My view of Unionists isn't all that dim, actually Dennis, since they are the same as us but with a different opinion on who should rule NI. Although I quite take your point it is also true that many covert understandings accompany agreements like this, and it was always my understanding there would be no further prosecutions. Indeed it would seem illogical to let the prisoners out and then pursue others.

I'm not really sure to what extent it was used. I know about one death, but against that I could put various far more humane actions by the RUC. For instance one IRA officer from 1957-62 was advised to take his family to England, where he lived a normal life until his death. His son, with whom I went to school, is now a very well-known Police forensic scientist. I've even seen him on the TV a couple of times. I should add that although I think a United Ireland would be better for us all I also am not that bothered now that NI is run in a just manner and the UK is no longer seen as an enemy except by a fanatical few.

As I have said before I don't approve of everything they did, but I never go into specifics, just as I don't about Loyalists or Security Forces. You're 100% right about Blair. In my view he was a Conservative plant. His whole administration was well to the right even of some Tories. On the RUC I am well aware that they were given an impossible task and most of them carried it out with courage and discipline
On NI Special Powers:
Police could undertake any act they saw fit, not specifically mentioned in the Act, without respect to the legal and property rights of those affected.
Police could deny prisoners any visitors, whether family or legal representative.
If a prisoner died in custody Police could prohibit the holding of an inquest. If an inquest was held they could prohibit release of the findings. If the findings were released they could bury the body in secret.

John Vorster, president of South Africa, said “I would happily swap all the coercive legislation on our books for just one clause of the Northern Ireland Special Powers Act.”

OK fair enough. You're a liberal fellow, as am I by the way, you have no problems with the other side. Neither do I since my father was an English Protestant and we usually lived closer to his family than my mother's. We disagree on whether the IRA should have undertaken their campaign - I think they were left no alternative - but it's a difference that can never be sorted out now, because what's happened has happened. On point 3 you should read the Special Powers Act and you'll see I'm right. On the DUP and Sinn Féin for the time being I see no alterbative to them, even if I don't like the situation much - it's better than the previous 70 years or so. I only go to church for christenings, funerals and marriages since I'm an atheist, I agree about the Republic and integrated education.

Point 5 AS is one of the complainants incidentally.

Actually if you read your own posts (admittedly a tedious exercise) you'll see that you constantly unleash insults on people. I merely used some humour because you were beginning to bore me.
1. So as soon as the facts don't suit your argument they suddenly become irrelevant. How very convenient - you just didn't have a real answer, did you?
2. I gave you a definition of fascism. Don't try to wriggle out of it by sad little semantics. Again, you just didn't have an answer.
3. The RUC didn't have to make people disappear. They had the right to openly murder anyone with no judicial challenge, including the denial of an inquest, and secret burial.
4. Northern Ireland was as state set up by religious bigots for religious bigots, against the wishes of the Irish people (oh, sorryI forgot, you've already delcared that irrlevant, haven't you?) which cut off its own businesses from their natural trading hinterland. Nothing illegal about any of that of course.
5. The Provos were originally set up merely to defend Catholic areas against Protestant would-be killers. They extended their demands to far more than was realistic, and reduced them to realism when their British and Unionist opponents finally showed similar realism. I think stopping bigots like you discriminating in employment, dominating the police force and marching like morons where you're not wanted amounts to a bit more than milk marketing.

Mr Hain is telling the truth and talking sense. Either should be sufficient to ensure that most Unionists will not even listen to him.

Rational coming from you? Well, I see you have a sense of humour anyway. If you could read my attitude on all actions by ALL sides after you remove your orange-tinted blinkers you would see that I never make any comment on any action, whoever committed it. The reason for this is quite simple. I could offer explanations and excuses for IRA actions that would immediately be instantly denied by the obdurate bigots like yourself, and I could issue comments on actions by the IRA's enemies that would lead simply to a pointless and fruitless whataboutery competition - for instance I could reply to the three examples you quoted with examples of British atrocities. What would be the point? Try to grow up, drop the stupid stream of insults that fills your posts, then you might be taken seriously.

Why don't I just reply to your posts? Well for two reasons. First the constant stream of infantile insults that you unleash on just about everyone you disagree with is just boring, and I have no real wish to get involved in it. Second you are simply not rational. Tedious though it is to point this out, let's go back to some of your so-called "points". Point 1 about the British majority in Northern Ireland - well if you're so keen on democratic majorities then Northern Ireland should never have been created should it? Point 2 on "fascists." have you read a definition of fascim? A fascist state is one in which the authorities declare their views are the only orthodoxy, and arm a lumpen section of the proletariat to resist demands for greater political freedom. It could have been written specifically for Northern Ireland. Point 3. The RUC had the right to kill anyone and refuse an inquest. Point 4. Of course the NI state wasn't? Point 5. If the IRA lost why then are they and their political allies sharing power, why in order to otain their ceasefire did the British government repeal the Flags and Emblems Act and the Public Order Act, introduce the Parades Commisssion and the Fair Employment Act and disband the RUC? And why did you complain in another post that "no-one dares criticise Nationalists and Republicans!"?

Oh wow, another great victory for the Williamite forces! Is this the best news since the Battle of the Boyne, or what? Trot along now and tell all your friends.