‘Idealistic’ youth are driving dissident republican activity in Northern Ireland | General Tim Cross

“The police are the targets.”
“Strong idealism” among the younger generations is the “driving force” behind the increase in dissident republican activity in Northern Ireland, Major General Tim Cross tells #TimesRadio.
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[@pmcd6414]

Imagine a people wanting another country to be less involved in their affairs. I'm sure I've seen that before.

[@biddyearly9262]

This is not an "Irish problem" it is and remains a British problem. There never was an Irish problem. The democratic vote of the majority of the people in Ireland was denied to them.

[@hithere3035]

Not Irish, not british. It’s religion. The 2 halves of Ireland will never be peaceful because of religion. Just like Islam, they don’t tolerate any other religion. Religion is the route of all evil.

[@dannyfeller7034]

What vote is that?

[@ruadhan1798]

​@@dannyfeller7034the 1918 Dáil elections

[@LBALucas111]

1918 election showed the people were split three ways! Sinn Féin wanted full independence and zero connection with the UK. They got 46.7% of the vote. The rest was the majority either wanting a form of devolution within the UK or continuing the status quo. Either way, 53% didn't want to leave the UK and break the connection. This is a point made by John Hume in 1994. A majority didn't want independence.

[@bizzjoe]

Brits out.. everybody else in .. what a daft world we live in.

[@cooldaddy2877]

thats because "everybody else" are not trying to rule Ireland.

[@coventrypunx1014]

@@deborahcrumley8044 - meanwhile - Muslims take your homes and hassle your woman …

[@cooldaddy2877]

@@deborahcrumley8044 What exactly is going on in the south? I see no problems regarding civil unrest or unhappy with the EU.

[@cooldaddy2877]

I'm not happy either but there are many places worse than Ireland. Try getting a house in London. California has a much higher number of homeless also. Irelands situation is not the fault of Ukrainians....but economic migrants from Africa and Asia.@@onnnbbb

[@user-ze8yy8jg1f]

They name the dissident ira group but don’t mention the threat from unionist groups Uvf,uda,red hand,the loyalist volunteers.

[@joprocter4573]

Because they 98% more law abiding

[@user-ze8yy8jg1f]

@@joprocter4573 😂😂😂

[@itsmesoitis4059]

The proof is there. There not politically targeting anyone compared to republicans. But I'm sure that will switch again soon ,an you can have your we whataboutism . Republicans are professional victims

[@jefferysweaty6028]

​@@joprocter4573 nonsense

[@stookful]

​@@joprocter4573 where did you get the 98% figure from?

[@DescendantofEoghan]

This shows how detached the English thinking on Ireland is. Just look in the history books how many generations over the centuries have rose to fight for Irish freedom and the generations of the future will continue that fight for as long as it takes.

[@alexlamont4470]

You have to laugh they want a free ireland and sinn fein are giving it to immigrants its not the British you have to worry about its sinn feinand the government

[@Jillaroo79]

The truth is Ireland is leagues ahead NI when it comes to the economy, safety, quality of life, healthcare, basically in every area. Ireland is one of the most developed and wealthiest nations that exist today. NI is lagging behind badly being part of the UK. The people of NI would greatly benefit from a united Ireland even if the unionists and loyalists would never admit it, I'm sure deep down even they know this.

[@crazychicSHENA]

Truth

[@RidireOiche]

​@@jimwal2008 What makes a Sinn Fein voter a delinquent anymore than a fail, gael, sdlp or any other voter?

[@bck481]

When you have ah successful economy that's When you're country gets invaded by economic migrants. It will happen to Ireland

[@stiofain88]

​@@RidireOiche Probably that they don't respect the privilege of landlords.

[@marianlynch4829]

I'm an Irish nationalist...I wouldn't vote for a united Ireland...not with that shower of globalists who run the Republic of Ireland...As for the Shinners ..they're more interested in Palestinians than the true Irish people.

[@toi_techno]

These young Irish people are just sick of living under English rule. Eastern Ukraine and the north of Ireland are exactly analogous. A planted population is encouraged through establishment propaganda to want to remain under the control of an historically aggressive, expansionist neighbour who feels they have a natural right to control the peoples around them. The English have been very like the Russians towards their neighbours. They have used cultural and language erasure, planted population and land theft in exactly the same way the Russians have with their neighbours. The English in their heart of hearts don't see the Scots, Welsh or Irish as equal to them. No fraternité but plenty of coercion, control and looking down their noses (the northern and poor English aren't included here, they get treated almost as badly by the southern establishment).

[@anaryl]

Nonsense.

[@johnhenry4844]

Oh grow tf the plantation of Ulster was more than 400 years grow tf up, which was a Scottish king who ruled north England and Scotland transplanting settlers from the Anglo Scottish border

[@heycidskyja4668]

You've given yourself away with "fraternité", Kremlinbot. Better luck next time!

[@gary637]

Do you know what Ukrainian nationalists and Irish Republican extremists have in common? They both collaborated with the Nazis. You are not the good guys.

[@UNSKIALzPSN]

Comparing the UK (who willingly signed up to the GFA and a democratic way forward for republicanism) to what the Russians are doing to Ukraine right now is incredibly offensive. Shame on you

[@eveningecho5334]

The funny thing is, historically, the names Old IRA, Provisional IRA, Real IRA, Continuity IRA were all prepositions assigned by the press to distinguish between the splinters, but everybody in all those splinters just identified as IRA without the prepositions. I wonder if the New IRA is a press preposition or a new republican group taking up the armed “cause” when the core IRA disbanded for a political solution to their cause, or is this the embers of the old guard reigniting because the devil makes work for idle hands and the old guard are back.

[@user-ze8yy8jg1f]

New ira are a split from RIRA around 2009-2010

[@Oscarspoem]

From Irish descent, I grew up during the troubles, embarrassed by the 'low lifes' who blew up innocent people in my name. Then the North was deeply divided, today though divided, it is nothing like it was. Thanks to McGuinness, Trimble, Hume and Paisley, we have seen such massive progress. All governments on all sides should focus in ending this cowardly little group, before it gets out of hand.

[@pmcd6414]

Nobody did nothing in your name bud.😵‍💫

[@Oscarspoem]

@@pmcd6414 Irish Catholic. Who were they representing then? Please tell me.

[@Jcolbert123]

It wasn't "then" divided. It was divided before the troubles began. There was one tier of society for Protestants and another lower tier for Catholics. Inspired by Martin Luther King, peaceful demonstrations took place and the people were attacked by the RUC. Shove your high and mighty attitude up your hole. Let them apologise for how Irish people had been treated and an acknowledgement that the treatment Protestants put on the Catholics is what caused the troubles and all violence that followed in the first place.

[@seanpatrick1243]

@@Oscarspoem You may wish to learn a little history. Was it ok for the Colonists to ambush British troops in the 1700's?

[@roryoneill9444]

The low-lifes are the UK Government, David Frost went to meetings with Loyalist terrorist in the UVF in 2021 and he spent two years "dog whistling" loyalist. In January this year the UK Government insulted the leader of SF at a leaders' meeting.

[@pfauniversal1890]

Northern Ireland is a thriving economy and this is just another way to destabilize it.

[@stiofain88]

A thriving economy that has a deficit of 12 billion pounds a year

[@SamPashmi]

The majority of the northern Irish really don’t seem to care for it that much, cause literally the only thing dividing us is religion, we literally hold the same values and everything 😂😂

[@DomhnallOSuileabhainPrin-tm1fw]

Its not religion. Its about culture and who controls the land. The same issue in every colonial situation.

[@seanpatrick1243]

The majority of DUP members is not the same as the majority of Northern Irish. Remove the colonists and you would not even get to 1% of native Northern Irish agreeing with you.

[@noodlyappendage6729]

Irish Republicanism acts like this because they can see the writing on the wall. Northern Ireland and Southern Ireland are more diverged now then at any point in history and they will continue to diverge in the future. EU: Southern Ireland ✅ EU: Northern Ireland ❌ Euro: Southern Ireland ✅ Euro: Northern Ireland ❌ EU Single Market: Southern Ireland ✅ EU Single Market: Northern Ireland ❌ CPTPP: Southern Ireland ❌ CPTPP: Northern Ireland ✅ UK Pound: Southern Ireland ❌ UK Pound: Northern Ireland ✅ Republic: Southern Ireland ✅ Republic: Northern Ireland ❌ Monarchy: Southern Ireland ❌ Monarchy: Northern Ireland ✅ NATO: Southern Ireland ❌ NATO: Northern Ireland ✅ Commonwealth: Southern Ireland ❌ Commonwealth: Northern Ireland ✅ I’m sure there is more.

[@censedfear]

This is such a bizarre comment. You're so off base. Some of the things you mentioned, such as NATO, monarchy and the euro, have been the case for decades. They aren't new developments. You mention the EU and that NI is out of it now, and that that creates a wedge between the two when actually it brings them closer. NI voted to remain in the EU, but was dragged out by England. Brexit was so difficult because even Tories saw the NI economy needed the ties and benefits afforded by the EU. Sinn Fein is now the largest party in the north and the opposition party in the south. These are convergences. Irish Republicans do these acts because they always have. Whether it was the 1890s, 1910s, 1930s, 1950s, or the Troubles. Armed action has been carried out every generation.

[@noodlyappendage6729]

@@censedfear Brexit certainly doesn’t bring NI and the RoI closer. Which is why many Republicans dislike Brexit.

[@dannyfeller7034]

If these folk are so proud why do they hide behind masks? Don’t see the police in NI doing that.

[@WjfhdhShshshsh]

Police are protected by the state

[@one_eyed_odin]

Instead of the prepositions ie. IRA RIRA etc can't we just call them Drug dealers aiming at police officers

[@jerrymiller9039]

There is no excuse for terrorism in a democracy. Jail them all.

[@seanpatrick1243]

Glad to hear that you are calling for Ulsters to be jailed! Good for you!

[@jerrymiller9039]

@@seanpatrick1243 I am calling for all terrorists to be jailed regardless of which side they are on.

[@gary637]

@@jerrymiller9039 Irish republicans romanticise their violent extremists. They all have a soft spot for the ethnic cleansing of Ireland's minority protestant population.

[@Omni_Shambles]

The Irish were literally subjugated by the English with terrorism. Are you dumb?

[@badgersgetabadname]

@@jerrymiller9039 Jailing Mandela. You would have been on the wrong side of history

[@S.Hitchcock]

Is it safe to visit Belfast ? Looks like a great city with plenty of things to see and do

[@cooldaddy2877]

Jesus! (eyes raised to the heavens)......yes it is.

[@S.Hitchcock]

@@cooldaddy2877 thanks for your reply. with the alerts raised to severe we had second thoughts as we are booked up to go in 3 weeks

[@cooldaddy2877]

@@S.Hitchcock It is perfectly safe trust me. I was there last week.

[@johnbryson1019]

Should you wear a stab-proof vest in London?

[@S.Hitchcock]

@@johnbryson1019 with the terrorism threat raised thats why I was asking.

[@badgersgetabadname]

For an understanding of this issue the shooting in Omagh was mentioned in the interview. Despite Unionist arrests we are told the focus is still on "ira". When Unionist gangs lost access to drugs through Larne due to brexit we saw violence. The only people who are angry are the unionists because they got what they voted for.

[@Jcolbert123]

Can't say they weren't warned. #irishseaborder

[@roryoneill9444]

Where did you get the information about the Unionist arrests?... all I can find is the British media spin.

[@Jcolbert123]

@Rory O'Neill I found an article on RTÉ. The headline (to google) is: PSNI say number of Omagh shooting suspects have protestant backgrounds

[@badgersgetabadname]

@@roryoneill9444 Belfast live covered it pretty well

[@roryoneill9444]

@@badgersgetabadname Yeah.... but Northern Ireland didn't vote for Brexit & the Irish Government arranged 400 diplomatic meetings to make the Northern Irish peace process an EU red-line, what did the UK government do???..... they held meetings with the UVF and "dog-whistled" and lied to the Loyalist community.

[@neilisagum]

I wonder what this is designed to distract everyone from.

[@deborahcrumley8044]

I was thinking that too, maybe to take the eye off the south? Soooo much going on down there and its not good.

[@user-ze8yy8jg1f]

@@deborahcrumley8044 there’s nothing going on down here except funnelling weapons into the north

[@thecritic81]

Someone please send a copy of this to Jde Collins who believes that young people have no interest in politics

[@SamPashmi]

It’s hysterical how people compare Northern Ireland to the Donbas 🤣🤣🤣🤣 Northern Ireland is democratic, and so is Great Britain, but Russia is literally an autocracy trying to take from a democracy 🙄🙄

[@seanpatrick1243]

Colonized by force, populated by colonists and the votes. Sounds like the same old stale tune to me. You are really not very good at this history thing.

[@user-ze8yy8jg1f]

It was a Russian plantation It’s like crimea Ukrainians we’re forced out Russian passports sent in with Russian citizens. The Russian language was also forced Scott’s were sent in forced out the irish settlers and moved pro union settlers also made English the forced language Now whenever you bring it up to Russians they say “the people voted let them be” even tho we know where the people come from You bring up the north to a Brit they say “the people voted let them be” And you see no similarities

[@seanpatrick1243]

@@user-ze8yy8jg1f Cheers for explaining it more thoroughly than I have.

[@paulgalligan1916]

Absolute barry

[@niriop]

All the splinter groups: I Can’t Believe It’s Not IRA The Terrorist Group Formerly Known as the IRA IRA 2: Ulster Boogaloo

[@lennonkelly-james2693]

Northern Ireland is apart of the United Kingdom and will continue to be. We don't negotiate with terrorists.

[@arthurgoodness7865]

If you believe that then you do not know the history of Northern Ireland. The U.K. Government negotiated a peace deal with the Unionists who were threatening a civil war back in the early 20th century - this was the lead up to partition. Loyalists had received weapons from Germany just before WW1 and they threatened the British Government with all out war if they refused to partition Ireland. The U.K. Government were negotiating with the IRA in the early 70’s and they continued to do so on and off throughout the troubles until the signing of the GFA. Since the Brexit vote, there has been numerous conversations/negotiations with Unionist/Loyalist terrorists. Many view the DUP as been the political wing of the UVF (given their very close ties), just as many see SF as the political wing of the IRA. Whenever the British Government talks to the main parties in Northern Ireland, they are indirectly negotiating with terrorists.

[@lennonkelly-james2693]

@@arthurgoodness7865 They negotiated with the people of Ireland who aren't terrorists just normal people who wanted to govern themselves

[@cpfc5161]

No one is asking you to negotiate with anyone. When the time comes the Irish people will have their say and you will have to accept it.

[@stephenflood5374]

Then what are Uda uvf ?? You hypocrite,

[@lennonkelly-james2693]

@@cpfc5161 Northern Ireland has had their say and you will respect it

[@benmacdui9328]

Britain out of Ireland🇮🇪 Scotland out of Britain🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Coming soon.....

[@hithere3035]

What you smoking? Did you get your drugs from the drug capital of the europe? Scotland

[@HouseOldSkoolRaver]

Mosque replacing Edinburgh castle?

[@Whoami691]

Yawn. Still waiting... 50 years and counting and still you little skidmarks say 'soon'. Very cute.

[@biddyearly9262]

Scotland colonized Ireland just as much as england did if not even more so than england.

[@BootyToot47]

GET YOUR BRITS OUT! Tiocfaidh ár lá 🇮🇪🇵🇸

[@hithere3035]

Irish killing irish, get brits out.

[@SamPashmi]

No Irish person is on your side Pooistine 🤣🤣🤣

[@LouisMenotti]

😂 fool

[@anaryl]

Way to let down the team again, Ireland.

[@Omni_Shambles]

"The Team" lol. You mean how the Scots, Irish and Welsh were subjugated by the English?

[@ScepticalSkeptic]

There is no "team".

[@aidy6000]

@@Omni_Shambles completely revisionist take on things. unreal people beleive this.

[@roberthyland7254]

The only people who are threatening violence are the Unionists!

[@Jcolbert123]

​@aidy6000 I'm Irish and I believe it. Instead of me telling you the multiple and multiple and multiple etc. Examples of how Britain subjugated us, why don't you enlighten us and tell us how England did not subjugate us. Give us your version of unrevisionist history.

[@RickyRyan718]

I think Ireland has enough problems with money, immigration and the rest of life’s general stresses, I’m sure they don’t need anymore!

[@pauldunneska]

He forgot about the I.N.L.A.

[@user-ze8yy8jg1f]

And the 6 unionist paramilitaries

[@seanpatrick1243]

Of course it has nothing to do with the fact that Ulster ultranationalists are treated with a hands-off approach.

[@LondonHistory1977]

Mr major general....maybe you shouldn't be occupying a foreign nation in that case....no difference to what russia is doing in Ukraine

[@noodlyappendage6729]

Northern Ireland is the UK you plonker 🇬🇧

[@LondonHistory1977]

@@noodlyappendage6729 it's on the island of Ireland....illegal claim to a sovereign land...just like Las Malvinas....

[@coventrypunx1014]

Thankfully the thousands of Muslims that are taking your homes and hasssling the Irish woman’s mean you no harm