Three theories on the bank heist

FOLLOWING the slavish acceptance of PSNI chief constable Hugh Orde’s deliberations about the Northern Bank robbery, and the Taoiseach’s ridiculous declaration that Adams and McGuinness were aware that it was being planned, it is well to reflect a little.

To my mind, there are three possible scenarios for the robbery. The first is to accept the official line, which is in the interest of everyone bar the Shinners, and agree it was a premeditated and sanctioned act.

If so, it must surely be classed as the biggest shot in the foot by a political movement since Parnell was caught playing offside. Are the Shinners really that stupid and cynical? One hopes not.

On the other hand, if we believe the Shinners, then this is just a big conspiracy, a set up of epic proportions by the British secret service.

The last possibility is that this was a freelance job, of which the ruling classes in the republican movement were not aware. If this is the case, do we allow a handful of recalcitrant IRA men scupper the dreams of generations so that the Shinners can be marginalised?

Claims emanating from the murky world of Northern politics and a Southern establishment running scared of the inexorable rise of Sinn Féin’s vote should be treated with a small bit more scepticism. One would have thought we had already learned that lesson.

Cormac Cahill

72 Arbour Heights

Waterpark

Carrigaline

Co Cork