Posted on 03/24/2006 6:20:45 PM PST by Irish_Thatcherite
He is not a criminal, says Adams Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams yesterday stood by alleged former IRA chief Thomas "Slab" Murphy. The businessman, whose farm is at the centre of a police probe into a multi-million pound smuggling operation, has been wrongly demonised, he claimed. Mr Adams said: "Tom Murphy is not a criminal. He is a good republican."
Murphy's sprawling estate, straddling the Irish border, was among 15 properties searched yesterday during police raids planned in Belfast and Dublin.
Around £200,000 in cash, 30,000 cigarettes, 8,000 litres of fuel and weapons were all seized in the offensive against organised crime.
Two men and a woman arrested during swoops in north Louth and south Armagh were questioned and released last night by gardai.
Murphy, the one-time alleged IRA chief of staff, who is already under investigation by the Assets Recovery Agency probing house sales in the greater Manchester area, was not detained.
But police, Customs officials and soldiers were all involved in a major operation on his land at Hackballscross.
Murphy, 62, insists he is a legitimate farmer with no involvement in crime.
And Mr Adams offered his total support following raids which were months in the planning.
"I read his statement after the Manchester raids and I believe what he says," the West Belfast MP said. "He is also a keen supporter of the Sinn Fein peace strategy."
Asked if Murphy was a member of the IRA Army Council, Mr Adams said: "If he denies being a member of the IRA then I accept that."
Mr Adams was critical of the scale of the huge cross-border operation, but backed its objectives.
"We support the pursuit of criminal assets," he said. "Anybody who is involved in criminality should face the full rigours of the law.
"That includes the right to a fair trial and the right not to be vilified in the media."
Alleged IRA chief = actual IRA chief.
Mr Adams said: "Tom Murphy is not a criminal. He is a good republican."
There is a difference between an Irish Republican terrorist and a criminal???
"He is also a keen supporter of the Sinn Fein peace strategy."
"He is also a keen supporter of the Sinn Fein peace strategy politico-criminal conspiracy."
Asked if Murphy was a member of the IRA Army Council, Mr Adams said: "If he denies being a member of the IRA then I accept that."
You should know Brownie - after all, you are also a member of the IRA Army Council!!!!
"We support the pursuit of criminal assets," he said.
"Anybody who is involved in criminality should face the full rigours of the law
Except, it would seem, members of the IRA!!
"That includes the right to a fair trial and the right not to be vilified in the media."
I don't remember the IRA giving any of their victims a fair trial!!
A ping to Brownie's BS!!
Are the British still kicking down the doors of Irish Catholics?
They are kicking down the door of a criminal and a terrorist!!
And the Southern Irish police force are involved in the ongoing investigation!!
More likely than not...
There are terrorists on both sides of this case. Some are wearing British uniforms. Some are friends of Gerry Adams.
No doubt Peter King will be backing up Adams' statement.
Most likely!!
Sure... make a moral equivalent of British troops whose comrades are fighting for a free Iraq, and IRA terrorists!
Maybe he just decided to pick up a smoking habit in his 60s...
LOL!!
The number of atrocities committed by both sides is well documented; the Brits don't get a pass solely because they are allies in Iraq.
This is pure shite. Yes, some British servicemen have made mistakes, and sometimes this has involved some higher-ups. But the Brits' goal and general means to achieve it are perfectly legitimate, as are the vast majority of the specific actions they've undertaken to achieve their goal. The IRA is and always has been a terrorist, criminal organization. They have no legitimacy whatsoever. Your vague moral equivalence is a lie.
All terrorists are criminals.
Yes, they are - most atrocities have been carried out the IRA, the rest by the Loyalist terrorist groups.
Yes, that was my point!!
If "Catholics" are so discriminated against, then how come there are so many in the House of Lords and House of Commons? How come the income of Irish Catholics is not that much different than that of Ulster Protestants?
Ulster belongs to the UK, pure and simple. If the people in Ulster want to secede, they can. They have clearly indicated, whatever their religion, that they want to remain a part of the UK.
Meanwhile, the folks in Southern Ireland have the highest standard of living in western Europe after Switzerland and condemn the IRA to a man.
When it come to the IRA and their symphathizers, I would gladly give a British soldier the bullets to take them out.
Well said!!
Hear hear!!
just chain smokers
Would you like it if foreign soldier came to your home and searched without a warrant.
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