A master class in Alternative "Facts" - Jim Carroll - 28 Mar 17 - 04:06 AM - totally deluded Jim as always.

Not one single documented fact or account in London, Dublin or in Belfast supports a single thing that you claim.

1: Government of Ireland Act 1914 passed onto the statute books on 18th September, 1914

2: November 1914 the Irish Republican Brotherhood contacts the Germans seeking assistance in planning and carrying out an armed rising.

3: Easter Week Rising in Dublin 1916, instigated by a tiny minority showed already sceptical political leaders and the unionists in the North exactly how "stable" any form of Dublin Government would be. Quite naturally they hardened their attitude to any proposed Home Rule proposal.

4: January 1919 SF declare Independence and the "war of independence" starts in the South. This war is prosecuted by a tiny proportion of the population less than 3%. By July 1921 this "war" has been fought to a stalemate a truce is called and peace negotiations are entered into.

5: Government of Ireland Act 1920 passed into law which offers home rule to both Dublin and Belfast on the understanding that within six years both Parliaments would merge. The actions taking place in the South prompts the Unionists in the North to accept the terms of the 1920 Act they formed their autonomous Parliament in May 1920.

6: Eamon de Valera was too cowardly to attend or be a part of the negotiating team the Irish Government sent to London in 1921. By December 1921 and agreement had been reached and the Treaty was passed by the UK Parliament conditionally that it be passed the Dublin Government, even although the negotiating team had been given full plenipotentiary powers. The Anglo-Irish Treaty was eventually passed by the Dublin Government on the 6th December 1922 (Documented Fact) creating the Irish Free State. As part of that Treaty the Parliament in Belfast had the right within one month of the Treaty coming into effect they could opt out

4: On the 7th December 1922 the Belfast Parliament exercised that option. Probably because a civil war had "kicked off" in the South in July 1922 that would last until May 1923.

By the way Shaw - Decimation - punishment in the Roman Legions where 1 in 10 are executed - the number was considered as being sufficient to punish without affecting the fighting capability of the unit.