Apology astonishes all despite prompting divided reactions

THE implications of the change of tone in the outpourings of the usually defiant 'P O'Neill' will be carefully considered in the coming days.

The IRA’s mythical mouthpiece stunned both friends and foes on Tuesday afternoon by expressing “sincere apologies and condolences” for those it killed in 30 years of bitter warfare in Northern Ireland.

The majority of people in the Republic and among nationalists in the North and in Dublin will see it as a genuine change of heart aimed at strengthening the shaky peace process of the 1998 Good Friday agreement. Others, especially Ulster Unionists of varying radicalism, will see it as a mere tactical move to build support for the IRA’s political wing, Sinn Fein.