Tribal Trenches 03/01/2017 What the televised debate by five political leaders failed to include is telling, namely, a question about dealing with the past. Michelle O’Neill could not believe her luck. In the Belfast Agreement republicans were not compelled to apologise for a terrorist campaign and acknowledge that it was wrong. Quite the contrary, they have continued to excuse IRA atrocities. There is little doubt, however, that if the Provisionals had been contrite the past as an issue would have been put to bed long
What the televised debate by five political leaders failed to include is telling, namely, a question about dealing with the past. Michelle O’Neill could not believe her luck. In the Belfast Agreement republicans were not compelled to apologise for a terrorist campaign and acknowledge that it was wrong. Quite the contrary, they have continued to excuse IRA atrocities. There is little doubt, however, that if the Provisionals had been contrite the past as an issue would have been put to bed long