Comments on The Pensive Quill: Dear Danny

Pretty ironic really to hear anyone from Sinn Fein...

2011-09-12T05:06:43.639+01:00

Pretty ironic really to hear anyone from Sinn Fein calling anybody a tout, while they're off having tea and buns on policing boards, delighted with themselves.

Had a conversation once (back when I was still in the fan club) with aul Danny dog and actually thought then, that he could be slightly mad, found him strangely unnerving.

some one arrested over shooting of Denis Donaldson...

2011-09-11T17:24:02.541+01:00

some one arrested over shooting of Denis Donaldson. I'm confused.

why was he expelled from SF and shot?

why is marty mcguinness still in SF and alive?

My father was a senior member of the republican mo...

2011-09-09T23:29:36.953+01:00

My father was a senior member of the republican movement in the 70's, and always described Dany Morrison as a coniver (sorry about the spelling?).
My brother was nearly killed by the SAS, at a H-Block commitee meeting in the 80's and has always recalled Morrisons views. Danny thought a publicity coup was missed by the SAS not killing my brother or his friend...Joke or not? My brother did'nt see the funny side..Truth is stranger than fiction...

Ruairi, his comments section is always closed. He...

2011-09-09T13:08:44.598+01:00

Ruairi,
his comments section is always closed. He puts all this stuff up, but does not award anyone the right to give their opinion.
Not that Danny would have an interest in anything anyone has to say other than himself.

I noticed that Danny's comments section was cl...

2011-09-09T00:06:24.464+01:00

I noticed that Danny's comments section was closed.. Wonder why?

The Rat in a Hat... Hmmm, there's a sort of r...

2011-09-08T22:59:37.995+01:00

The Rat in a Hat...

Hmmm, there's a sort of ring to it.

The allegation of me being a brussel sprout is the...

2011-09-08T22:52:16.755+01:00

The allegation of me being a brussel sprout is the biggest lie since the holocaust.....bangers.

I mean, who takes the likes of Danny Morrison or a...

2011-09-08T22:11:55.609+01:00

I mean, who takes the likes of Danny Morrison or any shinner seriously when they hurl tout in anyone's direction?

We all know who was caught out and I'm damn sure that the whole lot weren't outted though. It seemed to get to the stage where I'm sure that Gerry said, it's getting too embarrassing leave the rest alone, sure we'll all be at it soon...

Well you's will anyway!

Nah! Danny doesn't want another roasting like the one Big Ricky gave him, so he starts calling names.

Fionnuala, should that not be Brian Clarke NUT?

2011-09-08T21:48:02.517+01:00

Fionnuala, should that not be Brian Clarke NUT?

Nuala, that photo is 11 years old. At least the...

2011-09-08T21:47:20.422+01:00

Nuala,

that photo is 11 years old.

At least the professor is on his side. That is an obvious advantage!

Mackers, you have to give Danny some credit, he m...

2011-09-08T20:49:48.037+01:00

Mackers,
you have to give Danny some credit, he may engage in spin and conjecture but at least he showed a very flattering photo of you.
I see Brian Clarke nuj has came to Banger's defence. According to Brian this blog is much too incestuous to be credible.
Not so long ago, he was accusing Adams of heading a paedophile ring!
Could Danny be the long lost professor? stranger things.

Nuala, ‘All I am giving here is an honest account...

2011-09-08T18:41:12.706+01:00

Nuala,

‘All I am giving here is an honest account.’

Absolutely. I don’t doubt for a minute that you present it as you honestly recall it. I had a very different experience in the jail. And over the years I have heard nothing that would lead me to think otherwise. I remember many IRA attacks on Protestants and there was certainly no outcry from within the movement. When Enniskillen happened a senior republican (according to his own account as again I was in jail) later told me he leaped up and down thinking the IRA had hit back over the RUC attacks on funerals. Enniskillen was one bad operation but I don’t think it led to any great deal revulsion within the movement towards those that did it. There was a lot of soul searching no doubt.

The centre lying. Perish the thought! It ended up the only thing you could believe in the AP/RN was the date.

‘This was not a reprisal or retaliation for anything and it was not a case of, 'well they are doing it to us'. It was more the case of people thinking, it was alright to kill an innocent Protestant man just because he was unfortunate enough to there helping people repair their homes.’

I have problems with that interpretation. It came immediately after a bomb attack by loyalists. That is why the guy was there, repairing houses as you said. That attack probably fuelled the response. This is not an argument in defence of any sectarianism that was engaged in. It is an attempt to put it in context. But I accept that context is always alibi. It might be a true alibi, it might be a false alibi. It can always be challenged.

That I happen to be a long time friend of the men convicted of it has not I believe coloured my judgment of it. I was very close to one of them in jail and very close to another post release. But I had formed my views on the matter early on although things are always picked up over the years. It is hard to walk the yard day in day out and not hear things.

Mackers, All I am giving here is an honest account...

2011-09-08T18:16:55.898+01:00

Mackers,
All I am giving here is an honest account. People inside and outside the movement found the events of that day abhorent.
I think the only people let down by the centre, were ordinary decent republicans, who if this account is true were clearly lied to.
This was not a reprisal or retaliation for anything and it was not a case of, 'well they are doing it to us'.
It was more the case of people thinking, it was alright to kill an innocent Protestant man just because he was unfortunate enough to there helping people repair their homes.

Nuala, None of us are right about a lot of things...

2011-09-08T16:27:39.328+01:00

Nuala,

None of us are right about a lot of things. It is the people who insist that only they are right and the rest of us must shut up who are the problem. Being wrong is fine. We learn from it.

On this one I have to disagree with you. I don’t recall anyone saying it was not an IRA operation or ‘homer.’ Whereas I do recall some things being referred to as being done on their ‘own bat’. I never heard that said in relation to this one. Those believed to have done it were never treated as non-IRA. I wasn’t out and don’t know about revulsion on the ground. I presume the people feeding it into the Lower Falls men in Magilligan were not revolted.

‘This was not in keeping with any IRA policy, this was opportunistic and overtly sectarian.’

Nuala, a lot of IRA operations of the period were. Fair play to you for stating your views on that sectarian culture but it was pervasive. I recall asking a senior republican from the era a few years after I got out how the Movement could have justified the sectarian killings. He was very emphatic about it – they did it to us, we had to respond in kind. His argument was that the community were demanding it after attacks by loyalists. If we look at Ardoyne, the attacks by the IRA from that area on Protestants was pretty severe. Sectarian killings are a part of our republican history. From the end of 74 to the end of 76 we went through a very intense period of sectarianism. And it was very much in keeping with the IRA policy of the day.

Why can't Martin be considered as a tout?

2011-09-08T16:15:00.091+01:00

Why can't Martin be considered as a tout?

Mackers, I am not right about a lot of things but ...

2011-09-08T16:03:39.124+01:00

Mackers,
I am not right about a lot of things but I know I am right about this.
If my memory serves me right and I know it does, there was absolute revulsion amongst the rank and file over this an I never once ever remember anyone speaking of it in terms of an IRA operation.
This was not in keeping with any IRA policy, this was opportunistic and overtly sectarian.

Nuala, That is the first time I have heard it sai...

2011-09-08T15:53:58.206+01:00

Nuala,

That is the first time I have heard it said it was not an IRA operation. It was consistent with other IRA operations at the time where attacks were launched against Protestants. The IRA never disowned anyone over it. There were three people charged at one time or another over it and all were on republican wings. Two of those convicted were on the blanket protest. In January 1977 we were down in the Crum for our trial. There was a lock up on. We were out for the mass on a Sunday and the guy charged with it walked into the canteen. He had been in a few months so it was not the first time they had seen him. But the cheer that went up was massive. I didn’t know him then but it struck me that for whatever reason he was very popular.

The IRA did not stand over its own people or claim them in the jail in that era unless they were in for IRA operations or related activity. There was a case in 1975 where republicans did kill a Protestant but not as part of an IRA operation and they were not claimed. They had to serve their time in the conforming wings.
I remember it well in as far as it is possible to remember anything well from so long ago. I was in Magilligan and there were a number of Lower Falls men there. Their attitude was one of serious resentment towards ‘the centre’ as they called it for having crapped on the guy whose name was going about like a wildfire. There was no contempt for him. One of the most vociferous critics of ‘the centre’ is still on board. I wasn’t long turned 18 and was wondering what ‘the centre’ had done to merit all this bitterness and anger. Then over the years I picked up on the politics of the thing and the tensions that it gave rise to.

‘If it was and again I doubt it, then it only serves to make the murder even more horrendous.’

But the IRA was more than capable of activities that would easily fit the label horrendous. The Mountainview Tavern, Bayardo, and probably the most horrendous of all, Whitecross. I was outside for the latter but apparently it caused a lot of resentment in the jail.

Looking back on the era from today, it was a terrible time in republican history but it was a republican history nonetheless.

Mackers, I seriously doubt that the despicable mur...

2011-09-08T15:12:29.359+01:00

Mackers,
I seriously doubt that the despicable murder of Samuel Llewelyn was an IRA operation. If it was and again I doubt it, then it only serves to make the murder even more horrendous.
Everyone heard the name of the alleged killer very quickly and I think everyone held the same degree of contempt for that person.
A innocent man died that day and he died for no other reason that the fact that he was a Protestant.
I don't remember anyone being too troubled that the alleged killer's name was public knowledge, I just remember repbulicans being absolutely revolted that this murder had taken place.

Very interesting post its a bit like a woman,s low...

2011-09-08T13:37:41.187+01:00

Very interesting post its a bit like a woman,s low cut dress very revealing always thought of him as a holier than tho character

The best choice for the 6 counties is to become an...

2011-09-08T10:33:57.329+01:00

The best choice for the 6 counties is to become an independent state.If politicans had the nerve to tax land and abolish income tax, it would be financially feasible.It could be as prosperous as Denmark, Isle of Man or Channel Islands.RSF hate the 26 counties ineptness as much as loyalists do.The men who took part in 1916 largely metamorpasised into Fianna Failed, De Valera, Todd Andrews, Dan Breen? etc.

Thankfully as I have said previously, primary sour...

2011-09-08T00:33:33.256+01:00

Thankfully as I have said previously, primary sources like yourself and Richard and Brendan Hughes are out there now on the record as to what really transpired in the provo evolution into constitutionalism. Like the sticks leadership before them they lied through their teeth to all and sundry in doing it.

Prods on the mixed wings in 1988 were aware of what was going on in peace talks. IRA prisoners blindly followed blissfully unaware and arrogantly feeling superior to the 'crims' over there...how funny now. Just a pity the Adams gang hadn't the decency to re-invent themselves like FF. But then how could they hope to deliver all those weapons to their masters if there was a split?

History will judge the SF Adams gang much differently than they intended I suspect. SF can't wait for the 70s + 80s to be on the horizon in the rear view mirror so their re-enactments with toy guns become historical drama rather than contemporary embarrassment. Are these re-enactments commemorating murderers? Need to ask John O'Dowd. No point asking Adams, he was never in the IRA either.

Hard to believe in the early 80s when bangers sat in a BBC studio asking in his wee high pitched 'squeel' "Do you want to talk about bloody sunday" that he'd be where he is now, nowhere. Not even in Stormont.

The episode you highlighted in kelly's cellars was amazing. Wouldn't worry about the 'tout' label, PSNI fabricate charges and release people and SF guttersnipes have a field day. So what. Adams gang throwing that old chestnut at anyone just proves what I've asserted for some time; they live in houses without mirrors.

Despise the man but I have a question. If he was a...

2011-09-07T23:35:35.518+01:00

Despise the man but I have a question. If he was a tout why did he spend 4 years in prison from 90-94? Wouldn't his handlers have protected him? Wouldn't the SB thwarted the raid on that safe house?

The transformation of all transformations. SF/IRA...

2011-09-07T23:15:25.212+01:00

The transformation of all transformations.

SF/IRA to SF/PSNI people mostly the same, only the name changed, standard British strategy, if somethin is filthy rotten [ like windscale ] give it a name change to... sellafield...

Mmmmm Anthony poor bangers,I almost felt sorry f...

2011-09-07T22:12:52.491+01:00

Mmmmm Anthony poor bangers,I almost felt sorry for the f##ker. maybe he wears that hat to hide a big red face every time he sees a real republican,