Nationalists need to support the state against dissidents

Derry City and Strabane District Council has demanded that Tony Taylor, who admitted serious firearms offences, be released from custody. Mr Taylor was recalled to prison by the Secretary of State while he was free on licence.

As a Northern Ireland Office spokesperson explains here, the case will be heard by the independent parole commissioners. But in the meantime, it is moderate nationalists – not republicans – who need to answer urgent questions about their overall approach to the general principles behind such cases.

We know Sinn Fein will criticise the authorities when they take reasonable actions against dissidents for two reasons. They have a history of supporting the Armalite. They are also anxious about losing support to pro dissident groups.

But what about the SDLP? They backed the council motion. Are there circumstances in which they do support the revoke of licence, and if so what are they?

The police, the courts and the intelligence services are struggling to keep Northern Ireland safe from terrorism. The murder of Adrian Ismay, which every mainstream political voice condemned, showed the scale of the threat.

Yet problems arise whenever the state tries to take action. Eamon O’Cuiv TD has been back and forth to Northern Ireland, accusing the authorities of harassing dissidents.

In the meantime, there has been a disturbingly low conviction rate for the murders at Omagh, at Massereene, and of Ronan Kerr and David Black. A murder that led to convictions, that of Stephen Carroll, was soon followed by a chorus about an alleged miscarriage of justice.

Days after the Republic celebrated 1916 violence, there are questions to be answered about nationalist support for a modest state response to terror (let alone a robust one).