I apologize if this has already been posted:

We reveal the workings of the gang known as The Russians – based in south Belfast they are raking in a staggering £100,000 a week all of which is syphoned off to their crime bosses in Dublin.

The Russians already control the drug market in Belfast, out-muscling local dealers.

The gang leaders and their cohorts are from the former Soviet state of Latvia.

The Sunday World understands The Russians already run 20 brothels in Belfast alone.

Chillingly, this is an outfit that has no fear about the stranglehold paramilitaries have on their areas – they have an arsenal of weapons and are ready to take on anyone who stands in their way.

http://www.sundayworld.com/top-stories/northern-ireland/gangsters-running-drug-and-vice-rackets

I wonder if the IRA knows about this? I wouldn't doubt them being in bed with the Russians

Look at what it says in the article.

"Chillingly, this is an outfit that has no fear about the stranglehold paramilitaries have on their areas – they have an arsenal of weapons and are ready to take on anyone who stands in their way."

Looks like they are in opposition to the IRA

"I wonder if the IRA knows about this? I wouldn't doubt them being in bed with the Russians"

They've been caught working with the 'Ndrangheta before, so it's not totally out of the question. I think they almost have to be. To think that a group of foreigners are going to walk into a place that was almost a warzone within recent memory and shove around the paramilitaries like they were nothing is absurd. They have to be giving something to either a catholic or protestant militia or both.

Yea I want to say I read about the goverment Seizing 380Mil or 400Mil from them a few months back in connection with the Italians

Between multiple splits, deaths and arrests the IRA is in shambles no?

They don't have the same heart. A few posters on here from the younger generation would rather "breed them out" of Northern Ireland than stand up and fight.

Brings a whole new meaning to the phrase "Pen-is mightier than the sword"

I think there are no less than three organizations that claim to be carrying on the IRA torch. there's also INLA, a republican militia. I've tried finding more contemporary information on these groups' status, but its hard to come by and a lot of it is conflicting.

it seems to come and go though, I guess it all depends on the social and political climate of N. Ireland. Activity, likewise, comes in spurts.

But I think RIRA's (Or was it CIRA? fuck it, I can't keep all these groups straight) leadership was recently gutted so they may be struggling now... One thing for certain, though, is that irish republicanism and its militant arm are probably not going anywhere anytime soon.

I've also read on the web that some republican organizations are amalgamating, so there's that as well. Like I said, though, there's tons of conflicting information out there.

Also, a while back the BBC (I think?) put out a series of documentaries on The Troubles, examining it from both sides of the argument. You can find 'em all on youtube. here's the first:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqmbWuaTJvE

the rest'll be easy to find from there.

IRA are fuck all, bunch of cowards


This story is a load of crap anyway

If it was true the UVF would wipe them out!

Ag fuck Sasana beo fada Ireland!

Complete bullshit, no foreign crime group could just walk in and take over Belfast.

yea the Sons of Anarchy are driving around Belfast taking over all of Northern Ireland as we speak...

The IRA has always worked pretty well with the Russians and the East Europeans have come under attack from the Brits cos the stiff upper lipped fags are so paranoid about anyone with a foreign accent being Catholic that they try and firebomb every knew immigrant that moves in.

The British MI5 described the IRA as the most well organised terrorist group in the world during the height of the troubles and in South Armagh the IRA didn't just hit and run they exchanged fire with the best the British army had to offer. Which was bullshit!

The passion is still there. Ireland will be united again!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdGMkYFTTrg

You're the only coward here

Is that right, well i have faced down Irish republican scum many times

I have also lost 2 friends who were murdered by these cowards


So very well placed to see these cowards for what they are!!

The UVF has murdered and butchered and slaughtered as well. Tell me, what do you think of the murder of Patrick Finucane, an attorney who was shot to death at his dinner table in front of his wife and seven children? Do you think that was OK because he was Catholic and not Protestant? Hate begets hate. There is plenty of blame to go around over there on all sides. A real man finds a path towards peace regardless of their religion/affiliation. That takes more courage than it does to murder people because of religion. Animals do that.

I do not support the murder of anyone because of their religion

When the loyalist ceasefire was announced by Gusty Spence, he made a total apology to all innocents killed by loyalists and he meant it!

We are still awaiting the same from republicans, it seems to be everyone elses fault when you hear them speak

Fact is the majority of those murdered where by republicans and they are still trying to murder innocent people.....

There's really a lot of Eastern Europeans immigrants in Ireland in the recent years. Not only in Ireland, but also in UK generally. Lot of criminals from Latvia and other Baltic countries have went there also. I doubt they control the whole city, as what news says, always has some bullshit in it, to make the story more colorful. But there is no doubt, there's a lot of them and they might be very powerful.

One more vote for this being unlikely.

Supposedly the Provos are retired from "blue collar" crime but enough former loyalist and republican paras are still around and need a buck that there is no way a bunch of kids from Russia are going to push them out.

There probably is an amount of Eastern European gangsters, but as far as ''taking over'' anything...not very likely. Groups such as the REAL IRA (which has become more of an organized crime group than a terrorist organization) are as ruthless as vicious as the ''Russian'' groups and wouldn't let them take over anything.

@british:

Best know your audience base here pal.
Italian. ROMAN CATHOLIC.

How many C of E greaseballs do you know?

Pick a fight with Catholics on this board, you're gonna lose.

Just trying to be helpful pal, I'm sure there are other more conciliatory web boards to your cause, not this one.

That article is a complete crap

Sonny Black, i never picked a fight with anyone!!

I merely pointed out that certain groups were cowardly bastards, that is all ..

Why would a decent law abiding Roman Catholic want to support a bunch of people just because they kick with the same foot..


I think that America has now found out that terrorism is not fun or a noble cause for itself now!


And for the record i am a Presbyterian

This debate goes nowhere so lets just leave it at that

Don't make assumptions about 9/11 and don't make emotive, unsubstantiated jibes about 'cowards' in a deliberate bid to incite other posters.

You are Presbyterian, right? Okay, that's not a religion practised in England too much so you are either an Ulster Scot or an Ulster Irishman who's a wannabe Brit. Either way you are making too many cheap shots to be taken seriously.

I don't mind the Brits actually, men in tights, Shakespeare, tea and the Beatles who were the greatest Brit band of all time through grace of having three men with Irish blood flowing through their veins and all that. Embrace that, and listen to the wise words of Sir Paul McCartney...

Cos he was all about unity and love and even he as a Brit recognized the oppression of Ireland was a joke and that Ireland should be free.

You have probably seen the Departed and a few episodes of the Sopranos I get it, you wanna be a tough guy but the men in tights and the Shakespeare don't cut it so you gottsa come on here and trash the Irish.

I get it, I really do, but if I were you I'd just embrace what you Brits are, cos when you try and gangsta it up it just comes across as kinda lame. Look at this Brit trying to act like a gangbanger http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLN3RWfNMsg

Just embrace what you are with the tights and the "Where art thou Malibu" bullshit. I like that. I respect that. But you ain't gangsta so stop tryin, it's pathetic man.

And listen to your own Sir Paul McCartney, even he as a Brit says it all, you were wrong and a united Ireland is right! You are on thin ice man, and you ain't kidding nobody with your BS. Peace for all the true Brits, the ones that embrace what they are, but stop tryin too hard, everyone knows the only thing tough bout the Brits is when you leave the teabag in the teapot too long and get an extra strong cup of tea

But enough with the gangsta stuff, it don't suit you guys, you ain't from the streets, just listen to your knight of the realm. Peace .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kaO4XeHhwo8

Sean South, I find you funny actually, you really don't have a clue

As you said, they are both ruthless and vicious, if there was some taking over, then it'd be an open warzone there and we'd hear about it. Most likely they are working together and the media are making an elephant out of a fly as always.