Try living in Britain a while, Larry/InOBU, and you'll find that juries are no protection from injustice. Or ask the Maguires. Anyway some of those who demanded political status admitted/boasted what they'd done, so the fair-trial bit wasn't the issue. The issue was whether what they had done was crime. My own view is that some deeds were indeed criminal - some not. (Look at this from the other side: would anyone in this thread care to make a case for Michael Stone, for instance - the guy who slaughtered mourners at a funeral? Was that political, like he says?)

BTW,it was when we were discussing the earthquake in El Salvador that you were encouraging me to lighten up, Larry. Maybe we've just got different priorities. Certainly I usually have a chuckle when people blow themselves up with their own bombs, whoever they are.

I'd go a bit farther than Fib - this world would have had a lot less hassle if no-one had invented martyrs. Look to the living, Big Mick. And whatever way I depart this mortal coil, feel free to dance on my grave.