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Gerry Adams denounces 'indefensible' terrorism
The Sunday Telegraph (U.K.) ^ | 09/30/2001 | Andrew Alderson and Ted Oliver

Posted on 09/29/2001 5:36:53 PM PDT by Pokey78

GERRY ADAMS, the president of Sinn Fein, yesterday described terrorism as "ethically indefensible" and said the attacks on America had set back the cause of other struggles.

Mr Adams told his party's annual conference in Dublin that the September 11 outrages were inexcusable and that those who carried them out must be brought to justice.

He said: "Progressive struggles throughout the world have been set back by the attacks in the USA. There is no excuse, no justification for those type of actions, but neither should anyone who is truly concerned with world peace be deflected from the task.

"Terrorism is ethically indefensible. Those responsible for the atrocities in America must be brought to justice. What happened in New York and Washington and Pennsylvania was . . . a crime against humanity."

Critics of Mr Adams are certain to accuse the West Belfast MP of hypocrisy. Mr Adams has never condemned any Provisional IRA act of terror. Even after the Canary Wharf bombing in London in 1996, in which two people died and 40 were seriously injured, Mr Adams said he was "saddened", but blamed the British Government.

Mr Adams went further yesterday than he did within days of the US attacks when he said it was difficult to absorb their enormity. "I unequivocably condemn these attacks," he said.

His comments came as police investigated the murder of Martin O'Hagan, the journalist shot dead in the street near his home in Lurgan, Co Armagh on Friday night. O'Hagan, a father of three, was walking with his wife when he was shot by a gunman who pulled up in a car.

The Red Hand Defenders, a Loyalist splinter group, yesterday claimed responsibility for the attack. The group is a cover name used in the past by the Loyalist Volunteer Force and the Ulster Defence Association.

O'Hagan, a Sunday World journalist known for his exposes of loyalist drug dealing and racketeering in the Portadown area in Co Armagh, nicknamed Loyalist Volunteer Force leader Billy Wright "King Rat".

The men who took over Wright's mantle after he was murdered in the Maze prison in December 1997 never forgot. When O'Hagan's supposed killers boasted of his murder in an anonymous call to a Belfast newsroom, they said he had been killed for "crimes against the loyalist people".

About a year after Wright's murder, a prominent member of the LVF in mid-Ulster spoke of his hatred for O'Hagan, a Roman Catholic, which stemmed from the journalist calling Wright "King Rat".

Senior politicians yesterday condemned the shooting. John Reid, the Northern Ireland Secretary, said it was "a barbaric killing". "It shows contempt for human life, contempt for freedom of the press and contempt for the people of Northern Ireland," he said.

Dr Reid spoke about the murder yesterday with Sir Ronnie Flanagan, the RUC chief constable. "I share his absolute determination to track down the cowards responsible for this act of savagery," said the Northern Ireland Secretary. Bertie Ahern, the Irish Prime Minister, condemned the "senseless and brutal murder".

Sir Reg Empey, the acting First Minister, and Seamus Mallon, the acting Deputy First Minister, in a joint statement described it as "an attack on democracy". David Trimble, the Ulster Unionist leader, called the killing "cowardly".


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Comment #41 Removed by Moderator

To: GottliebBerger
It's only a small step on what needs to be done to rid us of those who terrorise innocent citizens.

Every one of these groups has continued to engage in terrorist activity over the past two years. Most of these groups---such as HAMAS, the Palestine Islamic Jihad, the Tamil Tigers, the FARC in Colombia, Basque ETA, and of course Usama bin Laden’s al-Qa’ida organization---have carried out murderous attacks on innocent people since their last designation in 1999. ..Secretary Powell.

Powell added the Real IRA and its associated groups to the Register of Terrorists back on May 11. He still needs to add others, including Gerry Adams's Sinn Fein-IRA. The latter continue to murder innocent people and they still collaborate with groups like ETA and FARC.

Ambassador Egan sent out completely the wrong message when he went along to the terrorist convention in Dublin. You might wonder why he should have done such a thing, especially when one of the motions called on the USA to get its butt out of Puerto Rico!

42 posted on 10/07/2001 12:01:23 AM PDT by Norn Iron
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To: Pokey78
**GERRY ADAMS, the president of Sinn Fein, yesterday described terrorism as "ethically indefensible"...**

...after which he resumed plotting his next bombing attack against school girls.

**Mr Adams told his party's annual conference in Dublin ...**

Right there at the Dublin Hilton at the "Terror In The Name Of Christ" conference. The hotel marquee simply said "WELCOME TERRORISTS".

43 posted on 10/07/2001 12:19:17 AM PDT by Tall_Texan
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To: Texasproud
FYI !
44 posted on 10/07/2001 12:21:56 AM PDT by Squantos
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Comment #45 Removed by Moderator

To: GottliebBerger; deb; constitutiongirl; labusiness; slane
McGuinness, Her Majesty's new IRA Chief of Staff
46 posted on 10/07/2001 1:17:57 AM PDT by Norn Iron
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To: Baron Stein; Pokey78
McGuinness fury over Sinn Féin own goals
47 posted on 10/07/2001 2:40:32 AM PDT by Norn Iron
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To: Norn Iron
"The move to replace Murphy with McGuinness is seen by the RUC 'as the preparatory step towards some kind of decommissioning'. "

Mission accomplished, the RUC believes this so it is reality.(?) Look, the IRA can do all of their smoke and mirrors to give impressions - they are Terrorists, they always have been and always will be. They do not believe in the democratic process. Their arms are the only power they have. When Bush cleans house in the Middle-East, the IRA wants to look like choir boys so light won't be cast on them and their evil.

48 posted on 10/07/2001 8:19:50 AM PDT by labusiness
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To: Incorrigible
In the Republic, only the special forces of the Garda have guns.

I guess your referring to "Special Branch". The Republic confiscated handguns in the early 70's, they still have rifles and shotguns. I've gone hunting with my Irish in laws for the past 30 years. I'm taking a .270, a 12 ga, and a .22 next time. Basically the same type of guns that my brother in law has.

49 posted on 10/07/2001 8:22:36 AM PDT by TEXASPROUD
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To: labusiness
Why do you think Ambassador Egan went to the terrorist convention? Surely this sent out the wrong message to terrorists.

The RUC is obliged to read out messages given to it by the Secretariat of London and Dublin officials who appease terrorists (oops) who control policing.

50 posted on 10/07/2001 8:23:51 AM PDT by Norn Iron
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