my door, telling me to contact them if I want things done in my community. How did we ever survive without them?....

[SÓC]

Maybe your leader should have a word with the arsehole in the Justice dept so, and get him to keep his big gob shut too.

I agree

I agree, but a lot of people vote for that party, and they have seats in the Dáil, in the Northern Assembly and in Westminster, so how can you actually keep them out of the political process?
In the North, there does not seem to be any point in treating the SDLP as the main Irish/nationalist/republican party, when they clearly do not have the support. (mores the pity)

True but I'd expect them to make serious losses in elections if this turns out to be true

[MariborKev]

Personally SOC I would disagree with you

If this turns out to be true then who would not vote for them that voted for them last time out. If people could see past them being the political wing of an illegal army who carried out a campaign of terror for thirty years, why would a mere bank robbery change their attitude?

[patsh]

I'd expect them to make serious losses in elections if this turns out to be true

Don't really think that will happen. The people who vote for them need someone to stand up to the bigots and those with links to loyalist paramilitaries in the DUP, and I can't see anyone choosing the SDLP to do that.

[SÓC]

Don't really think that will happen. The people who vote for them need someone to stand up to the bigots and those with links to loyalist paramilitaries in the DUP, and I can't see anyone choosing the SDLP to do that.

IMC do need to get their finger out with regard to that. Paisley once siad he didnt trust Hume becuase he shook hands with a terrorist, this was around the time of his own flirtation with loyalism

I was thinking South of the border....down Mexico way, Provisional SF, I expect, would lose a lot of the recent gains they've made if the PIRA were found to to involved

[Macy]

I was thinking South of the border....down Mexico way, Provisional SF, I expect, would lose a lot of the recent gains they've made if the PIRA were found to to involved

On top of the whole McCabe issue raising it's head again, I think they would - particularly on transfers, which is where they made the 1st preferences turn into seats.

[dortie]

Personally SOC I would disagree with you

If this turns out to be true then who would not vote for them that voted for them last time out. If people could see past them being the political wing of an illegal army who carried out a campaign of terror for thirty years, why would a mere bank robbery change their attitude?

Very good post, although the 'illegal army' and 'campaign of terror' is a matter of opinion (a 'minority opinion' at that going by democratic votes achieved by SF).

[exile]

Very good post, although the 'illegal army' and 'campaign of terror' is a matter of opinion (a 'minority opinion' at that going by democratic votes achieved by SF).

how is it a minortity opinion ?? if that was actualy the case the scum fein would be in goverment, and the internatonal body set up to monitor the cease fire has said that they are up their their eyeballs in punishment beatings extorion and robberys that go back into scum feins/ira coffers : i think that constitutes an illegal army . . and every independent poll done by the media over the weekend showed over 80% of the people polled didnt trust sinn fein.
and who can trust them now after its come out they wouldnt sign up to the criminality agreement. why wont scum fein/ira sign up to it ???????????????

[Macy]

Very good post, although the 'illegal army' and 'campaign of terror' is a matter of opinion (a 'minority opinion' at that going by democratic votes achieved by SF).

But they only achieved that level of votes after (or with the perception of) going exclusively ballot box and ditching the armalite. I suppose it's too early to tell how the voters that now thought they were acceptable will react.