APOLOGIES

I've no idea why he apologised. He may be an arse, but he was not responsible for that particular injustice.

Far better than an apology would be a firm commitment to pursue those who were really responsible for those atrocities; as well as making sure miscarriages like that don't happen again.

I have to say I'm rather cynical about these apologies. Surely an apology is worthless if you're apologising for something for which you bear no responsibility? I, and I tthink the vast majority of people, would rather Blair own up and say sorry for his ill-conceived adventure in Iraq.

Kevin

WHAT ? Are you serious ????

A massive miscarriage of justice and you think an appology is worthless ? He's not appologising for something he didn't do, he's appologising for the deliberate and cynical false imprisonment of innocent people by the British government and judiciary.

Damn right he should appologise, and all credit to him for doing so.

BOR.

(nice bit of deflection on "a firm commitment to pursue those who were really responsible for those atrocities" by the way)

Apologising for this gross miscarriage should not be confused with being an apologist for IRA atrocities.

Mr Blair apologised on behalf of all of us in a way.

I have little respect left for the oily tic but on this occasion he represented the state, not himself.

Bruce

Do you think the IRA (who definitely were responsible for Guildford, Birmingham, Canary Wharf, Warrington, M62 coach etc etc etc) will ever say who did do these crimes or apologise for them?

I think not.

It may not have been those who were imprisoned but someone did it and the IRA/Sinn Fein knows exactly who.

Jonathan

quote:

Originally posted by Shayman:
Do you think the IRA (who definitely were responsible for Guildford, Birmingham, Canary Wharf, Warrington, M62 coach etc etc etc) will ever say who did do these crimes or apologise for them?

I think not.

I think yes. The PIRA have indeed apologised. In 2002.

quote:

Originally posted by Shayman:
It may not have been those who were imprisoned but someone did it and the IRA/Sinn Fein knows exactly who.

Jonathan

Do not try and conjure up some link between this miscarriage and the PIRA. There is no quid-pro-quo. Don't you dare imply that they were in some way guilty.

BOR

Jonathan

The logical (if extreme) extension of your idea would seem to result in the actions that caused this miscarriage in the first place. In other words, 'somebody did it, so lets get anybody'.

The 'Balcombe Street Gang' were responsible for the Guildford and Deptford bombings.

Their methods also make a mockery of the PIRA 'apology', and recent events in Northern Ireland show that nothing much has changed except that Sinn Fein/PIRA has determined it is unhelpful to their cause to set bombs in England.

Paul

quote:

I have to say I'm rather cynical about these apologies. Surely an apology is worthless if you're apologising for something for which you bear no responsibility?

Anyone who has been involved in campaigns to overturn miscarriages of justice will tell you why an apology is important. In the case of both the Guildford Four/Maguire Seven and the Birmingham Six, senior police officers, elements of the press, and many establishment figures, were prone to darkly muttering that the released prisoners were, in fact, guilty, that the quashing of their convictions was a result of mistakes in the case brought against them, rather than indicating they were, in fact, innocent. Having been involved in the Birmingham Six campaign myself I know how pervasive these mutterings were. Aside from the psychological effects of these whispering campaigns on those who have already suffered an injustice, basic morality suggests an apology is in order. Now that Blair has publicly apologised, there is no question of such a whispering campaign ever having any credence, the innocence of those involved is no longer a matter for debate.

This may well turn out to be the only morally admirable thing Blair ever does in his time as PM.

-- Ian

quote:

Originally posted by sideshowbob:
...Now that Blair has publicly apologised, there is no question of such a whispering campaign ever having any credence, the innocence of those involved is no longer a matter for debate.

Ian,

This is a very good point and one that, I must admit, hadn't occured to me. I'll look at these types of apologies in a new light from now on.

Regards
Steve M

Brian

quote:

Don't you dare imply that they were in some way guilty.

I didn't mean they were at all (its obvious they weren't in fact) but reading back my post it did sound like I meant that. Sorry. Usual case of writing at thinking speed and hitting send. I simply meant that it is my belief that now Sinn Fein are in the mainstream of Irish politics it is only right that they divulge their information on who was involved in some of their atrocities. Same for the British government/forces/NI police too before that upsets you. Time to come clean all round I reckon.

Jonathan

OK

quote:

Originally posted by Kevin-W:
I've no idea why he apologised. He may be an arse, but he was not responsible for that particular injustice.

The police are part of the executive branch of government of which the Prime Minister is the head. Blair apologised as Prime Minister, not personally.

I'm not completely sure of the legal theory here, but as Prime Minister I think Blair is responsible for any miscarriage of justice whether committed in his term or not. Just as the preceding PMs and succeeding PMs are responsible. A government hold its mandate on its honour and if it loses that honour the fundaments of its ability to rule start to crumble.

Deane

quote:

Originally posted by Shayman:
Brian

quote:

Don't you dare imply that they were in some way guilty.

I didn't mean they were at all (its obvious they weren't in fact) but reading back my post it did sound like I meant that. Sorry. Usual case of writing at thinking speed and hitting send.
Jonathan

Can I just say what a pleasure it is to have points made and taken in such good spirit.