What Gerry Adams told the British in 1972

What Gerry Adams famously told the British in London in 1972.

[@mikeward1701]

The sooner Ireland is reunified the better! The English, Welsh, and Scots have no place or rightful claim to any part of the isle of Ireland. And I say that as an Englishman!

[@bigbird6039]

Really say that as an Englishman in Northern Ireland.

[@wfdix1]

IMHO, Peter Taylor has written very good books and made very good documentaries. Above all, he keeps an objective view in both.

[@shirleydowd7102]

My husband served twenty three years@ prisoner of war. Only/ i thinkwhat he lost for a land that did not fill his heart with freedom god bless still are left are the slaves to ignorance

[@fieldagentryan]

Clough was never the same without him , then again Anderlecht in 1984 .......

[@ShaneC27]

The Republican movement is so fortunate to have had Gerry Adams at the helm for so long

[@dannykelly7159]

Aw fuck up chap

[@Sean-sn9ld]

I just recently bought his trilogy on the troubles , Provos and Sinn Féin, Loyalists and The Brits .... Cool books

[@floridaboy.californiaman.649]

That for what was told In 1972 , was the Starting path to Eirann / Ireland's freedom & untiy.

[@Ligerpride]

The Brits have always been obsessed with Adams, they'll never break him though. They view him as some thug, but he's a pro-Ireland man, not an anti-British one.

[@charliebrowm7670]

What planet are you on ? Come on I'm not trying to insult you but Adams never wanted to get his hands dirty and called Brendan Hughes a liar, Adams is so pro British

[@charliebrowm7670]

+Charlie Browm I'd like to say that , that last comment was based on how Adams behaved in the last 20 years,

[@kissfan7]

I think recognizing the Northern Irish state, forcing him to stop armed conflict, and having your political party join with Ian Paisley is the definition of "break[ing] him". The British have not left Northern Ireland. In fact, they seem more entrenched than ever. So thousands died for what, exactly?

[@paulmcminn7287]

you talk like its over. Adams nor sinn fein will ever be broke. a United Ireland is inevitable.

[@brianw3688]

AR88 you obviously don't have much to say.

[@franciestokes3195]

Up the glorious Ira Ireland forever God bless the men and women of lreland who set Ireland free 👍🇮🇪☘️

[@jimcazador6057]

Adams (If the rumours are true) knew that the war could not be won at least by the late 1970,s and by early 1980,s he was undermining the IRA itself. He is shrewd and ruthless that way. The Irony is now that SF and PIRA are carrying out exactly the same policy and ideology of the Workers Party and the Official IRA who ceasefire in 1972. Growing up in West Belfast we were taught to despise the 'Stickies' as we called them, we did with a passion. If the Stickies were wrong then that makes SF wrong now. I grew up in it all and seen such waste of life and time in it all, a terrible tragedy in Irish history, (one of many). I really hope this is the last of it all now.

[@JamesDonnellyDrums]

The stickies were seen as wrong at the time. It's all about context, there was no way you could convince unionists to the cause when the system was so clearly rigged, the only way forward at that time was by the bomb, not politics, not in the 70s. Flash forward to recent times and now things are far closer to equal and achieving the goals of a united ireland is able to happen using politics, democracy and peace. Suas leis na hoglaigh na heirinn

[@rapier1954]

Adams was not undermining the IRA. Sinn Fein and the IRA knew exactly where they were going and have gotten what they want for the most part in the Good Friday agreement. It was never about militarily defeating the British Army but it was about getting equal rights and an agreement that would allow for a democratic vote on the future of NI so when there is a Nationalist majority which will happen within the next 20 years they can chose to vote on the issue of a united Ireland. The British could have saved themselves a lot of time and lives (the British lost more soldiers in NI than in the Korean war) if when the Civil Rights marches of the 1960s happened in NI they had sat down and brought in an agreement like the Good Friday one and ended gerry-mandering and discrimation across the province in jobs and housing etc. There never would have been any troubles. Adams and others took part in those marches and the British responded with heavy handedness to the point of shooting unarmed civilians marching on Bloody Sunday. And the Protestant community responded by burning RCs out of their homes which is why the army was called in to protect the RC communities but soon that turned sour and that led to the revival of the IRA. A little common sense on the side of the British gov would have prevented the so-called Troubles

[@shamrockballs1066]

@@rapier1954 I agree with most of what you say, however the goal of the IRA was to have the British withdraw from Ireland and reunite the island. You can debate if that's a military defeat or not. The armed struggle was never just about equality, equality was the defacto position when the British withdrew and it was about getting them to leave Ireland by force. However it wasn't until Adams was in prison in the late 1970s that he was divising a political stratagy to take Irish politics away from the bullet to the ballet box. When Bobby Sands got elected in 1981 this validated Adams' statagey that a political united Ireland could be reached rather than a military one. The political wing run concurrent to the armed struggle throughout the 1980s and some think that there was too much emphasis on the political side and so the IRA suffered for it. It was a very complex and complicated situation especially when the armed side began to suffer from informers, heavy causalties and ulsterisation became more of a policy in Ireland. And the political side suffered by the IRAs actions like the Enniskillen bombing. So it became very apparent by the mid to late 1980s the political side could not succeed while an armed campaign continued. There were some that wanted to fight on when ceasefire and talks were on the horizon and I am old enough to remember the slogans written on the walls of West Belfast at the time 'the bullet and the ballet box' and 'not a bullet not an ounce' in relation to peace talks and decommissioning. History will tell if Adams was right, but one things for sure it stopped the killing. I am not saying that stopping the violence and finding a way forward without the IRA wasn't part of Adam's strategy in the 1980s, but I am saying that in the early part of the conflict I think that the IRA considered anything less than withdrawal of British troops and British affairs from Ireland was not acceptable and that their policy was about defeating the British militarily (withdrawal by means of use of force). In the 1980s it was more about convincing the people that thought armed struggle was the only way that a political strategy could work and be trusted.

[@conors4430]

It’s always interesting when the forces of the state moralise about violence and terrorism when that’s literally how the state operated and is held in check. Talk about kicking the ladder after you’ve climbed it. Why does a police force exist? Why do prisons exist? Why do nations have a military? How are empires made? Asking nicely? Or through threats or acts of violence that create the status quo that then claims to love peace? Reform in the north was tried by democratic means for 50 years before the troubles begin in the modern context, maybe if the British and Unionists actually allowed the democracy that they claim to love take place then their would have been less reason to resort to violence for anybody on any side. As JFK said, those who make peaceful revolution impossible make violent revolution inevitable.

[@mikeycham3643]

I wish that more young people would decide to fight for a political goal ("I've got to get rid of you british first") before pursuing a formal education.

[@user-br3bw7wr2l]

I don’t like Gerry Adam’s but his resolve was certainly in no doubt and ultimately he steered the IRA towards the ballot box.

[@m.g.3013]

What?

[@foreignofficeclub5815]

People need to learn about the likes of Adams, McGuinness, Hughes and just as importantly Hume.

[@windowman929]

Nice too know Gerry Adams, has his priorities right.

[@minicool5282]

I was expecting more tbh

[@pauldunneska]

You have got to love our Gerry. 25/3/2015. Irish time 3:42am. Wednesday.

[@plug007]

Paul Dunne the media are making shit of him in north and south. I hope the fuck he gets a unification.

[@pauldunneska]

plug007 Gerry's been through alot tougher in the early days of the troubles and is well able to defend himself, you gotta love his toughness.

[@plug007]

Yes I do. When do you believe Ireland will unite, 10 - 15 years? There will definitely be a majority catholic population by 2021 census. But how many will vote for a united ireland? Whats your views and reasons why? Sorry I ask I just see your comments on lots of republican videos around youtube. cheers mate.

[@pauldunneska]

plug007​ yes I believe 10 to 15 years in a border referendum a majority will vote for a United Ireland by about 55% to 60% because the Irish Republic's economy is the fastest growing economy in Europe at the moment and if it stays strong and stable middle class Catholics and moderate Protestants will vote to unite Ireland for mainly financial reasons also because britain is for the past two years withdrawing from the occupied six counties of Ireland because driver licences in the occupied six counties of Ireland have no british flag on their licence, whereas in Scotland and England and Wales they have a british flag and different councils in the north have taken down the british flag the biggest council at Belfast City hall and the british government is cutting social welfare to the north as I saw David Cameron saying they can't be getting more than the rest of britain at great cost to the british taxpayers. As we all know the only ones who want to remain truly british are the loyalists and only them.The rest are just to do with money but if they see the Irish Republic as a good bet they can easily be shifted. 

[@plug007]

Keep digging away at their 'culture' slowly but surely. I see some councils will put Irish on the road signs as well. Im looking very forward for the next census, it will be a big shock to the loyalists. No doubt they will kick off. I hear talks of the uk leaving the EU and that would mean the North would cost even more of a fortune to run between cross border customs etc. The British tax payer will not like this. The empire has crumbled. Tick tock tick tock TAL32

[@Sdakouls3]

Is there a full version of this discussion available online?

[@James-th7wb]

C-span

[@Daisy-yq1gi]

Ireland will be united. Adams and McGuinness saw the long game, that the IRA/Armed Struggle was not a long term strategy. Sinn Fein is now huge with support at every level within the Ireland of Ireland. The only reason the loyalist side has any power is due to the support given to it over hundreds of years but there is now no reason for the British to be in Ireland. Working class people have everything in common once you see past the anti Catholic bigotry and sectarian nonsense. The majority of Irish working class people now see Sinn Fein as the go to party that represents their interests....

[@madzen112]

If Adams hadn't been in Sinn Fein, he would've been in the IRA. 100.

[@pgla594]

and what if he was in the ra sure most people were in them days

[@ArchieFatcackie]

Well, I suppose he’s still waiting

[@sleepwalker8600]

Full video is on C Span, search Peter Taylor

[@Felix-rising]

And that people is when they both became informers

[@davewatson309]

A man of peace, the peace of the grave.

[@fieldagentryan]

michael stone used who's grenades to bomb a funeral again ?

[@donnachamcgowan]

Loyalist say they are not Irish and they live on the island of Ireland. ???.They need to take their place in the reunited . Ireland. . The british need to name a date to leave our country. .Sovereignty is ours and not british. ......period

[@joprocter4573]

Talking groomed rubbish..

[@irishman9617]

@@joprocter4573 but it's Irish land if we are honest

[@joprocter4573]

@@irishman9617 it was part of UK mainland in ice age and no pirates don't get to call theirs but its a mixed heritage country now

[@irishman9617]

@@joprocter4573 it's Irish land it's Ireland British have no right to own it still but if we are honest it's Irish land it's part of Ireland

[@joprocter4573]

@@irishman9617 dreamers

[@mikelock156]

Have you a link to the full interview?

[@SweetSirenia]

If you search the speaker's name on C-SPAN's website, you should find it.

[@thedyingrebel2683]

Up the RA 🇮🇪🇮🇪☘️☘️

[@walsh5799]

Gerry did nothing wrong. Yes his father and brother but if you can provide proof of Gerry Adams doing something highly illegal i will drop my case.

[@TheBarmbrackthecat]

He covered up his brother's incest....Tell me thats legal?

[@rapier1954]

He has never been convicted of anything and if can prove what you are saying then bring it to the Crown Prosecutor and present your evidence or shut the fuck up.

[@HondoTrailside]

Prove or not prove is for the courts. People operate on less stringent grounds. If I decide I don't want to do business with you, I don't have to prove anything. Adams is in those waters, he has a reputation, and it is too late to live it down.

[@westleighsealy8559]

He wasn’t wrong !

[@timothyprentice4706]

Peter Taylor is the GOAT

[@fieldagentryan]

Nigel Clough , Roy Keane that's all we need to know really ,,

[@Liam-mf8vw]

Up the rebellion

[@davym23]

Is that it?

[@stansirlmkhope2312]

Adams loyalty is to the wef and not Ireland

[@TheMetroSexuals]

I think both Ireland and Great Britain need to worry more about the mass immigration from third world countries ruining their European culture rather than looking across the river at an old rivalry.

[@rippedtorn2310]

oh aye?

[@grlfcgombeenhunter2897]

Jesus finally I was getting worried there Fooker shinners are the biggest traitors to Eire 🙏🏻🇮🇪🙏🏻

[@HavingTheCrack]

Would rather the brits out to be fair, 3rd world lads are no bother, can give them jobs and they'll work and pay tax etc etc etc

[@C.t1888]

In about 20 yrs when its revealed that gerry adams and martin mcguinness where the two informers other informers were set up to protect , the reaction will be nothing short of hilarious

[@Chop2016]

Can't get any bigger than steak knife.. In 20 years the mi5 who run it al wil be dead. No one held responsible for war crimes

[@grlfcgombeenhunter2897]

Now look at them 😂

[@brenguiden5521]

As they say in Lakota 'Me dacu yasin,

[@craigsutherland4726]

Was Adams just a pal keeping the Bogside Butcher & co company at Cheyne Walk for secret talks just before Bloody Friday ? Bollox

[@irishman9617]

Adams is your friend you 🤡 works for the British

[@Galwayblazer]

nothing new here.................

[@mrgerrytube]

‘British Intelligence’ - an oxymoron if ever there was one

[@ravenmusic6392]

Aha except the FRU basically destroyed the PIRA in the 80s

[@mrgerrytube]

@@ravenmusic6392 really?

[@ravenmusic6392]

@@mrgerrytube Ye, especially stakeknife

[@RUDI-UK]

He still shat on the movement by talking to Thatcher behind everybody's back in the 80s

[@brendanw45]

***** I'd say you're looking at this 'back to front'. The British Govt told the British people they'd never talk with the Provos when, in fact, they were talking to them for years. When the Provos were blowing the shit out of London (Canary Wharf, etc) they were negotiating with them - even handing amnesties to hundreds, including the very person who came within an inch of killing Thatcher in Brighton.

[@brendanw45]

***** So you believe actions like Greysteel, Loughanisland, etc were justified? Loyalists never ''stopped'' anything - the GFA was signed because people - on both sides - were crying out for peace after 35 years of mayhem. On the one hand you mention the single act of Enniskillen - a terrible wrong which was acknowledged and apologised for immediately - and then say collusion was necessary - you completely fail to recognise that hundreds of entirely innocent Catholics were killed as a consequence of collusion - are there lives worth less to you than the people killed at Enniskillen? We could recite atrocities all day long - you talk as if Enniskillen was somehow the one wrong committed - i could just as easily mention acts like McGurks Bar, Dublin and Monaghan, etc, etc.

[@RUDI-UK]

After the Shankill, Greysteel had to happen.

[@brendanw45]

***** If you think i'm going to spend all day listing single incidents you may think again. Did the whole thing begin with the Shankill bomb?

[@jstylezPictures]

The only way you solve issues is by talking, bombs & bullets will only get you so far, this is coming from a man whos as pro irish as you can get, I would die for Ireland for my country I would die a happy man to see my country united in peace & a UI happen under irish rule all 32 counties under irish rule from the real dail a real republic which sinn fein are trying to achieve but you can hardly talk about republican movement with UK in your name lol

[@best349]

Laughing

[@westbrit1020]

He should have gone to university, his desire to ethnicly cleanse the 6 counties has still not happened and his over 70 . Sure he's killed a lot of innocent people but three years out would still have allowed time for a fair amount of that

[@ULYSSES-31]

He never said he wanted to ethnically cleanse the 6 counties. If he wanted to do that he would never have been the first member of the IRA to want to go the political route. He would've stuck to killing instead.

[@conors4430]

Let’s not claim that one fella or one side was killing innocent people mate. Don’t embarrass yourself. Ethnically cleanse my arse. Nothing funnier than someone claiming they are in a persecuted minority that had the entire power of the state.

[@joprocter4573]

Oh no he or bernadette were so underprivileged like our protestant union backgrounds who couldn't afford to go to uni and had to take bog standard job

[@joprocter4573]

@@ULYSSES-31 last speech he said let's get these bastards meaning northern Irish British voting unionists

[@ggff3761]

Support the dissidents

[@stephenrice9724]

Gg Ff if u really want an United ireland why support groups that are doing nothing to free ireland. The only thing that they are doing is blackening the Republicans names.

[@midnightmover2329]

Gg Ff You’re a fucking idiot

[@irishman9617]

@@stephenrice9724 why support psni and MI5 against war by the way

[@kissfan7]

So it wasn't about civil rights or other issues Sinn Fein now says the Troubles were about. It was about "getting rid of you British". So, despite the attempts to change history, Sinn Fein/IRA did not succeed in their goal, thus meaning they lost the war.

[@danielkennedy6885]

Listen to yourself. Getting rid of the British was seen as the only way of achieving those things. Remember this was 1972 when British troops opened fire on 14 unarmed civil rights protesters.

[@kissfan7]

daniel kennedy So Adams was lying? And the British are still there. Remember how nationalists asked the Army to come?

[@danielkennedy6885]

kissfan7 what do you mean he was lying? Your right some did ask them to come but wanted them to leave when they realized they were just as sectarian as the RUC and loyalists

[@danielkennedy6885]

kissfan7 they didn't lose you could say the British lost for negotiating with "terrorists"

[@kissfan7]

daniel kennedy So according to you, SF/PIRA failed to achieve their main goal which means they won. Also according to you, the unionists had to break one of their self-imposed rules, which means they lost. That makes sense.

[@joemdee]

But Gerry Adams wasn’t in the IRA. It is said Adams can’t acknowledge being in the IRA because the victims of the IRA might then come after his money.

[@Chop2016]

So why is the British government not bankrupt. Over 800 years of war crimes im Ireland. The ira were here way before gerry Adams. Your making it out ira volunteers joined the gerry Adams ira..the inla done more damage than the pira. The irps did what we al wanted go after the loyalists

[@joprocter4573]

Hamaa and isis visit london

[@irishman9617]

So do evil Israel who bomb and kill children everyday in Gaza

[@SuperMikey001]

Lets Hope they Visit Dublin and Belfast and you get a chance renew your Links from the 80s with The Islamic Terrorists , I bet they Love that The Irish Americans got, Arms from Gadaffi for the IRA whilst Americans were told to hate him , where did the Cemtex come from ?