To think that the timing of Gerry Adam's arrest does stink a bit?

[ClubName]

I despise the man and hope they have enough on him to let him rot, throw away the key etc

But, whatever they have it's not new (not new this week anyway) and I can see why he and his supporters think the timing of his arrest is political.

More importantly, unless he does end up in prison for a long time (which sadly I doubt) this whole business is just going to enhance his popularity and build the case that the PSNI aren't impartial

To be fair not one person on this thread doesn't want to see criminals brought to justice.

I'm saying that this is a can of worms that will never empty, not if there's equality and justice across the board.

What might happen is it might relight a fuse that no one wants!

And for what?

They were never going to get the evidence to make it stick.

It's an awful tragedy, one of hundreds and maybe thousands. Just because it was more high profile doesn't make it worse than others.

I agree that it would be great if justice were done.

But I don't think that was the reasoning behind it, sadly.

That's non cynicism that's realism.

Sadly, IMO, the only way for the situation in the north to ever stabilise will be if everyone stops looking for justice for the previous crimes of both sides.

Terrible but true.

"David Ervine attributed his membership of the UVF to retaliation."

PandaFeet , I don't understand your point in saying this. They all attributed their membership of paramilitary organisations to something. Retaliation for occupation, relatiation for civil rights abuses, retaliation for this shooting, retaliation for that bombing, teenagers and adults in the Bogside signed up in retaliation for Bloody Sunday, teenagers and adults in East Belfast signed up in retaliation for Bloody Friday. The IRA bombed the fish shop in the Shankill in retaliation for UDA attacks on random Catholics, the UDA shot up the bar in Greysteel in retaliation for the Shankill bomb.

Retaliation, retaliation, retaliation, the World's most common excuse to be a terrorist.

What makes David Ervine's "retaliation" motive so different in your mind that it's worth mentioning as if it sets him apart in some way from all the other terrorist thugs who, thankfully, turned to political means in the end?

I think the thread has moved away from Jean McConville's murder onto a wider discussion of the Troubles. It has staggered me that so many people appear to believe that the PIRA were the only villains of the piece and everything else was a reaction to their actions. Even yourself Panda with the Peter Robinson having connections with Paramiliatries being laughable thing I found to be naive from someone who is obviously educated and thoughtful. If we are only discussing Jean McConville then yes her abduction and murder were appalling crimes. However and this is the kicker I believe that if every appalling crime committed during the Troubles is reopened and examined then we will find ourselves back in violent conflict again. I believe that is the sad truth and while my family would like the person responsible for my Uncles murder to be brought to justice we have accepted that the price for peace is that they most likely won't ever be.

Thats what I have been trying to say Walter that peace is what we must strive for. No good is going to come of charging soldiers, politicians, ex members of whatever organisation for crimes committed during the troubles.

Bruthas I think a lot of families affected are like ours and just wanting to bring our children up not knowing violence.

Charley barley- agree that friends felf very inclusive, and I really enjoyed my time there! I left in 2000, but I am sure we will have some mutual acquaintances!

Queens Students Union proposing to ban the wearing of poppies. It was in the Belfast telegraph yesterday.

They're proposing a ban on the sale of poppies in the SU and it's in direct response it Jim Allister's proposal a few weeks ago to ban all GAA tops. If we can't get grown up politicians in this country to behave themselves how can we expect a crowd of teenagers and very young adults to do much better?

The headline says banning them from the premises. Banning GAA tops stinks, but this is also awful.

No, the headline says 'queens university students to debate on poppy sale ban'.

But hey, don't let the facts get in the way of a bit of vilification.

Isn't that paraphrasing of the Belfast telegraph headline a perfect example of how things get misrepresented and then become the accepted version. In this case it was easily checked and corrected. In most things in life, 'incorrect' and damaging versions of events are not so easily and quickly rectified.

I took it directly from their Facebook page! not paraphrased at all.

But the BT headline doesn't say that. I've only seen the motion (and BT headline) proposing the ban on the sale of poppies in the student's union only. I haven't seen anything about the complete ban on anyone actually wearing a poppy (is that on the campus?).

Maybe there is another motion proposed to ban the wearing of poppies. Does anyone have a link to that.

Yesterdays Belfast Telegraph headline on Facebook was QUB to debate the ban of the Poppy Day appeal - the appeal means the sale of not the wearing of.

That is not the one that was shared on my Facebook feed this morning- I double checked before my post on here! It has been changed now.

It was probably changed because they reported it incorrectly.

Let's hope so, it would be pretty alarming if not

I believe that is the sad truth and while my family would like the person responsible for my Uncles murder to be brought to justice we have accepted that the price for peace is that they most likely won't ever be.

That's just brought a tear to my eye BruthasTortoise

I know my Granny was haunted by it to the day she died - no parent should ever have to bury their child - but even she was able to accept that the peace process, with all it's numerous and documented drawbacks, meant my sons, her great grand sons, were going to have a chance at a "normal" life in NI. This gave her some comfort I think.

a lot of murders when I was a teenager didn't even make the UK national news, so unconcerned were people about the victims

Yes, my Catholic next door neighbour was killed by loyalists...he garnered three lines in the Mirror alongside a five page spread about a British army checkpoint that was fired at (no casualties) the same day.

It is frustrating how so many people think they know the reality of living in NI by reading the British tabloids!

It is frustrating how so many people think they know the reality of living in NI by reading the British tabloids!

Absolutely.

And pointing out the deficiency of their information makes you an IRA apologist! (Not on this thread, to be fair, but I have definitely been accused of that in RL)