FabSwingers.com forum: SAS used unjustified force killing four IRA bombers

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The use of lethal force by SAS soldiers who shot dead four members of the IRA in 1992 in an ambush in County Tyrone was not justified or reasonable, a judge at an inquest has ruled.

Northern Ireland’s presiding coroner, Mr Justice Michael Humphreys, found that the soldiers had lied by saying there was a gun battle and they were attacking in self-defence, and that state agencies had perpetuated this falsehood.

Four Provisional IRA members – Kevin Barry O’Donnell, 21, Sean O’Farrell, 23, Peter Clancy, 19, and Patrick Vincent, 20 – were shot dead by the soldiers minutes after they had carried out a gun attack on Coalisland Royal Ulster Constabulary station.

The special forces opened fire as the men arrived at St Patrick’s church car park, in Clonoe, in a sto*en lorry they had used in the police station attack. The SAS unit had been waiting behind a hedgerow for the gang to arrive after the security forces received intelligence that they would travel to the church, the inquest heard.

The soldiers then fired up to 570 rounds at the lorry without warning.

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By *ouple in LancashireCouple
4 weeks ago

in Lancashire

The Tyrone brigade were butchers and fully intent on murder, tbh they got what was coming to them and if anyone thinks they wouldn't have done the same (and had previously on many occasions) then they're welcome to their blinkered opinion..

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By *arakiss12TV/TS
4 weeks ago

Bedford

Presuming all 570 rounds hit the target that's 142.5 rounds each one received on average. That's seem a bit excessive but they were armed.

Did they return fire?

Did intelligentce warn the Station of an impending attack. Something a bit a miss..

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By *rX2024123Man
4 weeks ago

Rotherfield

What do you expect the SAS to have done, knowing they were coming, stroll up and ask armed murderers to give themselves up?

They did the right thing, judges out of touch yet again.

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By *end1Man
4 weeks ago

southend on sea

The IRA always said they was at war with the British army so sorry they get no sympathy from me!

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By *esYesOMGYes!Man
4 weeks ago

Didsbury

If there was wrong doing whoever the minister was that sent them was responsible.

You don’t send assassins to do a civil policing job.

Same can be said for Para’s sent in on Bloody Sunday. The military complained about that order. Para’s are specialists in creating chaos behind enemy lines and they were deployed to police a march. Utter stupidity.

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By *idnight RamblerMan
4 weeks ago

Pershore

The IRA team were on active service and were taken out. So what?

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By *estivalMan
4 weeks ago

borehamwood

"The use of lethal force by SAS soldiers who shot dead four members of the IRA in 1992 in an ambush in County Tyrone was not justified or reasonable, a judge at an inquest has ruled.

The soldiers then fired up to 570 rounds at the lorry without warning.

"
oh no some murderers were killed,i give absolutley zero fucks

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By *0shadesOfFilth OP Man
4 weeks ago

nearby

Judgement in contrast to the enquiry that followed the Iranian embassy seize in 1980 when the SAS counter terrorist team, believed they were told by the then prime minister, Margaret Thatcher, not to take any prisoners, SAS killed two unarmed men during the 1980 Iranian embassy siege in London

They shot two of the six hostage takers who had already surrendered with their hands on their heads, according to a survivor. The siege ended after SAS soldiers stormed the embassy

The inquest later found the soldiers had used reasonable force. The coroner delivered a verdict of justifiable homicide.

Why has this woke judge viewed the killing of the IRA bombers unjustified

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By *oubleswing2019Man
4 weeks ago

Colchester

"oh no some murderers were killed,i give absolutley zero fucks"

The fucks I give are

1. Reputational harm to the SAS and professionalism. The SAS should not behave like The Dirlewanger Brigade, otherwise how can we tell the difference between the two ?

2. The monstrosity of others is not a carte blanche to act monstrously ourselves. We lose the argument when we do. We must demand that those who protect us act with integrity, honesty and professionalism at all times.

3. What "Rules of Engagement" were followed ? They are there for a reason. Who countermanded them ? Why did the SAS not query the engagement parameters with their superior officer ? Who gave the green-light for this ?

Yes, there are bad people. But we do not have to do bad things in order to defeat bad people. Merely the right ones.

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By (user no longer on site)
4 weeks ago

I suppose they should have just politely ask them to step away from their heavy machine gun and any other weapons they were carrying and walk quietly and without any fuss to the waiting police car. Sorry so for the inconvenience and would you like a cup of tea old chap?

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By *ouple in LancashireCouple
4 weeks ago

in Lancashire

"oh no some murderers were killed,i give absolutley zero fucks

The fucks I give are

1. Reputational harm to the SAS and professionalism. The SAS should not behave like The Dirlewanger Brigade, otherwise how can we tell the difference between the two ?

Yes, there are bad people. But we do not have to do bad things in order to defeat bad people. Merely the right ones.

The rules of engagement we adhered to was the yellow card which was quite clear that if there was the possibility of injury or death to civilians or security forces a clear warning had to be given..

When you've got intel and already a contact has taken place and you know they are heavily armed you simply don't give them the opportunity to kill you ..

It was a dirty war and we the state made many mistakes but had it gone the other way the active service unit of the Tyrone brigade would not now be held to the same scrutiny as the GFA wiped their slate clean..

This is double standards..

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By *end1Man
4 weeks ago

southend on sea

"The IRA team were on active service and were taken out. So what?"
👍👍

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By *end1Man
4 weeks ago

southend on sea

"The use of lethal force by SAS soldiers who shot dead four members of the IRA in 1992 in an ambush in County Tyrone was not justified or reasonable, a judge at an inquest has ruled.

The soldiers then fired up to 570 rounds at the lorry without warning.

oh no some murderers were killed,i give absolutley zero fucks"
👍👍

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By *eoBloomsMan
4 weeks ago

Springfield

Heroes all of them.

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By *rX2024123Man
4 weeks ago

Rotherfield

"Heroes all of them."

Agreed.

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By *oo hotCouple
4 weeks ago

North West

"The use of lethal force by SAS soldiers who shot dead four members of the IRA in 1992 in an ambush in County Tyrone was not justified or reasonable, a judge at an inquest has ruled.

The soldiers then fired up to 570 rounds at the lorry without warning.

Depends what rounds were fired. 1992 suggests that Special Forces were still not over-confident in the stopping power of the newer 5.56mm rounds. Ten years earlier the 7.62mm SLR and GPMG rounds carried tremendous energy and a single round would remove a limb. In the early days of 5.56mm usage, squaddies were unconvinced of the ability of their newer smaller calibre weapons to put down a target. The theory was that squaddies could carry more of the lighter 5.56mm rounds and a hit would take more of the enemy out of the battle through casevac and care. But this was a false assumption as we have seen in Ukraine where our then enemy (the Russians) do what they have always done, they just leave their wounded to die where they fall.

The limited stopping energy of the 5.56mm round meant that squaddies would shoot more rounds to make sure a target went down.

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By *atchedhardMan
4 weeks ago

Peterborough

No one knows the truth .

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By * wheel drive tractorMan
4 weeks ago

North Lonsdon

A judge who is out of touch with reality. The area in which the IRA were operating was exceptionally dangerous for ordinary law abiding citizens . Every day of the week the IRA were seeking to kill soldiers, police officers and part time soldiers who were simply serving their county . Members of the armed forces or police officers did not get up in the morning with the intention of killing people for simply doing their job. Any deaths resulting from actions by the armed forces or police officers were simply aa a result of offices having to defend themselves. The IRA were happy to maim , murder and injure people for simply doing their job. This included contractors doing work at premises such as police stations.

Every day police and prison officers had to check their vehicles before going to work in case they were booby trapped. To avoid being attacked different routes had to be taken to work every day. No only that houses of members of the security forces had to have bullet proof glass installed.

Considering the number of people the IRA killed they are not worthy of any sympathy

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By *otMe66Man
4 weeks ago

Terra Firma

"oh no some murderers were killed,i give absolutley zero fucks

The fucks I give are

1. Reputational harm to the SAS and professionalism. The SAS should not behave like The Dirlewanger Brigade, otherwise how can we tell the difference between the two ?

Yes, there are bad people. But we do not have to do bad things in order to defeat bad people. Merely the right ones.

The rules of engagement we adhered to was the yellow card which was quite clear that if there was the possibility of injury or death to civilians or security forces a clear warning had to be given..

When you've got intel and already a contact has taken place and you know they are heavily armed you simply don't give them the opportunity to kill you ..

This is double standards..

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By *milyRose321TV/TS
4 weeks ago

Derry, Ireland

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By *otlovefun42Couple
4 weeks ago

Costa Blanca Spain...

So the judges have held an inquest.

They have trawled through all the evidence over a period of weeks/months and drawn this conclusion.

The SAS soldiers had (if they were lucky) 5/10 seconds, probably less, to decide whether or not to open fire on a gang that had just mounted an armed attack on a police station.

Maybe they did get it wrong but what if it was the other way around?

Thirty odd years later would we be holding an inquest into SAS soldiers killed in IRA ambush?

20/20 hindsight is something that those guys didn't have.

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By *arakiss12TV/TS
4 weeks ago

Bedford

What confuses me is, if they got intelligence the 4 were heading to a church car park, how come the said intelligence didn't warn of the Police Station attack, the intelligence must have known. Did they wait for the Station attack to happen to confirm they were the guys. Seems to be the intelligence is the key to this case. The soldiers were just doing their job.

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By *idnight RamblerMan
4 weeks ago

Pershore

"So the judges have held an inquest.

They have trawled through all the evidence over a period of weeks/months and drawn this conclusion.

The SAS soldiers had (if they were lucky) 5/10 seconds, probably less, to decide whether or not to open fire on a gang that had just mounted an armed attack on a police station.

Maybe they did get it wrong but what if it was the other way around?

Thirty odd years later would we be holding an inquest into SAS soldiers killed in IRA ambush?

20/20 hindsight is something that those guys didn't have."

Exactly, you can't judge past history the the prism of the present day. Back then, the SAS were ruthless terrorists responsible for hundreds of innocent civilian deaths. The SAS did what was right in the circumstances, and the IRA would have done exactly the same.

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By *ouple in LancashireCouple
4 weeks ago

in Lancashire

"So the judges have held an inquest.

They have trawled through all the evidence over a period of weeks/months and drawn this conclusion.

The SAS soldiers had (if they were lucky) 5/10 seconds, probably less, to decide whether or not to open fire on a gang that had just mounted an armed attack on a police station.

Maybe they did get it wrong but what if it was the other way around?

Thirty odd years later would we be holding an inquest into SAS soldiers killed in IRA ambush?

20/20 hindsight is something that those guys didn't have.

Typo?

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By *acktopervMan
4 weeks ago

Stourport-On-Severn

How anyone could have come to the conclusion that " unjustified force" was used by SAS, beggers belief.

The 4 IRA men had fired 60 rounds from a heavy machine gun at Coalisland police station 20 mins before arriving at St Patrick's Church car park. 12 SAS members opened fire on them using light automatic weapons. Had the IRA members opened up on them with the heavy machine gun, we would be talking about 12 dead members of SAS, not 4 scum of the earth IRA members. I defy anyone to say had they been one of those 12 SAS that they would have given the IRA even 1 second to fire that machine gun.

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By *idnight RamblerMan
4 weeks ago

Pershore

"So the judges have held an inquest.

They have trawled through all the evidence over a period of weeks/months and drawn this conclusion.

The SAS soldiers had (if they were lucky) 5/10 seconds, probably less, to decide whether or not to open fire on a gang that had just mounted an armed attack on a police station.

Maybe they did get it wrong but what if it was the other way around?

Thirty odd years later would we be holding an inquest into SAS soldiers killed in IRA ambush?

20/20 hindsight is something that those guys didn't have.

Typo?"

Yes

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By *2000ManMan
4 weeks ago

Worthing

Probably saved the lives of many. But hey, where there is possibility of compo the lawyers will sniff.

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By *emmy CDTV/TS
4 weeks ago

closeby

Hope the report went on to say that the SAS soldiers went back to Hereford just in time for tea, biscuits and medals for which was well deserved.

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By *ouple in LancashireCouple
4 weeks ago

in Lancashire

"So the judges have held an inquest.

They have trawled through all the evidence over a period of weeks/months and drawn this conclusion.

The SAS soldiers had (if they were lucky) 5/10 seconds, probably less, to decide whether or not to open fire on a gang that had just mounted an armed attack on a police station.

Maybe they did get it wrong but what if it was the other way around?

Thirty odd years later would we be holding an inquest into SAS soldiers killed in IRA ambush?

20/20 hindsight is something that those guys didn't have.

Typo?

Yes

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By *milyRose321TV/TS
4 weeks ago

Derry, Ireland

Got to love the English sorry British lol

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By *eroy1000Man
4 weeks ago

milton keynes

They took out terrorists that had already attacked people and maybe killed a few already. By taking out these individuals the SAS probably saved many more lives who would have otherwise been victims of their actions.

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By *0shadesOfFilth OP Man
4 weeks ago

nearby

"They took out terrorists that had already attacked people and maybe killed a few already. By taking out these individuals the SAS probably saved many more lives who would have otherwise been victims of their actions."

Most probably correct. But 32 years later the woke judge thinks it’s unjustified potentially leaving to the soldiers open to prosecution

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By *0shadesOfFilth OP Man
4 weeks ago

nearby

"Probably saved the lives of many. But hey, where there is possibility of compo the lawyers will sniff."

'We sleep soundly in our beds, because rough men stand ready in the night, to visit violence on those who would do us harm.'

- Winston Churchill

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By *arry and MegsCouple
4 weeks ago

letterkenny

[Removed by poster at 07/02/25 20:38:53]

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By *milyRose321TV/TS
4 weeks ago

Derry, Ireland

"Probably saved the lives of many. But hey, where there is possibility of compo the lawyers will sniff.

'We sleep soundly in our beds, because rough men stand ready in the night, to visit violence on those who would do us harm.'

- Winston Churchill"

Winston Churchill seriously, he hated national Idea except British, he hated Irish and South Africa Dutch boar because they replied back with same force the British government at times gave, concertraition camps not a German thing was English even used again only name changes interment arrested without changing but can hold even if innocent, British way.

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By *milyRose321TV/TS
4 weeks ago

Derry, Ireland

Plus I'm glad my farther was an active member for Tyrone and Derry brigade during 60-70s Ulster division except for 3 counties in south, suppose you English think Ulster 6 counties not 9 lol

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By *arleyfatboy2019Couple
4 weeks ago

Devon

I couldn’t get over the families of the terrorists speaking outside the court.

Butter wouldn’t melt in their mouths!!!!!

I could say a lot more , but I’ll hold my own council.

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By *uninlondon69Man
4 weeks ago

Tower Bridge South

"Probably saved the lives of many. But hey, where there is possibility of compo the lawyers will sniff.

'We sleep soundly in our beds, because rough men stand ready in the night, to visit violence on those who would do us harm.'

- Winston Churchill

We, the British are far from innocent over the years and deserve a lot of hostility we face around the world. The IRA however were (are?) far from angels and considered civilians attending the wrong church legitimate collateral damage or even legitimate targets.

If you are comfortable engaging in guerrilla war then you can have no complaints about the consequences.

The GFA was incredibly important, but if you have to offer amnesties one way then you should offer them the other too.

This case is about 4 "volunteers" with their families crying foul. Who is speaking up for the occupants of the police station they had just tried to destroy?

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By *milyRose321TV/TS
4 weeks ago

Derry, Ireland

"Probably saved the lives of many. But hey, where there is possibility of compo the lawyers will sniff.

'We sleep soundly in our beds, because rough men stand ready in the night, to visit violence on those who would do us harm.'

- Winston Churchill

If you are comfortable engaging in guerrilla war then you can have no complaints about the consequences.

The GFA was incredibly important, but if you have to offer amnesties one way then you should offer them the other too.

This case is about 4 "volunteers" with their families crying foul. Who is speaking up for the occupants of the police station they had just tried to destroy? "

Nobody said we are sorry they lol angel's but maybe you shouldn't been over on six counties you stole and think Irish Fenian brothers, sons of Ireland and now IRA plus inla will just sit back lol

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By *milyRose321TV/TS
4 weeks ago

Derry, Ireland

Plus you all talk about the police service? They worked with loyalist paramilitarys back then now it's well known they still the Pani give certain republican paramilitarys information, in other terms police are bought

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By *uninlondon69Man
4 weeks ago

Tower Bridge South

"Probably saved the lives of many. But hey, where there is possibility of compo the lawyers will sniff.

'We sleep soundly in our beds, because rough men stand ready in the night, to visit violence on those who would do us harm.'

- Winston Churchill

If you are comfortable engaging in guerrilla war then you can have no complaints about the consequences.

The GFA was incredibly important, but if you have to offer amnesties one way then you should offer them the other too.

This case is about 4 "volunteers" with their families crying foul. Who is speaking up for the occupants of the police station they had just tried to destroy?

Nobody said we are sorry they lol angel's but maybe you shouldn't been over on six counties you stole and think Irish Fenian brothers, sons of Ireland and now IRA plus inla will just sit back lol"

And if your friends don't sit back, who is a legitimate target? Protestant vicar? Off duty traffic police officer? Electrician who changed a government light bulb? Small child in the wrong place at the wrong time?

Or are your friends legitimate targets themselves again? Or are they cowards trying to hide behind British Army rules of engagement?

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By *end1Man
4 weeks ago

southend on sea

"Plus you all talk about the police service? They worked with loyalist paramilitarys back then now it's well known they still the Pani give certain republican paramilitarys information, in other terms police are bought "
good loyalists being loyal to the crown.

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By *milyRose321TV/TS
4 weeks ago

Derry, Ireland

Scum they are brit

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By *end1Man
4 weeks ago

southend on sea

Scum they are brit "
think you need to lay off the Guinness you sound very bitter 🤔

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By *milyRose321TV/TS
4 weeks ago

Derry, Ireland

"Probably saved the lives of many. But hey, where there is possibility of compo the lawyers will sniff.

'We sleep soundly in our beds, because rough men stand ready in the night, to visit violence on those who would do us harm.'

- Winston Churchill

If you are comfortable engaging in guerrilla war then you can have no complaints about the consequences.

The GFA was incredibly important, but if you have to offer amnesties one way then you should offer them the other too.

This case is about 4 "volunteers" with their families crying foul. Who is speaking up for the occupants of the police station they had just tried to destroy?

Nobody said we are sorry they lol angel's but maybe you shouldn't been over on six counties you stole and think Irish Fenian brothers, sons of Ireland and now IRA plus inla will just sit back lol

Or are your friends legitimate targets themselves again? Or are they cowards trying to hide behind British Army rules of engagement? "

Is that a reference to what happened in ballymurphry back in 70s you say prod vicar? The British army killed a Catholic parish priest just walking, remember this dissatents will be looking to play especially on English turf, you lot too busy looking for mussy yet your real threat is dissatent sleepers lol anyway enjoy your night limey

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By *arleyfatboy2019Couple
4 weeks ago

Devon

You’re very angry aren’t you. It almost sounds like a veiled threat at the end of your post. That’s a real shame. Sleep tight 😴

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By *uninlondon69Man
4 weeks ago

Tower Bridge South

"You’re very angry aren’t you. It almost sounds like a veiled threat at the end of your post. That’s a real shame. Sleep tight 😴 "

It's almost like somebody regrets the peace process.

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By *milyRose321TV/TS
4 weeks ago

Derry, Ireland

"You’re very angry aren’t you. It almost sounds like a veiled threat at the end of your post. That’s a real shame. Sleep tight 😴

It's almost like somebody regrets the peace process. "

I do

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By *milyRose321TV/TS
4 weeks ago

Derry, Ireland

"You’re very angry aren’t you. It almost sounds like a veiled threat at the end of your post. That’s a real shame. Sleep tight 😴

It's almost like somebody regrets the peace process.

I do "

Plus what peace? You really think English and Irish, blood will spill first

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By *uninlondon69Man
4 weeks ago

Tower Bridge South

"You’re very angry aren’t you. It almost sounds like a veiled threat at the end of your post. That’s a real shame. Sleep tight 😴

It's almost like somebody regrets the peace process.

I do "

There you have it folks. Peace is a bad thing.

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By *end1Man
4 weeks ago

southend on sea

"You’re very angry aren’t you. It almost sounds like a veiled threat at the end of your post. That’s a real shame. Sleep tight 😴

It's almost like somebody regrets the peace process.

I do

Plus what peace? You really think English and Irish, blood will spill first "
now come on take off your Provo uniform and put back ya daddy's whiskey you've been allowed to stay up late tonight.

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By *idnight RamblerMan
4 weeks ago

Pershore

"You’re very angry aren’t you. It almost sounds like a veiled threat at the end of your post. That’s a real shame. Sleep tight 😴

It's almost like somebody regrets the peace process.

I do "

Yeah until the UVF come calling, then it's all wailing Mums and Priests.

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