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
True, it could have been resolved a lot sooner by peaceful means.
You can send a "report abuse" to the moderator regarding a headline correction, and the will usually take care of it for you.
You can send a "report abuse" to the moderator regarding a headline correction, and the will usually take care of it for you.
Yeah, and even if it wasn't, still doesn't justify them, it's another reason to hate them, I guess! :)
I'm tempted not to bother seeing as it's 6 months old... but seeing as I'll be most likey reporting abuse on #39, I might do it then! :-P
Terrorism is terrorism. The IRA is no better than the nutcases who blow up abortion clinics.
But half or so of British parliament is also a Marxist organization/cabal or at least dupes..
If the answer is anything other than a simple 'yes', you are a troll, end of story!
And Gráinne has no tolerance for trolls
True, Tony Blair is one of them!
Plus she's a Mayo woman.. we don't like IRA types around here! ;)
I thought she was from Clare?
I think she was born in Galway and grew up in Mayo.
They grow 'em pretty in Mayo.
They do, beef producing county! ;)
I do not condemn ALL IRA activity, no.
I condemn attacks on civilian targets.
I don't condemn attacks on legitimate military targets.
Are you at all familiar with the The Troubles?
The IRA conducted attacks on military targets. The IRA also conducted attacks n civilian targets. Those attacks were reprehensible.
The British Army, Ulster forces and Loyalist groups almost exclusively attacked civilian targets.
You say.
I know.
Childish fingerpointers who excuse terrorism clearly know less about the sufferings of the people living in Ireland outside the Republic than someone whose family has suffered the effects.
Take your justifications for murder and shove them where the sun don't shine.
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