Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams arrested

You guys hear about this? According to CNN he was arrested "for questioning" about the 1972 murder of an IRA widow whom they suspected of being a spy for the British (RUC, I guess?).

http://www.cnn.com/2014/04/30/world/europe/gerry-adams-police/

Anyway Adams is maintaining his innocence. The article suggests that this could potentially upset the tenuous peace in N. Ireland.

Odd they are trying to get a conviction out of a 30 year old murder case. Anyone care to guess their chances of actually getting Gerry Adams into a court room? What will this mean for Sinn Fein?

I don't think much will come of this. He's too popular to the Irish. The peace is being maintained at the moment. If Gerry goes to the pen you can bet that peace won't last. And the English have their hands full already, they aren't the powerhouse they once were.

Like the reporter said at the end of the video, "he is the most important political figure that England has wanted to put away"

Northern Ireland Police= English.

Fiona from "Burn Notice" has made me an IRA sympathizer. If she'd throw me a jump I might even donate some money.

hahaha Fiona the Arms Trafficker!

I side with the IRA because they are all Catholic like the majority of Italians. They are fighting the same war America did 300 years ago to get away from the British.

I can pretty much sympathize with any group who want sovereignty from an occupying government. Which doesn't mean I agree with their methods, of course. But the realist in me also believes that the only real impetus for change is the threat of violence. Otherwise what's to stop them from patting you on the head, smiling politely and saying "that's nice, billy, now scoot!"?

edit: maybe it's a slightly ironic sentiment coming from a man who lives in (possibly) the only nation that won its sovereignty by asking nicely. but then again, the queen's still on our money and she's still the technical "head of state".

There were so many horrific murders that took place during the Troubles, carried out by the UVF/UDA, The British Army, and IRA. But of course, the British government has never provided the names of the ruthless, cold blooded killers under their employment who shot down 14 unarmed Catholic civil rights marchers, including teenagers, on Bloody Sunday in 1972. They also have never identified the government officials who colluded with the UDA murderers who murdered Catholic civil rights attorney Patrick Finucane in 1989 by shooting him 14 times at his dinner table in front of his wife and three young children who cowered under the kitchen table. Nobody in the British government has been brought to justice for those heinous acts. Yet, they go after Gerry Adams for a 40 year old murder. They pick and choose. And we all know why. Despicable.

Sorry, don't get me started on this!

I'm pretty sure we all feel the same way you do about this Mike. Only one or two posters on here will blatantly defend England (abc, and one other guy)

Sad fact is when it comes to military strength the English have the upper hand over the Irish, It's why they can pull tactics like this to try and dismantle Sinn Fein and destabilize the Irish. Sad that the English are THAT desperate to hold on to what little power they have left in this world by exerting force against the Irish.

I don't want to start an argument here, but in my opinion it's not like one terrorist group can be better than the other: pro-Irish or pro-British, if they blow innocents up with bombs etc, it's pretty clears what should be done to them. However, from what I read, the pro-British terrorists get away with murder more often than the opposite side, that's sad.

By the way, were the Shankill Butchers (have recently watched a documentary) part of this political struggle or was it just a street gang on their own?

Another question: are there still political murders for the territory between Irish and British political groups? I thought they pretty much mixed up with street gangs nowadays, please correct me if I am wrong.

I can't believe that this is up on an organised crime forum yet again

This piece of shit is being questioned about the murder of a mother of 10

Yet people sympathise because he is a Roman Catholic and us Brits have allegedly oppressed these people

Don't want this crap to start again on here, had enough with the other thread a while back


Lets think before we post!

Seriously you are going to throw "allegedly" out there for what the english have done to irish going back 400 years. It's not allegedly, its fact. Where to go from here is the only question.

Yeah, I'm not in this argument. But that's like saying that Carlo Gambino was "allegedly" a gangster.

Sure native Americans could say the same, they did not form into terrorists though....

Maybe people could spare a thought for the victims and let the murderer's rot in hell!

I can understand feeling somewhat offended at this discussion, it's not an easy thing to accept of one's nation, but, unfortunate realities should not discourage dialogue between interested parties.

terrorist is just a word governments use to describe grass roots rebellion against oppressive states. As I said in my original post, being capable of empathy with these groups, by no means I agree with their methods or even their politics. However, there is no denying that England is an occupational government. This is essentially the exact situation that is happening in the Ukraine right now. The only difference is that England has been doing it for hundreds of years.

So yeah, the murder of a mother of ten is an atrocious act and whomever is guilty should rightfully be brought to justice. perhaps not at the expense of a hard fought for peace in that region, however. The needs of the many, my friend. And that's assuming he's guilty, which we won't know unless he goes to trial.

Honestly - It's very telling that you've already made up your mind before the facts have even been presented, dude. Just sayin'. Try to look past nationalism and see the world for what it is.

The reason why there are so many people of Irish descent in America right now is because of the genocide or "potato famine" at the hands of the British in the 1800's when starving women and children were allowed to die like animals while Irish crops were being sent to Britain under armed escort and aid from other countries was being turned away by the British.

It's actually as bad as the holocaust when you factor in the fatalities, the barbarism, mass emigration and the future wars it undoubtedly contributed to.

Don't get me wrong, murder of innocents is despicable regardless of what side you are on. But Gerry Adams is a choir boy compared to Maggie Thatcher who allowed the hunger strikers to waste away .

Gerry Adams is responsible for the deaths of many and you should remember Jean McConville like many of their victims were Roman Catholics too..

Its not England in occupation its British, also the majority in Northern Ireland wish to remain British

I am a Presbyterian and live in Glasgow, i have relatives in Ulster and many friends.I have lost a relative and also 2 close friends to republican terrorists and i have known others who were also murdered

Maybe one day the Taliban will sit in the American government then you may understand how we feel...

As for the potato famine, this affected Protestants just as much, in fact there were more Protestants who emigrated to the US than RCs

There are 2 sides to every story, but it seems a lot of you buy into the republican propaganda without understanding the full story...

I enjoy this site, have an interest in the LCN and have nothing against America, but i get fed up coming on here to see my nation being slandered, and in particular in the name of a terrorist!

Lets leave it out, if you don't mind

"Slandered". I don't think you understand the meaning of the word, British. Everything I said is irrefutable fact.

Far more Catholics emigrated to the US than Protestants. The Protestants who emigrated to the US were "Scotch Irish", the same people that owned land and slaves. Does that sound like religious persecution to you?

There are plenty of Catholic victims murdered by British armed forces and Protestants. An example: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloody_Sunday_(1972) Remember when the British opened fire on unarmed civilians?

Then there is the fact that Catholics in Northern Ireland were/are pretty much blacklisted from joining their police service.

Then there are the countless provocative Orange Order marches through Catholic neighborhoods, a modern day equivalent of pogroms or KKK cross burnings.

I suggest everyone google Orange Order riots to see what British's brethren are like and come to their own conclusions.

And don't feel too sorry for his relative or friends. There is a very significant chance that they too were members of terrorist organisations.

Did you know? British's favourite football club, Glasgow Rangers, had a policy of not signing Irish and/or Catholic footballers for over a hundred years up until one or two years ago.

Northern Ireland is an occupied country. To understand the IRA's motivations, you have to ask yourself how the English would react if Germany started occupying their country, stealing their land, making slaves of their people, massacred unarmed civilians and wouldn't leave.

As Paul McCartney said, give Ireland back to the Irish.

It comes down to England's imperial ambitious in Ireland, a place with a different people, culture and religion. Northern Ireland is just an English colony, plain and simple. Scotland experienced a similar fate with english genocide in the 17th century.

Historical, england acted in the wrong. Granted, it is the story of human history everywhere in the world. Power.

But don't play the moral card now. It's just a matter of continuing the peace process. I'm not sure this event helps it.

I just wish the native Americans are reading this rubbish

None of my relative or friends were involved in the paramilitaries you fucking piece of shit

Absolutely disgusting

No need to resort to personal abuse, British. Trivialise a genocide that killed millions of people, including my ancestors, and you are going to ruffle feathers.

And you have lied about so many things already, how can anyone take you at face value about these "friends" of yours?

It's unfortunate, British. Any country that is occupied and has been oppressed for hundreds of years will have a segment of people who turn their frustrations into violence.

I have lied about nothing, i take it this is the other poster who called himself Sean South using another name, pathetic!


We all have ancestors who suffered one way or another but to decry my family and friends who were murdered is disgusting

Scum..

I don't know much about it but always found it odd who someone like Adams could make such a seamless transition to the legit world.

Right that's me off this site. What a bunch of dick heads you lot really are ta ta

No reason for this. Agree to disagree or take it off the boards for God's sake .

I don't even like Gerry Adams but there are plenty of high profile Unionist politicians in Northern Ireland who are just as cancerous as he is.

God knows how many people Ian Paisley has inspired to go out and kill with his bombastic hate speeches and bigotry.

Somebody talking about members of your family and friends who were murdered would be ok then?


I asked that this thread be reigned back, but it's not


I asked that admin delete this whole thread

None of your family members or friends died. You are trolling. Your name is "British" and your signature is "British is Best" for God's sake.

If you keep verbally attacking people on the forum, it will be you taking a holiday not this thread.

Really, the only trolls is Scum like you!

My family were from the village in south Belfast, my uncle was murdered In 1983

I had a friend murdered in Lisburn and another murdered in Londonderry

I can't believe you people....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-27250928

Unfortunately, British, it is hard to take you at face value because you have been caught in several lies on another forum and got booted off that one for personally attacking other posters.

I sincerely hope you are not posing as a family member of deceased people now because that is crossing a line and a new low even for you.

Can both of you just drop it ? There was tragedies on both sides plenty of families including my own were effected by it. I do agree with British on one thing, this thread will bring nothing but trouble.

This is exactly what I have been saying

Off topic (and to lighten the mood here), what happened to Gabrielle Anwar?

When she tangoed with Al Pacino in "Scent of a Woman," she was gorgeous. And in the first few seasons of "Burn Notice" she was still pretty doable. But lately she got really "hard" looking.

I'd probably still bang her, though (if I was still single, of course ).

You guys have to cool the name-calling and flaming!

These political discussions almost always turn into a free-for-all. I know a lot of you are passionate in your beliefs and I understand you want to make a point BUT FLAMING AND NAME-CALLING WILL NOT BE TOLERATED. If you can't make your point without resorting to this childish crap you better stay out of discussions like this.

Which forum, you have me mixed up with someone else as I have never been kicked of any forums?

Take this off the boards!

Look mate, I never wanted this on here in the first place


This crap, should be kept off here

It doesn't have to be "left off here." It has to be debated intelligently and without flaming other board members. Otherwise, what's the point of a message board?

Yes. pizzaboy hits the nail on the head.

Everything was going fine until British called me a quote "piece of shit" and "scum".

The guy needs to learn how to assimilate and accept other people's opinions and beliefs without resorting to such vitriol.

I can debate with anyone, but not those who make fun of the death of my family and friends!

I suggest this thread has nothing to do with OC and is removed by admin

You're right. It really doesn't belong in an Organized Crime forum. It is being transferred to our General Discussion forum.

This is what a consigliere does; come to a compromise.

No offence British, i have no intention of weighing in on this conversation because it will just give me a sore head, but you need to obtain a bigger backbone. You're trying to make the words scum and terrorist synonymous with Catholic Ireland, while bitching about the implications of loyalist terrorism. I believe i've been pretty fair and i am partially sympathetic with both points of view, so is there any chance you could calm down and at least admit you were slightly hypocritical? Then we can debate the facts civilly without any need to close the thread.

http://www.sundayworld.com/top-stories/news/psni-widen-probe-into-adams-alleged-ira-command

PSNI widen probe into Adams' alleged IRA command.

PSNI investigators are quizzing Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams about his alleged role as an IRA commander in the Troubles.

Former IRA members and Sinn Fein party colleagues say Northern Ireland police are casting a wider net in their deepening efforts to prove that party leader Gerry Adams once commanded the outlawed IRA and ordered the 1972 killing of a Belfast mother of 10.

Details of an expanding trawl for evidence emerged Saturday as detectives spent a fourth day questioning Adams about the IRA's abduction, killing and secret burial of Jean McConville. Adams had been scheduled to be charged or released by Friday night but a judge granted police a 48-hour extension of his detention. Adams, 65, took part in the court hearing via a video link from the police's interrogation center west of Belfast.

Sinn Fein's deputy leader, Martin McGuinness, said he had been informed by Adams' legal team that detectives were questioning him about many of his speeches, writings and public appearances going back to the 1970s, when he was interned without trial as an IRA suspect and wrote a newspaper column from inside prison using the pen name Brownie.

Other aides to Adams and McGuinness said Catholic west Belfast residents with IRA affiliations had been approached by police recently, asking them to make statements about their knowledge of Adams' IRA activities.

Martin McGuinness has reiterated his belief that the arrest of Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams was politically motivated, accusing members of the Police Service of Northern Ireland of being against the peace process.

McGuinness, Northern Ireland's deputy first minister, said there was an "embittered rump of the old RUC (Royal Ulster Constabulary)" within the PSNI that was trying to settle old scores.

He spoke at the unveiling of a mural in Belfast of Adams, who is spending his fourth day in police custody in connection with the murder of mother-of-10 Jean McConville in 1972.

Mr McGuinness told the cheering crowd that Adams' arrest was designed to affect Sinn Fein ahead of local and European elections.

He said: "No police force anywhere in the world is immune from criticism if it is acting in a politically biased and partisan fashion.

"The arrest of Gerry Adams is evidence of that fact that there is an element in the PSNI who are against the peace process and hate Gerry Adams and hate Sinn Fein.

"They are what the reformers within the PSNI have described to us as the 'Dark Side'."

I also feel like I've been relatively objective in my OP. I tried to make it clear that I have no dog in this fight and that I see both sides of the issue -- Perhaps I failed in that.

I apologize for offending anyone. That was not my intention and I clearly posted this thread in the wrong forum. I should have been cognizant of the fact that posting this particular thread in the RL OC section was insinuating things I really honestly did not intend.

Sorry about that, guys. I hate seeing threads that I start devolve into flame wars. I hope I've been here long enough to show that I'm not a malicious troll intent on riling up the locals.

I can think of worse things to be than a piece of shit and/or scum.

British, for starters.

As far as i'm concerned you did nothing wrong by starting this thread. It's just inevitable that certain people would be unable to argue the facts objectively without emotion.