Thoughts On The Northern Bank Robbery Arrests
Paul has a post about the reaction to the recent arrests of Northern Bank Robbery suspects.
This is something I really don’t understand about Nationalist politicians in particular. When it is suggested that Republicans are involved in criminal activity, why do Nationalists jump to their defense and claim harrassment and victimisation and that ‘their consitiuent is entirely innocent’?
Thomas ‘Slab’ Murphy - just a simple farmer? And now we have a series of arrests of possible bank robbers condemned with the inevitable protests at police searches.
Nationalist MPs must have that precognition stuff that Tom Cruise had in Minority Report, that allows them to tell whether ‘their constituents’ are innocent or guilty without the need for fuddy-duddy justice systems.
How efficient. Still prefer old-skool policing, I’m afraid.
Mr Levee said, “When it is suggested that Republicans are involved in criminal activity, why do Nationalists jump to their defence and claim harassment and victimisation and that ?their constituent is entirely innocent?? Mr Levee is referring to an article in the Telegraph which stated ?Catholics could shun the PSNI because of anger over the Northern Bank raids. The representative unnamed said: “This will have major repercussions throughout South Down? Mr Levee may not understand Nationalist politicians but he does raise concerns at the root of the underlying problem.
Nationalism are Republicanism are fluid definitions which change with the passage of time admittedly both espouse reunification of Ireland but it is in procedure the intention, the method of achieving that unification which defines what badge is worn. Democratic Nationalists work inside the democratic system, believing change can only come about through purely legal means. For Nationalists a common all-encompassing society can only come about with the unity of Protestant, Catholic and Dissenter. Until that time comes Nationalists work together with over 1million people who call themselves Unionist.
A senior party spokesperson I spoke to stated, ?That statement is out of tune with the vast majority of the Nationalism moreover it is sectarian and carries an unspoken subtext and will have repercussions but not throughout South Down?.
parnell@elblogador.
No precognition Levee just innocent until proven guilty
Innocent til proven guilty is one thing, denouncing the police for making ‘political’ arrests and whinging (predictably, as politicians do) about “heavy-handedness” to score political browny points, just because the arrestees happened to be nationalist, is another thing altogether.
Innocent until proven guilty is alright Chris, but allow the police to carry out proper investigations instead of blocking off roads. Those are the actions of terrorist and criminal sympathisers.
Parnell, I don’t claim to understand either Nationalist or Unionist politicians. I think their ideologies have become bastardised and corrupted beyond all comprehansion, and neither will provide for the decent, hard-working people of Northern Ireland.
In the context of this article, a Nationalist representative attempting to put a hard-line spin on a police enquiry - a pretty major one, at that - is unacceptable. As one of the aforementioned decent, hard-working people, I fully support the investigations into the Northern Bank robbery. And I expect people to be arrested and eventually prosecuted for the crime. Isn’t that how it works in normal societies?
But Mr Levee, 40% of people vote for nationalism (i.e. SF & SDLP) and 52% vote for unionism (all the various strands). If these “bastardised” ideologies cannot provide for the decent, hard-working people of NI, it is therefore the fault of all those decent, hard-working people who vote for them.
Too right Reg! I sometimes feel that there is a thoroughly ‘thick’ contingent in Northern Ireland who unquestioningly accept whatever crap their ‘political representatives’ feed to them.
They won’t vote on proper policies, but on the colour of the flag that’s tied to the lamppost outside their bedroom window. In that respect Reg, I think the decent hard-working people are hopelessly outnumbered by sectarian numbskulls who wouldn’t know what peace was if it sat them down and offered them a cup of tea.
But then are you saying that only 8% of people in NI are “decent, hard-working people”?
Personally, I think that as long as NI exists, the national question will always be the be-all-and-end-all of political debate.
Its about time that the other Irish parties set up in NI and gave a voice (and choice) to voters which could influence the Irish Govt. Even if it splits the nationalist vote, it would be worth it for a) proper political debate/choice and b) integration with the rest of the country.
Can anyone see this happen? In the next century?!!
Hi im Jessica a High School student in the process of completing my History coursework. I was wondering whether you could help me as i need to look at the Protestant views on the Northenr Bank Robbery in 2004, in 2004 in order to do any further work.
I really need your help on this and if you could help in any possible way, it would be very much appreciated. Many thanks,.
Jess aged 15