Does anyone actually believe that Gerry Adams wasn't in the IRA?

begsbyOnaTrain

Yet another senior IRA man comes out saying that Adams was in it - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-49718168

A veteran republican who helped found the Provisional IRA has said Gerry Adams was a member of the organisation and described his denials as "a lie".

Des Long has given an interview to BBC Spotlight as part of its series on the Troubles.

He claimed he attended meetings of the IRA's ruling executive with Mr Adams, who was there as "chairman of the army council".

I was surprised to see this in the top news stories because like, who doesn't believe this? We've had numerous other IRA people come out and say it in the past (and give details of the murders he ordered) so is this a shock to anyone? The man's been lying for decades but it just suits all sides to nod away and agree.

super_furry

Nope.

At least McGuinness had the stones to own up, Adams is a spineless jellyfish.

LollipopJimmy

He probably just hadn't filled in the form

Beta Ray Bill

It is no secret that at one point, Gerry Adams was head of the IRA.

Every Cat and Dog in the street knows it!

Portsalon

At this point in his life, I suspect that Gerry Adams himself doesn't believe that he was ever in the IRA. That's what lying consistently about something for 40 years can do to a person.

byronbay2

begsbyOnaTrain wrote: »

Yet another senior IRA man comes out saying that Adams was in it - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-49718168



I was surprised to see this in the top news stories because like, who doesn't believe this? We've had numerous other IRA people come out and say it in the past (and give details of the murders he ordered) so is this a shock to anyone? The man's been lying for decades but it just suits all sides to nod away and agree.

My thoughts exactly. How could anyone think that "Gerry Adams WAS in IRA" could be news in 2019?

Conall Cernach

Deleted User wrote: »

At least McGuinness had the stones to own up, Adams is a spineless jellyfish.

McGuinness was found guilty of membership and served a few months in Portlaoise (This is despite him giving tv interviews admitting membership and being in documentaires in the North). Adams has only ever been jailed due to internment without trial.

Guy:Incognito

Maybe they never told him it was the IRA he was in

lawred2

Obviously pro unionist sentiment must be in the gutter up North... they need an old story to get the flegs flying again

SafeSurfer

There have been many threads on Gerry Adams IRA membership before with some notable posters strenuously denying the reality.

begsbyOnaTrain

lawred2 wrote: »

Obviously pro unionist sentiment must be in the gutter up North... they need an old story to get the flegs flying again

Who's "they"? The IRA man that was interviewed?

markodaly

Gerry built a political carrer around lies and a cult of personality. He has lied about his IRA membership for so long, he probably believes it himself.

It does make sense in some way, for a person like that, to direct and order terrorist activities and downplay the effects it had on the island of Ireland, to try and compartmentalise his moral being and self. If you are going to order a mother to be shot dead, sure what is a lie about his IRA membership between friends?

randd1

Of course he wasn't, sure he told us often enough.

In other news, ironically also involving Gerry Adams, reports are that his pants have spontaneously caught fire, his nose has grown to extraordinary lengths and a wolf killed his sheep while the townsfolk refused to help him.

Gerry Adams also reports that these phenomena have nothing to do with his previous statements on IRA membership.

lawred2

begsbyOnaTrain wrote: »

Who's "they"? The IRA man that was interviewed?

the faceless nameless anonymous IRA man yeah

everyone seems to have a collection of unnamed sources these days... amazing how good these journos are

James Brown

He may have let his dues lapse so technically....

IMO, I think he had to lie about it. Otherwise he'd never be taken as a politician, especially in the early days.
But any member would have been stupid to come out IMO. The IRA didn't have the luxury of British 'law' to cover for them and back them up.

begsbyOnaTrain

lawred2 wrote: »

the faceless nameless anonymous IRA man yeah

everyone seems to have a collection of unnamed sources these days... amazing how good these journos are

The what? Did you even look at the link? He's named and will be on the tv show. Not faceless. Not unsourced. You couldn't be further from the truth.

Oh no, let me guess... you actually believe Gerry, don't you?

Seth Brundle

Sure doesnt it say he was IRA Chief of Staff on his LinkedIn profile!

maccored

I'd say technically he wasn't, but he may as well have been. I also say who cares? I certainly don't.

lawred2

begsbyOnaTrain wrote: »

The what? Did you even look at the link? He's named and will be on the tv show. Not faceless. Not unsourced. You couldn't be further from the truth.

Oh no, let me guess... you actually believe Gerry, don't you?

actually no I don't believe him... It was never really credible. Just not something that I ever got too excited about. Frankly I couldn't give a sh!t. Doesn't change anything.

begsbyOnaTrain

lawred2 wrote: »

actually no I don't believe him... It was never really credible. Just not something that I ever got too excited about. Doesn't change anything.

Excited enough to blame "they" (whomever they may be), attempt to disparage and mock the source and now to gentley sidestep it all and claim it doesn't matter

JohnnyFlash

maccored wrote: »

I'd say technically he wasn't, but he may as well have been. I also say who cares? I certainly don't.

I’d imagine the families of all the people blown to bits might care, dude.

maccored

JohnnyFlash wrote: »

I’d imagine the families of all the people blown to bits might care, dude.

what the hell has that got to do with the equation? Going for the sympathy vote are we?

lawred2

begsbyOnaTrain wrote: »

Excited enough to blame "they" (whomever they may be), attempt to disparage and mock the source and now to gentley sidestep it all and claim it doesn't matter

Forgive me - my opinion of modern journalism isn't very high..

In fact I trust next to none of it

Needs Must

Did he also lie about knowing that his brother was an abuser?

JohnnyFlash

Needs Must wrote: »

Did he also lie about knowing that his brother was an abuser?

He did.

markodaly

Matt Barrett wrote: »

He may have let his dues lapse so technically....

IMO, I think he had to lie about it. Otherwise he'd never be taken as a politician, especially in the early days.
But any member would have been stupid to come out IMO. The IRA didn't have the luxury of British 'law' to cover for them and back them up.

That is a cop-out, in fairness. Martin McGuiness was always upfront about it. Didn't stop him from sharing power with the late Rev. Ian Paisley.

Also, the Good Friday Agreement was more than 20 years ago, yet today he still lies like the best of them about his IRA membership.

He could come clean.... but he is the man he is, so he continues to lie.

El_Duderino 09

[Deleted User] wrote: »

At least McGuinness had the stones to own up, Adams is a spineless jellyfish.

Ah, that's silly. It was a necessary lie for sinn fein to be part of the peace process. And I think it's obviously good that sinn fein was the political wing of the ira. So its a lie, and everyone knows it's a lie so what's the problem?

Plumbthedepths

Who cares, move on.

NaFirinne

I'd say for Gerry to admit it you need to Define the word "In" as he was more "In" Sinn Fein while being over the IRA

lola85

Matt Barrett wrote: »

He may have let his dues lapse so technically....

IMO, I think he had to lie about it. Otherwise he'd never be taken as a politician, especially in the early days.
But any member would have been stupid to come out IMO. The IRA didn't have the luxury of British 'law' to cover for them and back them up.

And here we go.

You are constantly giving out about FFG lying and how utterly outraged you are.

So what’s different?