MercoPress, en Español

Montevideo, March 29th 2024 - 08:14 UTC

 

 

Queen Elizabeth shakes hands with former IRA commander McGuinness

Wednesday, June 27th 2012 - 17:30 UTC
Full article 37 comments

Britain's Queen Elizabeth shook the hand of former Irish Republican Army (IRA) commander Martin McGuinness for the first time on Wednesday, drawing a line under a conflict that cost the lives of thousands of soldiers and civilians, including that of her cousin. Read full article

Comments

Disclaimer & comment rules
  • Alexx

    Long Live Northern Ireland.....Long Live Republic .

    Jun 27th, 2012 - 06:11 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • cLOHO

    1... Yes long live northern island part of the united kingdom...god bless the queen

    Jun 27th, 2012 - 06:17 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • briton

    long live republican films .
    long live western ireland

    Jun 27th, 2012 - 06:17 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Alexx

    Long Live Sean Hurtcluff

    Long Live Scotland ...........Long Live Republic.

    Jun 27th, 2012 - 06:40 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • briton

    long live England , long live saturn , long live the alien films .

    silly

    Jun 27th, 2012 - 06:45 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Self Determination

    Long live UHT milk ,Long live centenarians.

    Jun 27th, 2012 - 07:50 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • ChrisR

    At least Her Majesty had the sense to wear gloves so she did not have to touch the murdering bastards flesh.

    Jun 27th, 2012 - 07:50 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • PirateLove

    Long live BEER!!!

    Jun 27th, 2012 - 07:56 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Self Determination

    Long live the hunger strikers-oops! Nice one Maggie.

    Jun 27th, 2012 - 07:58 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • cLOHO

    9 .. Like it
    Alex's is now furiously googling republican heroes.

    It's nice to see it finally peaceful in NI, just rejoice at that

    Jun 27th, 2012 - 08:04 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • briton

    Good will always triumph over evil.
    Long live peace .

    Jun 27th, 2012 - 09:32 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Doveoverdover

    Joke from my youth:

    What do you get if you cross HM the Queen with Bobby Sands?

    Thin Lizzie.

    You have to have been there....

    Jun 27th, 2012 - 09:48 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Conor

    A very good day indeed, two people with the same reasons to hate one another shaking hands, rather symbolic of the peace process. And for those of you who had their doubts in the rest of the UK and Ireland I can assure you that everyone here is delighted for this, indeed a great piece of history for NI.

    Jun 27th, 2012 - 10:35 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Frank

    The RG claim to the Falklands has more holes in it than Bobby Sand's belt.....

    Jun 28th, 2012 - 12:30 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • cLOHO

    yep now to get rid of the scottish a few extra courses on hadrians wall should do it. cant wait for them to leave the union, more cash for us.

    Jun 28th, 2012 - 06:59 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • LEPRecon

    @16 - cLOHO

    From what I've read most Scots, except the obvious mega-nationalists, are having second thoughts about independence.

    Many of the Islands off the Scottish coast have already made noises that they may cede from an independent Scotland and remain in the Union, as have some of the Northern and Western parts of Scotland, who feel disgruntled that since devolution, the Scottish Parliament only seems to care about Edinburgh and Glasgow, and the region that surrounds them. They feel forgotten and the poor relatives of the South-east of Scotland.

    Not only that but Mr Salmond and his cronies are not answering the Scottish people's justifiable questions, such as:

    Q. Mr Salmond. How much of the UK national debt will Scotland have to shoulder?
    A. Er......it's English debt, so none.
    Q. It's the UK debt, and Scotland was part of the UK when this debt occurred, so answer the question.
    A. Er.....pass.
    Q. What currency will Scotland use?
    A. The Euro, er Sterling, er...pass.
    Q. How are you going to fund Scotland's economy?
    A. North Sea oil and gas.
    Q. Wasn't the North Sea Oil and Gas treaty made with the UK, so Scotland would have to renogotiate this treaty with England, Ireland, Norway, Denmark, Germany, Holland, France, all signatories of the treaty, so you won't get as much as you think you will, so how will you keep free Healthcare and Education without the help of the taxpayers from the rest of the Union?
    A. Er...the European Union - handouts.
    Q. But if Scotland cedes from the UK it also cedes from the EU, as it was the UK that joined, so you will have to apply for membership and Spain has already stated that it will veto any attempt for an independent Scotland to join. So how will you finance Scotland?
    A. Er...pass.

    You see, it's not so cut and dried as the SNP try to make it sound.

    In regards to the story though, I know that in the interests of peace this handshake had to occur, but I was hoping Mr McGuiness would be hit by a bolt of lightening.

    Jun 28th, 2012 - 07:39 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Alexx

    Long Live Republic of England.

    Jun 28th, 2012 - 09:00 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • LEPRecon

    @Alexx

    What a pathetic troll you are.

    In a recent poll it showed that the Monarchy has a 90% approval rating. I bet your plastic dictator CFK would sell her soul to the devil for those kind of numbers, wouldn't she?

    So out of the UK population of 62 million, nearly 2/3 rds are over 16, which means that 43,200,000 people support Her Majesty. Hmm that's more than the whole population of Argentina, isn't it?

    Poor troll Alexx.

    Jun 28th, 2012 - 09:20 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • lsolde

    @Alexx,
    Long live Rowan Atkinson.

    Jun 28th, 2012 - 11:06 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • British_Kirchnerist

    A very good day for peace. If we were big enough to talk to McGuiness to end the intractable Northern Ireland Troubles, surely talking to Cristina about the Falklands should be a piece of cake?

    Jun 28th, 2012 - 11:23 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Conqueror

    @20 A few little problems. One of the main features of “The Troubles” was the issue of “rights”. But CFK says the Islanders don't have any. The “issues” took place of British soil. But CFK says the Islands aren't British. The main “protagonists” were Irish, with British forces in place to try to stop them terrorising and killing each other. In the Falklands, British forces are in place to stop a foreign power inimical to the people. In Ireland, the Irish government was on the same “side” as the British government. No Irish troops invading N. Ireland. In the Falklands, the argie government is only on its own “side”. And argie troops would be sent to invade if CFK dared. In N. Ireland, the “majority” won. Just as the majority of the Falkland Islanders have also won. And they say “No negotiations on sovereignty with argieland!” In N. Ireland, the IRA and Sinn Fein grew up just enough.

    The “issue” is SETTLED. It's just that argieland won't accept the democratic wishes and will of the people. When will argieland grow up?

    Jun 28th, 2012 - 12:17 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • aussie sunshine

    Her cousin murdered by the IRA, over 3500 people and military personnel
    killed and this LADY can forgive.....what does it say about her?

    Simply that she is a QUEEN.

    Jun 28th, 2012 - 01:20 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • ChrisR

    22 aussie sunshine

    I am impressed!

    Jun 28th, 2012 - 02:10 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Zethee

    LEPRecon: There's a few other questions he had rather hilarious answers to.

    Q: How will you fund Scotland's lucrative shipping industry once the UK(England) no longer uses Scotland to build it's warships.
    A: They will use Scottish shipyards.
    Q: Many officials have stated that the Royal navy will not use Scottish shipyards in the event of independence, How will you fund Scottish shipyards?
    A: The Royal navy will use Scottish shipyards.

    Q: How would Scotland pay for and produce a modern armed forces?
    A: We will share UK forces.

    Jun 28th, 2012 - 02:46 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • LEPRecon

    @24 - Zethee

    It's also disturbing that with one breath he's extolling the Scottish regiments, but he won't allow any Scot who is not resident in Scotland to vote in the referendum. So this means that about 95% of those brave Scots who serve Queen and Country and their spouses, won't be eligible to vote.

    This shows what he truly thinks of them, and like typical politicians he uses the 'military' for his own political expediency, but then drops them like a shot when they're no longer of use to him.

    Most of the Scots that I served with in the Army have said that if Scotland becomes independent, they will stay in England, as they expect Alex Salmond and his nationalists will destroy Scotland within a year of becoming independent.

    A similar thing happened when Eire became independent. Dublin went from being one of the most productive and lucrative ports in the world, with millions if tonnes if products passing through from the Empire to the New World and back again, to being nothing within a few short years. Why? Because the newly independent nationalists refused to trade with the British Empire, the largest Empire the world has ever known. No extra tariffs were being put on them by the British, it was a case of the nationalist government cutting off its nose to spite it's face because it was anti-British. Thousands of men were suddenly out of work, living on the breadline, desperately trying to feed their families, and then the Great Depression hit causing even more misery, as Eire quickly became bankrupt.

    Ireland only really started recovering from that fiasco in the 1990's and 2000's, and now they've hit another financial problem. This time, however, they have a sensible government in place, which should see them through the rough times.

    Jun 28th, 2012 - 03:30 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Alexx

    Long Live Republic of Wales.

    Jun 28th, 2012 - 06:06 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • British_Kirchnerist

    #25 I think the party of McGuinnes might eventually come to power in the Republic preciely because of its rejection of the current government's “sensible” austerity policies

    Jun 28th, 2012 - 06:12 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • briton

    What interesting, is how he is so reluctant to live under
    British rule, and yet so willing, to let Scotland live under European rule.

    And he calls this independence, him and CFK make good friends, and his loyal cohorts also believe in the great Scottish wealth inside of a corrupt European gravy train,

    But despite our opinions of mr salmon , the fact is , Scotland will stay exactly where she is, trust me on this one ,
    She is going nowhere,
    So don’t even worry abt it, believe me , at the rate his is squealing , he may yet call the whole thing off,
    So once more into the breach my friends
    Scotland will not remove its self from the union .
    mmmm

    .

    Jun 28th, 2012 - 06:44 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • LEPRecon

    @26 - Alexx

    90% approval rating for HM The Queen. Jealous?

    Poor Troll, no one likes your plastic dictator, CFK.

    Jun 28th, 2012 - 07:00 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • briton

    @26 - Alexx

    theres a vacancy on the iranian site, please try there,

    Jun 28th, 2012 - 07:09 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • ChrisR

    Personally, I hope the Scotts residing in Scotland push off and we see the back of the hypocritical sods.

    Quick to call the English all the names under the sun but very happy to have the financial benefits that the Union brings them.

    As for Scottish members of the military, they are most welcome to stay. They have, after all, decided where the best interests of themselves and their families ly: serving their fellow Britishers in one of the greatest armies in the world, and a credit to Scotland and the UK as a whole.

    Jun 28th, 2012 - 08:10 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • lsolde

    l hope that Scotland doesn't leave the UK, but if they decide to go, then good luck to them.
    lts their business alone.
    Take note, malvinistas.
    @Alexx,
    Long live icecream,
    Long live coffee & cream,
    Long live vodka,
    Long live lager beer,
    Long live strawberries & cream.
    Think l've covered it all!

    Jun 28th, 2012 - 09:13 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • briton

    did you know
    apparently there are more southern irish people in the british army, than in the southern irish army .

    iteresting .

    Jun 28th, 2012 - 09:29 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Conor

    @33
    You are correct in that statement Mr Briton, many of them end up in the traditional Irish Regiments that are still stationed here in NI.

    Jun 29th, 2012 - 03:48 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • British_Kirchnerist

    #33 I suppose the Republic doesn't get into as many wars; not a bad thing imho!

    Jun 29th, 2012 - 03:52 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • briton

    34
    thank you

    35, the republic just keeps to itself, it takes part in exercises,
    And it is closer to the UK than most people think .

    Jun 29th, 2012 - 06:32 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Conor

    @35
    You are correct, After the Irish war for independence the Free state which became the Republic undertook an official policy of Neutrality, however the Irish people have been involved in almost every conflict on earth, despite the Country itself being, in effect not military, kinda funny isn't? Irish volunteers have gone to fight in other peoples wars on every corner of the globe.
    @36
    You're welcome

    Jun 29th, 2012 - 07:26 pm - Link - Report abuse 0

Commenting for this story is now closed.
If you have a Facebook account, become a fan and comment on our Facebook Page!