Auntie Beeb working with Irish paramilitaries?
posted at 3:10 pm on March 16, 2008 by Ed Morrissey
Share on Facebook | printer-friendly
The Republic of Ireland has arrested four BBC journalists in a sweep intended to break up paramilitary activity in County Donegal. The BBC has protested that the four had permission to work in the area, which borders the six-county territory of Northern Ireland:
Four British Broadcasting Corp. journalists were among seven men arrested in Ireland in connection with an investigation into paramilitary activity, the BBC said Sunday.
The news organization said the journalists were working on a current affairs program when they were arrested by Irish police Saturday.
Ireland’s police confirmed that seven men between the ages of 30 and 48 were in custody but declined to provide further details.
I suspect that we will see them get released soon, and the entire incident will likely get passed off as a misunderstanding. One has to wonder what exactly the four journalists were doing, though, to get caught in a counterterrorist raid by Ireland, which has a long history of trying to keep the Troubles from spilling over into their nation. Whatever it was, the Irish didn’t much appreciate it.
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Blowback
Note from Hot Air management: This section is for comments from Hot Air's community of registered readers. Please don't assume that Hot Air management agrees with or otherwise endorses any particular comment just because we let it stand. A reminder: Anyone who fails to comply with our terms of use may lose their posting privilege.
Trackbacks/Pings
Trackback URL
Comments
Comment pages:
Even if the British discovered anything, what were they gonna do about it? again, France is now tougher than Britain.
THE CHOSEN ONE on March 16, 2008 at 3:17 PM
It is safer to be a Beeb weasel in Ireland than the Gaza.
RobCon on March 16, 2008 at 3:18 PM
We have all known for quite some time that the media work with terrorists.
Greenhorn on March 16, 2008 at 3:21 PM
It was only a few years ago that the IRA bombed the BBC’s London offices. Talk about masochistic.
aengus on March 16, 2008 at 3:25 PM
I have no clue about irish-english relations in present day form, but any arrest or beating of BBC officials always sounds like a good idea.
THE CHOSEN ONE on March 16, 2008 at 3:28 PM
Sure, aengus, and I was almost proud of the boyos for that.
Dan Collins on March 16, 2008 at 3:28 PM
I suspect that we will see them get released soon, and the entire incident will likely get passed off as a misunderstanding.
But I can’t pass up a chance to link journalists to terrorists (even if it looks like there’s nothing to it) so HA readers can act on their paranoia instinct and rant about media bias for a while.Tom_Shipley on March 16, 2008 at 3:36 PM
I’m curious as to what sort of ‘affairs’ they are talking about.
Pent. on March 16, 2008 at 3:51 PM
After the pathetic British police allowed BBC journos to get away with taking terrorists paintballing, it is ironic to see that the Garda are now tougher with irresponsible, terror-sympathising journalism than the British constabulary.
Pax americana on March 16, 2008 at 4:00 PM
Hopefully the Irish hauled off the BBC guys in an Iranian Gunboat.
THE CHOSEN ONE on March 16, 2008 at 4:10 PM
On the contrary, one would hope that the Irish have reached the point of no longer consorting with the worst humanity has to offer (ie, the Kaisers, the Nazis, the PLO) in pursuit of their goal of a unified Irish nation and island.
Spc Steve on March 16, 2008 at 4:47 PM
Spc Steve on March 16, 2008 at 4:47 PM
If the Irish truly want their independence, no better time than now. Hmmmm. Do you think this move is due to current opinions on conflict in Britain?
THE CHOSEN ONE on March 16, 2008 at 5:00 PM
Like the article indicates, the Gardaí are doing a good job of cracking down on the IRA. It was the IRA who collaborated with the Kaisers, the Nazis, the PLO and also Colonel Gaddafi, FARC and so on.
aengus on March 16, 2008 at 5:01 PM
(Picture yourself in the gallery and all the lawyers and judges are wearing white wigs and black robs……)
(Enlish accent required)
Seven Percent Solution on March 16, 2008 at 5:28 PM
The Irish in the Republic have their independence you fool. I don’t know why you keep repeating this nonsense. The Irish in Ulster, loyalists (still in the majority) and republicans, are happy with the status quo, hence their participation finally in devolved government as part of the British state. Both sides there have agreed to a mutual veto over future situation, so your repeated garbage about independence only serves the fascist nutcases in the IRA.
I’m sorry to sound harsh because I’ve often supported you over the merits of McCain, but on Ireland you seem to be living some Fenian fantasy divorced from reality.
Pax americana on March 16, 2008 at 5:29 PM
I do think that the entire island should be free from the UK, but we must remember that the ultimate goal of the IRA/Sinn Fein (or the small contingent that is left of what used to be the IRA) is socialism.
malan89 on March 16, 2008 at 6:28 PM
What do you mean ‘free from the UK’? Northern Ireland has been part of britain since 1801. The majority of its citizens want to be part of britain. Using terminology like ‘free’ is silly – this isn’t 1776 anymore, any peoples subject to Britain are subject to britain because their majority will it
passingtramp on March 16, 2008 at 7:29 PM
With all due respect what you think is irrelevant: the majority of people in NI have always wanted to remain part of the UK and that is in all probability how it will remain. Even the national-socialist party Sinn Fein are now happy to work as ministers in a devolved British government, so long as they have some say in running the province. Talk about Ulstermen not being ‘free’ is utter rubbish. The peace settlement allows both loyalists and republicans a veto over any future changes in the status of the province.
Pax americana on March 16, 2008 at 8:09 PM
Quite.
passingtramp on March 16, 2008 at 8:21 PM
..
Reaps on March 16, 2008 at 9:59 PM
They are indeed Marxist-Leninist lunatics.
aengus on March 16, 2008 at 10:10 PM
@ Pent. on March 16, 2008 at 3:51 PM
An Easter Sunday Bloody Sunday Anniversary Special?
AH_C on March 17, 2008 at 12:15 AM
The same thing the AP does with Jihadis.
- The Cat
P.S. Take that anyway you want too.
MirCat on March 17, 2008 at 1:45 AM
Comment pages: