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File photo of Gerry Adams, Sinn Féin Party President. Sam Boal/Photocall Ireland

Plot to kill Gerry Adams touched upon in Finucane report

Adams said the revelation by Desmond de Silva, who wrote the report, comes as no surprise.

A PLOT BY loyalist paramilitaries to kill Gerry Adams will be touched upon in a new report into the killing of solicitor Pat Finucane in 1989.

Adams revealed this evening that Desmond de Silva, whose report looks into the solicitor’s murder by paramilitaries, has written to him to say that a part of his report looks at “a plot by loyalist paramilitaries to attack you in May 1987″.

The Sinn Féin President called on the Irish government to insist that a public inquiry into Finucane’s death is held.

In his letter to Adams, de Silva states:

Whilst the focus of my report is Patrick Finucane’s murder, it was appropriate for me to examine it in its proper context. Among the surrounding key issues is the role that was played by the British Army agent, Brian Nelson. Accordingly, I wanted you to be aware prior to publication that my report touches on the plot by loyalist paramilitaries to attack you in May 1987.

Commenting on the letter, Adams said it comes as “no surprise” that in looking at the British agent, de Silva also had to look at a plot to kill him.

“Collusion between British state forces and unionist death squads was a matter of institutional practise by successive British governments throughout the decades of conflict in the North,” he said.

“It played a part in the attack in March 1984 in which I and three others were shot and it has already been reported that the British were aware of the planned to kill me in May 1987″, he added.

The report is due to be published on 12 December.

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90 Comments
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    Mute Chris Massey
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    Dec 6th 2012, 8:48 PM

    I’d love if Gerry Adams shifted Joan Burton

    220
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    Mute Vincent Dolan
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    Dec 6th 2012, 8:54 PM

    And Clare Daly.

    63
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    Mute John Thomas
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    Dec 6th 2012, 9:08 PM

    Or Ian Pais….no.

    49
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    Mute Vincent Dolan
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    Dec 6th 2012, 9:10 PM

    Gerry and Lucinda Creighton would make a nice couple.

    39
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    Mute Daffy TheBear
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    Dec 6th 2012, 9:35 PM

    Where’s Mary Harney when we need her.?

    37
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    Mute Bruce
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    Dec 6th 2012, 10:22 PM

    Gerry and twink. .. “zip up your bomber jacket…..”

    57
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    Mute toorkeel
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    Dec 6th 2012, 10:30 PM

    Don’t think BiBi would be too impressed if Gerry started pawing Twink…

    21
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    Mute Bruce
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    Dec 6th 2012, 11:40 PM

    tempting libelous reply……

    10
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    Mute Richard_Barrow
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    Dec 6th 2012, 11:52 PM

    U need to google some porn Chris.

    11
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    Mute Mark Prendergast
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    Dec 7th 2012, 12:22 AM

    Clare is taken!

    8
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    Mute Jack N Beanstalk
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    Dec 7th 2012, 12:23 AM

    Kissing that beardy four eyed boll.x with false teeth! YUK

    14
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    Mute Vincent Dolan
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    Dec 7th 2012, 12:26 AM

    #Mark- I’m sure I don’t know who you mean.

    1
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    Mute Martin St John
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    Dec 7th 2012, 12:32 AM

    Dick Barrow …. Now there’s a name that fits ( no gun) sorry no pun intended ….. Have to mind one’s comments here , what with the Adam’s family in our hedges , one never knows y’know… Bang Bang etc. Silly buggers really !

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    Mute Joan Featherstone
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    Dec 7th 2012, 7:06 AM

    Clare is Mick’s, hands off!

    3
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    Mute voodoo_criminology
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    Dec 6th 2012, 9:00 PM

    Whatever about the shifting, this:

    “Collusion between British state forces and unionist death squads was a matter of institutional practise by successive British governments throughout the decades of conflict in the North,” he said.

    is a serious point, and a fair one, on the evidence.

    People often forget that nobody has clean hands in the North, not least the British government.

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    Mute Chris K
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    Dec 6th 2012, 9:30 PM

    Well said

    75
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    Mute Mark Prendergast
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    Dec 6th 2012, 9:50 PM

    Voodoo
    I think you overlook the fact that the Crown was under attack by terrorists who murdered even their own in a savage way. Any State is quite reasonably able to collude with others in its own defense and the current formal recognition of the legality of that State by Sinn Fein proves the point. Indeed the participation by Adams et all in the Governance of that portion of British Territory also confirms that the actions of the British during the Troubles was quite legitimate.
    Of course Adams was a target during this period and not just on two occasions but continuously so.

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    Mute voodoo_criminology
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    Dec 6th 2012, 10:01 PM

    All due respect, Mark, but the fact is that the Crown committed their fair share of terrorist acts in themselves, I suggest having a read of the Finnucane report when it’s released, or the Saville report on Bloody Sunday.

    Which is also aside from the fact that, either on an ad hoc or officially sanctioned basis, the RUC and UDR were actively assisting Loyalist paramilitaries, who killed 1016 people, and were responsible for more civilian deaths than any other grouping.

    Which is aside from the kinds of sectarian discrimination that led to protesters being to the streets in Derry in the first place.

    114
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    Mute Richard_Barrow
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    Dec 6th 2012, 10:35 PM

    Loyalist Paramilitaries were just an unofficial wing of the British Security services. Have you ever read a report about a Loyalist where the line that he was in either the RUC, or the Ulster Defense Regiment or a Special Branch agent. No, nor have I.

    All their guns were British issue that just happened to fall in to their hands. They were controlled and run by the security services and everything they did was signed off at the highest level.

    76
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    Mute Mark Prendergast
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    Dec 7th 2012, 12:22 AM

    Voodoo
    I think you’re missing my point. Any State under attack from terrorists to my mind should use fair means or foul to protect itself. Look at any of the current mob of Islamic Jihadis and tell me they should be given lessons in the Queensbury rules . They need to be destroyed on sight and that is how the British saw it with the IRA and how the Americans see it today. Send in a drone if that can keep the violence offshore but no cosy little chats with these madmen.

    11
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    Mute Richard_Barrow
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    Dec 7th 2012, 12:38 AM

    Mark. The title for people like you is a Kapo. It just sums you up perfectly.

    33
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    Mute Michael Fagan
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    Dec 7th 2012, 1:32 AM

    @ Mark prendegast
    Are you for real? Are you seriously condoning the British state, one of the strongest military powers in the world, who used acts of terrorism to attack and murder innocent unarmed men women and children just because they demanded basic human rights.

    35
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    Mute Gaius Gracchus
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    Dec 7th 2012, 1:58 AM

    Part of the problem in this country is that people are massively opposed to change, I have voted in 4 general elections now, in my first one in the late 90′s it was the Greens (spoilt vote!), in between that I voted Sinn Fein twice, and in the last election for my local representative, Joan Collins, People Before Profit. I am a fluent Irish-speaker who was born in Dublin, to two parents who were not Gaelic speakers, also both from Dublin (with mother born in Londonderry). I have not decided who I will vote for in the next election, probably Joan because she has been outspoken and brave in the Dail, but most people will vote FF, FG and Labour again, and so the cycle continues, sometimes, being left-wing in Ireland feels like being in the closet. like gay couples or atheists, until that changes, around and around we go.

    13
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    Mute Cal1 Mooney
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    Dec 7th 2012, 2:02 AM

    Mark,

    Correct me if i am wrong, but the British saw the Americans as a terrorist organisation. So, using your logic, the USA should never have come to been, am i right?
    Israel was also founded out of terrorism if i am not mistaken…. While the British facilitated the creation of the Palestinian state, the Jewish Israelis used terrorism as the primary means to drive the British out…
    Ben Gurion (The first Israeli prime minister) was a Terrorist according to the British if i am not mistaken.
    I really don’t think Alan Shatter our current Justice minister would support your views entirely.

    24
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    Mute Cal1 Mooney
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    Dec 7th 2012, 2:04 AM

    Gaius Gracchus, i have to ask, how did SF let you down, and how did you come to start calling Derry by the Alan Shatter name?

    24
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    Mute Gaius Gracchus
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    Dec 7th 2012, 11:09 AM

    Did Sinn Fein let me down? I don’t recall that,I’d vote for them again,generations to come will be asking parents more questions about traitors in FF,FG and Labour. As for Derry / Londonderry, it is what it is for now

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    Mute M Bowe
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    Dec 7th 2012, 11:40 AM

    So the states defense of its interest in the 6 counties was due to the ” terrorist ” activities of those gunned down in ballymurphy and Derry by the paras. Sure lets borrow em for the protesters at dail protesting health care cuts. Sure they opposing the state as well.

    10
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    Mute Seán Ó Briain
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    Dec 6th 2012, 9:03 PM

    I haven’t. He’s one of the most important people on the island in terms of pushing on the peace process, and well respected within his community.

    188
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    Mute voodoo_criminology
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    Dec 6th 2012, 9:27 PM

    Well, they did arrange for an innocent man, Pat Finnucane, to be gunned down in front of his family. And for Rosemary Nelson to be blown up in her car. And to have unarmed Civil Rights protesters gunned down in Derry. The list goes on.

    133
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    Mute voodoo_criminology
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    Dec 6th 2012, 9:11 PM

    Read the story, Vincent.

    The British government were just as much responsible for “orchestrating” the conflict as the provos.

    115
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    Mute voodoo_criminology
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    Dec 6th 2012, 9:36 PM

    Why would the British kill Gardaí?

    There’s a strong suspicion of British “intelligence” having been involved in the deaths of 33 Irish civilians, though:

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dublin_and_Monaghan_bombings

    82
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    Mute Vincent Dolan
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    Dec 6th 2012, 8:57 PM

    Gerry was always safe. His camouflage skills are awesome. Apparently he’s been living in Louth all this time and he’s never ever been spotted here, outside of the four weeks leading up to the last election. Superb covert skills. Even went as far as to have a lookalike living up in West Belfast.

    69
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    Mute Chris K
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    Dec 6th 2012, 9:31 PM

    Well he hammered ever other candidate in the running in the Louth/east Meath constituency so the people have spoken

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    Mute Pharmyco
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    Dec 6th 2012, 9:33 PM

    Always safe? He was shot in the neck and nearly died.

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    Mute Vincent Dolan
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    Dec 6th 2012, 9:36 PM

    Well actually through effective vote management Fine Gael didn’t top the poll but brought home two TD’s in Louth/East Meath to SF’s one. So you’re right, the people of Louth did speak. To be fair, it’s tougher in the South for Sinn Fein where they can’t call up to your house on election day to tell you they noted you haven’t voted yet like they do in South Armagh.

    27
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    Mute Ryan Ó Giobúin
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    Dec 6th 2012, 11:41 PM

    Sinn Fein only ran one

    21
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    Mute Vincent Dolan
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    Dec 6th 2012, 11:51 PM

    #Ryan- that’s my point. There’s no glory in West Belfast’s Gerry Adams topping the poll as a single candidate if FG ran two and got both in. It doesn’t matter by how much you exceed the quota- you only get one vote in the Dail.

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    Mute Ryan Ó Giobúin
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    Dec 7th 2012, 12:05 AM

    well, I think you’ll remember that Sinn Féin ran Adams as a result that their current TD was stepping down…they only had one at the time. I remember commentators saying he mightn’t even get elected. Fact is, he might only have one vote to Fine Gael’s two, but at least we hear him and what he says, the two Fine Gaelers are kept in the backbenches until their vote is needed for the budget. What are their names again? All I remember was one was a former Louth manager or something

    28
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    Mute Vincent Dolan
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    Dec 7th 2012, 12:13 AM

    #Ryan- The presumption in Louth was that Tomas Sharkey the local councillor would replace Arthur Morgan. Gerry was parachuted in. They could have ran two. Dropped the ball. As for the two Louth FG TD’s- they don’t have to make noise. They’re in power. Theyre at the wheel. They just pick up the phone to our Taoiseach. Gerry, Mary Lou et al have to make noise because they’re looking in from the outside, powerless. Long may that continue.

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    Mute Richard_Barrow
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    Dec 7th 2012, 12:19 AM

    Ryan. The FG TD who is also the Louth GAA Manager is Peter Fitzpatrick.

    One thing that people from all parties in the Dáil agree that it is a toss up between himself and Timmy Dooley for the least capable reps. I have as bout as much meas in Timmy as I do in a squished slug but he is a lion compared to Peter.

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    Mute Cal1 Mooney
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    Dec 7th 2012, 1:51 AM

    Ach Vincent, when are you going to give it a rest. You are a FFG troll who attacks anything that might hurt FFGs reputation. Based on the number of comments you have to leave, its pretty obvious you have a lot of up hill battles. The truth is, once you get the Tag ‘Troll’ you are only doing your own party more harm than good and no-one even reads your comments anymore, its an automatic red-thumb, regardless of how valid your pint may be.

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    Mute Vincent Dolan
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    Dec 7th 2012, 6:32 AM

    #Cal1- you’re patently another indoctrinated Shinner. Always amazes me the amount of clowns like you who labels anyone who disagrees with them a troll. Sorry, man. Not everyone regards the editorial of An Phoblacht as Gospel. As for nobody reading my posts? You did. Or at least got someone to read it to you and explain the big words.

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    Mute mcbab
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    Dec 7th 2012, 7:58 AM

    Cal. You are troll #1.. You only ever comment on anything to do with your beloved sinn fein.

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    Mute Vincent Dolan
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    Dec 7th 2012, 8:54 AM

    #McBab- that’s absolutely untrue. But I’ll confess- on a thread about Gerry Adams, yes I do talk a lot about Sinn Fein. Unforgivable I know.

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    Mute mcbab
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    Dec 7th 2012, 11:55 AM

    Vincent. My comment was directed at Cal. I am on your side!

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    Mute On the Dole
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    Dec 6th 2012, 9:14 PM

    Slobbering again Vincent, go now like a good little boy and wipe that drool from your mouth !!

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    Mute voodoo_criminology
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    Dec 6th 2012, 9:49 PM

    The IRA killed 9 Gardaí, which is unsurprising considering that they considered themselves to have been at war with the Irish State at the time – bad and all as things got, the British never went that far. Like I say, nobody has clean hands in the North.

    Your point being?

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    Mute Chris K
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    Dec 6th 2012, 9:34 PM

    And a man with a Meer cat as an avatar has what kind of comeback against someone called on the dole ?

    45
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    Mute Vincent Dolan
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    Dec 6th 2012, 9:19 PM

    A guy called “On the dole” defending SF. That’s my whole belief system shattered.

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    Mute TheHeathen
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    Dec 6th 2012, 9:33 PM

    ask the meerkat dot com?

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    Mute Ernie Lynch
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    Dec 6th 2012, 9:53 PM

    Vincent the Provos were not in existence when the troubles started.

    42
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    Mute Enda Curtin
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    Dec 6th 2012, 10:27 PM

    Vincent – caaaalm doooown. Time for your meds.
    I’m not by any means a SF supporter but if you read a few history books on the Troubles you’ll find that a lot of the others’ comments have merit. Nobody from that violent period of our history can deny that ALL sides came out of it with their hands clean.

    Education broadens the mind my friend. Books are a great way of attaining that.

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    Mute Vincent Dolan
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    Dec 6th 2012, 9:22 PM

    The British Government must have robbed the Northern Bank too.

    41
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    Mute Vincent Dolan
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    Dec 6th 2012, 9:30 PM

    Tell me- who have killed more Gardai over the last 50 years, the British or the Provo’s? Answer, please.

    38
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    Mute voodoo_criminology
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    Dec 6th 2012, 10:03 PM

    Guess you must feel the same way about the Tories, then, Vincent? Because they’re no cleaner than the Sinners.

    37
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    Mute voodoo_criminology
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    Dec 6th 2012, 11:18 PM

    I should really let this go … but, seeing as you bring this up would that be the same Free State who officially executed at least 77 of their former comrades, more than the British ever did, and many more extra-judicially? Remember why Richard Mulcahy couldn’t become Taoiseach.

    Nobody has clean hands in Irish politics if you look back far enough, not least the Blueshirts, which is why I think that maybe we should ditch some of the partisan mud-slinging and start looking forward.

    34
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    Mute Ernie Lynch
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    Dec 6th 2012, 10:59 PM

    Vincent the Brits don’t have to try to establish themselves on the Island they have the Unionist in the 6 and the Blueshirts in the 26

    33
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    Mute Vincent Dolan
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    Dec 6th 2012, 9:59 PM

    Voodoo- my point is, Sinn Fein has some nerve sanctimoniously lecturing the legitimate Government of the Irish Republic on ethics, or anything really when ,as you say they were at war with our country and shooting our Gardai not so long ago. They are a cancer on the body politic of our state and their time has passed.

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    Mute Ernie Lynch
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    Dec 6th 2012, 10:14 PM

    Vincent point being to orchestrate something is to plan and cause an event, whilst no side has a clean bib with what happened during the troubles, to claim one participant orchestrated the conflict is showing a distinct lack of knowledge of the era.

    29
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    Mute Frank Cluskey
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    Dec 6th 2012, 10:41 PM

    they will have to learn to say ‘situation’ right before they get my vote

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    Mute Martin St John
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    Dec 7th 2012, 12:41 AM

    Frank that really cracked me up … Class !! I shall say no more . Hence over and out !

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    Mute Dodge Challenger
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    Dec 7th 2012, 8:48 AM

    Sit Che Ation

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    Mute Ryan Ó Giobúin
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    Dec 6th 2012, 11:40 PM

    interesting you should talk about Fine Gael declaring the republic. many commentators would put that down to simply cementing partition. I’m no fan of de Valera, but he held back on declaring a republic so as to keep the gateway to unification open. The blueshirts shut that gate as soon as they could. And as for the commonwealth, wasn’t it Gay Mitchell who said we should join it?

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    Mute Paul Doyle
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    Dec 6th 2012, 8:51 PM

    Image there offspring !!!!
    My mind stings !!!

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    Mute Cal1 Mooney
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    Dec 7th 2012, 1:19 AM

    To all you FFG, FFG, labour traitors… I 100 percent your commendation of the murder of the 9 Gardai during the troubles. I also hope you and your parties condemn the murder of the 60 civilians murdered in the south of Ireland by the British security forces, which were colluded by and covered up by your respective parties. If you don’t condemn them and demand an immediate investigation, then you are nothing but empty vessel hypocrites, who have no moral right to make the comments you have made.

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    Mute Vincent Dolan
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    Dec 6th 2012, 9:43 PM

    #Chris- you have no Avatar. Though bearing in mind your affiliation I suppose you’re more accustomed to wearing the online equivalent of a balaclava. But seriously. The irony of commenting on someone else’ Avatar when you don’t have one yourself isn’t lost on you, is it?

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    Mute Michael Kelleher
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    Dec 6th 2012, 8:50 PM

    And this is news worthy why?

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    Mute Jason Culligan
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    Dec 6th 2012, 9:19 PM

    An agent of the British government involved in a plot to kill an Irish politician, and it isn’t newsworthy because that politician is from Sinn Fein?

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    Mute Richard_Barrow
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    Dec 6th 2012, 11:59 PM

    Remember Eddie Fullerton, the Donegal SF cllr killed in the early 90′s. It was a guard that led the UVF gunmen to his house, a paid agent and it was RUC men that guided him to the border.

    FG was the only party that refused to commiserate or send condolences with his family. There are still a lot of very poisonous men in that party, much worse than any bigot from the Shankill Rd. They’ve moved on some bit at least.

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    Mute dublinlad72
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    Dec 6th 2012, 10:05 PM

    Ah now come off it. There’s plenty of suitors that would to take him down an alley. Gerry is no angel, we’ll all do well to not forget that. That said, no one is. My point is that it shouldn’t be a big shock that there was a threat to his life.

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    Mute Ryan Ó Giobúin
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    Dec 6th 2012, 11:56 PM

    I think you will find the Border Commission was actually messed up by Cosgrave and the granddaddy of Micahel MacDowell, Eoin MacNeill. And to be honest, are we even a proper free state with the troika dictating our finances? Or much of a republic when the government disrespects the people? Anyway, I’m going a bit off topic here!

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    Mute Martin Dorgan
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    Dec 6th 2012, 9:34 PM

    Provos were always targets of others as others were targets of Provos.

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    Mute Vincent Dolan
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    Dec 6th 2012, 9:44 PM

    #Voodoo- Why would the Irish Republican Army shoot Gardai one might equally ask. So you never answered my question…..

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    Mute Vincent Dolan
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    Dec 6th 2012, 11:10 PM

    #Ernie- this would be the Blueshirts whose forbearers establish the Free State? Who declared and established the Irish Republic and took us out of the commonwealth? Who were the first Irish Government to secure a say ( albeit slight) in the running of the North by virtue of the Anglo Irish Agreement. Who are now fighting to restore Irish Sovereignty after it was recklessly surrendered by “The Republican Party” ? Those Blueshirts? Fine Gael’s nationalist credentials are solid. The only difference is they have achieved things while others talk about it.

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    Mute mart_n
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    Dec 6th 2012, 8:55 PM

    The news of your spectacled kid isn’t news either; but there you are letting everyone know that you have a kid with spectacles.

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    Mute Vincent Dolan
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    Dec 6th 2012, 10:00 PM

    #Ernie- neither were the Bay City Rollers. Point being?

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    Mute Vincent Dolan
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    Dec 6th 2012, 10:13 PM

    #Voodoo- I promise you- I would no more welcome the British Tory Party into Dáil Éireann than Sinn Fein. You have my word

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    Mute Enda Curtin
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    Dec 6th 2012, 10:29 PM

    Correction – nobody came out with their hands clean

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    Mute Vincent Dolan
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    Dec 6th 2012, 10:33 PM

    #Enda- And I said SF are the only guilty party where, exactly? The British aren’t trying to establish themselves as a legitimate political party icy country, though. For the record, I live 10 miles form the border. You’ve nothing to teach me about the North. Or history for that matter. But thanks for taking the time to drop me a line. Always nice to hear from you.

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    Mute Ernie Lynch
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    Dec 6th 2012, 11:59 PM

    Sorry folks new to this game but posted a reply to Vincent 10 minutes ago. How come it is not appearing?

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    Mute Krystian Brzezowski
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    Dec 7th 2012, 1:54 AM

    And yet he is still alive like that devil Pesley.

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    Mute Vincent Dolan
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    Dec 6th 2012, 10:17 PM

    #Ernie- actually, to orchestrate means to organise, not necessarily to start. But that matters little…

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    Mute Frank2521
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    Dec 6th 2012, 10:15 PM

    I wish Adems would finish the peace process and hold on to the values that still prevail regarding symbolism like flags and the Irish language. He knows what these symbols represent and it’s not peace. I think the guys on the lower levels of SF contributed hugely to the peace process and Adems himself played a greater role than the politicians involved. Still there is a lot to be done and he should be in the north finishing what he started.

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    Mute tom
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    Dec 7th 2012, 12:43 AM

    the Irish flag and lagunage is part of Ireland. Gerry is a Irish man. whats not to understand.

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    Mute Cal1 Mooney
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    Dec 7th 2012, 1:40 AM

    Frank, a lot of SF’ers will give me red thumbs for this, but i agree that Gerry Adams should step down as leader of SF in the Dail.
    I acknowledge the sacrifices he has made as a human being. He was shot 7 times, he had to deal with incest within his own family ( but because he was leader of a political party, he had to deal with all of it publicly, as well as go on National TV and ask people to support getting his brother in custody), he was interned as a teenager without trial in the H-Block for years, without any semblance of justice, he supported the peace process and made peace with the same people who wanted him murdered personally.

    But i think at this stage, for the good of the 26 counties, in our time of need, he should step down as leader of SF in the Dail. We need the SF party to be seen as the light that it is. People have lost faith in the political establishment in the 26 counties. The established parties continued and persistent self-serving corruption and totally immoral actions against the Irish people, is leaving the people without hope. Based on the perception that Gerry Adams has a history to be ashamed of, is holding SF back from being the beacon of light that Adams himself created the SF party to be, during the darkest times for the Irish living in the North.

    If he steps aside now, he will send the strongest signal to the Irish people, that people do sacrifice for the right reason, and that there is hope that by electing a different party into power, a party of morals, it will do the right thing by the Irish people.
    Not like the self-serving shower of pigs, who deserve nothing but our contempt, and hopefully prison, if SF does come to power.

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    Mute Robert Kennedy
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    Dec 7th 2012, 1:44 AM

    Best comment on this article was Gerry Adams shifting twisted head Joan burton as for the big essays of shite get on with ur life’s lads enjoy yourselfs maybe

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    Mute Vincent Dolan
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    Dec 6th 2012, 11:48 PM

    #Ryan- Problem with your logic there, is that had they not done and we had waited until a United Ireland we’d still be a Free State now. As for cementing partition, the postponement of the Boundary Commission as a result of the actions of Dev’s lot pretty much set that in motion 15 years earlier.

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    Mute John
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    Dec 11th 2012, 12:45 PM

    Pat Finucane was a very brave man and deserved this honour. I’m sure too that he should also have been in line for the Noble Peace Prize award.

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    Mute Martin St John
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    Dec 7th 2012, 12:46 AM

    Sean his community is small in every way so run along now and burry your head in the past and stay there forever !

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    Mute John
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    Dec 11th 2012, 1:02 PM

    Sorry, the posting by John was meant for news article (Pat Finucane Mural unveiled before de Silva Report).

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