Boston College ordered to hand over IRA interview recordings.

[edifice.]

I take people's point about the potential value of an archive like this. Equally, it is liable to be filled with cranks grinding axes, and making stuff up to get their opponents and former comrades, as well as recasting their actions in a more favourable light. I think Morrison has a point about only certain types of people being approached. There seems to have been an assumption that those from certain political groups would automatically lie, unlike their opponents in the way it was construtced.

Like Richard O'Rawe for example?

[gijoe]

The PSNI won the Court case which the Boston College are appealing. If the appeal fails it really opens a can of worms.

[Garibaldy]

Like Richard O'Rawe for example?

I wasn't thinking of anyone specifically, although now you mention it, Brendan Hughes was clearly guilty of rewriting history, and I'd say that the whole Fourthwrite group have been guilty of doing the same thing when they describe their motivations in the 1970s. As for Richard O'Rawe, it seems to me that it's clearly him telling the truth more than his opponents. I haven't read his book - does he address the issue of why he waited so long to say all this if that was what he always felt?

[edifice.]

I wasn't thinking of anyone specifically, although now you mention it, Brendan Hughes was clearly guilty of rewriting history, and I'd say that the whole Fourthwrite group have been guilty of doing the same thing when they describe their motivations in the 1970s. As for Richard O'Rawe, it seems to me that it's clearly him telling the truth more than his opponents. I haven't read his book - does he address the issue of why he waited so long to say all this if that was what he always felt?

You're missing the point, rather spectacularly. It's not accurate or inaccurate accounts which rewrite history but no accounts at all other than those who have politically attained establishment positions.

[InsideImDancing]

They're statements relating to ongoing investigations. There's no privilege here, and "importance" is in the eye of the beholder. I want a truth commission set up to allow people go on record with immunity. The democratically elected governments of NI, UK and Ireland don't seem to care about that. Until that's in place, people talking about crimes they committed are confessing, not taking part in some academic study, regardless of what they'd like to believe.

OK sounds good, lets start with the Bloody Sunday Paras, eh?

[Garibaldy]

You're missing the point, rather spectacularly. It's not accurate or inaccurate accounts which rewrite history but no accounts at all other than those who have politically attained establishment positions.

Um, I'm not really sure that the situation you describe is a reality except in your own head but (as the publication of O'Rawe's book proves). The question I was addressing is whether an academic archive should be asking as wide a range of people as possible. That doesn't seem to have happened, and it's unclear as to why, although certain statements made by those involved would suggest that this was because there was an assumption that people from certain groups would be more likely to tell untruths than others. Such an attitude devalues the project from the very start.

[edifice.]

Um, I'm not really sure that the situation you describe is a reality except in your own head but (as the publication of O'Rawe's book proves). The question I was addressing is whether an academic archive should be asking as wide a range of people as possible. That doesn't seem to have happened, and it's unclear as to why, although certain statements made by those involved would suggest that this was because there was an assumption that people from certain groups would be more likely to tell untruths than others. Such an attitude devalues the project from the very start.

Perhaps, but you must remember that those of the Adams view generally decline to participate in any project which exposes them to the views and accounts of former comrades who disagree with them. Do you think DeRossa, Gilmore et al would sit down with Garland etc in a similar type project concerning the history of the WP/OIRA?

[Sync]

OK sounds good, lets start with the Bloody Sunday Paras, eh?

Sure do that. Up until its set up on a statutory basis though if those guys want to give interviews to professors on any crimes they may have committed then they should expect those interviews to be subject to investigation by the authorities.

[InsideImDancing]

Sure do that. Up until its set up on a statutory basis though if those guys want to give interviews to professors on any crimes they may have committed then they should expect those interviews to be subject to investigation by the authorities.

A lot of it was told to Army/police never mind historians! Without a charge. If they want to charge Provos they'll have to charge Paras too. Otherwise that wouldn't be very fair, would it? Wouldn't be like the Brits that.

[Garibaldy]

Perhaps, but you must remember that those of the Adams view generally decline to participate in any project which exposes them to the views and accounts of former comrades who disagree with them. Do you think DeRossa, Gilmore et al would sit down with Garland etc in a similar type project concerning the history of the WP/OIRA?

My understanding was that these interviews were conducted individually rather than collectively, so I don't think that that's a valid way to look at this project. It isn't unlikely that people from across the political spectrum would have agreed to be interviewed had they been asked.