Anger has been building for some time

Danny Morrison

Unlike Wednesday night’s lengthy exposition of the IRA’s analysis on what went wrong last December when a deal foundered, yesterday’s statement was terse and suggested the talking was over.

Republican frustration and anger has been building for some time. Where I live, in the heart of Gerry Adams’s constituency, there is a feeling that each time republicans have made concessions the goalposts are shifted by unionists, often with the support of the two governments.

The majority of Northern nationalists who voted for Sinn Féin, believe the governments are hypocritical and operate double standards. Elements of the two governments are hostile to SF for different reasons. Some, on the British side are out to destroy the Adams ’ leadership and would consider a split in the IRA and a return to conflict a success, allowing them to finish off the organisation.