PM apology over IRA bomb jailings

[Caligula]

here

About bloody time.

[donnie]

not sure how I feel about this really. I think an apology is in order BUT I still think on balance of probability the bombs were the work of the IRA - which presumably means the real culprits are walking free. I also think it comes at a very intersting time when the peace process is faltering and the IRA has been accused of colluding in the huge bank robbery before Christmas. And also there is an election on the horizon.....maybe I am a bit cynical! but I suppose overall he has done the right thing. When were they freed ? should not have John Major apologised if he was the serving PM? or was he too busy shagging Edwina?

[Caligula]

Hmm, can't remember what year they were freed, but I do remember the lack of graciousness of the British Establishment at the time.

And the subsequent nudge nudge wink wink tone of reporting which has implied that OK, we don't have any evidence, but they did it really. We just had to let them go because our justice system's so good!

[SenoraPostrophe]

The real culprits are walking free whether or not it was the IRA, donnie.

[Caligula]

Yep, the real culprits have been walking free for about thirty years. (Presumably - unless they've been banged up for something else unrelated to the bombings.)

[LapsedGymJunkie]

Hear hear Caligula,

They were convicted on the basis of something called the Griess test. If you had been in contact with nitroglycerine, your hands would come up blue in tests.

Hence the importance of the evidence of Dr Skuse, the Home Office pathologist whose 'Griess test' identified nitroglycerine on the hands of five of the men. It has subsequently emerged that similar results can be obtained from handling tobacco, playing cards, even using soap.



They forgot to mention that all the witness in the case said that they saw Gerry Conlon playing cards they also forgot to mention the fact that playing cards are coated in a substance that gives the same positive test. Funny that.

[Joolstoo]

when will the PM apologise to us?

[Joolstoo]

when will the PM apologise to us?

now THAT would be a real vote catcher.

cynical? moi?

[Joolstoo]

oops!

[LapsedGymJunkie]

lol jools too

Sorry, probably got a bit wound up, I hate injustice any where in the world. But in the so called developed world it is even less acceptable.

And don't get me started on Fair Trade

[piffle]

Absolutely
Bit late for Giuseppe and it makes no difference who set the bombs the IRA or the la di da, the wrong people were convicted, imprisoned and Giuseppe died in prison.
I think it is an important step for the healing of Northern Ireland.
I am nearly married to a Conlon, my dd is one too, you still get your irish passport stared at for extra long time upon your arrival back into the UK...
The apology is on behalf of the British government, the leader of which has to deliver the apology, would have been super to hear it from Thatcher though... not that I'd want her as leader of the government under any circs...