Fionn,

Gareth is correct in what he has said:

1. The Irish Free State, representing those Irishmen who wanted to be seperated from the rule of Westminster, were signatories of the Treaty of 1922.

2. The six counties that did not join, where, the majority of the population wished to remain within a United Kingdom of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, politically make Northern Ireland a part of the United Kingdom. The majority of its population still wish to remain so.

3. Hovering over those negotiating the treaty of 1922, was a threat not of war between the UK and the Irish Free State, but of a civil war in an Irish Free State that included the population of those six counties. Now mainland UK could have taken the view, "Hell we've been trying to get rid of this lot for the last fifty years, let 'em go and let 'em get on with it". They couldn't do that for two reasons, a civil war in Ireland would have devastated that island and the resulting outcome could have been damaging to both Britain and Ireland, the civil war would inevitably have drawn in the UK and others. So a compromise had to be found - everybody connected with the negotiations knew that, even de Valera.

I read AM's description of living under occupation - another question for you AM - During those years under occupation, who posed the greatest threat to your life, the "occupying forces" (which of course they are not, they are the armed forces of the United Kingdom and have every right to be stationed anywhere in the United Kingdom), or the paramilitaries (from either side, a bomb placed in a crowded bar, shop, or street is very indiscriminate in who it kills).

The paramilitaries - the unelected self-appointed "guardians", who have the gall in a democratic society, to state that they act on behalf of whatever section of the population. Fact is they don't, and never have done - take a look at the result of the "All Ireland" referendum which asked the views of the entire population on the use of arms in Irish politics. Something like 92% of the votes cast condemned the use of force and arms to resolve the issue of Irish unification - The Republican, or Nationalist, paramilitaries have no mandate whatsoever to speak for "the Irish people", they can threaten a return to an armed struggle, but they could never do it. They fully realise that, for they would be roundly condemned for it, and with the current attitude towards terrorism, the Republican/Nationalist cause's greatest traditional ally would prove to be its greatest enemy.

Note that there have been no candidates offered up for an example of a single paramilitary who has saved a life. From the ranks of those who, for the the last 34 years, have served in the Army, police force and emergency services - I could name many.