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On Neutral Working Environments
by beano 
on 25 Feb 2008 at 10:43. Categories: Europe, Sinn Fein, Republicans, Devolved Government, History Given Sinn Fein's serious, and not at all opportunistic, commitment to creating "neutral working environments" I'm shocked, nay stunned, to find them taking advantage of International Women's Day to celebrate a convicted bomber, Mairead Farrell. Surely the Equality Commission would have something to say on this, no?
"We have a right to hold the celebration there. I would never, ever say to unionists or loyalists that they should or should not be doing something."
Jennifer McCann MLA, organiser of the event
It's lucky then, Jennifer, that Unionist politicians wouldn't be so sick as to arrange an event dedicated to the Shankill Butchers right under your noses (actually I'd be disgusted if they organised one at all, but that's neither here nor there at the moment). There are plenty of places in west Belfast and South Armagh where I'm sure there would have been less fuss, but this is all about Sinn Fein showing how far they can push their luck in sticking two-fingers up at unionists.
The DUP has, co-incidentally I'm sure, decided to hold an event commemorating the role of the SAS in defending Ulster from Farrell and her semtex-happy buddies. The SAS shot dead Farrell and 2 other IRA members who were on "active service" in Gibraltar, attempting to blow up the band at the weekly Changing of the Guard at the Governor's residence.
Hat-tip Big Ulsterman, who points out that stunts like this appear to be the tit-for-tat in the new dispensation.
If I wanted to be as vindictive as McCann I would suggest a ceremony to honour the Parachute Regiment be held at the Guildhall in Londonderry. Thankfully, I'm not.
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10 comments
"rightly or wrongly, attempted to kill"
Catch a grip Seamus. The answer is B. Wrongly.
Is there also a question over whether her attempt to blow up the Conway Hotel in Dunmurray was right or wrong? Do you need a hint?
Don't try to create a hierarchy of terrorists.
PS - there is nothing bigoted or pathetic about being consistent.
As it stands, I don't believe that Jennifer McCann should be doing this. Read my comments on the 'Dangers of Demonisation' page. I believe she should do it in West Belfast where Mairéad Farrell was from, instead of an area where it will probably cause offence. Stormont should be completely neutral, so there should be no honouring of IRA volunteers or SAS soldiers.
Also, if it wasn't a war, then according to the European Commission for Human Rights, Mairéad Farrell was 'unlawfully killed', which, in my knowledge of the English language, means murdered. But I believe it was a war and she was a combatant killed by another combatant. That is consistency Beano. Learn some.
While I'm not going to justify your assertion that this was a "war" (there are other threads already running on that topic), I'm glad we can at least agree that McCann shouldn't be at this.
"Comparing the acceptance that your actions would cause collateral damage, and the deliberate torture and butchering of innocent people because of their religion is completely different."
Different, I'll grant you, but not completely.
There is a time and place to support fallen people who failed to achieve death and injury to others at the hands of those who have fatally injured them first, but this doesn't fit in with a new Stormont that is about accommodating diverse views.
To rush in with contentious issues while all the same working a devolved governance with the DUP shows that SF shouldn't really use Stormont as a showcase for Mairéad is proof enough that it was a stunt as I dare say Mairéad at the time certainly wouldn't have settled for it.
‘UN Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace’.
I don;t think Ms Farrell really qualifies on that international peace side of it!!!!
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