The Ballymurphy Massacre 1971

[johnnycool]

I know some had a cut across Angelo earlier in the thread but he is absolutely right about the lack of knowledge of this massacre in the minds of many. This was a massacre, an unadulterated massacre. The MSM in the south routinely bring out the names of Jean McConville, the treatment of Maria Cahill and the death of Paul Quinn but I have rarely, if ever, heard much support for the families of the Ballymurphy victims. I'll be honest it is part of the revisionism of history of the Troubles that sickens me. The lack of empathy and understanding from many quarters of what happened up here is astounding. I think about it now and then and realise what we grew up in and think how could someone a few miles down the road dismiss it?  And they did as I often found out as a teenager playing schools football and being called an orange, Nordie, Brit bastard.

The hierarchy of victims in the eyes of the media sickens my hole. The British army murder 11 innocent people nearly 50 years ago. Each one who pulled a trigger that day and each commanding officer over them is guilty of a war crime and should be tried accordingly. I would love to hear my fellow 'Irish men' call that out

Great post. The dismissive comments from unionism and supporters of British forces is one thing but from fellow Irish people is very saddening.

Absolutely 💯

A few great posts this last couple of pages BCB. Fair play.

As we now apparently have three identities on this island now, Irish, British and Northern Irish ... I'd add a fourth as well i.e. the Irish British ... like it or not folks there are some in the south who are swayed by British media, are anti-northern, who deny the nationalist struggle in the north, who have anti-northern sentiments towards nationalists from the north.  I received that same treatment from a minority, of supposedly well educated people whilst working in the south .... snide northern comments were never far away.  So when it comes to showing support for a northern massacre, that is just too much to ask of some south of the border, and many of whom are in the political elite.  It does not suit the FF/FG narrative to proactively reference British atrocities in the north, nor does it suit the national broadcaster to be doing so ... oh no, we can't be highlighting that, no smoke without fire, they surely weren't shot for no reason .... they should hang their heads in shame!

When we were first able to get a TV that picked up RTE when I was in my mid teens, late 80's or so I was shocked at how RTE news represented the news from here. This was the time when Sinn Feín members voices couldn't be heard on the TV, apart from the stupidity of dubbing over the voices and what that was meant to achieve the slant of the bulletins was slightly at odds with my perception of what was happening based on what older ones in the community would tell you of their experiences working in areas a lot more impacted than our area..
That lack of understanding of what was happening up here was re-enforced when you'd go to concerts in the south, or games and get talking to people from the likes of Cork, or Dublin or wherever and they'd no understanding at all. I'd a Cork girl ask me who the fenians were, she was a looker I was trying to suck the face off so tolerated her in her moment of weakness.

On Fr Mullan, he's from my part of the world and my dad would have known him and his family and we were talking about it last night and he said two things, the family were asked would it be OK for the army to escort his body down to his family in Portaferry, the brazen fúckers, the mother told them on no uncertain terms what to do with themselves.. and also Bishop Philbin didn't cover himself in glory at the time and never came out in support of Fr Mullan which is staggering but unsurprising as both he and Cathal Daly were British apologists..

[Snapchap]

The MSM in the south routinely bring out the names of Jean McConville, the treatment of Maria Cahill and the death of Paul Quinn but I have rarely, if ever, heard much support for the families of the Ballymurphy victims.

The Tanaiste, Leo Varadkar (the man who referred to FG having an "overseas branch" in Belfast) has still not made any response to yesterdays Ballymurphy findings. A quick search of his contributions to Dáil debates in his time as a TD shows that he has repeatedly brought up things like the Enniskillen Bombing etc, but has not once, in his entire Dáíl career, spoken about Bloody Sunday or Ballymurphy.

[brokencrossbar1]

The MSM in the south routinely bring out the names of Jean McConville, the treatment of Maria Cahill and the death of Paul Quinn but I have rarely, if ever, heard much support for the families of the Ballymurphy victims.

The Tanaiste, Leo Varadkar (the man who referred to FG having an "overseas branch" in Belfast) has still not made any response to yesterdays Ballymurphy findings. A quick search of his contributions to Dáil debates in his time as a TD shows that he has repeatedly brought up things like the Enniskillen Bombing etc, but has not once, in his entire Dáíl career, spoken about Bloody Sunday or Ballymurphy.

And that sums it up....even Stephen f**king Nolan is on their side this morning, though he is playing to the crowd

[BennyCake]

The MSM in the south routinely bring out the names of Jean McConville, the treatment of Maria Cahill and the death of Paul Quinn but I have rarely, if ever, heard much support for the families of the Ballymurphy victims.

The Tanaiste, Leo Varadkar (the man who referred to FG having an "overseas branch" in Belfast) has still not made any response to yesterdays Ballymurphy findings. A quick search of his contributions to Dáil debates in his time as a TD shows that he has repeatedly brought up things like the Enniskillen Bombing etc, but has not once, in his entire Dáíl career, spoken about Bloody Sunday or Ballymurphy.

Won't be long before Lickspittle Leo proposes a day of remembrance for the paratroopers. w**ker.

[brokencrossbar1]

The MSM in the south routinely bring out the names of Jean McConville, the treatment of Maria Cahill and the death of Paul Quinn but I have rarely, if ever, heard much support for the families of the Ballymurphy victims.

The Tanaiste, Leo Varadkar (the man who referred to FG having an "overseas branch" in Belfast) has still not made any response to yesterdays Ballymurphy findings. A quick search of his contributions to Dáil debates in his time as a TD shows that he has repeatedly brought up things like the Enniskillen Bombing etc, but has not once, in his entire Dáíl career, spoken about Bloody Sunday or Ballymurphy.

Won't be long before Lickspittle Leo proposes a day of remembrance for the paratroopers. w**ker.

With Chuck Flanagan swinging in behind him....

[GJL]

The MSM in the south routinely bring out the names of Jean McConville, the treatment of Maria Cahill and the death of Paul Quinn but I have rarely, if ever, heard much support for the families of the Ballymurphy victims.

The Tanaiste, Leo Varadkar (the man who referred to FG having an "overseas branch" in Belfast) has still not made any response to yesterdays Ballymurphy findings. A quick search of his contributions to Dáil debates in his time as a TD shows that he has repeatedly brought up things like the Enniskillen Bombing etc, but has not once, in his entire Dáíl career, spoken about Bloody Sunday or Ballymurphy.

Won't be long before Lickspittle Leo proposes a day of remembrance for the paratroopers. w**ker.

With Chuck Flanagan swinging in behind him....

Says it all that Arlene has made a respectable statement on the matter yet Leo does not see it as important enough to comment on.

[Angelo]

For me FF/FG are as bad if not worse than unionism.

Happy to play politics, to use victims as pawns, to undermine justice for families and they do this with a conflict that had no direct impact on them.

The Free State government have actively thwarted the McAnespie family in their quest for justice and then why will roll out IRA victims in the pretence they are looking for justice. I don't know how someone like Armaghniac can consistently defend the likes of FF/FG on here.

[armaghniac]

I'm not sure what I am supposed to have said, the record of the Free state government on Ballymurphy is not good, and it is not just an anti nordie thing, they did nothing for the victims of the Dublin bombings either.

[yellowcard]

The MSM in the south routinely bring out the names of Jean McConville, the treatment of Maria Cahill and the death of Paul Quinn but I have rarely, if ever, heard much support for the families of the Ballymurphy victims.

The Tanaiste, Leo Varadkar (the man who referred to FG having an "overseas branch" in Belfast) has still not made any response to yesterdays Ballymurphy findings. A quick search of his contributions to Dáil debates in his time as a TD shows that he has repeatedly brought up things like the Enniskillen Bombing etc, but has not once, in his entire Dáíl career, spoken about Bloody Sunday or Ballymurphy.

If there is no positive PR spin or political capital to be gained from it, then it's not worth doing in Leo's eyes.

It's rarely ever about simply doing the right thing with him, it's simply about being seen to do the right thing.

[imtommygunn]

He's usually fairly opportunist on these things so mustn't see any opportunity in it for himself to say anything.

[Armagh18]

For me FF/FG are as bad if not worse than unionism.

Happy to play politics, to use victims as pawns, to undermine justice for families and they do this with a conflict that had no direct impact on them.

The Free State government have actively thwarted the McAnespie family in their quest for justice and then why will roll out IRA victims in the pretence they are looking for justice. I don't know how someone like Armaghniac can consistently defend the likes of FF/FG on here.

At least Unionists are plain and open about their anti Irish, pro Britishness which is absolutely fair enough. What you see is what you get. With the West Brits in the 26 and the Tories the only sure thing is that you can't trust them.

[Rossfan]

https://www.rte.ie/news/2021/0519/1222582-ballymurphy/

[johnnycool]

https://www.rte.ie/news/2021/0519/1222582-ballymurphy/

"On behalf of successive governments, and to put on the record in this House, I'd like to say sorry to their families for how the investigations were handled, for the pain they've endured since their campaign began almost five decades ago."

That is not an apology for the murder by British Soldiers of 10 innocent civilians as I read it, more the inadequacy of the subsequent investigations.
The families should tell him to stuff it and don't start my on thon Cork lickspittle and his "situation".

In fact I've just watched it back there and he never mentioned once that they were murdered by the British Army but sure Claire Hanna thinks that's a good enough apology FFS.

[balladmaker]

https://www.rte.ie/news/2021/0519/1222582-ballymurphy/

"On behalf of successive governments, and to put on the record in this House, I'd like to say sorry to their families for how the investigations were handled, for the pain they've endured since their campaign began almost five decades ago."

That is not an apology for the murder by British Soldiers of 10 innocent civilians as I read it, more the inadequacy of the subsequent investigations.
The families should tell him to stuff it and don't start my on thon Cork lickspittle and his "situation".

Shocking ... he couldn't even get the apology right!  As you say, he isn't apologising for the actual murders in that text.

[BennyCake]

Like a child caught with his hand in the biscuit tin.

Pathetic. But, did we expect anything less? The British establishment, absolutely rotten to the core.