Violent Conflict.
Some 123 soldiers have been killed in the South Armagh
area since 1971, along with 42 Royal Ulster Constabulary officers and 75 civilians. The area within a ten mile radius has seen 1,255 bomb attacks and 1,158 shooting incidents since the troubles began. It has been in this 120 square mile portion of South Armagh, including the town of Crossmaglen and the villages of Cullyhanna, Forkhill, Drumintee and Jonesborough, that the overwhelming number of Army and RUC casualties have occurred.
pp 11-12 Bandit Country, Toby Harnden. 1999 Hodder & Stoughton
Peace, Partnership and Reconciliation.
South Armagh has borne the brunt of the Troubles in
Northern Ireland over the past 30 years. The description "bandit country"
applied to the district by Secretary of State Merlyn Rees in 1975 is an underserved slur on the 95% of decent people who have tried to live ordinary peaceable lives in the midst of such violent conflict. Whatever any individual's personal political views it is very difficult to say no to a man with a gun. Community Relations in this area have been good throughout the Troubles. We have worked hard to improve our understanding of each other and to provide opportunities for closer cooperation. As a tiny minority local Protestants recognise that truly we have the best of Catholic neighbours. We are also aware of the ruthless activities of that small group of determined and committed terrorists who have operated at will in our community for 30 long years. We hope that the full implementation of the Belfast Agreement will allow both communities to
go forward together in a spirit of peace, partnership and reconciliation.
Confronting Our Past.
Eamon Collins a former IRA member showed considerable courage in telling his story in print, a fact which along with his return to Newry from the exile imposed by that organisation most likely contributed to his death.
"I had felt for some time that no one had given a complete and truthful account of even one aspect of the IRAs campaign, despite the endless books and films on the subject. Some conveyed some of the truth, but none in my opinion had touched the heart of the true horror.
Carlton Television's film, 'Confession', shocked me too. I watched the family of one of my victims, Major Ivan Toombs, talking about the impact of his murder on them. I had helped to kill the head of their family, and yet they did not utter one word of bitterness. Even off-camera, according to the production team, they expressed only concern that I was putting myself at risk from the IRA by telling the truth about what I had done.
When I set out to kill Ivan Toombs I was setting out to kill a UDR uniform. What the programme brought home was that you can never kill a uniform, you can only kill a person. I had to ignore Ivan Toombs's many human qualities in order to be able to kill him. When I saw his family on that programme, I could see that his decency survived him. Those fine people gave me hope for the future of my country. I shall carry with me until my death the knowledge of the suffering I inflicted on them - and on the relatives of my other victims. I am deeply sorry for the part I played in all of those deaths.
But my sorrow is not enough. One of the aims of this book is to move beyond sorrow or simple expressions of regret. By exposing myself to the anger of my former comrades and the families of my victims, I wanted to show that I had thought long and hard about what had happened and that it is possible to become a different person - as we all have to become different people if we are to live together in Northern Ireland without political violence.
I truly believe that only by confronting our past actions, by understanding the forces which drove us to carry them out, can we hope to create the possibility of a society in which these actions do not occur again."
From Killing Rage by Eamon Collins, published by Granta Books, London 1997.
Eamon Collins was brutally murdered by his former colleagues in the IRA 27 January 1999. It is considered that his death did not infringe the republican ceasefire, because he was murdered by his own side. This does not lessen the crime of his death, which was committed by cold ruthless killers.
Overcoming Prejudice.
What is needed in this society is not some
great constitutional initiative, but thousands of small
initiatives at a personal and community level that will help
people to open up to each other, to overcome historical suspicion
and animosity, and that promote self-respect and respect for the
views of others, tolerance and mutual understanding. Love thy
neighbour is a hard precept, but it is not necessary to like him
in order to do so. Paradoxically, the less likable he is, the
greater the merit in loving him.
p318 Minority Verdict Maurice Hayes. 1995 Blackstaff Press
There was, however, in the last twenty five
years, or in the earlier period, no injustice, no unfairness, no
degree of discrimination that was worth the sacrifice of a single
life. And the conflict, which has cost three thousand, and ten
times that number maimed and injured, and tens of thousands
traumatised and embittered, has only driven the communities
farther apart and left gaping wounds that will take generations
to heal, and much sorrow to individuals and families.
p319 Minority Verdict Maurice Hayes. 1995 Blackstaff Press
BIBLE THOUGHT
I will hear what the Lord God has to say - a voice that speaks of
peace. Peace to his people and to his friends and those who turn
to him in their hearts.
(Psalm 85:5)
PRAYER
Great God and Father of all, send the Spirit of your Son into the
hearts and minds of the people of this land. Remove all
bitterness, distrust and prejudice, Give to all a spirit of
tolerance,the desire to understand the other's point of view, and
an earnest determination to seek for justice and for truth. May
all work together for the common good. Lead all to yourself, to
be your disciples, and heirs of the kingdom of heaven.
Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you. (2Thess.3:16)
