A legal PIRA

[Irish_Roman]

If the PIRA have become and stay committed on a purely political course would it not be totally out of the question for them to become a legal organisation?

[gaelach]

And how would they differ from a certain Sinn Féin?

[Irish_Roman]

It doesn't have to be a political group in its own right

[Jacobin]

More of the same

[Irish_Roman]

More of the same

Thanks for that constructive post you really are a valued reply author by offering something new while you are clearly against "more of the same", nice standard setting.

[Jacobin]

More of the same

Thanks for that constructive post you really are a valued reply author.

The question is absurd. The point is to remove all para-military organisations from a civilised society. Is Sinn Fein legal or not?

[bobbysands81]

More of the same

Thanks for that constructive post you really are a valued reply author.

The question is absurd. The point is to remove all para-military organisations from a civilised society. Is Sinn Fein legal or not?

The point is though that if they are no longer a violent organisation then they are no longer a paramilitary organisation.

However, they won't be legalised in the 26 anytime soon as McDowell has already said that they are still an illegal organisation, even when at peace, because they want to overthrow the govt.

[Jacobin]

The point is though that if they are no longer a violent organisation then they are no longer a paramilitary organisation.

I disagree, the scout movement is regarded as paramilitary.

[hughj]

are we talking about some kind of an "old boys club" as it has been said, what would they do as a legal outfit :

[Seánod]

They would become a bit like the National Foresters... hold a dinner dance every year, which no-one present knew who organised it, and none of the guests knew what the purpose of the organisation is any more