Royal Ulster Constabularly colluded with Unionist Terrorists

Posted by: Stephen on 30 January 2007

I wish to record my deepest concern at a report by the police ombudsman for Northern Ireland concluded RUC Special Branch colluded with unionist terrorist which lead to 15 murders in the Mt Vernon area. State funded death squads operated with impunity. It makes it morally difficult to insist that Sinn Fein demonstrates a commitment to the "rule of law" when the police force mandated to uphold the rule of law operates within the law and outside the law when it chooses. A state will find it difficult to have loyal and law abiding citizens when the state itself operates outside the law. I hope the report receives the attention it deserves, it records a bleak period of policing in the UK.Britain did not ask as referee in a tribal war rather it inflamed the situation by arming and encouring unionist terrorists. I hope the report receives the same attention as the Northern Bank raid or the Stormont Spy scandal. I doubt it.
Posted on: 30 January 2007 by Stephen
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/shared/bsp/hi/pdfs/22_01_07_ballast.pdf

The full report is deeply disturbing.
Posted on: 30 January 2007 by Derek Wright
It is always the case that yesterdays enemies are todays friends and vice versa - get over it - and move on.
Posted on: 30 January 2007 by Brian OReilly
Yes, it makes uncomfortable reading. It follows hot-on-the-heels of a Dublin report into collusion between the RUC, the Ulster Defence Regiment and loyalist paramilitaries to carry out a series of bomb attacks in the 1970s.

Gerry Adams has however, used these revelations to secure a mandate from the Sinn Fein membership to recognise the Police Service of Northern Ireland, as long as there is transparent control by the NI Assembly. This is a HUGE step for the nationalists, but does make sense if it means that they can oversee the actions of the security services. Although presumably MI5/MI6 will continue to operate with impunity.

There are still ongoing Inquires into collusion, and the Bloody Sunday Inquiry appears to be still some months if not years from a conclusion. The question is, what action should be taken in the light of these reports ?

In terms of conflict resolution in Ireland, does it serve any purpose to seek criminal prosecutions against the police/army/government ? This period is coming to an end now, particularly if the Northern Ireland Assembly can be made to function, so is it time to acknowledge what has happened, draw a line under it and move on ?

The remaining question is for the British electorate to answer. How do they view the acts of their governments and do they feel it needs to be prosecuted ?
Posted on: 30 January 2007 by PJT
quote:
Originally posted by Brian OReilly:

The remaining question is for the British electorate to answer. How do they view the acts of their governments and do they feel it needs to be prosecuted ?


How can the British public condone this at all. Surely they should just get the hell out on Ireland.
Posted on: 30 January 2007 by Melnobone
quote:
How can the British public condone this at all. Surely they should just get the hell out on Ireland.


Uhh not sure thats feasable. I think you'll find the 'English have been resident in NI longer than NZ...

Maybe you should leave NZ to the Maoris?
Posted on: 30 January 2007 by northpole
A couple of niceties which some folks may appreciate [and others may regard as semantics]. Reference above is made to unionists and nationalists within the context of paramilitary activities. The people in NI with the fire arms and explosives and drugs and protection rackets (the latter two coming into prominence during the 1990's) are loyalists and republicans. They are only titles / labels, but important ones in the country affected.

As for the Ombudsman's report. Well, I have become extremely cynical about the orchestrations imposed upon NI from the powers that be and I would highlight the convenient timing of the publication of this report shortly prior to SF voting on support for the new police service in NI.

I agree that the findings of the report are unsavoury, but please don't lose sight of the bigger political picture and what's going on there.

Peter
Posted on: 31 January 2007 by full ahead
There was'nt anything in this report that people did not know or suspect.The last 30+ years have been bloody unsavoury, but we have to somehow put it behind us and ensure that it does'nt happen again.That will be very difficult for many and impossible for some ,but there is no other option only disaster.
George
Posted on: 31 January 2007 by PJT
quote:
Originally posted by Melnobone:
quote:
How can the British public condone this at all. Surely they should just get the hell out on Ireland.


Uhh not sure thats feasable. I think you'll find the 'English have been resident in NI longer than NZ...


Right - about bloody time they left
Posted on: 31 January 2007 by Melnobone
quote:
Right - about bloody time they left


but if you go back further the Maoris were invaders from polynesia (spelling??).

If we all went home we'd all be in the sea...
Posted on: 01 February 2007 by Brian OReilly
quote:
Originally posted by PJT:
How can the British public condone this at all. Surely they should just get the hell out on Ireland.


Whilst plantation and the subsequent partition of Ireland are directly responsible for the conflict between the two sides in NI, at some point you have to draw a line under it and look for an equitable solution for both sides. In reality, the British government are doing their best to make a structured withdrawl from NI, initially with limited devolved rule by the NI Assembly, to be followed by cross-border initiatives that will gradually strengthen the economic links between the two countries. I think it's essential that the unionists in NI do feel that they are part of any future developments rahter than having a situation imposed on them from London or Dublin, otherwise you will never achieve a robust society with long term stability and equality for all it's citizens.

WRT the British public's view on collusion between their security forces resulting in bomb attacks ? I think it will barely register, I'm afraid. It is easier to compartmentalise events in NI as long as those events don't occur on the mainland.