Queen and Martin McGuinness to meet

[jake-the-peg]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/...hern-ireland-18552221

Wow!

I think this just shows how far we've come!

Bet this will blow a few blood vessels tho!

[emmie]

sure she is delighted, why doesn't she just say no. Don't you think it must stick in her craw, having to make pally with those who almost killed the cabinet, and then murdered her husbands uncle Earl Mountbatten. If this is how far we have come then so be it, but had i been in her shoes i wouldn't be so forgiving. I am sure that will go down well with the appeasers. As NJ
said peace in NI, not according to some of my friends there.

[DTCwordfan]

They made the Vikings look like right wussies, Duncer......

Just kidding on that "fact".

[emmie]

jno, have you noticed her Majesty toting a gun recently, or planting a bomb, no thought not. Why do some think that she needs to meet these people, she should be able to let this matter rest with the politicians.

[Noraq]

This thread and remarks made in it have sickened my stomach.

[Duncer]

Have they? Care to tell us more?

It is a very emotive subject and I would have expected to read things that I don't necessarily agree with, as I'm sure most other contributors would too?

[modeller]

jno #Shouldn't have invaded it, then (many times over many centuries). Now they're paying the price.#

Ireland has a population of 4 million, yet 14 million claim Irish descent in the UK and 70 million world wide.
So who are the invaders ?

[modeller]

Norag #This thread and remarks made in it have sickened my stomach.#

What is the point of making a remark if we don't know what the hell you are talking about ?

[sandyRoe]

New Judge, people are not 'knee capped' because of their religion. In the past some were murdered because of it, but never 'knee capped'.
It's used now by groups trying to establish their authority in an area. It's generally directed against drug dealers and others deemed guilty of various types of anti-social behaviour.
McGuinness has no conviction other than that for IRA membership and that was secured in Eire.

[Duncer]

There are many in Northern Ireland without convictions who really should have, and that goes for both sides.

As someone who worked in casualty I saw the results of many kneecappings and,by and large, sandyRoe is right. However, I often saw young men kneecapped for the most spurious of reasons as the gnasters weiled their "influence". Sometimes it was purely because the "godfathers" didn't like them and wanted to assert their dominance.

[ichkeria]

1. Martin McGuinness wasn't the instigator of Bloody Sunday. 2. Churchill shook hands with Stalin. 3. Ref the comments of New Zjudge. Peace in N Ireland is an ongoing process. You can't simply wave away centuries of division overnight. But what is your alternative exactly?

[Duncer]

Point 1 - ichkeria, are you saying that you know who was?

Point 2 - and I don't mean to be cheeky, but so what, politicians of all sorts often do things like this.

Point 3 - Spot on, but as long as we continue to live apart and be schooled apart it will be very difficult to move towards a semblance of normality. We still have a long way to go. I don't really feel that entitled to an opinion as I no longer live there, but I am home regularly and see what is happening still.

[New Judge]

I've said all I can, but just a point of clarification, Sandy:

In 1973, Martin Mcguiness was convicted by the Republic of Ireland's Special Criminal Court, after being caught with a car containing 250 lb (113 kg) of explosives and nearly 5,000 rounds of ammunition. He refused to recognise the court, and was sentenced to six months imprisonment.

[DaisyNonna]

Makes the footballers who would not shake hands look flaky.

[Duncer]

He also chose not to give evidence in the Bloody Sunday enquiry.

Read into that what you will........