Den,
I admit to being surprised that the SDLP would go out of their way to help a convicted IRA man get elected, but I am happy to withdraw.
I only offered it as a speculation anyway.

My one statement of fact that you specifically challenged was that the hunger strike was not supported by IRA leadership outside.
As you have fallen silent on that issue I take it that you now concede, irrespective of where you used to live, that you were completely wrong and I was right.