Dissident offences?

[Blue Meanie]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-1156...

What exactly I'd dissident offences? Away from home at the moment, so a genuine curiosity.

[ninja-lewis]

Just a shorthand way for the reporter to describe various offences (terrorism, murder, etc) committed by republicans who haven't given up armed struggle rather than anything special?

[Blue Meanie]

ninja-lewis said:

Just a shorthand way for the reporter to describe various offences (terrorism, murder, etc) committed by republicans who haven't given up armed struggle rather than anything special?

Seems like a funny phrase to use.

[ellroy]

Well they can't use the phrase terrorist or republican can they?

As the troubles are over....

[ninja-lewis]

ellroy said:

Well they can't use the phrase terrorist or republican can they?

As the troubles are over....

They are using the phrase republican! Using terrorism would be a narrow definition if the dissident groups are committing other crimes (arms smuggling, murder, harassment, etc).

[Blue Meanie]

Wouldn't that just be organized crime?

[tinman0]

Blue Meanie said:

Wouldn't that just be organized crime?

It would be, but they are still marketed as freedom fighters:

Organised criminals; bad

Freedom fighters; cheeky bunch of scallies

[Blue Meanie]

tinman0 said:

Blue Meanie said:

Wouldn't that just be organized crime?

It would be, but they are still marketed as freedom fighters:

Organised criminals; bad

Freedom fighters; cheeky bunch of scallies

I know, but sending people to prison for dealing drugs, or extortion rackets isn't 'dissident offenses' it is organized crime. It just struck me as a very odd phrase to use. Reminded me a bit of China, or what have you.

[Einion Yrth]

Blue Meanie said:

Wouldn't that just be organized crime?

A lot of the latter part of the troubles were: hard to get a proper job when your CV reads; 'for the past 15 years I have been active in the republican movement; consequently I have a thorough knowledge of firearms, and the ability to create an IED from the most basic of freely available materials.'

HTH

[Globulator]

ellroy said:

Well they can't use the phrase terrorist or republican can they?

As the troubles are over....

Not just that, but because when the IRA were conducting their terrorist attacks in England by blowing people up we still had liberties and rights.

Now we are told the arabs with beards are doing it, we have had to give up all those rights. I rather think the corporation in charge doesn't want anyone to think about how we all had far more freedom while we actually had far more terrorism too..