Simon Heffer: Northern Ireland has not been at peace - despite what Labour claims
[Simon Heffer is a British journalist, columnist and writer.]
The only surprising facet of the wicked murders of two soldiers and a policeman in Northern Ireland is that so many people seem so surprised. An old record is stuck in a familiar groove. Since the days of O'Connell a movement peaceably pursuing the legitimate aim of independence from Britain has always given birth to a faction determined to seek it by violence. It is why the Fenian Brotherhood, Sinn Fein, the IRA and then the Provisional IRA came into being, as a faction decided that democracy was unacceptable. The canting hypocrite Gerry Adams knows this better than most, as does the former IRA commander Martin McGuinness. They both moved into the Provos when the troubles flared up in 1969. If they pretend not to fathom what is happening now, let them look in the mirror. What a fine example they have set.
It is, as usual, the British Government with blood on its hands following the deaths of these three brave men. In its spin-driven pursuit of triumph, Labour pronounced the problem of Northern Ireland as dealt with. It was lulled into this by an IRA "permanent" ceasefire: not realising, or not wanting to realise, that a ceasefire was only as "permanent" as the criminals in the IRA who so graciously decreed it. It was a feather in New Labour's cap that it had brought peace to the province. It set Tony Blair up in a post-prime ministerial career as a part-time peacemonger (though even his friend Lord Levy now feels he has failed in that). However, just as Labour thought and arrogantly proclaimed that it had abolished the cycle of "boom and bust", it has not actually abolished the violent, psychopathic element in Northern Ireland. Perhaps Mr Brown should add that to the lengthening list of things for which we await an apology.
As a frequent visitor to Ulster I see the reality that few bother to report, and which politicians are desperate should not be reported. The local media have regularly to note punishment beatings and other acts of savagery, of robbery, protection rackets and a tribal silence surrounding these deeds.
Northern Ireland endures this mediaevalism with one hand tied behind its back. The report by Lord ("Chris") Patten into the Royal Ulster Constabulary recommended the craven dilution of the force into the Police Service of Northern Ireland. Its Special Branch – probably the finest anti-terrorist intelligence unit in the world – would be abolished. These idiotic plans were implemented by Lord Mandelson, during one of his short spells in office between resignations. Neither Lord Mandelson nor Lord Patten has to live in Northern Ireland, and in the toxic society of gangsterism and criminality that is the fruit of their labours. This is a pity. Those who do feel little gratitude to them.
Concession was piled upon concession in seeking to appease people who, let us not forget, engaged in acts of wilful murder against women and children purely because they could not achieve their ends by democratic means. In fact, even that assessment confers a spurious nobility on their cause. I suppose there are a few republicans who lie awake at night crying at the injustice of being governed from London rather than from Dublin. But for most – and this is the truth that neither the Prime Minister, nor Shaun Woodward, the Northern Ireland Secretary, dares admit – being a "republican" is about being engaged in mafia-style criminality linked to the drugs trade. And the emasculation of the RUC, and the scaling down of troops in the province, has made the expansion of criminal empires even easier.
With such a poisonous legacy it is little wonder that the Prime Minister, desperate to conceal yet another abject failure, should proclaim that the killers will be "brought to justice". We await that with interest. And if they are, and if they are convicted, how long will they serve? No doubt they would get life sentences. And then a deal would be done to have them out on the streets within a couple of years in the name of "peace and reconciliation". After all, that is exactly what happened before. No wonder gangsters go around murdering soldiers and policemen in the name of "republicanism". What is to stop them? In what state is the rule of law in Northern Ireland? And why is it in that state? It is because of this Government...
Read entire article at Telegraph (UK)
The only surprising facet of the wicked murders of two soldiers and a policeman in Northern Ireland is that so many people seem so surprised. An old record is stuck in a familiar groove. Since the days of O'Connell a movement peaceably pursuing the legitimate aim of independence from Britain has always given birth to a faction determined to seek it by violence. It is why the Fenian Brotherhood, Sinn Fein, the IRA and then the Provisional IRA came into being, as a faction decided that democracy was unacceptable. The canting hypocrite Gerry Adams knows this better than most, as does the former IRA commander Martin McGuinness. They both moved into the Provos when the troubles flared up in 1969. If they pretend not to fathom what is happening now, let them look in the mirror. What a fine example they have set.
It is, as usual, the British Government with blood on its hands following the deaths of these three brave men. In its spin-driven pursuit of triumph, Labour pronounced the problem of Northern Ireland as dealt with. It was lulled into this by an IRA "permanent" ceasefire: not realising, or not wanting to realise, that a ceasefire was only as "permanent" as the criminals in the IRA who so graciously decreed it. It was a feather in New Labour's cap that it had brought peace to the province. It set Tony Blair up in a post-prime ministerial career as a part-time peacemonger (though even his friend Lord Levy now feels he has failed in that). However, just as Labour thought and arrogantly proclaimed that it had abolished the cycle of "boom and bust", it has not actually abolished the violent, psychopathic element in Northern Ireland. Perhaps Mr Brown should add that to the lengthening list of things for which we await an apology.
As a frequent visitor to Ulster I see the reality that few bother to report, and which politicians are desperate should not be reported. The local media have regularly to note punishment beatings and other acts of savagery, of robbery, protection rackets and a tribal silence surrounding these deeds.
Northern Ireland endures this mediaevalism with one hand tied behind its back. The report by Lord ("Chris") Patten into the Royal Ulster Constabulary recommended the craven dilution of the force into the Police Service of Northern Ireland. Its Special Branch – probably the finest anti-terrorist intelligence unit in the world – would be abolished. These idiotic plans were implemented by Lord Mandelson, during one of his short spells in office between resignations. Neither Lord Mandelson nor Lord Patten has to live in Northern Ireland, and in the toxic society of gangsterism and criminality that is the fruit of their labours. This is a pity. Those who do feel little gratitude to them.
Concession was piled upon concession in seeking to appease people who, let us not forget, engaged in acts of wilful murder against women and children purely because they could not achieve their ends by democratic means. In fact, even that assessment confers a spurious nobility on their cause. I suppose there are a few republicans who lie awake at night crying at the injustice of being governed from London rather than from Dublin. But for most – and this is the truth that neither the Prime Minister, nor Shaun Woodward, the Northern Ireland Secretary, dares admit – being a "republican" is about being engaged in mafia-style criminality linked to the drugs trade. And the emasculation of the RUC, and the scaling down of troops in the province, has made the expansion of criminal empires even easier.
With such a poisonous legacy it is little wonder that the Prime Minister, desperate to conceal yet another abject failure, should proclaim that the killers will be "brought to justice". We await that with interest. And if they are, and if they are convicted, how long will they serve? No doubt they would get life sentences. And then a deal would be done to have them out on the streets within a couple of years in the name of "peace and reconciliation". After all, that is exactly what happened before. No wonder gangsters go around murdering soldiers and policemen in the name of "republicanism". What is to stop them? In what state is the rule of law in Northern Ireland? And why is it in that state? It is because of this Government...