The life and death of Martin McGuinness

I was all set to do a blog about two of the famous men who died over the last week – rock and roller Chuck Berry and Catholic Bishop Eamonn Casey – but the news of Martin McGuinness’s death has meant that must wait for another day.

I first met Martin McGuinness  in the early years of this century, when he was Education Minister in Stormont. I was conducting a number of interviews and he had agreed to take part. We spoke at some length before the filmed interview and he was, in a quiet way, totally charming.

He came to the launch of two of my books – one in Belfast and the other in Derry. I hadn’t expected him to respond to the  invitation to the Belfast launch, since it was in the evening and I knew he travelled home to Derry every day after Stormont.  But he did, and talked to anyone and everyone at the launch, and impressed them all. And he was one of the last to leave.

The Derry launch of another book was in 2010, in what had been St Columb’s College, and with John Hume he was the joint guest of honour.  The contrast between the two Derrymen was striking. John Hume spoke of having attended St Columb’s himself, and praised the work it had done for him and so many others. Martin McGuinness then spoke. He echoed the praise of John Hume for the school. Unlike John, he said, he had not been a pupil in St Columb’s. In fact, he said, he had never set foot in the College until that evening. Then he partially corrected himself: “I was here once before, only it was at the back of the College. It was 1969 and myself and few young lads had been sent up from the Bogside to break into the Science lab and get some nitroglycerine for making petrol bombs.” The contrast between the two men was too much, and the audience burst into laughter.

The last time I spoke to him was inside the last year, at the launch of a Sinn Féin document on reconciliation and a united Ireland. I was in the audience and after McGuinness’s talk, I was busy chatting to a woman who happened to be sitting beside me. McGuinness approached us, broke in with his characteristic charm and warmth, shook hands with us both, showing the same interest and courtesy to the woman I’d been speaking to as he did to me.

There are people who say they can never forgive Martin McGuinness because for years he was involved in lethal violence. I can understand that. What I can’t understand is that the same people find no difficulty when someone like Paddy Ashdown or General Mike Jackson appear on our TV screens. Or Lord Mountbatten or Winston Churchill or Ronald Reagan. All of these men were men of violence, whose concern was not about the morality of their violence but with the successful execution of it. You don’t get journalists questioning them as to the morality of their actions.

Likewise there are those who’ll tell us that the Good Friday Agreement was Sunningdale for slow learners. I’m not one of them. Martin McGuinness believed that the British authorities would never respond simply to diplomatic overtures, and indeed it is doubtful that power-sharing would have happened had it not been preceded by IRA violence. Bombs going off in London’s financial district, like the prospect of being hanged, concentrate the mind wonderfully.

But of course all that is to focus on only one aspect of Martin McGuinness’s life – the part which he told me journalists seemed exclusively preoccupied with, his time in the IRA. To do so is to ignore the work he did with Gerry Adams and others to bring about the Good Friday Agreement. Some took political risks to bring about the peace. Martin McGuinness took risks with his life to bring it about.

Nor did it end there. From the start he responded to Ian Paisley’s arrogance with courtesy and warmth until, incredibly, he had won Paisley as a friend. From the start of this century Martin McGuinness made repeated efforts to reconcile with former enemies and political opponents, gestures for which, he said, not a single unionist politician commended him. And it is ironic that, while he didn’t live to see the Promised Land, he took Sinn Féin and Irish republicans to the edge of it.

When Ian Paisley died, Martin McGuinness said that he felt he had lost a friend. Tens of thousands of people this week will feel the same at the death of Martin McGuinness.

Ní bheidh a leithíd ann aris – Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam. We shall not look upon his like again – May he rest in peace.

 

 

 

55 Responses to The life and death of Martin McGuinness

  1. joe bloggs March 21, 2017 at 9:37 am #

    to use a phrase coined by Donal Kennedy – the bastard will be shoveling coal in hell.

    • James Hunter March 21, 2017 at 10:02 am #

      He was a great man shame on you

      • joe bloggs March 21, 2017 at 10:05 am #

        I am sure Patsy Gillespie’s family and countless others would not agree.

    • paddykool March 21, 2017 at 10:05 am #

      There is no hell, joe…just your fevered imagination. Shovelling coal, eh?….not very environmentally friendly …..your hell is still using fossil fuels ,then?

      • joe bloggs March 21, 2017 at 10:11 am #

        OK – shoveling ash in hell’s RHI scheme. That’d be ironic!

        • fiosrach March 21, 2017 at 10:47 am #

          Joe,there’s a time to speak and a time to shut your mouth. You obviously have not matured to that point where you know the difference. Your sorrow at the death of Patsy Gillespie is genuine. Did you know him? Did you ever meet him?

        • Sherdy March 21, 2017 at 4:00 pm #

          Joe, it must be one hell of a luxury to be indignant on other people’s behalf!
          He, who is without sin, let him cast the first stone.

    • TheHist March 21, 2017 at 11:30 am #

      Joe, a very worthwhile contribution – NOT! There is no doubting that Martin McGuinness had past associations with the militant Republicanism – he admitted this during the Bloody Sunday Enquiry – but, what else do you know about this past? To refer to him as a “bastard” says more about you, really. Would you refer to Paisley in such inappropriate terms?

      Martin McGuinness during the 1990’s right through to modern day took massive risks to advance society in the North – some of these risks ensured that his life was often in danger, not only from Loyalists but even those who deemed themselves Republican. He brought the PIRA down the political path, a massive feat, to be replaced by Sinn Fein as the voice of Republicanism in the North. McGuinness was one of those who we must be indebted too for bringing the suffering in the place to an end – that’s the suffering on both sides as both sides were equally responsible for same. He advanced relations with political Unionism and made bold moves, many I was against, all with the intention of making political progress. You can thank peacemakers like McGuinness for at least trying to transform our society. The folk on the hill could be doing with his strategic thinking and wisdom at this crucial time. I have the pleasure of meeting McGuinness on a few occasions at different events I attended. I was always astounded by his moves towards reconciliation, his attitude towards those different to him, his vision for an inclusive and progressive society, his acknowledgment of the hurt if the past and the need to deal with this as part of a process of moving forward. Martin McGuinness will be remembered as a true Irish martyr – he dedicated and devoted his life to change. He has left a legacy. We have lost one of the greatest politicians of our age. RIP Martin.

    • ANOTHER JUDE March 21, 2017 at 7:29 pm #

      God….is that you? Have you deigned to appear on Jude`s blog site? Tell me, when is Our Lord coming back? Is Heaven all it is cracked up to be? I just can`t believe you would appear in print like this. You can see inside all men`s souls, am I being good at the minute? How are my parents getting on?

    • ANOTHER JUDE March 21, 2017 at 7:31 pm #

      ANOTHER JUDE March 21, 2017 at 7:29 pm #
      God….is that you? Have you deigned to appear on Jude`s blog site? Tell me, when is Our Lord coming back? Is Heaven all it is cracked up to be? I just can`t believe you would appear in print like this. You can see inside all men`s souls, am I being good at the minute? How are my parents getting on?

  2. Alex March 21, 2017 at 10:01 am #

    May he Rest in Peace.

  3. Perkin Warbeck March 21, 2017 at 10:55 am #

    VIOLINS and VIOLENCE

    One g-man’s guns are another’s poisons
    Condemnation once again versus silence
    The noseholding middle
    Knows there is no riddle
    PIRA plays second fiddle to State Violins !

  4. Jud March 21, 2017 at 10:58 am #

    RIP Martin.
    His part in Irish history will only grow from here on.

    All- please ignore the troll.
    At least for this post.
    I doubt mmg would want any energy expended in that direction.

  5. Pointis March 21, 2017 at 11:07 am #

    Martin McGuinness is a man who is respected around the world for his work for peace and reconciliation in this troubled part of Ireland.

    He was a role model for all peacemakers in that he made great sacrifices and showed great personal courage to offer the hand of friendship and reconciliation outside his traditional comfort zone to the extent where he made friends with people who would otherwise be his staunch political foes.

    He is a great loss to his family and friends and to the country,

    RIP

  6. James March 21, 2017 at 11:34 am #

    Taken from us too soon. So sorry to hear of Martin’s death. No words can do justice to his memory. Soldier, statesman and a republican legend. But above all a proud Derryman. Thank you Martin for your vision and leadership over the years. RIP.

  7. Colmán March 21, 2017 at 11:40 am #

    Would the Troubles have happened without Martin McGuinness? Yes.

    Would the Peace Process have happened without Martin McGuinness? No

    Suaimhneas síoraí ar Martin McGuinness. Fear na síochána.

  8. Patrick McDermott March 21, 2017 at 12:07 pm #

    I awoke this morning to hear of Martin’s passing and immediately felt myself welling up as in experiencing a great personal loss. The man was a republican icon for decades and his past actions have to be seen as a product of and in the context of the times he was living in, and that is not to confer a carte blanche endorsement of all republican activities. All conflicts take on a life of their own and bad things happen on all sides that can not be sanitised or rationalised. Protagonists and targets are generally dehumanised and this leads to a brutality and savagery on all sides . Once his party hierarchy and he made the decision to farther their aims peacefully through the political process, he devoted himself wholly to this and reached out the hand of friendship through various generous reconciliatory gestures which by and large have never been reciprocated.. Again , on a personal level, I met Martin on several occasions over the years, and he always exuded a warmth and personal charm.
    To his family, party colleagues and friends, I extend sincere sympathies.
    Go ndéana Dia trócaire air, agus Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.

  9. Mark March 21, 2017 at 12:29 pm #

    Two questions,
    Martin McGuinness was a mountain.
    Will the mountain climber be attending his funeral?

    • giordanobruno March 21, 2017 at 3:20 pm #

      Mark
      That’s one question.

      • Mark March 21, 2017 at 5:21 pm #

        Wrong.

        • giordanobruno March 21, 2017 at 6:34 pm #

          Well if you say so…

  10. Bridget Cairns March 21, 2017 at 12:39 pm #

    Joe Bloggs, you are on the wrong site, possibly on the wrong planet

  11. Antonio March 21, 2017 at 1:18 pm #

    Joe, I feel genuinely sorry for you.
    your entitled to your opinion but can you not agree he made a considerable contribution to the Peace Process and changed the hearts and minds of many republicans, and dare I say it, unionists/loyalists? – just look at his friendship with Ian Paisley.

    As a 32 year old man I can undoubtedly say Martin and men/women like Martin have made my life considerably better than what it could have been.

    Let us recognise Martin as a man of peace and Thank him for the great contribution he made.

    Go raibh maith agat, mo chara

  12. Ryan March 21, 2017 at 2:26 pm #

    I was genuinely upset when I heard Martin McGuinness had passed away, I had only woken up literally and heard it on the TV. I pray for his soul and his peace and his family. Rest in Peace Martin.

  13. Ryan March 21, 2017 at 2:27 pm #

    Advice for those grieving Martin McGuinness, don’t entertain the haters who are shaming themselves by mocking a man’s passing. Spend the day remembering Martin and his family.

    • moser March 21, 2017 at 10:09 pm #

      Well said Ryan.

  14. Donal Kennedy March 21, 2017 at 3:29 pm #

    I believe that Martin McGuinness was throughout his life a person of goodwill and courage.
    He used his abilities for the good of other people and was not motivated by money, fame or
    power.

    Circumstances induced the Irish Government to train young men from Derry in the use of arms, as testified to by a Minister for Defence in the ARms trial in Dublin.

    The British Government put the frighteners on Jack Lynch and he disowned a project his
    Cabinet had initiated and tried to have colleagues and a dutiful Army Captain and a citizen
    imprisoned.

    IRA factions stepped into the breach when nationalists were left in the lurch by Constitutionalists.
    The armed resistance was not pretty and those it was resisting were positively ugly.

    Today millions are starving in Yemen having been attacked by Saudi Arabia using
    British weapons.
    Iraq is in bloody chaos as a result of decisions made in London a century ago as well as more recently, Similarly Palestine and various other places. Afghanistan and God knows how many other countries are in permanent chaos as the result of repeated selfish aggression by Western “Democracies”.

    God rest Martin McGuinness, a champion of justice.

  15. The Irish Rover March 21, 2017 at 4:46 pm #

    Child abuse (punishment beatings and kneecappings of minors), rape of young Catholic male and female, the torture and dumping of the bodies, never to be found. This all against his own community as the leader of the provo’s. If you didnt know the history you could be mistaken that Jude was describing Snow White. Meanwhile Catholics are happy to stick their head in the sand and pretend these things never happened, in time Sinn Fein will try to rewrite history and erase all the disgusting acts that the Provo’s have done. The irony of Sinn Fein leader talking about legacy issues and the past yet Snow White never gave a second thought to Mrs Hambleton (Birmingham bombing) who now will never know the truth as will numerous other victims. Rest in Peace Martin? A luxury you didnt give to countless innocent victims over the years.

    • Jude Collins March 21, 2017 at 4:53 pm #

      What are your thoughts on Harry Truman, IR?

  16. Cal March 21, 2017 at 4:49 pm #

    I can only hope to be live my life a fraction of the Irishman, Martin McGuinness was. Rest in peace, Martin. Blessed are the peacemakers.

  17. paddykool March 21, 2017 at 5:36 pm #

    It really is quite amazing to consider the blindness of some. To pretend that anyone or any nation has completely clean hands and are not responsible for the deaths that occur when men are manipulated into war or violence. Wars and conflicts are not pretty . Men can be violent creatures .It is what we are. If anyone thinks there are simply good guys and bad guys in territorial conflicts they’d be better off taking a look at the other animals on our planet and study how they all fight to survive uninhibited by any notions of morality.
    Millions died in the World Wars and the people who set them in motion must bear some responsibility as to how they pan out. Who really killed all those generations of young men ? Who really razed entire villages in England of a generation of their young men, sending them off to die in the muck of the trenches ?Who was responsible for all the American and Asian deaths in Vietnam ?Who did that and why? Who sent all those young men into that nightmare? Who was responsible for the deaths at Dresden when it was firebombed , or Hiroshima when it was vaporised ?Who is responsible for all the deaths emanating from the Middle East , Afghanistan…..who was responsible for the deaths in South Africa? Who wiped out the Native American Indians and the Australian aboriginals .? Who screwed up Ireland and left it to its own tattered devices?
    Were any of these people ever described as “terrorists”? Was that terror? What else did they do with their lives after they were finished with all that killing they’d set in place ? Did they make recompense to nations blighted with famine, fevers ,agent orange and radiation poisoning?
    More likely they were awarded medals and a variety of promotional titles to add to the salad on their chest and treated like heroes.
    Martin McGuinness was a young man in a unique situation at the time of his youth in the late 1960s.He died today only one year older than myself. Had he been born and lived anywhere else he might never have been part of a street- fighting IRA opposing young squaddies sent over from Lancashire and Yorkshire to “do their duty” and be killed if necessary. . Indeed had he lived anywhere but that area in Derry, at that moment in time , he might have lived a different life entirely , but those were not ordinary times and many have forgotten after twenty years of peace just how extraordinary those times were and how Martin McGuinness helped to change them.He wouldn’t have expected a medal for it , I’d imagine, but he wouldn’t have seen himself as a terrorist either , any more than Winston Churchill or Ted Heath , President Bush , Ronald Reagan or David Cameron would have seen themselves as one.Anyway …it doesn’t matter anymore.

    • ANOTHER JUDE March 21, 2017 at 7:24 pm #

      Actually he was much better than those you mentioned, they were responsible for slaughtering thousands of foreigners. Martin McGuinness was fighting foreign oppression and he was in his own country. Rest in Peace.

      • paddykool March 21, 2017 at 7:48 pm #

        Yes …there is that, AJ….

    • Colmán March 22, 2017 at 6:13 pm #

      Hi Paddykool, good post I would just take issue with “the who wiped out the Native American Indians and the Australian aboriginals” bit. Indeed there are still many Native Americans and Aborignals and their plight is made worse by people who believe they no longer exist. I’m not saying you are one of those people but I think we have to be careful with the language we use.

      • paddykool March 22, 2017 at 10:59 pm #

        Oh ..I know there are a few left , Colman , but they’ve been dome few favours.

  18. Jack Britton March 21, 2017 at 6:28 pm #

    Thank you Joe for this blog. You express the feeling of many people throughout the length and breadth of Ireland.
    Go déanaigh Dia trócaire ar anam Martin. Is é Laoch na hÉireann. Tá muid buartha inniu. May the light of Heaven shine upon him.

    • Jude March 21, 2017 at 8:07 pm #

      Um – it’s Jude , Jim – I mean Jack…

      • joe bloggs March 21, 2017 at 10:46 pm #

        Jack – you are welcome.

  19. ANOTHER JUDE March 21, 2017 at 7:20 pm #

    MARTIN McGUINNESS…………THE OFFICIAL STORY.

    Having been born into a democratic and fairly created country, a place where Catholics were accepted and loved by their Protestant neighbours, a place where houses were allocated according to need and not because of their religion, Martin realised his life was too perfect. Feck this, he thought, I am going to engage in mindless violence. Even though those friendly lovely policemen are allowing us to march in Derry, even though those friendly English fellows in kakhi are handing out sweeties to the locals, I am going to start trouble. Even though the conditions in the Bogside are fantastic, even though there is no sectarianism, bigotry or gerrymandering, I am going to be a bad boy just for the craic. I know people will condemn me for it but so what? I know there are no loyalist organisations, I know the police are unarmed and I know the British government are fair minded pacifists. I just want to kill and maim people. Even though Britain has NEVER killed anyone ever, except for bad NAZIs and they have never bombed civilians, I just want to be bad.

    M. McGuinness.

    • Jude March 21, 2017 at 8:23 pm #

      A witty and extremely relevant point, AJ. V few of the many analyses have asked the question “Why did thousands/ tens of thousands of young men and women resort to violence at the same time, knowing that their chances of being imprisoned or killed were very high?” GRMA for raising the point so skilfully …

      • joe bloggs March 21, 2017 at 10:43 pm #

        even though there is a democratic solution available in the 70s. Even though there was power sharing on the table in 70s. Even though there is an agreement on the table in the 70s that is virtually the same as the one 20 years and so many souls wasted later. Even though murder, knee-cappings, rapings are wrong. Even though the IRA were defeated and he cut a deal to save his own skin. Even though his project failed (not in his lifetime, not in Jude’s, not in mine). Despite all that, his atrocities will never be forgotten. A coward. A failure. A devil to shame the others he will now join in hell.

        • fiosrach March 22, 2017 at 10:49 am #

          Yeah,I agree. He was a failure. Not him personally but the republican people. We tried to forcibly remove the English interference in our country and we failed. But are we downhearted? And what happens if there is no hell, no judgement day and no afterlife and no English newspapers to provide our information?

        • Jude Collins March 22, 2017 at 11:24 am #

          Joe. I allowed your assertion that Martin McGuinness is in Hell – even as Paisley insisted the Pope was in hell after he died – because I allowed Donal Kennedy, with some misgivings, to make a similar statement about someone long dead. You have now repeated this abuse of a man who died only yesterday. You won’t be doing it again. Either stop these abusive comments or I’ll stop you permanently. And the same goes for other people posting. I can accept a witty and crushing commentary, I can accept a closely-reasoned argument, even if I don’t agree with it, but I will not accept undecorated abuse. Transgressors will receive a yellow card; following a second offence it will be red. You’ve now had your well-earned yellow, JB.

        • Belfastdan March 22, 2017 at 1:28 pm #

          Democracy receive short shift from the Unionist establishment. What hope did democracy have against gerrymandering, blatant discrimination in the areas of industrial development, job provision, housing and education not to mention an armed and deeply sectarian militia disguised as a police force?

          The state was created to be for one section (Protestant and Unionist) alone and politics on its own would not change that situation.

  20. Freddie mallins March 21, 2017 at 8:28 pm #

    Absolutely AJ, but try as I might I have not heard one person today make even the remotest reference to the disgusting environment made for Catholics by their neighbours in the north. It’s fingers in ears time if anyone has the temerity to remind them that even the most basic demands of the civil rights movement, like fair allocation of housing was met with loyalist and RUC violence.

  21. Sherdy March 21, 2017 at 10:06 pm #

    Heard Enda Kenny this evening talking about Martin McGuinness’ conversion from needless evil IRA terrorism to the path of peace.
    Hanging on the wall behind him was a large framed picture of Michael Collins.
    Jeez, he doesn’t know too much about irony!

    • ANOTHER JUDE March 23, 2017 at 5:48 am #

      You couldn’t make it up!

  22. sarah carabine March 22, 2017 at 2:35 am #

    In time History will remember Martin McGuinness will become known as The Peacemaker, both Him and Gerry Adams. He was the brains of Stormont, He was cool, quiet, gentle, and he never lost his temper, well not in Public, ,he was not a terrorist ,nor a coward ,and yes things happened that shouldn’t have, ,but I’m not going to play the tit for tat game,all I will say both communities were violent, but Martin had the courage to take part in the talks and played a fantastic part for peace for All People. Martin its a very sad day, but your a Legend, RIP.

  23. ANOTHER JUDE March 22, 2017 at 4:52 am #

    Joe, if Martin was one of the bad guys then who were the good guys?

  24. Brian March 22, 2017 at 7:38 am #

    It is important to remember that Martin was the chosen leader of republicanism, the dominant force within nationalism, duly elected by the people. Very few were unaware of his background when they cast their votes.

    The narrative that contextualises Martin’s involvement in the conflict, for republicans, is not one accepted by the British, the media nor unionism. It is a context, however, which is becoming more recognisable as we work through legacy issues and the role of the state forces, politicians and the RUC becomes less obscure.

    There will be victims and survivors who, for obvious reasons will harbour anger and hatred. They will not see or accept the alternative narrative, the genesis of the conflict and the role of unionism and the British state in mass murder and oppression. There will be victims on the other side of the conflict who will take a different view. They, however, will not be sought out by journalists. Photographs of Bloody Sunday or Ballymurphy will not grace the front pages of British tabloids in order to explain why young men engaged in armed conflict.

    No, what we are witnessing is an attempt to rewrite the history of the North. Republicans bad, British good. McGuinness used to be bad then he seen the error of his ways.
    It is hard to watch the media feverishly seeking opportunities to portray Martin McGuinness as a reformed terrorist, barely tolerated by decent people and only then because he had changed his ways.
    These people know the history of this place. They are not blinded by hurt and anger because of a personal experience. They knowingly adopting an approach prevalent in the 1980’s, trying to reset the balance, to offset the gains made by the actions of people like Martin McGuinness who strove to achieve parity of esteem and to bring into the light of day the actions of those who arrogantly claim the moral high ground and who are desperately trying to stem the trickle of information which is gradually stripping away this falsehood.

    Yesterday I heard the term Godfather of the IRA used for the first time in years. I decided to stop watching and listening at that point. The forces opposed to progress in Ireland, the British, unionism and their allies in the southern establishment and media are attempting to use the death of Martin McGuinness to paint a picture of the past which bears no relation to the reality of the nationalist experience of the conflict and the causes which brought it about. I’ve had enough of the faux sympathy displayed by commentators who pretend to respect Martin but can’t wait to introduce the “but many people think he was a bloodthirsty…” .
    There was a context for the conflict. Martin McGuinness didn’t engage in armed action because he was bored. The majority of nationalist voters do not give their vote to Sinn Fein because they don’t understand the past. They understand very well. They understand David Trimble was involved in Vanguard, Jeffrey Donaldson was involved in the UDR, Peter Robinson was involved in Ulster Resistance, the British government and their troops supported the unionist administration and then took on responsibility for oppressing nationalists when unionism lost the ability to do so. They understand all of this. So do the the media. They just choose to promote a narrative that ignores it.

    • ANOTHER JUDE March 23, 2017 at 5:47 am #

      Brilliant post Brian. The Nationalist voters are sophisticated, we know when we are being spun a yarn. It will not make us change our views. Martin was a soldier fighting against foreign troops and their colonial militia. He is as important as Collins or De Valera. More so actually.

      • Brian March 23, 2017 at 7:40 am #

        The thing that stands out for me is the complete lack of respect for Martin McGuinness shown by elements of the media. This translates to a disdain for the the people who chose him as their leader. The point is more important than it might seem at first glance. Down through the years the media have behaved in the same fashion but, in recent times, with the ongoing revelations around collusion and the gradual establishment of a more balanced historical perspective, I, foolishly as it turns out, expected a different approach. Instead, what we seen was a feeding frenzy by a media who gave the impression of being allowed off the leash to carry on as if they were still operating under the old “rules of engagement” from the 1980s.
        I imagine a lot of this is down to editorial policy, but some of it comes across as more personal. If one assumes that a level of reading ability and a modicum of information retention skills are required for a career in journalism, then the apparent lack of awareness of a nationalist/republican narrative in our history, (one that doesn’t paint the state and it’s forces as saints and the opposition as sinners) has to be deliberate.
        The ongoing misrepresentation of our history reinforces in some minds the need to stand firm against republicans. The denial of parity of esteem and even basic respect is legitimised for those who rely on the media to educate them on the past. In short, the media are contributing to the prolongation of this process by reinforcing the not an inch mindset.
        It would do no harm if our politicians corrected these individuals on disinformation propagated by them at the start of each interview.
        It’s called being held to account.
        The media require this as much as the British government do.

  25. The Irish Rover March 22, 2017 at 8:54 am #

    Joe, if Martin was one of the bad guys then who were the good guys?

    Surely you know the difference between right and wrong? Not good guys or bad guys Jude. People constantly using excuse after excuse for reasons to kill and maim. Repulicans AND Loyalists trying to dig up any reason for their disgusting acts over 40 years. The propaganda machine working in overdrive in an attempt to make the other side look worse. It wasnt necessary. There were no winners or “Good guys”, just losers.

    • ANOTHER JUDE March 23, 2017 at 5:41 am #

      What about the British state? Joe obviously thinks the likes of the RUC and the UDR were peacekeepers. Seriously.

  26. Brian March 24, 2017 at 8:38 am #

    The BBC are at it again. Radio Ulster is asking the Victims Commissioner why she attended the former Deputy First Minister’s funeral!

    Should be an easy answer, one would have thought. Public appointee attending former joint head of government’s funeral or simply showing respect for a person she worked with.
    Not in BBC land, however. She was asked if she had considered the feeling of “the victims”.

    Her answer was polite waffle.
    She didn’t say that she was honouring the victims of state murder, such as Bloody Sunday, Ballymurphy and the hundreds and hundreds of innocent victims of unionist death squads.

    She didn’t ask the BBC why they were of the opinion that she should not show respect to the leader of the largest nationalist political party in the north.

    She was polite and restrained. Perhaps the time for that is over.

    The Commissioner could have asked the BBC to explain what they mean by their question, are they asking her to choose between groups of victims? Does the BBC have a preference? Perhaps they could name the victims it is acceptable to commemorate, in order to avoid any confusion in the future?

    Or she could have told the presenter to f**k off.