Taoiseach under pressure over victims meeting

[DavidCaldwell]

The context of the thread makes it clear. I was referring to the laughable idea that the Irish government owes the Kingsmills victims an apology.

It wan't clear to me. I read it as saying that the families were not entitled to an apology. I had to say to myself that nobody could mean that, which proved to be the case. But there is always some uncertainty - some fairly extreme statements are sometimes made on politics.ie - and you should remember that readers may be unfamiliar with your general point of view.

[Schomberg]

I cringe at the idea of 'apologies' like this. Irish, British, German, whatever. Rebels are used to begging for them from all and sundry, I don't think anyone from "our" side should be. The worst I heard was the Danes saying 'sorry' to the Irish for the Vikings. Christ on a bike

[William T Riker]

I cringe at the idea of 'apologies' like this. Irish, British, German, whatever. Rebels are used to begging for them from all and sundry, I don't think anyone from "our" side should be. The worst I heard was the Danes saying 'sorry' to the Irish for the Vikings. Christ on a bike

That is definitely quite absurd. However, I do think that, in certain cases, apologies, even if it's by generations which had nothing whatsoever to do with the events in question, can be useful. If Turkey apologized for the Armenian genocide, for example, that would be a worthy thing to do, I think.

Sometimes closure can be provided by these sorts of things, unfortunately many peoples are victims of their past, though there is a limit obviously - the Italian government apologizing for Caesar's ravaging Gaul would only provoke laughter.

[former wesleyan]

The serious question is why the British state let them away with this, why didnt the British Army close the border? Why were diplomatic relations not broken with Dublin?

The more I think about it the more I come to believe that the British state allowed the Troubles to rage on and on, decade after decade, for training purposes.

Because it's 360 kilometers long. That's why. And there's the small matter of Britain not being at war with the Irish Republic.

[SKBAC]

I cringe at the idea of 'apologies' like this. Irish, British, German, whatever. Rebels are used to begging for them from all and sundry, I don't think anyone from "our" side should be. The worst I heard was the Danes saying 'sorry' to the Irish for the Vikings. Christ on a bike

There's that rebel word again. Who am I rebelling against, exactly?

Although for once you and I agree. The fact that British MP's are snickering at Danny Kennedy's choice of language should be a hint in itself.

[William T Riker]

There's that rebel word again. Who am I rebelling against, exactly?

Although for once you and I agree. The fact that British MP's are snickering at Danny Kennedy's choice of language should be a hint in itself.

In fairness to the Unionist side, who can they protest to/about? They won't get anywhere with Sinn Fein, so the Irish government is the next de facto target. While from what I can see, an apology isn't required, but I think it's perfectly understandable why they are behaving as they are.

[Young Ned]

It wan't clear to me. I read it as saying that the families were not entitled to an apology. I had to say to myself that nobody could mean that, which proved to be the case. But there is always some uncertainty - some fairly extreme statements are sometimes made on politics.ie - and you should remember that readers may be unfamiliar with your general point of view.

The entire thread is about the Irish government apologizing. It seemed pretty obvious to me that's what was meant, that the Irish government doesn't owe apologies for things it had nothing to do with.