More threats reported against the McCartney sisters, this time from "republican elements". They're saying the McCartneys will be hurt if they persist in "discrediting the republican movement".

Assuming for the moment this is true, I don't believe the IRA are involved in it. If for no other reason than they surely have a sharper sense of irony than that (at least, I hope they do, although after P. O'Neill's last statement about the McCartney murder I suppose you would have to wonder a little bit). It needs to be remembered that "republican elements" includes people other than Sinn Féin and the IRA - and while republican dissidents initially were as keen to latch on to the McCartneys as the SDLP and southern establishment were, many of them were alienated when the sisters went to the US and began rubbishing republicanism in general to the politicians and media over there. And it certainly wouldn't be beyond some of them to threaten the McCartneys in the full and deliberate knowledge that mainstream republicanism would take the criticism for it.

Perhaps I'm being paranoid here, but I wonder if the fact that the reports refer only to generic "republican elements" is telling. When Fergal Toal was arrested on drugs charges last month many of the reports referred to him as "a former republican prisoner", his membership of the INLA rather than the IRA going conveniently unmentioned although most journalists would surely be aware of it. But when the IRA are (alleged to be) involved in something they rarely hesitate to say "the IRA"!

On a final note, I've just heard on the radio that tomorrow's Sunday Tribune will be carrying a column by Nuala O'Faolain wondering why the southern media have gone soft on Paisley and suggesting that it's just "not PC" to blame anyone other than Sinn Féin for the impasse. Should be interesting; perhaps I'll at last get my money's worth on the €2 that I inexplicably continue to shell out on that stupid paper every week.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

o'faoilain column is precise and on the button. very well said by her

Wednesday said...

Not only that, but a full page by Suzanne Breen on collusion victims! What is going on? :)

Anonymous said...

The O'Faolain article was ok , but the fact that it was flagged in the advertising copy so prominently may mean that some brighter sparks at the Tribune may have woken up to the fact that there may be room for only one 100% full on rabid "McDowellite" rag on a Sunday...perhaps a little greenish tinge to court back the many Irish readers who simply can not stomach reading the rants and foam-mouthed conspiracy theories of the likes of Jim Cusack et al in the Sindo. Nice Blog look forward to seeing it more regularly, especially since I am taking a little "rest" from Slugger. Good Luck.

Wednesday said...

Thanks. I'd like to think you're correct, but it's hard to imagine Collins and Breen deciding to give their paper a greenish tinge :) Time will tell I suppose!

Anonymous said...

I dont think its to do with politics its more to do with market share...theres plenty of folk out there who simply can not stomach the Sindo's rubbish, despite interest in sports coverage etc etc

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