Did the IRA do it?

[Guerrilla22]

I'm from the US, so forgive me if my facts are wrong, or sketchy. So I assume everyone, especially all of you in Ireland and the UK, have heard about this. But my question is, why blame the IRA. I was under the impression that the IRA had pretty much disapated and that their activies soley rest in the operations of the Sin Fein.

Do officials suspect the splinter group, the Real IRA? Also what about the Ulster Defense Force or Orange Volunteers? Someone from the area please weigh in on this.

[RedAnarchist]

There are, according to the "Northern Irish" "police" only five gangs who could have done it - the Provisional IRA, another IRA splinter group, a Loyalist group or one of two criminal gangs.

Why does the Northern Bank issue its own currency?

[Palmares]

I thought the police simply thought that the IRA (whichever version that may be) "had a hand in the matter", but not actually being directly responsible for it.

The areas in which they were raiding homes for the money (inlcuding opening and taking Christmas presents) were traditional IRA strongholds, but not actually hideouts or whatever.

Either the police have decent evidence to be messing with the IRA, or they just want a reason to get them.

[Colombia]

I've heard the IRA have ties to the Colombian FARC. Any truth to that?

[h&s]

I've heard the IRA have ties to the Colombian FARC. Any truth to that?
Two alleged IRA members were arrested in Columbia last year accused with training FARC members. There is at least one thread on it somewhere around here.


Why does the Northern Bank issue its own currency?
Who knows, but the fact that at least £12million of the money was in NI pounds makes it useless. It is pretty much impossible to launder, and there is talk of the Northern Irish Bank recalling all their legal currency, making the stolen cash useless. Some of the money is in Scottish currency, which is equally hard to launder. Any sensible tea leaf would burn all of that, and be happy with the 1 or 2 million in £, $, and €, which is a lot easier to launder.

[Colombia]

So the IRA are communist as well?

[h&s]

So the IRA are communist as well?
:D :lol: :D :lol:
No!
:D :lol: :D :lol:
FARC aren't even communist (in my opinion). If they were they wouldn't alienate tehmselves from the people, they wouldn't kidnap, they wouldn't deal drugs etc, etc.

[Mahir Çayan]

Originally posted by [email protected] 26 2004, 08:19 PM
So the IRA are communist as well?
The Official IRA is, as are the INLA.

[BOZG]

h&s,
There were 3 members in Columbia.

Of the money stolen, if they were able to successfully launder all of it, it would probably be only worth a fifth of what was stolen. Most launderers lose a massive amount of money in the process.

[Severian]

It seems more likely to be a Loyalist group.

While there's been a lot of attention to the IRA's weapons, and demands the IRA dismantle them, no such demands have been made of the Loyalist armed groups, nor have they even observed a ceasefire consistently as the IRA has.

[PRC-UTE]

guerilla22,

I don't think the Real IRA are suspected, neither are the Continuity IRA who are tiny and inactive. The UDA are suspected; I've never heard of the 'Orange Vol's' though.

I threw up a few links to stories about it on the thread I started titled 'search police attacked by angry mob' (http://www.revolutionaryleft.com/index.php?showtopic=31677).

At first an ex-tout was saying it was definitely the Provisional IRA, (the one referred to in the media as 'The IRA') but the current consensus is that the Provos wouldn't risk it -- they're not short on money and couldn't use it for the only reason they'd need it, electioneering. Aside from that, the Provos are making a killing smuggling cigs and alcohol in the border counties so it just wouldn't make any sense for them to bring the heat on themselves.

This seems to be the latest opinion:


. . . senior police officials downplayed the possibility of IRA involvement. According to the Financial Times, the suggestion of IRA involvement, which was originally made by a former police chief in a pro-Unionist publication, was investigated but was not supported by forensic or intelligence information. The Times said British officials were also skeptical about the likelihood of IRA involvement in a high-profile crime at a time when Sinn Fein, its political wing, was trying to rejoin the power-sharing executive in Northern Ireland. Suspects include several crime gangs operating on both sides of the Northern Irish border, including a unit of the Ulster Defense Association, a banned Protestant paramilitary; a unit of the Irish National Liberation army, a smaller rival to the IRA; and two other non-political gangs.

source (http://www.isn.ethz.ch/news/sw/details.cfm?id=10442)

No matter who did it, it's obvious this will be an excuse to harrass, detain, assault and further humiliate the Irish nationalists in the six counties.


FARC aren't even communist (in my opinion). If they were they wouldn't alienate tehmselves from the people, they wouldn't kidnap, they wouldn't deal drugs etc, etc.

The FARC don't deal drugs. At the most, they're just allowing it to happen in their territory. If we criticise them for that than should all commies be ciritcised for not smashing the brewing industry or tabacco, which causes far more suffering? You shouldn't believe what you read in the papers.


So the IRA are communist as well?

There's always been a tension in Irish Republican politics between the left and centre. There've been the faction that argues working class and socialist politics must be a part of defeating British imperialism and the other half that argues that socialism must wait, AKA: 'physical force republicans.'

Google 'Peader O'Donnell', 'Republican Congress', 'Irish Citizen Army', or click on some of the links on my sig if you're wanting to learn more.

[Mahir Çayan]

but the current consensus is that the Provos wouldn't risk it -- they're not short on money and couldn't use it for the only reason they'd need it, electioneering.
You better not be serious! Our Gerry needs a new Armani suit for every day of the week. ;)

[PRC-UTE]

You better not be serious! Our Gerry needs a new Armani suit for every day of the week.

That's a shocking and baseless accusation . . . of course the Brits are already picking up his lavish wardrobe bill. But sure if the whole leadership of PSF need a wee place up in Donegal what's wrong with that? ;) :lol:

[chebol]

h&s, the FARC-EP are not alienated from the people, they do NOT deal drugs, they don't kidnap "the people".

So how exactly are they *NOT* 'communist'????

[Invader Zim]

Originally posted by [email protected] 27 2004, 04:18 PM
h&s, the FARC-EP are not alienated from the people, they do NOT deal drugs, they don't kidnap "the people".

So how exactly are they *NOT* 'communist'????
Yes, yes they do.

It seems you have been taking what they deal. :rolleyes:

[fuerzasocialista]

h&s, the FARC-EP are not alienated from the people, they do NOT deal drugs, they don't kidnap "the people".

So how exactly are they *NOT* 'communist'????


The FARC are nothing more than a bunch of thugs that use Marxism as a front in order to justify their cause. They've been known to kidnap people at will. If you don't believe me, catch a ride from Barranquilla to Bogota and let me know if you get there in one piece or just ask a Colombian. Its also well known that they are the bodyguards of the Cali cartel and protect the shipments of the merchandise throughout the country (I know this for a damn fact). They've also done nothing in the way of advancing Marxist ideals.

[PRC-UTE]

'I didn't rob the bank'- republican (http://www.sundaylife.co.uk/news/story.jsp?story=596390)


By Ciaran McGuigan

27 December 2004
A CONVICTED IRA bomb-maker is among the chief suspects in the Northern Bank raid.

The 34-year-old terrorist from Belfast was confirmed, as a major suspect in the £22m heist, by senior security sources, last week.

The man was part of a bomb-making 'school', that was busted by cops in the early 1990s.

He went on to serve a seven-year jail term for explosives offences, and finally walked free from the Maze, in 1997.

Cops are now understood to be following the theory, that the robbery was carried out by members of republican paramilitary organisations.

Their hunt for the cash was stepped up with a series of searches of homes and business premises, on Christmas Eve.

Among them was the Ardoyne home of prominent republican, Eddie Copeland.

Copeland was in bed with his partner, when forensic officers arrived to comb his home for clues.

A number of items, including mobile phones, chips from a digital camera, and a number of pairs of shoes were removed.

Copeland has denied any involvement in the robbery, and said that he would be making an official complaint about the raid on his home.

"They had no reason to come here, because I have nothing to fear, and this to me looks like a politically-motivated operation. I had nothing to do with any robbery."

Cops are likely to visit known associates of Copeland as well.

Among them is the INLA leader, in the Ardyone area - nicknamed 'Dark Cloud' - who is believed to have been behind a number of recent hostage robberies at Post Office premises.

Dark Cloud recently flew to Spain, under the cover of a Celtic football match, with 10 of his ruthless gang.

It is believed that the proceeds from an earlier robbery, at Deerpark Post Office, were used to fund the robbers' Spanish getaway to Barcelona, last month.

Also among Dark Cloud's gang is a suspected killer that Sunday Life confronted, earlier this year.

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is believed to have been one of the hostage-takers in the gang's Deerpark robbery.

[email protected]

[Colombia]

Originally posted by [email protected] 27 2004, 10:29 PM
Its also well known that they are the bodyguards of the Cali cartel and protect the shipments of the merchandise throughout the country (I know this for a damn fact). They've also done nothing in the way of advancing Marxist ideals.
Aren't the AUC bodyguards of the Cali cartels?

[PRC-UTE]

It seems who have been taking what they deal.

It seems someone no speak English grand.

[Hate Is Art]

I Speak to someone in Columbia quite regulary and most of his family, friends etc have no respect for FARC and he comes from a strong leftie background. They aren't seen as a real threat to the columbian people either, just as some kind of threat for any jungle wanderers.

[bolshevik butcher]

FARC's just a mafia gang that uses marxism to get young people to join them.

[h&s]

Police say IRA behind bank raid
The IRA has been blamed for the multi-million pound Northern Bank raid in Belfast.
Chief Constable Hugh Orde said that organisation was responsible after meeting key members of the Policing Board on Friday.

Source (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4154657.stm)

[Invader Zim]

Originally posted by [email protected] 30 2004, 03:08 AM

It seems who have been taking what they deal.

It seems someone no speak English grand.
Whoops...

As bad my grammer.

However back on topic, who ever pinched it has not really done anyone a good turn, and it looks like it may derail the peace process. All for nothing as well, as the notes are now as valuable as monoply money.