'Brotherly Love': The Irish Question...

[Dinger]

Originally Posted by Mr T.

Well looks like 3 of the Boyos have just been jailed in Colombia for 17 years a piece!

Happy days

Bren, you have gone too far this time. That is very insenstive of you. Those men are good, decent, law abiding men who were there to study peace - how many times do I have to tell you they were not bomb making and those false passports were planted According to Gerry Adams it is the fault of the British Government - not sure why but I bet Gerry could explain it

Dinger

[Mr T.]

Colombia jails 'IRA men' for 17 years
By Jeremy McDermott in Medellin and Ted Oliver
(Filed: 17/12/2004)

Three men linked to the IRA were jailed for up to 17 years in their absence yesterday for training Colombian rebels.

Judges in Bogota ordered the arrest of James Monaghan, Niall Connolly and Martin McCauley.

They were released on bail in April after being acquitted of instructing the Farc guerrillas in making bombs but convicted of passport fraud and ordered to stay in the country. Their whereabouts are not known.


Martin McCauley, Niall Connolly and James Monaghan

The ruling followed an appeal by the Colombian attorney general.

Caitriona Ruane, who heads the Bring Them Home campaign that sought the Irishmen's release, said in Dublin: "This is farcical. There is no justice in Colombia."

She said the men's lawyers would appeal to the Colombian supreme court, a process that could take years.

Monoghan, Connolly and McCauley were arrested in August 2001 at Bogota international airport after leaving the rebel stronghold around San Vicente del Caguan.

They were sentenced in April to terms ranging from two years and two months to more than three years but because of time served on remand they were freed after paying fines of £3,370 each.

The authorities said they had previous IRA links.

Monaghan and McCauley were convicted at home of possessing weapons or explosives, and McCauley was wounded by police at an IRA weapons dump 22 years ago.

[Mr T.]

Shock of shocks!

The Boyos can't be found by the Colombian authorities - they've done a runner!

So not guilty then!

[Dinger]

Originally Posted by Mr T.

Shock of shocks!

The Boyos can't be found by the Colombian authorities - they've done a runner!

So not guilty then!

Course they are not. Where have you been Tierney - innocent men all round them.

Dinger

Ohh you should have heard Catriona Ruane on tv last night mate on local news. All she talked about was that they would not be home for alot more Christmas's - never mind the fact that they are terrorists etc

[diveross]

Originally Posted by Mr T.

Shock of shocks!

The Boyos can't be found by the Colombian authorities - they've done a runner!

So not guilty then!

SHOCKED AND STUNNED!!!

NOT!!!


Ross

[Mr T.]

Belfast City Council Accounts for 2004:

Trips to Colombia - £90m
Orchestrating riots - £15m
Paying protection Money - £50m
Collecting protection money - £80m
Police non-liaison committee - £999m
Kidding ourselves about terrorism - £80m
Beard strimming - £35m
Torturing street vendors - £60m
Building world socialism - £12m
Building luxury homes in Donegal - £27m
Paying off the Alliance Party - £69m
Responding to complaints - £0.00

[Dinger]

Originally Posted by Mr T.

Belfast City Council Accounts for 2004:

Trips to Colombia - £90m
Orchestrating riots - £15m
Paying protection Money - £50m
Collecting protection money - £80m
Police non-liaison committee - £999m
Kidding ourselves about terrorism - £80m
Beard strimming - £35m
Torturing street vendors - £60m
Building world socialism - £12m
Building luxury homes in Donegal - £27m
Paying off the Alliance Party - £69m
Responding to complaints - £0.00

Having fun with the book then mate - reading at it today again - tis great cause you miss wee nuiances but pick it up the next time - endless fun

Dinger

[Mr T.]

Pull the other one, it's got bells on it...and they'll be telling us Adams and McGuinness are not in Army Council next....


IRA denies £22m bank raid
(Filed: 23/12/2004)

The IRA has denied any involvement in the £22 million Northern Bank raid in which the families of two employees were taken hostage.

A senior republican source claimed: "We are dismissing any suggestion or allegation that we were involved."


A burnt out car is being investigated in connection with the raid

The denial came a day after police refused to rule out paramilitary involvement in Monday's heist in Belfast city centre with security sources pointing the finger at the Provisional IRA.

They said the IRA's head of intelligence and one of his chief cohorts may have been involved based on communication intercepts during the 24 hours leading up to the robbery.

Mobile phone conversations were said to have pointed directly at Provisional involvement and at least one IRA man's name was thought to have been connected to the robbery team, which numbered up to 30.

Officers have identified five gangs capable of carrying out such a robbery.

The IRA's denial came as police admitted they were told about men acting suspiciously outside the Northern Bank during the robbery.

A traffic warden informed police of a white van parked in a side street beside the bank and of two men acting suspiciously.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland confirmed today they had received the report and that it had been "acted on".

A spokesman said it was not confirmed the white van spotted by the warden was the same white box van - registration RCZ 6632 - used by the gang in the robbery.

Police and bank officials are preparing to circulate the serial numbers of about £12 million in new Northern Bank notes taken in the raid, which should make the money virtually useless to the gang.

They are also examining CCTV footage taken in and around the bank, and carrying out forensic tests on a burnt-out car found in a nearby forest.

The car is believed to belong to a relative of one of the employees targeted, and to have been set on fire after she was dumped in the woods. The woman managed to escape and raise the alarm.

[Dinger]

Trying to figure out what the chances are of the paramilitaries are involved in the recent Northern Bank Raid

Initial thought:
1) Very high
2) a f*cking cert


Further rumination - which faction?

a) The RA - 5/4 on. But will be foiled by the uncovering of a mole in the bank
who is only too willing to 'sing like a boid'. No video footage allowed.
b) The UVF - 10/1. Based on the fact that the raid was actually successful and well-planned, they are highly unlikely to be involved. Did supply the diesel for the getaway car though.
c) The UDA - 100/1 outsiders - none of the hostages were murdered or sold any drugs. None of the bandidos shot their own bollocks off by accident. Couldn't have been them.
d) The LVF - Busy making pipe bombs. Better things to do y'know!


But would the IRA do something this stupid at a delecate time for the process?

Dinger

[Mr T.]

Originally Posted by Dinger

But would the IRA do something this stupid at a delecate time for the process?

Dinger

When faced with an Über-appeaser like Blair, and knowing that they can get away with doing what the f*ck they like.....yes.