Hypocritical republicans are using corrupted logic to justify murder

Like many I was disgusted by Mary Lou McDonald’s speech celebrating the anniversary of the murder of two Irish policemen at Soloheadbeg, Tipperary during the weekend.
By The Newsroom
Published 22nd Jan 2019, 13:08 BST
Updated 7th Feb 2019, 18:29 BST
Sinn Fein Leader Mary Lou McDonald (centre) speaking to the media outside Leinster House in Dublin before the centenary commemoration taking place to mark the inaugural public meeting of Dail Eireann in 1919. Ms McDonald at the weekend "celebrated" the republican killing of two policemen in 1919 that sparked independence war. Photo: Niall Carson/PA WireSinn Fein Leader Mary Lou McDonald (centre) speaking to the media outside Leinster House in Dublin before the centenary commemoration taking place to mark the inaugural public meeting of Dail Eireann in 1919. Ms McDonald at the weekend "celebrated" the republican killing of two policemen in 1919 that sparked independence war. Photo: Niall Carson/PA Wire
Sinn Fein Leader Mary Lou McDonald (centre) speaking to the media outside Leinster House in Dublin before the centenary commemoration taking place to mark the inaugural public meeting of Dail Eireann in 1919. Ms McDonald at the weekend "celebrated" the republican killing of two policemen in 1919 that sparked independence war. Photo: Niall Carson/PA Wire

One hundred years ago from Monday two Irish policemen were escorting a horse drawn cart delivering gelignite to a quarry when they were murdered by IRA men Dan Breen and Sean Treacy, killings that sparked four years of bloody violence which engulfed the entire island.

Later Dan Breen was to express his regret that there were not more policemen to kill that day.

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In a rousing speech on Saturday Sinn Fein’s Mary Lou declared her support for Dan Breen’s actions ending with the words “Where Tipperary leads, Ireland follows, Tiochfidh Ar La”.

Letter to the editorLetter to the editor
Letter to the editor

Sinn Fein try to justify their support for these murders of Irish policemen on the basis that the British government were being undemocratic because they were ignoring the will of the Irish people as expressed in the December 1918 general election.

The question must be asked of Sinn Fein; do they still believe this is how people should react if they feel a government is denying their democratic wishes?

For example, if the British government follows Sinn Fein’s advice and fails to implement Brexit in full, as voted on by the British people in a referendum, will Mary Lou regard as legitimate a campaign of murder against those opposing Brexit?

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Ludicrous as this sounds, it is the same corrupted logic as the republican excuse for murder.

Sinn Fein always excuse killing as an unfortunate necessity when it is republicans doing the killing, but any time the British shoot back they claim it was murder — if it was ever a war, don’t you expect the other side to shoot back?

I suspect even Mary Lou secretly knows Ireland would be a better place today if we had stuck to resolving political disputes through political action, not by killing those with whom we disagree.

Arnold Carton, Belfast BT6

Related topics:Sinn FeinIRA