Prince Charles in Ireland

Same for me Iam, too easy to think all killings were carried out in evil attacks by the IRA and all killings carried out by unionists and the army were self defence . I admired Charles today for acknowledging the grief suffered by all regardless of faith etc and I admire the people of Ireland for extending such warmth to the colonel in chief of the parachute regiment

Of course there were atrocities on both sides but it wasn't just the Irish on both sides, the IRA bombed, massacred and murdered many innocent people in England too.

I was nursing in St. George's Hospital, Hyde Park at the time of the Hyde Park bomb and saw sights I'd never want anyone to experience.

I accept that things must move on but I, for one, will not forget or forgive anyone associated with the IRA.

loopylou, you are of course absolutely right to add the massacres and murders of innocent people in England. I apologise if my post seemed to dismiss that. I was caught up in my conflicted feelings about the need to somehow change the relationship between NI and the rest of the UK, (mainly of course, England).

I live in Gtr Manchester, my nephew was in manchester at age 16 when the bomb in the Arndale centre devastated the city. How hundreds weren't killed we'll never know. We're a short distance from Warrington where 2 young boys were blown up by the IRA. My father was a senior police officer involved in policing a big pro republican demonstration in Manchester many years ago. I remember how frighted his family were for his safety and can't imagine what it was like for you as a nurse following the Hyde Park bomb.

I was scared sh....ss to be honest.

We were told there were more bombs and to expect multiple bodies.
I remember trying to clean up the floors to stop us slipping up.......
And being so sickened.

I'd never even seen a bad road accident victim until then, we just blanked it out and went into auto drive I guess.

Sorry.

While Adams was talking of atrocities on both sides I hope he was including the murders of many of his own countrymen by IRA thugs.

I remember being worried about my children going into town when they got older. Who would have thought that we went through all those years of worry over IRA bombs and now have Islamic Fundamentalists doing the same. Whatever the reason behind it all I don't know how anyone can do such a thing to innocent people .

And all those dead horses laid out in Hyde Park. The whole thing was so hideous and pointless. What did it achieve except to harden resistance against the IRA?

Many states are founded by the actions of violent people sometimes called terrorists and sometimes freedom fighters. The history of Ireland is filled with unnecessary deaths, making accusations and calling people evil does nothing to help the peace process. There were crimes on both sides and both sides thought they were justified in doing what they did. By shaking hands both Charles and Gerry Adams show they have moved on and are committed to a peaceful Ireland. I admire both of them. No one is expected to forgive or to forget, but working for peace requires acceptance of the past whilst planning for the future. Let us hope that the peace holds.

I agree trisher.

I agree with what you say, trisher but I can't help feeling that it suits Adams to play the peacemaker now and he doesn't ever come across as having a sincere bone in his body.

Just my opinion.

You may well be right merlotgran but we must all be relieved that the bombing, killing of innocents and the fragile peace is holding.

You admire Jerry Adams???

That is crass.

Have you forgotten Warrington? And all the others? Yes. Move on with peace. Forgiveness is something I, for one, can't manage.

To listen to Gerry Adams these days, you would think butter never melted in his mouth but he and McGuinness - especially the latter - have more blood on their hands than bears thinking about. If I were Prince Charles I would not have been able to be in the same room with either if them.

jings I am 100% with you. I would shake the hand of anyone who has genuine forgiveness for terrible evil committed against them. But I would never be able to shake the hand of the one who committed it.

Perhaps the cup of tea was provided by Mrs Doyle. Ah! Go on! Go on sir! Have a cup of tea and a sandwich! He would not have dared to refuse.

N Ireland isn't part of the UK, the innocent N I people are not British? Not part of us ? Killings in Hyde Park was an atrocity , Bloody Sunday can be dismissed because it didn't happen in England ?

Dreadful things have been done but we just have to move on.

This means putting aside these old hatreds and resentments or we will never have peace anywhere.

That does not always mean we have to forgive but unless we all stop holding grudges we will never have peace and reconciliation.

I just do not understand how anyone can think killing innocent people in England is so much worse than killing innocent people in Ireland , they are part of us, yet dead horses in England seem more brutal than dead people in Ireland . NIMBY it seems

They don't have peace now. There are still bombings (one very recently) and shootings happening in Ulster and I refuse to believe that the men who were behind the Provos do not have associations - how we tenuous - with the so-called 'Real IRA'. Leopards don't change their spots that easily.

"However" tenuous!

Who thinks that Anniebach? I doubt if anyone on here does.

Jingle, the comments they bombed England too and the dead horses in Hyde Park, the fear felt by the English, I felt fear for the country and by country I mean the four countries of the UK

I don't remember feeling any fear. You never think it will happen to you do you. I remember sadness and feeling anger. I remember hearing of a mother and her children killed by a bomb in Ireland, one of the children still in a pushchair. I don't know which was responsible, but I hated the perpetrators. Still do.

which side