Trouble in Northern Ireland flaring

[Kay]

I was so sad to see this on the news about the rioting (http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/03/14/northern.ireland.violence.arrests/index.html) near Belfast. It's been a lot of years since images like that were on screen of trouble in Northern Ireland.

Fergal, I know your county's on the border of Northern Ireland. Are you near this? Please stay safe.

[Fergal]

Thankfully the trouble has not reached the level that it has in the past. However, it is sad to see it happening again, after so many years of peace and stability. Hopefully it will resolve itself quickly and the country can get back to normality.

[Nazreen]

I also watched this in the news last weekend and it saddens me to see this kind of violence. Why does Ireland still have this separatist groups? Wouldn't it be better if the government will totally eliminate them and put them all behind bars?

[Fergal]

It's a complicated situation that has over 800 years of history, Nazreen. There have been many books and media articles written on the subject. Britain has occupied Ireland for over 800 years. They pulled out of 26 counties (often referred to as the South of Ireland) in 1922. However, they still occupy 6 counties (often referred to as Northern Ireland).

Throughout our history a lot of people in Ireland resented this occupation and were prepared to fight to end it. Thankfully we've had a peace process for the last number of years. However, there are still some groups who are prepared to fight against British rule in Ireland.


Wouldn't it be better if the government will totally eliminate them and put them all behind bars?

Most of these activities take place in the six counties under British rule. Before the peace process and ceasefire the IRA had huge support in the 6 counties and they were an extremely effective guerrilla army. This support provided them with amongst other things, hiding places and local intelligence. Hence, the British government were unable to defeat them.

Now that there is a peace process the groups that are prepared to use violence, don't have the support of a significant percentage of the local population. Therefore it is more difficult for them to operate and there have been arrests over the last few days, concerning the recent deaths of a Police Officer and two British soldiers.

This is only a very brief overview of the situation and I hope it gives a little understanding of the history behind it.

[Nazreen]

Thanks for explaining the history behind this Fergal. I understand a little better now about what's going on there.

I thought at first that the British have already pulled out from occupying Ireland and that this was a border dispute. Anyway, in my opinion, I think that these splinter groups - real IRA and continuity IRA, are nothing more than terrorist groups now. There's already an ongoing peace process and they're still resorting to killing and violence.

[Kay]

I appreciate the explanation too, Fergal. Like I suspect most British people, I never really understood the background to it all. It was just one of those things I'd always known was going on but couldn't have explained it to anyone if asked.

[Fergal]

Having spent some time living in England, I would personally like to see more English people getting an education on the subject.