Gerry Adams arrested

[Derek]

I might be wrong but did SF not veto the idea of immunity for actions during the troubles in return for honesty because it would give immunity to members of the security forces as well as the balaclava brigades?

If so they can't really complain that the Police are following up apparently credible intelligence from multiple sources regarding an unsolved murder.

Perhaps this will focus minds a little and see that to move on all sides need to take some unpleasant steps.

[nomadking]

Any threat that if X is done or Y isn't done, that will bring an end to the "peace process" is a terrorism threat and should be treated as such.

Terrorism isn't about an attack, but the threat of future attacks. Any actual attacks are about showing your willingness to commit further acts, if your demands are not given into.

A certain somebody, once said in relation to the IRA, "They haven't gone away, you know.".

Well why don't we wait and see what the result is?

Could be that the police are making quite sure that no one can accuse them of not actually investigating as thoroughly as they can..Because they are always having their neutrality called into question by both sides whilst continuing being the target of attacks.

[RichardCoulter]

Originally Posted by Mr Pharmacist

Maybe a couple of generations down the line you might see the situation change to the one which the Good Friday agreement was hoping to achieve. In the meantime it's going to continue to simmer away. The IRA are still active in an ever changing guise. Not to the level they once were, but still as dangerous as ever. I don't think that the decommissioning of weapons was ever completely adhered to by both sides. The main communities, to an extent, feel betrayed by policing and concessions given to each other. I can't even begin to imagine how people feel when they see individuals that they know have ordered, and taken part in, evil atrocities walking about freely and taking up positions in Government. I don't feel we have the right to expect both sides to just shake hands and get on with it. Everyone is entitled to justice, and until certain people are seen to receive it, and not be above it, it'll continue the way it is.

If peace can be maintained I am hoping that, as generations are born and die, that it will become easier for them all to put the past behind them.

As an example, we are now no longer enemies with Germany and it is considered impolite to mention the wars when conversing with German people.

I'm not sure when relations completely normalised after the fall of Hitler but it can't have been that long, even though both sides must have had their grievances and lost loved ones.

I have friends in Belfast from both sides, but even to this day, some would never speak to each other unless they had to eg in a work situation.

[rhyds]

It has to be remembered that the Good Friday Agreement is (in the greater scheme of things) not that old at all. I'm under 30 and can still remember a time when hearing an NI accent on the evening news meant there had been a bombing/raid somewhere.

A lot of the old divisions are still very close to the surface, be it the "peace" walls or the fact that children from both sides of the community still go to separate schools and don't get to know each other.

It will take time, but I really do believe that the people and the politicians want to see NI move on in a safe and prosperous way.

[Osem]

No arrest this time, just an accusation at this point:

A man who says he was a former IRA and Sinn Féin member turned British agent has claimed Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams sanctioned the killing of Denis Donaldson.
He made the allegation to BBC NI's Spotlight programme on Tuesday.
Mr Donaldson was shot dead months after admitting in 2005 that he had been an MI5 agent for more than 20 years.
Three years later, the Real IRA said it was responsible. Mr Adams has denied any involvement in the killing.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-37425809