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PA Images

UK Supreme Court quashes Gerry Adams' 1970s convictions for attempted Maze Prison escapes

Adams attempted to escape from the Maze on Christmas Eve 1973 and again in July 1974.

LAST UPDATE | 13 May 2020

FORMER SINN FÉIN president Gerry Adams has won a UK Supreme Court appeal against two historic convictions for attempting to escape from the Maze Prison in the 1970s.

The former Sinn Féin leader had claimed that two 1975 convictions relating to his attempts to escape from the Maze Prison during the early 1970s are unsafe because his detention was not “personally considered” by a senior government minister.

Lawyers for Adams, aged 71, argued that because the interim custody order (ICO) used to initially detain him was not authorised by the then secretary of state for Northern Ireland, Willie Whitelaw, his detention was unlawful.

Welcoming the judgement, Gerry Adams said in a statement that “internment, like all coercive measures, failed”.

Of course internment, later described as detention by the British, was never lawful. In fact it set aside the normal principles of law and was based on a blunt and brutal piece of coercive legislation.

“I have no regrets about my imprisonment except for the time I was separated from my family,” he said.

He added that he was in the company “of many remarkable, resilient and inspiring people” while in the Prison Ship Maidstone, in Belfast prison and in Long Kesh.

The attempted Maze Prison escapes

Adams attempted to escape from the Maze, also known as Long Kesh internment camp, on Christmas Eve 1973 and again in July 1974.

The former Louth TD was first detained in March 1972, but was released in June that year to take part in secret talks in London before being rearrested in July 1973.

In 2018, the Court of Appeal in Belfast heard that, on Christmas Eve 1973, Adams was among four detainees caught attempting to break out of the Maze.

The second escape bid in July 1974 was described as an “elaborate scheme” which involved the kidnap of a man who bore a “striking resemblance” to Adams from a bus stop in west Belfast.

The man was taken to a house where his hair was dyed and he was given a false beard, then taken to the Maze where he was to be substituted for Adams in a visiting hut, the court heard.

However, prison staff were alerted to the plan and Adams was arrested in the car park of the jail, the court was told. He was later sentenced to a total of four and a half years.

The judgement

2.9551881 Willie Whitelaw was secretary of state at the time. PA Images PA Images

Announcing the Supreme Court’s judgment at a remote hearing this morning, Lord Kerr – the former Lord Chief Justice of Northern Ireland – said the court had unanimously allowed Adams’ appeal and had quashed his convictions.

The judge said Adams’ detention was unlawful because it had not been “considered personally” by Whitelaw.

Lord Kerr said: “The making of the ICO in respect of the appellant was invalid since the secretary of state had not himself considered it.

“In consequence, Mr Adams’ detention was unlawful, hence his convictions of attempting to escape from lawful custody were, likewise, unlawful.”

Lord Kerr added: “The appeal is therefore allowed and his convictions are quashed.”

The legal arguments

At a hearing in November, Adams’ barrister Sean Doran QC said his client’s appeal had been “prompted by the obtaining of materials under the 30-year rule”, under which government papers are made public.

Doran said those documents revealed there had been “considerable debate within the Northern Ireland Office and the Home Office” about whether Adams had been lawfully detained.

He said a legal opinion requested by Northern Ireland prosecutors before Adams’ trial concluded that an ICO had to be personally considered by the secretary of state to be valid.

Doran continued that there was also a note of a meeting in July 1974 held by then prime minister Howard Wilson, which he said “confirms that the secretary of state himself did not personally consider the appellant’s case”.

He added that the attorney general at the time, Samuel Silkin QC, told the meeting “there might be as many as 200 persons unlawfully detained in Northern Ireland” as a result of junior ministers authorising ICOs under the previous Conservative government.

Tony McGleenan QC, representing the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland, argued that the minister of state who signed the ICO “had the power to do so”.

He said that the power to make ICOs was designed “to deal with a situation of civil emergency”.

McGleenan added: “It would have been impractical or even impossible for the secretary of state to give personal consideration to every request for the making of an ICO.”

The barrister accepted that Adams’ convictions should be quashed if the Supreme Court ruled in his favour. 

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    Mute The Risen
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    May 13th 2020, 10:30 AM

    Great to see. The man who risked his life to bring peace to our island and who helped to take the gun out of Irish politics finally sees justice.

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    Mute Johnny 5
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    May 13th 2020, 10:34 AM

    @The Risen: When our island is united, Gerry and Martin McGuinness will be remembered as the remarkable leaders they were. Great to see Gerry still taking on the British establishment and winning. Tiocfaidh ár lá.

    696
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    Mute WESTY
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    May 13th 2020, 10:38 AM

    @The Risen: The man who normalised British rule in the north.Who’s party supports PSNI recruitment drives.What a patriot

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    Mute Decko49
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    May 13th 2020, 10:40 AM

    @WESTY: The man who brought Peace to Ireland. But don’t let that get in the way of your agenda.

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    Mute Badger the witness
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    May 13th 2020, 10:52 AM

    @WESTY: Yes the Good Friday agreement has its flaws, do you have a better idea? Please do tell.

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    Mute Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh
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    May 13th 2020, 10:57 AM

    @Johnny 5: I think you will find that the real driver of the peace process was John Hume. It was he who convinced the IRA to give up their arms.

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    Mute Dermo Adams
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    May 13th 2020, 11:01 AM

    @Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh: Actually, those of us old enough to remember the real, non reeling in the years, version of events, know that the person who convinced the IRA in South Armagh to support the peace process and give up their guns was a man called Slab Murphy.

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    Mute Tricia G
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    May 13th 2020, 11:06 AM

    @Dermo Adams: There was a hell of a lot of people involved in convincing all sides to take the political route.

    Trying to one up each other is just bloody childish, cop on.

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    Mute Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh
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    May 13th 2020, 11:22 AM

    @Dermo Adams:I clearly remember the peace process.at the time.
    John Hume convinced the IRA to give up its weapons. Their internal processes for doing that are a side point.

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    Mute WESTY
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    May 13th 2020, 11:26 AM

    @Decko49:All of which could have been achieved through the civil rights movement.The likes of Sands,O’Hara died for freedom not equality they would turn in their graves.Adams was surrounded by Mi5 agents (Donaldson,McShane)do you seriously not think he wasn’t influenced?

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    Mute Alan McArdle
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    May 13th 2020, 11:26 AM

    @Tricia G: most sensible comment yet. The whole thing was a minefield. It’s plain that a lot of characters played their part and used their influence. A lot of necks were on the line.

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    Mute WESTY
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    May 13th 2020, 11:28 AM

    @Badger the witness: Violence was never necessary for equality.Countless dead for what ?John Hume could of achieved this stalemate PIRA fought for freedom not normalisation.

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    Mute Wheresmyjumper
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    May 13th 2020, 11:34 AM

    @The Risen: will Gemma get justice today? You were a big fan of her for the presidential election

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    Mute JusticeForJoe
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    May 13th 2020, 11:43 AM

    @Wheresmyjumper: A lot of people were. She seemed a decent candidate at one point. That was before her wheels came off, bless her. Her mental health has deteriorated since then

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    Mute Tricia G
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    May 13th 2020, 11:44 AM

    @WESTY: Remarkable how people always say that AFTER the events. And yet history has shown just how rare your claims are in the real world. More often than not it’s a combination of multiple factors that lead to a change.

    When you have an intransigent foe that perceives you as “less than” and treats you, your family and friends in an obviously prejudicial manner it shouldn’t come as a surprise that those people use all means open to them to change the status quo.

    Your trite comments, made from a place of privilege and peace, ignore the reality of the situation.

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    Mute Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh
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    May 13th 2020, 11:46 AM

    @JusticeForJoe: It deteriorated a long time before that.

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    Mute JusticeForJoe
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    May 13th 2020, 11:50 AM

    @Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh: If it did, it was less blatant to see. She was a very good journalist

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    Mute WESTY
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    May 13th 2020, 11:50 AM

    @Tricia G: A place of “privilege” I’ve lost two uncles who fought during the conflict my father lost an eye I’m very aware of the time before there was peace.Do u have experience or did you see it on TV?

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    Mute Peader O Harlaigh
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    May 13th 2020, 11:51 AM

    @WESTY: achieved by civil rights movement… yea right, we all know what happened in one march.

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    Mute Liam Ó hAodha
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    May 13th 2020, 11:53 AM

    @Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh: Christ on a bike, have a day off will ya!

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    Mute Tricia G
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    May 13th 2020, 11:56 AM

    @WESTY: I’m not the one making the nonsensical suggestion that the Good Friday Agreement could have been achieved through purely peaceful means.

    What’s remarkable to me is you claim to have lived through those times and actually believe that! Like you have conveniently forgotten the involvement of Ian Paisley in getting the Troubles started simply because he and his cohorts could see the way the wind was blowing.

    You’re revising history to support your own narrative. And it’s clear to everyone here reading.

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    Mute Liam Ó hAodha
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    May 13th 2020, 11:57 AM

    @WESTY: They tried Civil Rights – can you not remember? The British Army shot 14 UNARMED civil rights marchers DEAD and wounded another 13 by gun shots
    The people of Dublin burned the British embassy to the ground, seriously can you not remember

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    Mute WESTY
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    May 13th 2020, 12:06 PM

    @Tricia G: No your just blinded by the fact that violence wasn’t necessary to achieve equality.Theres a reason why east Tyrone left Sinn Fein we realise we were sold a pup.Civil right movement was never given a chance and yeah I prefer 20 more bloody Sunday’s than 3500 deaths.People who weren’t even involved just can’t admit they violence was necessary to achieve this current situation.

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    May 13th 2020, 12:26 PM

    @Liam Ó hAodha: I remember I also remember the roughly 3500 people who died after for nothing.Do you not remember the international condemnation of the Brits action.The Brits would of bowed to political pressure and granted equality if such an incident occurred again.Sinners won’t admit they bought into a pup.Brits have no intention of leaving any time soon.If they did why would they spend a 100 million on a new Mi5 base.We in East Tyrone recognised this and hence why 5 cumans left SF.

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    Mute Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh
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    May 13th 2020, 12:52 PM

    @Liam Ó hAodha: Perhaps you should worry about your own requirements for time off, rather than being concerned about others’

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    Mute JusticeForJoe
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    May 13th 2020, 1:07 PM

    @WESTY: Nobody seems to share your view

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    Mute Wheresmyjumper
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    May 13th 2020, 1:21 PM

    @JusticeForJoe: not really she was anti vaccinations while going for presidential candidate, a dangerous fool not to be pitied

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    Mute WESTY
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    May 13th 2020, 1:28 PM

    @JusticeForJoe: 45 people seem to from a journal comment

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    Mute Liam Ó hAodha
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    May 13th 2020, 1:56 PM

    @WESTY: So your saying the Civil Rights marchers should of kept going out marching to get slaughtered with no underground resistance and hopefully the UN would step in, eventually?
    As you say roughly 3500 people died and the UN hardly mentioned the conflict let alone “Come in”
    Answer me this, do you agree the French were right to resist occupation by Gorilla tactics?
    Even the English used Gorilla tactics against occupiers over the centuries so don’t act like its something new!!

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    Mute WESTY
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    May 13th 2020, 2:48 PM

    @Liam Ó hAodha: I do support armed action and the use of guerrilla tactics.However I do not support fighting for a cause and then abandoning it and proceeding to decommission weapons .I would support SF if they weren’t such hypocrites ,there’s a reason why more people are becoming disillusioned with the GFA we are no close to a united Ireland which I hope you would want.

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    Mute KEN L
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    May 13th 2020, 5:45 PM

    @The Risen:

    The man who covered up rape pedophilia

    11
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    Mute KEN L
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    May 13th 2020, 6:16 PM

    @WESTY:

    it’s not as if Gerry was blackmailed or anything like that , there was no leverage they could use , no pedo brother etc

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    May 13th 2020, 6:46 PM

    @KEN L: Exactly to autotroph Brendan Hughes”Belfast was rotten it was riddled with informers”

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    Mute KEN L
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    May 13th 2020, 6:53 PM

    @WESTY:

    don’t forget his fearless work to expose IRA sex offenders

    “sometimes the victims enjoy it” .. ah huh whatever you say Gerry

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    Mute KEN L
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    May 13th 2020, 7:33 PM

    @WESTY:

    ” PIRA fought for freedom ”

    murdering irish people
    abusing irish people
    intimidating witnesses
    covering up rape pedophilia
    robbing banks / post offices

    7
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    Mute Clive Rhinestone
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    May 14th 2020, 9:24 AM

    @Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh: yes…. that’s right!!!!! The IRA listened to Hume and not their own supporters!!!! Of course, Gerry Adams didn’t have as much sway as Hume when it came to convincing the IRA to lay down weapons!!!!!!

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    Mute The Ayurvedic
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    May 13th 2020, 10:33 AM

    Brilliant result. Delighted for him.

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    Mute Johnny 5
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    May 13th 2020, 10:28 AM

    Well done Gerry. British justice laid bare once more.

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    Mute Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh
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    May 13th 2020, 10:39 AM

    @Johnny 5: Do you not agree with the decision?

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    Mute Caoimhín O Neill
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    May 13th 2020, 11:03 AM

    @Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh: what’s your opinion?

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    Mute Johnny 5
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    May 13th 2020, 11:24 AM

    @Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh: Oh dark man, you know what I mean. It’s a wonderful decision that clears a man wrongfully convicted. Nearly 2,000 people were interned, of which nearly 95% were nationalist and 5% loyalist. Sound like equal justice to you pal?

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    Mute Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh
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    May 13th 2020, 11:28 AM

    @Caoimhín O Neill: Obviously the justice system worked.

    What’s yours?

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    Mute Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh
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    May 13th 2020, 11:45 AM

    @Johnny 5: Not sure what the relevance of your last post is.

    Mr Adams used the British justice system to quash an unlawful conviction. Clearly it is a fair and balanced system.

    My question is very straightforward:

    Is what you mean by saying “British justice laid bare once more.” is that the British system is fair and balanced as it allows an historical conviction to be quashed?
    Or are you saying that British Justice is not fair and balanced and Mr Adam’s conviction should not have been quashed?

    If you don’t want to clarify your ambiguous comment then that’s fine.

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    Mute Dermot Foley
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    May 13th 2020, 1:01 PM

    @Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh: i think the insinuation is more that there have been countless instances of historical convictions of innocent men throughout the troubles rather than the current justice system.
    I could be wrong but that would be my take on it.

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    Mute Johnny 5
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    May 13th 2020, 3:17 PM

    @Dermot Foley: You are correct Dermot. Dark man knows what I’m saying, he’s just trying to look clever.

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    Mute Feardorcha Ó Maolomhnaigh
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    May 13th 2020, 4:54 PM

    @Dermot Foley:

    There have been a number of obvious instances. The Guilford four and the Birmingham six come to mind, but not countless. Mr Adam’s can now technically can be counted as such.

    It’s a bit disingenuous to criticise the entire British justice system when that very same system quashed those unlawful convictions

    Every Justice system in the world has had wrongful convictions, be they by malicious agents or on technicalities. It is the sign of a robust judicial system that can rectify those wrongs.

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    Mute KEN L
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    May 13th 2020, 6:18 PM

    @Johnny 5:

    Well done Áine. Your uncle laid bare.

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    Mute Aging Lothario
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    May 13th 2020, 10:51 AM

    This is the same man who was never in the IRA, he would have gained far more respect if he just admitted to his past, rather than trying to make out that he was Mother Teresa.

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    Mute Newnob
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    May 13th 2020, 11:00 AM

    @Aging Lothario: Funny that, the most watched man during the troubles wasn’t ever arrested for being in the IRA? Why is that, perhaps it because he wasn’t. And there no proof to the contrary?

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    Mute Tricia G
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    May 13th 2020, 11:04 AM

    @Aging Lothario: BTW – I seriously doubt Gerry cares a fig about your “respect”.

    In fact I’m willing to beat even if he came out and admitted everything you believe him to guilty of he still would never gain your “respect”.

    Who in their right mind would want it?

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    Mute Larkin About
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    May 13th 2020, 11:07 AM

    @Aging Lothario: He gained enough respect to form part of the guard of honour at Nelson Mandelas funeral.

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    Mute Johnny 5
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    May 13th 2020, 11:19 AM

    @Aging Lothario: If only some sort of a commission could be set up so those from all groups, legal or otherwise, could tell their stories and give the victim’s families some closure. But both governments don’t want their dirty laundry aired in public so it will never happen. The families will continue to have to fight for justice. Dublin, Monaghan, Kingsmill, Birmingham, Guildford, La Mon, Bloody Friday, Ballymurphy….they and so many others just want the truth.

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    Mute Tricia G
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    May 13th 2020, 11:24 AM

    @Aging Lothario: Interesting the amount of comments being reported on this thread……. People really do struggle to admit they’re wrong about a person they’ve invested so much energy into worshipping. Even when evidence clearly shows that they’re wrong in their adulation.

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    Mute Joe Conway
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    May 13th 2020, 2:19 PM

    Now he can legitimately deny he ever tried to escape from the Maze prison twice!!!!!

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    Mute KEN L
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    May 13th 2020, 5:51 PM

    @Larkin About:

    Nelson Mandela forgave everyone same reason Gerry Adams wants the whole world to move on . They’re cowards

    All the speeches all the historical agreements but at the end of the day they are cowards who won’t answer for what they’ve done . violence murder etc

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    Mute Tricia G
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    May 13th 2020, 11:00 AM

    “When those that make the laws break the laws, there is no law”.

    Anyone that argues that’s internment was legal and justified will disagree with today’s ruling but I personally believe it was not and therefore there can be no other outcome in this case.

    Internment without trial should never be tolerated in a democratic society.

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    Mute Shedonny
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    May 13th 2020, 2:05 PM

    @Tricia G:
    “Internment without trial should never be tolerated in a democratic society.”
    Agree. The Israeli government for years has been using internment (called “administrative detention” by them) to imprison Palestinians without trial, many of whom are re-arrested each time the period of internment is finished.
    When they are eventually charged with the “crime” of resisting the occupation of their land, Palestinians are tried in military courts, without the protections of law enjoyed instead by Israeli citizens, including hundreds of thousands of illegal settlers.
    Yet the Irish government continues the pretence that Israel is a democratic country.

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    May 13th 2020, 2:12 PM

    @Shedonny: You’ve misunderstood my comment.

    I didn’t say democratic countries didn’t use internment, just that it shouldn’t be tolerated.

    I am not getting dragged into a discussion about the Irish governments toleration of Israel’s policies. That’s not the subject under discussion here.

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    Mute Brynþór Patrekursson
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    May 13th 2020, 4:31 PM

    @Tricia G: Amongst all your extensive revisionist comments today, you missed one important part: this was not about if internment was wrong or not, it was about who signed the order, and subsequent impact of that. On the back of the incorrect authorisation, his belfast based cohort organised escapes, involving the horrific kidnapping of an individual. Stick with the facts, and internment without trial was wrong. On the other hand, putting individual like the 2 Gerrys, Keenan etc… off the scene, particularly as this was when they were disappearing and instigating the campaign in england, would have saved thousands of lives and potentially avoided the troubles.

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    May 13th 2020, 10:53 AM

    Maith an fear Gerry.

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    Mute Mícheál Mac Donncha
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    May 13th 2020, 12:24 PM

    As usual many of the comments here filled with personal bitterness. But the big news in this story is that 1,981 people were interned without trial between 1971 and 1975, and this case could mean that even under draconian British law many if not most of them were detained illegally by the British government.

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    Mute joan kelly
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    May 13th 2020, 11:51 AM

    Delighted for Gerry Adams . Justice at last for him

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    Mute KEN L
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    May 13th 2020, 5:55 PM

    @joan kelly:

    if there was justice Gerry Adams would spend the rest of his life in prison

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    Mute Gary O CONNOR
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    May 13th 2020, 11:36 AM

    Good news for change .

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    Mute Geraldine Glynn
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    May 13th 2020, 10:50 AM

    A travesty of justice rectified. This man was never in the IRA. He said so himself.He is a man of his word. Terrible that he was imprisoned with those people.
    He can now enjoy his 17,000 Dail pension and 50,000 lump and his MLA and MP pensions.

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    Mute Diarmuid
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    May 13th 2020, 10:58 AM

    @David Glynn: Humble Pie with a side of sour grapes for brekkie David? Hate that!

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    Mute Denis Reidy
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    May 13th 2020, 11:08 AM

    @Geraldine Glynn: enjoy your stats, shame you won’t be able to access any more because of FFG censorship

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    Mute Denis Reidy
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    May 13th 2020, 11:08 AM

    @Geraldine Glynn: enjoy your stats, shame you won’t be able to access any more because of FFG censorship

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    Mute Denis Reidy
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    May 13th 2020, 11:08 AM

    @Denis Reidy: oops

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    Mute Johnny 5
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    May 13th 2020, 11:13 AM

    @Geraldine Glynn:
    Armoured cars and tanks and guns,
    Came to take away our sons,
    But every man must stand behind,
    The men behind the wire.

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    Mute Disco Inferno
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    May 13th 2020, 12:02 PM

    @Denis Reidy: it’s gdpr regulations, not censorship. Your issue is with Europe

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    Mute Denis Reidy
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    May 13th 2020, 12:42 PM

    @Disco Inferno: Convenient for our lot. How much do the new secretaries for retired thaoisigh earn

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    Mute KEN L
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    May 13th 2020, 5:56 PM

    @Geraldine Glynn:

    “Anyone complicit in the cover up of abuse should be arrested and face the full rigors of the law”

    – Mary Lou McDonald
    November 2009

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    Mute KEN L
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    May 13th 2020, 6:20 PM

    @Johnny 5:

    “Anyone complicit in the cover up of abuse should be arrested and face the full rigors of the law”

    – Mary Lou McDonald
    November 2009

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    Mute Johnny 5
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    May 13th 2020, 6:41 PM

    @KEN L: You mad bro?

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    Mute KEN L
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    May 13th 2020, 6:58 PM

    @Geraldine Glynn:

    A man of his word .. who told his own niece to sign a court injunction to keep a sex abuse cover up out of the papers

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    Mute KEN L
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    May 14th 2020, 12:38 AM

    @Johnny 5:

    Are you ignoring what Mary Lou said .. bro .

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    Mute Johnny 5
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    May 13th 2020, 11:29 AM

    @Shay Leonard: Another libellous comment Shay. Or maybe you know something the PSNI don’t? If so, I would urge you to bring your information to the authorities.

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    Mute Sarah Osborn Green
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    May 13th 2020, 1:25 PM

    Not the greatest fan of Gerry Adams but I do acknowledge the massive efforts himself and Martin McGuinness made to the peace process. Internment was wrong, many Irish suffered from so called British Justice during these times. It is the right judgement regardless of your political allegiances or opinions of Gerry Adams.

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    Mute KEN L
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    May 13th 2020, 5:59 PM

    @Sarah Osborn Green:

    please don’t fall for the SF lies , the reason adams and mcguinness made peace was to stay out of prison

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    Mute Donal Desmond
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    May 13th 2020, 12:08 PM

    @Shay Leonard: Funny but you never mentioned Dublin Monaghan bombings, Bloody Sunday, Murders in Ballymurphy, and other people murdered by collision of British forces.. Of course revisionists see only one side.

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    Mute Johnny 5
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    May 13th 2020, 10:54 AM

    @Shay Leonard: That would have been the UVF and RUC as you well know.

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    Mute Johnny 5
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    May 13th 2020, 11:10 AM

    @Johnny 5: @Shay Leonard, I see your libellous comment has been removed.

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    Mute james canning
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    May 13th 2020, 6:37 PM

    @KEN L: the catholic church and numerous irish governments where good at covering up rape and pedophilia letting priests do what they like and when caught move them to a different parish

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    Mute Johnny 5
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    May 13th 2020, 6:42 PM

    @KEN L: You ok hun?

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    Mute KEN L
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    May 13th 2020, 7:03 PM

    @james canning:

    the IRA moved sex offenders to safe houses
    Gerry’s brother Liam was allowed work in a youth club of all places

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    Mute Newnob
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    May 13th 2020, 11:02 AM

    @Shay Leonard: Do you think Gerry Adams started the troubles? You need to read more.

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    Mute Brynþór Patrekursson
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    May 13th 2020, 4:42 PM

    @Newnob: There actually is one way of looking at it that he personally did. If Stephenson with Adam’s support did not start the Provos/SF and the two pronged good cop/bad cop republican sectarianism in the early 70s, there is a chance that the 1969 riots would have been the extent of the serious violence and the 1972 and 1974 ceasefires may have become permanent. Unlike other civil unrests, SF’s approach, led by Adams, in explicitly denying everything to the grave, regardless of the fact that their war is over, means that every single comment on here is speculation, ironically unless it is provided by the British such as this decision.

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    Mute KEN L
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    May 13th 2020, 6:00 PM

    @Newnob:

    all the SF supporters online today acting like they just won the lotto , did they forget what Gerry covered up ?

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    Mute Johnny 5
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    May 13th 2020, 6:43 PM

    @KEN L: Gerry’s an innocent mawn!

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    Mute KEN L
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    May 13th 2020, 7:07 PM

    @Johnny 5:

    oh aye an innocent mawn so he is

    a wee hero

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    Mute Conor Noonan
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    May 13th 2020, 11:00 AM

    I can feel like a Jerry Springer chant coming on.,Gerry,Gerry,Gerry

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    Mute Tricia G
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    May 13th 2020, 11:26 AM

    @Shay Leonard: You really don’t want to go down that route.

    There are many many victims, on both sides. Claiming a moral victory for one side over the other is a fools errand.

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    Mute Tricia G
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    May 13th 2020, 11:02 AM

    @Shay Leonard: You realise that is completely irrelevant here.

    He was convicted of attempting to escape an illegal imprisonment.

    If there was evidence that supported your claims you can bet he would be arrested, charged and convicted but you can’t genuinely expect him to just admit it, can you?

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    Mute Rochey77
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    May 13th 2020, 10:35 AM

    And the point of this was?

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    Mute Declan Leonard
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    May 13th 2020, 10:37 AM

    @Rochey77: Justice. He was detained illegally alongside many others. Justice should always prevail

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    Mute King B
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    May 13th 2020, 10:38 AM

    @Rochey77: his imprisonment was unlawful so his attempt to escape convictions were also unlawful. If you had unlawful arrests and convictions you’d look to have them overturned too.

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    Mute joan kelly
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    May 13th 2020, 11:53 AM

    @Rochey77: bla bla

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    Mute talksense
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    May 13th 2020, 1:31 PM

    @Declan Leonard: should he be sainted

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    Mute KEN L
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    May 13th 2020, 6:38 PM

    @Declan Leonard:

    ” Justice should always prevail ”

    - Liam Adams sexually abused his own daughter
    - Gerry knew for years and did nothing
    - Liam Adams was working in a youth club after that
    - Gerry told his niece to sign a court injunction
    - She refused and Gerry has since stepped down
    - That’s the same Gerry Adams who condemns the church cover up

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    Mute James Kelly
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    May 13th 2020, 1:55 PM

    Like his commitment to the peace process ADAMS has doggedly pursued his appeal against convictions arising from a pernicious “law” which saw many equally innocent persons detained behind bars having lost their liberty for long periods of time with no hint of a trial (As there was little or no evidence of any crime). Internment suited the Occupying forces but failed to achieve its aim; witness the GFA and years of relative peace in Ireland. Even if ADAMS was in the IRA, the prosecution lacked a fundamental bit of evidence; the signed order from a Minister. Being an imperative for detention and subsequent conviction , the Supreme Court had to grant the appeal.

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    Mute Brynþór Patrekursson
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    May 13th 2020, 5:14 PM

    @James Kelly: Outside of the “was he in the ‘RA’” silliness, no one but the guy in for a financial windfall today, will ever know who was the OC in the early 70s that pushed for bigger killing sprees? the decision to push, against the actual IRA chief of staff (funny how up until then, the Provo’s chief of staff was know, and then suddenly it wasn’t) at the time, and break the ceasefire in favour the bloody friday bombings, starting the process of disappearing and keeping it going until the people on the ground could take no more – whoever was the leader then, it’s up there with who shot JR? But it certainly wasn’t any “peacemaker” who continues to refute it.

    What is certain is for a man who didn’t orchestrate one of the biggest reigns of terrors on both communities in the North, he certainly brought peace by stepping aside.

    Internment was wrong. Getting off interment because the guy you were having ceasefire discussions months earlier didn’t sign a piece of paper with your name on it is downright lucky (and incompetent by the govt). Gerry Adams as a symbol of peace is up there with Pol Pot being a farmer’s friend and Pinochet being a man of the people.

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    Mute KEN L
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    May 13th 2020, 6:07 PM

    @Brynþór Patrekursson:

    the IRA that gerry adams supports are no better than criminal gangs, i sincerely doubt the irish electorate would celebrate the Hutch and Kinahan family if they stopped murdering people tomorrow

    the irish electorate would say the murders shouldn’t have happened in the first place

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    Mute ooop
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    May 13th 2020, 11:47 AM

    Does anyone really care anymore? Still being into all this republican nonsense is a clear sign of low intelligence

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    Mute Tricia G
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    May 13th 2020, 11:52 AM

    @ooop: “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

    We should all care about these things. Internment has happened regularly in many democratic countries. It should never be tolerated even if that legal repudiation is decades coming.

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    Mute Johnny 5
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    May 13th 2020, 12:04 PM

    @ooop: Our country men and women in the north would beg to differ. Typical “I’m alright Jack” comment from someone with a partitionist mindset.

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    Mute ooop
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    May 13th 2020, 12:24 PM

    @Johnny 5: a

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    Mute ooop
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    May 13th 2020, 12:26 PM

    @Johnny 5: was expecting West Brit, but partionist is a new one! I’d say I fall into the ever increasing category of people who just don’t care anymore. And are ready for Ireland to grow up as a nation and stop blaming the Brits for every grievance ever. Because I can assure you they don’t ever think about us

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    Mute Donal Desmond
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    May 13th 2020, 3:12 PM

    @ooop: Perhaps you should care. History has a habit of repeating itself. It certainly was all the fault of successive British governments, successive Irish governments also share responsibility for the conflict in the six counties. They buried their heads in the sand concerning the apartheid state that existed in the six counties.

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    Mute KEN L
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    May 13th 2020, 6:01 PM

    @ooop:

    the victims and their families care

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    Mute KEN L
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    May 13th 2020, 6:40 PM

    @ooop:

    West Brit : irish person who refuses to smile and play along with SF fairytales about the brave IRA

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    Mute KEN L
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    May 14th 2020, 12:41 AM

    @ooop:

    well said

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    Mute camio55
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    May 13th 2020, 2:09 PM

    A respectful application of the law on appeal. It does not enhance or diminish the man in any way. For those of us who believe that there were dreadful war crimes committed by the republican movement (overseen by its leadership) this successful appeal has no significance. The innocent dead will not rejoice as the delusional few appear to express triumph.

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    Mute Donal Desmond
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    May 13th 2020, 3:30 PM

    @camio55: Yes dreadful things happened during the conflict in the six counties. Yet certain sections of commentators on comment on Republican violence , never mentioning Dublin Monaghan bombings which were carried out with the assistance of British intelligence in Dublin Monaghan bombings which was supported and aided by British intelligence. No mention of Bloody Sunday, The massacre of civilians in Ballymurphy and other innocent civilians murdered by loyalists again supported security forces. A bit of balance is nessecery.

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    Mute Brynþór Patrekursson
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    May 13th 2020, 5:27 PM

    @Donal Desmond: you miss @camio55′s respectful point about no winners or losers as a result of this court case. Your comment is what northern ireland people term ‘whataboutery’. The article is about the appeal of one individual who went on to lead a republican movement that within 12 months of this date had carried out a massive killing spree across Ireland and England. The chief point is that there will be some cheerleading this decision (which was essentially regarding historical process), and does not in anyway state that Adams was justified in the kidnapping, but purely that the initial ICO was not signed by the secretary of state. If anything, this is an acknowledgement that the UK parliament can get it wrong, and the will learn from it. If only the same individuals could show the same respect for victims that cannot bring retrospective court cases.

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    May 13th 2020, 6:11 PM

    @Donal Desmond: Do not disagree and I was specially addressing the Adams story.

    To take an unarmed man out of his house and shoot him in the back of the head is a war crime. To kill innocent civilians by bombing shopping malls or cities is a war crime. To kill innocent civilians marching is a war crime. Those people that led and perpetrated these heinous acts do not deserve our sympathy or admiration. The innocent that died are not here with us now because these groups took their precious lives in an orgy of savagery.

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    Mute KEN L
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    May 13th 2020, 6:47 PM

    @camio55:

    i remember the radio interview Norman Tebbit did the week martin mcguinness died ..

    “Martin McGuinness was a murderer and a coward ”

    but his role in the Good Friday agreement is that not significant ?

    yes it is significant , it’s significant because of his cowardice , he knew the IRA had been infiltrated by British intelligence and he was soon to be arrested for murders he had personally committed.”

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    Mute Donal Desmond
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    May 13th 2020, 10:35 PM

    @camio55: Agree what happened was a sorry mess. However you seem to lay the blame on one side. The full force of British military might was used to preserve the status quo. A Classic example was internment. How many times have miscarriages of justice been carried out by the judicial system that sought to keep this status quo. Certainly Not making light of the tragic events in the six counties. Britain also must be held to account along with successive Irish governments that buried their heads in the sand concerning the apartheid state that existed in the six counties.

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    Mute james canning
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    May 13th 2020, 3:59 PM

    I hope the British state compensate Gerry Adams for the hardship they put him through

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    Mute KEN L
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    May 13th 2020, 6:13 PM

    @james canning:

    Arthur Griffith had two children , I’m sure he’d be absolutely delighted with what Gerry covered up.

    did you know working with children was Liam Adam’s penance for sexually abusing children? They let him into a youth club after what he did to Aine

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    Mute james canning
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    May 13th 2020, 6:30 PM

    Absolutely nothing to do with todays ruling but you got it of your chest

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    Mute Aidan Haughey
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    May 13th 2020, 1:02 PM

    He hasn’t gone away you know

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    Mute KEN L
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    May 13th 2020, 6:10 PM

    @Aidan Haughey:

    the SF party and their supporters argue murder was “war” but they cant argue IRA rapes and the subsequent cover ups, his niece Aine exposed Gerry beyond any reasonable doubt

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    Mute Donal Desmond
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    May 14th 2020, 1:06 AM

    @KEN L: You make no mention of Kincora.. not tit for tat , but why was that not mentioned in your comment.

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    Mute Vladimir Macro
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    May 13th 2020, 11:02 AM

    I’m sure he’s grateful. What a joke.

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    Mute MickN
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    May 13th 2020, 3:41 PM

    Justice…

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    Mute IRL77
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    May 13th 2020, 7:19 PM

    So Gerry is all about moving forward once it doesn’t apply to him or the victims of the IRA

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    Mute Donal Desmond
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    May 14th 2020, 1:09 AM

    @IRL77: You never included the murders perpetrated by security forces and their sponcered allies. The outcry from British politicians concerning British soldiers facing murder charges, very convenient to only mention one side of the conflict.

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    Mute talksense
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    May 13th 2020, 1:36 PM

    @Johnny 5: lime to log off

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    Mute talksense
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    May 13th 2020, 1:36 PM

    @Johnny 5: time to log off

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    Mute Thomas Roche
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    May 13th 2020, 10:31 AM

    Right and just.

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