Police Officer killed in Northern Ireland

[Hom3r]

Originally Posted by Fingy

Thankfully most 'incidents' recently have been elaborate hoaxes.

My XBL friend who lives near Belfast, and he said bomb scares happen quite often.

He also said gun crime is high, and one woman was in a cafe with here new boyfriend, when her ex came in and shot him in the face. Nobody saw anything.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-12981497

The brutal killing has led to a series of ground-breaking cross-community moves.
Arguably, the most significant was the decision by Stormont First Minister, Peter Robinson, to agree to attend a Catholic church service for the first time.
For many Protestant politicians, a Catholic Mass is out of bounds. They may express their heartfelt condolences to a grieving family, but don't go to the funeral service.
The argument is that a Roman Catholic Mass contradicts the Protestant faith. It is a dispute that goes back to the 16th Century and the Reformation.
Politics in Northern Ireland is rooted in history, but Mr Robinson's decision to go the funeral of Constable Kerr suggests he is more interested in the present than the past.

I'm sorry but this case IS different.
I cannot recall at any time in the 'Troubles' the degree of support and coming together of all sides of the divide that has been shown on this occasion especially over the death of an establishment figure of a policeman.The comunities are learning to live together and to want to put the past behind them.

Harking back in echoes of the past doesn't help and it only gives hope to the dinosaurs that have failed to accept that their ways of the gun and the bomb are no longer wanted or supported as they once were.

[Arthurgray50@blu]

This still shows that this ' problem' between Catholics and Protestants in NI is still going on.

The peace pact in NI must continue, but you still have the hard liners, and l cannot understand why people cannot forget it, l have plenty of friends from differents sectors who cannot forget this 'problem'

I feel very sad for the policemans family, he wanted to do a job to keep keep peace, and he gave the ultimate price, l hope the **** who did this will get caught - but l doubt it.

Arthur, it's not between Catholic and Protestant, it's about extremists, some of whom are Catholic.

Correlation is not necessarily causation.

Originally Posted by Arthurgray50@blu

This still shows that this ' problem' between Catholics and Protestants in NI is still going on.

Do you ever read what others post?

[Osem]

Did anyone hear the phone in on Radio5 about this subject the other night? If not I'd have a listen because a guy who called himself Edward (a former member of the IRA) spoke at great length (@ 1hr 55m) and demonstrated how there are still educated and articulate people out there who choose to live in the bitter past and will not condemn acts such as these.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode...an_03_04_2011/

If ever there was an antidote to the sort of callous, bitter, nonsense he spoke it was the funeral of Mr Kerr and the words of so many people in Ireland since his death who have clearly decided it's time to move on and build a new society free from all the appalling attrocities carried out in the name of one 'army' or another.

[Jayster]

Originally Posted by Hugh

Arthur, it's not between Catholic and Protestant, it's about extremists, some of whom are Catholic.

Correlation is not necessarily causation.

Exactly

[Derek]

Originally Posted by Osem

Did anyone hear the phone in on Radio5 about this subject the other night? If not I'd have a listen because a guy who called himself Edward (a former member of the IRA) spoke at great length (@ 1hr 55m) and demonstrated how there are still educated and articulate people out there who choose to live in the bitter past and will not condemn acts such as these.

Sad but not surprising. There are still enough idiots about who won't bring themselves into the present and think murder is justified to bring about their aims.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-12989762

Police in Northern Ireland investigating the murder of Constable Ronan Kerr have arrested a man in Scotland over a significant arms find.

Speaking at a news conference at police headquarters in Belfast, Assistant Chief Constable Drew Harris said the man was arrested in Renton, West Dunbartonshire, and brought back to Northern Ireland.

Go on Derek, tell us, did they let you kick his door in?

[Derek]

Originally Posted by Chris

Go on Derek, tell us, did they let you kick his door in?

He was arrested in the street so no door kicking in required. Plus a lowly PC wouldn't get involved in an operation like this.

Still it shows the West of Scotland is still seen as a safe haven for terrorists from NI

Plus in Renton having a couple of AK's and Semtex isn't really seen as being heavily armed!

Ah, Special Brew, I imagine.

Hmm. I wonder whether there's any connection with the recent mysterious explosion in the woods at Gartocharn, just a couple of miles up the road from Renton ...

[Fingy]

Arthur, please think about what you are typing. You make it sound like every protestant hates every catholic and even just saying that is not going to help here in the slightest.

Things here have come on a lot further already than most would have hoped for. It is involving massive cultural change so of course it is going to take time and a lot of bridges need to be built. There are cross-community schools, projects between other schools etc.

Try and get your head around this, I'm one religion and my husband is the other. Who would have thought that would be happening 10 or 20 years ago...

[Osem]

Originally Posted by Fingy

Arthur, please think about what you are typing. .

Don't hold your breath will you!

[Arthurgray50@blu]

Hi Fingy, NI is experiencing the best of life in such a lovelly country, and if l have said anything l am sorry, Each time this happens on Tv or on the radio, l believe that this is what goes through peoples minds.

NI is now a vast expanding country, and the troubles are now well behind them, I know they have arrested a suspect in Scotland in connection with the murder.

Originally Posted by Fingy

Arthur, please think about what you are typing. You make it sound like every protestant hates every catholic and even just saying that is not going to help here in the slightest.

Things here have come on a lot further already than most would have hoped for. It is involving massive cultural change so of course it is going to take time and a lot of bridges need to be built. There are cross-community schools, projects between other schools etc.

Try and get your head around this, I'm one religion and my husband is the other. Who would have thought that would be happening 10 or 20 years ago...