A Tangled Web

Cobblers!!



It's the only title I thought appropriate to head-up a response to the absolute rubbish spouted by IRA Army Council veteran (and sometime Sinn Fein MP), Pat Doherty, who is attending a conference on 'national self-determination' in Switzerland. Whereas the Swiss managed to hold back the tide of fascism during WWII, they were not so fortunate when they permitted the spokesman of a proto-fascist terrorist army to wax lyrical on the arrogant 'righteousness' of Irish nationalism. There is far too much gibberish to respond to in detail. However, two points need rebutting, lest the audience think Doherty is as masterful with a knowledge of history and international law as he at excusing killing people.



The first concerns Doherty's contention that: 'The historical and contemporary existence of the Irish nation has never been disputed.' Wrrrooonnnnggg!! Ireland never existed as a cohesive nation at any time in its history except as part of the United Kingdom. It became a united territory under the 1801 Act of Union. There was no prior evidence that an 'Irish nation' based on the fundamental principles which underpin a nation's legitimacy existed on the island.



Secondly, Doherty believes: 'The right of the Irish people, as a whole, to national self-determination is supported by the universally recognised principles of international law. The Good Friday (sic) Agreement has not changed or diminished that right.' Dearie me, Paddy, you really don't have the slightest clue do you, poor thing! Self-determination in international law is related to 'consent' in UK domestic law. Self determination is about people determining collectively. Only republicans and Irish nationalists see it in terms of a 'united Ireland'. Imagine, as an example, a future border poll on the termination of the Union (notwithstanding the very complex process which would have to legislated for in the, unlikely, event of a double 'yes' vote). Let's just say the people of both Northern Ireland and the Republic decisively rejected the idea of a united island. They would have fulfilled the definition of 'self-determination' in international law - and the Union would still be in existence.



Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom and has been recognised as such by every country in the world, bar the Irish Republic, since its inception. On the 2nd December 1999, the Republic formally removed (if only in an extremely begrudging manner) its claim to the territory of Northern Ireland. Mr Doherty will have to realise that after he has returned to his guns and ammo, the people who also attended the Geneva summit will come away with precisely the same stance on Northern Ireland's sovereignty as they did when the conference began. He, and other Army Council members, would easily provide more of a contribution to peace by decommissioning and disbanding their evil organisation, instead of taking Alpine trips to speak on subjects they axiomatically know bugger all about.