Posted on 05/30/2006 1:19:49 PM PDT by Irish_Thatcherite
IRA were behind 48pc of Troubles murders A UNIVERSITY of Ulster academic yesterday blamed the IRA for the overwhelming majority of murders during the Troubles.
Henry Patterson, Professor of History at Jordanstown, challenged the view that the Northern Ireland conflict was a simple "war of liberation" by republicans against colonial interests and said there were key differences between the Troubles in Northern Ireland and struggles in Africa and Latin America. He told the sixth International Conference of The Spanish Association for Irish Studies at the University of Valladolid in Spain that the Provisional IRA was responsible for 48 per cent of deaths while the RUC was responsible for just 1.4 per cent and the UDR 0.2 per cent.
Mr Patterson pointed out that even if claims of widespread collusion between state forces and loyalist paramilitaries were true and 50 per cent of those killed by loyalists were added to the security forces' figure, it would still amount to only 17 per cent of all deaths.
In an address entitled War of National Liberation or Ethnic Cleansing: IRA violence in Fermanagh during the Troubles, Prof Patterson examined the IRA campaign in the county. Prof Patterson recalled how the IRA in Fermanagh had carried out a number of widely-condemned killings including the Enniskillen Poppy Day bombing, and said many unionists believed the campaign in the county was a form of ethnic cleansing.
"No doubt many Provisionals then and now would sincerely and forcefully deny that their campaign in Fermanagh was a form of ethnic cleansing," he said. "As we have seen, most of the Protestants killed were in the security forces, and Fermanagh did not experience the wholesale evacuation of Protestants that occurred in West Cork during the War of Independence. "Yet, that the killings struck at the Protestant community's morale, sense of security and belonging in the area was undeniable. "It was being made clear to them that they could continue to live in Fermanagh, but only on terms defined by the Provisional IRA." Prof Patterson said the conflicting views of the Troubles – was it a war of liberation or ethnic cleansing? – has been one of the reasons for the unease with the peace process among the unionist community. 30 May 2006
Will the pro-IRA fools admit they are wrong?
The actual IRA is an organization dedicated primarily to handing out free pieces of teacake at garden parties.
LOL!!
The IRA are gangsters.
And like all gangsters, they only way they command respect is thru pure, naked fear.
They offer no hope, just threats and misery. They're scum.
And a bird watching expedition to Colombia....
True.
Blair successive NIO appointments have been one big disaster over another - his strategy is to appease the IRA inorder to keep the bombs out of Britain, with little regard of the consequences for Ireland, both north and south.
Many of IRA's justifications for terror just don't work now that they are seen to be identical in some respects to those used by Muslim terrorists. I sensed this would happen only a couple days after 9/11.
Another victory in the WOT is that over the IRA IMHO.
Actually, I think the IRA have merely switched tactics - the ceasefire was simply a tactical retreat in order to galvinise electoral support of it's front organisation in both NI and the Republic - basically they are concentrating on their second agenda - a socialist dictatorship.
Irish democracy is in for turbulent times.
Yes, and 117 people died in the process. :(
Another IRA apologist. I actually live in Ireland, I know what the IRA are, so spare me the lecture.. geez you IRA sympathizers twist everything to suit your screwed up view of Irish affairs.
I know the history of Ireland, and I know the IRA and Sinn Fein were once the good guys under Michael Collins, and that the conflict has since lost it's religious foundation. That is a long time ago now. The only point I agree with the IRA now is the reunification of Ireland. I don't care if people in the Republic do not want it for socioeconomic reasons. Ireland should be whole.
I am glad the IRA announced it's end to armed conflict (at least in gesture). I only wish the Unionsts and other "Orange" factions would do the same. I absolutely hate Paisley and his son.
I do have a problem with what Ireland is becoming. The Republic is becoming too wealthy too fast, and the people are starting to lose their identity, and the characteristics that made the Irish people great. The people have been becoming less friendly over the years, are becoming more materialistic, more secular, and some are starting to become arrogant. The growth rate is not going to last forever, and as the wages become too high, the American (and some European) companies supporting the growth will start to outsource, and so the country is likely to go into a depression, especially with all of the EU regulations.
The Pro-IRA people on this site have every right to voice their opinions here. Just deal with it, like how we deal with all of the anti-Catholic bigots who spew their crap here. This is first and foremost, an AMERICAN conservative site, and any outsider that comes in here dictating who is and who is not a troll, is likely to be nothing more than a troll himself.
After doing a quick search under your name I find that you post almost exclusively on the IRA. Now, I subscribe to The Irish Voice, and I know that the Ulstermen are very active. Perhaps you should start posting on their doings as well, otherwise I very much question your motives. Just keep in mind, its the Irish-Americans who have been investing in Ireland and traveling there, and they can always pull out that investment and vacation elsewhere. I think it would be wise if you guys would refrain from IRA postings altogether, so that it would help keep the IRA supporters from posting.
I want you to know, I do not mean this to be personal, I am just sick of the "troll" name calling, and one-sided postings. The IRA are terrorists, period. Constantly posting articles on them is not going to win any new converts, as you are well aware, the Irish can be very stubborn people. I am trying to be objective, and to avoid future fights. I am half Irish from my fathers side, and I am very proud of my heritage, but I do take offense to the way in which you post here, thats all.
I am glad to see you are well informed on Irish matters, and a lot of what you say about this country is true.
However, and I didn't take any personal offence to what you wrote, I don't see why pro-IRA posters should be treated any differently from, we'll say, pro-AQ posters.
I don't post as often about the Loyalist terror groups as much because there is unanimous agreement about those scumbags, also the IRA are a far bigger threat to Irish democracy at this present time.
And I have every right to post threads as many IRA threads as I wish.
Again, no offence taken
I_T.
How is 48% an "overwhelming majority"? John Kerry received 48% of the popular vote in the 2004 Presidential election--I wouldn't call that an "overwhelming majority."
It's a typo, it should have read 58%:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_troubles#Casualties_:_Brief_Summary
Between 1969 and 2001, 3,523 were killed as a result of the Troubles:
2055 by republican groups
1020 by loyalist groups
368 by British and Irish security forces
80 by groups or persons unknown.
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