JUDGE ANDREW BLAKE and the IRA BOMB
DO you remember when judges seemed to live in some sort of hermetically sealed wee world of their own, cut off from reality?
You know the sort of thing - ''Television?''
''Yes, M'Lud, a new eletctronic device for the entertainment of the lower classes. ''
''The Beatles?''
''A popular musical quarter who find favour with the younger element of the population, M'Lud.''
We all thought their sort of had been consigned to the dustbin of history, and that the men and women who sit on the benches of the courts throughout this United Kingdom today, have some sort of contact with reality, as well as a deep sense of history.
But we have been wrong. Massively, comprensively and unerringly wrong, wrong, wrong.
And if you do not believe me then consider the words of Judge Andrew Blake as he sent to jail - where they belong - 11 of the thugs who caused violence of the streets on Manchester in May 2008.
It was, according to this prize prat, the worst destruction visited upon Manchester since the Nazi war machine rained bombs on it during the Blitz.
Now, let's pause for a breath, while we take in the scale of such an observation. While we do so, it may be worth considering why, in the three days since he blundered, nobody in the Scottish media has taken Judge Andrew Blake to task for his amazing lack of historical perspective.
And the sin of omission.
I would like to think it is a combination of those who run Scotland's newspapers being just as ignorant as the judge. For surely there can be no other motive for the printed press, plus the broadcast media the length and breadth of Scotland, failing to point out just what poppycock Blake's ill researched and historically inaccurate rant was.
It was shortly before mid-day on June 15, 1996, the day before Father's Day, that a 3000lb bomb, planted by the IRA, exploded and ripped the heart out of Manchester, injuring 212 innocent men, women and children.
Mancunians - and I know many having spent much time in their splendid city - still look back in wonder at the fact nobody was killed, calling it The Miracle of Manchester.
The cowardly IRA bombers planted their massive bomb close to the always busy Arndale Shopping centre. The 3000lb bomb so lovingly prepared by the IRA terrorists was the largest device exploded on mainland Britain in peacetime.
That bomb was nearly TEN times BIGGER than anything the German bombers carried during the Blitz.
Such was the complete carnage that IRA blockbuster bomb caused , buildings which were not reduced to rubble, were in such a bad state they had to be demolished.
A total of 400 businesses were affected, with 160 of them so badly hit they were unable to resume trading.
The initial rebuilding took over three years, with some redevelopment going on until 2005, at a total cost of £1.2BILLION.
Insurers paid out £600M and the 212 victims of the IRA bomb blast received a total of almost £1.5M in compensation for their injuries, many of them horrific.
Yet Judge Andrew Blake, blithely ignored all of this, to jump from thousands of Nazi German bombers raining their destruction on Didsbury, Prestwich, Sale, Altrincham and Trafford Park, to a few hundred soccer thugs on the rampage.
Surely it could not have been a lack of knowledge. For, if anyone should know the history it is Judge Andrew Blake, born on 18 August 1946, and educated first at Ampleforth College and then Hertford College, before graduating from Oxford with an MA in history.
That's right....HISTORY! As the incomporable Richard Littlejohn might say - you couldn't make it up.
Especially when, after being called to the Bar at the Inner Temple in 1971, he moved to practice in Manchester in 1972, where he remained active until being made a circuit judge in 1999.
Therefore he was active there when the 1996 IRA bomb shook the city of Manchester to its very foundations.
Maybe the fact that Greater Manchester Police failed to put anyone in the dock - there have been no convictions and , according to that Force it is now extremely unlikely there ever will be - allowed the fact of a 3000lb IRA bomb exploding, injuring 212 people, causing £1.2BILLION worth of damage which took nearly a decade to put right, to slip completely out of Judge Andrew Blake's mind.
If that is the case - and any other explaination does not bear thinking about - then it is time for the authorities to take a close look at the condition of 64-year-old Judge Andrew Blake's memory, in order to make sure he is still mentally nimble enough to sit in judgement in a court of law.
The IRA bomb of 15 June, 1996 was the worst destruction inflicted on Manchester since the Nazi Blitz, followed by the 1981 Moss Side riots, when police were firebombed in a 48-hour period when law and order teetered on the brink of oblivion in that fine old Victorian City.
The cowardly actions of those few on the streets of Manchester in May 2008, were shocking. But they fall way short of the terrorist IRA and its 3000lb bomb in that city in 1996.
And if that - and Moss Side - had slipped Judge Andrew Blake's memory, well .....he kens noo!
posted by leggoland @ 17:34
20 Comments
20 Comments:
Well said David, i like your blog you keep up the good work sir,We need someone like you to tell the truth about the Rangers as the media Tv, Radio and the newspapers never will.
Oh dear, you obviously just read FF for your "opinions". Have you read the latest Mod's post that the only damage was litter? This attempt to downplay the damage down in Manchester only enables the support to further rampages.
Well said David. Its apparent that the "media" in Scotland are agenda driven and will do everything in its power to knock Glasgow Rangers and its fans.
There seems to be a complete lack of unbiased reporting when it comes to Rangers FC and you have to ask - Why is this? Are all the editors, journalists,tv and Radio producers all supporters of a certain other club in Glasgow and will do everything in their power NOT to be "impartial"?
The morons who caused mayhem in 2008 deserve to be jailed - BUT the organising of such a massive event was non existant
"I wonder if the Judge's sectarian education under the Benedictine monks at Ampleforth influenced the sentences he handed down ?"
A comment from FF re: the sentencing of the 12.
A thread from yesterday was deleted (Mods had added approvingly to it) which suggested that a Celtic supporter was amongst the 12. When it was exposed as a lie the thread was removed. There is a desperate attempt to paint the troublemakers as A) Not Rangers supporters B) Not regular visitors to Ibrox or C) Innocent. Time and time again all these gambits blow up in the faces of Billy Mulder & Shenga Scully.
A dozen out of thousands were convicted. That doesn't excuse those who escaped the prosecution services. They just got lucky.
I feel that the majority of Rangers fans,myself included,are not seeking "preferential treatment"
All we ask is a level playing field,parity if you will.
Example of the lop-sided treatment in Scotland at the moment ?
A RSC from Dublin has had a banner banned for having "Behind Enemy Lines",as I MIGHT be
offensive.
The Green Brigade of Celtic FC,endorsed by Neil Lennon,had a banner depicting a burning Ibrox,with the "Rangers FC" sign substituted for "Huns FC".
In my opinion,as well as the "Huns FC" actually being offensive,a picture of Ibrox ablaze is an disgusting insult to the people who lost their lives at Valley Parade,the ground of Bradfor City.
Whilst the Rangers banner issue warranted column inches in Scotland,there has been NO MENTION of the antics of The Green Brigade.
Why is this the case ?
Is Mr. Leggat gainfully employed at the moment or is this how far he has fallen?
He now writes fanzine-style garbage for a small cabal of bigots?
Of course, the IRA did more physical damage than Rangers' fans. So you are completely correct. A bit of hyperbole from a judge in passing sentence on the small percentage of thugs who were actually charged for their crimes that day is the most important issue here.
Rangers FC and their supporters have nothing more to be concerned about that a bit of glib exaggeration.
Bigoted policemen from across Europe, including English policemen, are just part of a grand Catholic conspiracy to cast Rangers fans in a bad light at every opportunity while ignoring the misdeeds of everyone else. That's it, isn't it? No problems that need to fixed within your own? Nope, just fenians to blame for everything.
The corrupt council leaders who since the days of decking Glasgow transport in the colours of the Irish tri-colour, the gangsters running taxi firms and providing security on building sites, the major players in the supply of illegal drugs, the majority of journalists from the largest circulation daily newspapers in Scotland.
All have two things in common.
Thier religion and the football team they swear allegiance to.
We, as Rangers fans will always have our name besmirched by these hypocritical miscreants at every turn until we mobilise and fight " the enemy within ".
All of the aforementioned will of course have the audacity to kneel before thier spiritual leader in Bellahouston Park in the near future without a shred of remorse at thier controversial despicable dealings ( supposedly against the teachings of thier faith !!) knowing full well that they and thier predecessors have been party to wicked sectarian acts for nigh on fifty years and no matter how loud they shout, the actions of 200 boozed up neds (from a crowd of 200,000) rioting in Manchester will never be comparable with the unjust obnoxious misery caused by they and thier kin to those of us who do not follow thier particular religion.
People, Hypocrisy corruption and nepotism have been in power too long !.
To the poster above to talks about hypocrisy (sic)- [perhaps you should have gone to a better school?]
Glasgow council: would that be the same council who recently had a corruption scandal explode when several of its upper management attended the very game in question here- the 2008 UEFA Cup Final in Manchester- all on work time and had the council pay for it all?
And what does the "the audacity to kneel before thier spiritual leader in Bellahouston Park" have to do with anything? Are Rangers fans not welcoming of adherents to the Church of Rome?
If I didn't realise that it simply could not be possible in this day and age, I would swear that you were a venemous bigot whose life seems trapped in the 17th century.
All this aside, I think Rangers fans should have more important issues to worry about than prelates in parks and English judges. Your club has a date with destiny in late October. Your club is in possession of tax bills exceeding 60m quid. Your beloved Custodian funneled several millions out of your club into his personal pockets through the same wildly illegal tax scheme. HMRC has documented evidence that the board of Rangers FC knew what they were doing was illegal.
I am not a religious man, but if I was a Rangers fan, I would be converting to some faith hat believed in miracles, because you are going to need one to avoid a winding-up order in the next 12 months.
I am trying to understand the views of the naysayers here.
It seems to be that while what Leggo says is irrefutably true he is still wrong to say it and confirms him as a bad guy.
It's ok for a judge to spout nonsense in this case although no real reason no real reason as to why this is the case is put forward.
Would that be a fair summation or is there really a poor deluded wee soul out there who would like to say the judge was in fact correct?
I was not in the least surprised to learn of Blake's comments. Nor do I believe for one moment that he did not consider them carefully.
To say that his comments were ill- judged, unwarranted and untimely would be an understatement.
Regrettably, however, he (and others like him) have the full and undivided attention of the print and television media. Sensationalism is what this is all about!
Blake may have alienated the vast majority of rangers fans, but he has gained many admirers elsewhere.
Don't be fooled into thinking that Blake's comments were simply 'off the cuff' remarks; they were not. Indeed I believe they were consiously and deliberately aimed at the 'let's deal hearshly with these yob's' audience - the Thatcherite 'short, sharp, shock' approach.
Unfortunately, this masks the rather pathetic approach people like Blake take to those who pose the real threat - those who would utterly destroy our democracy.
The yobs are rightly in prison, but the real threats are still at large!
Fantastic article David.
I'm sure his education will interest your readers
http://www.college.ampleforth.org.uk/
...as will this article published yesterday on Rangers site Vanguard Bears
http://www.vanguardbears.co.uk/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=316&Itemid=1
Good Work Leggo.
Rangers Fitba Club have a poison at their very core. Scum one and all.
Frankly it's astonishing that anybody could criticise this article, but the hatred of Scotland's Number 1 sporting institution is such that the name cannot be mentioned without the bigotted vitriol appearing.
The judge got it wrong. Rationalists are correct to suggest it is to do with his cultural background. Until he defends his comments he stands accused of being unfit for the office which he holds.
'Rangers Fitba Club have a poison at their very core. Scum one and all.'
You are clearly a bigot.
To those not of a Rangers supporting persuasion, whilst most right thinking fans of the club were bitterly disappointed with the actions of the few. We reserve the right to defend our club from the constant flood of lies and exaggerations peddled by a one sided media and fuelled by the Celtic minded's seemingly greater hatred for us than love of their own club!
That club's support sell it's self as a collective paragon of virtue despite a lytany of miscreance from the worst racism seen at a football ground (Mark Walters debut) to the numerous incidents of fans invading the park and referees being bloodied by a hail,hail of coins. Flights diverted, shootings, knifings, desecration of rememberance day silence, IRA chants and booing of troops at the Emirates. Attacks on the homes of Referees, death threats to chairmen of other clubs, riots in Blackburn etc.
How dare you preach to us about behaviour, you are like a kid who's parents constantly choose to ignore it's miscreance to the point that both are in denial, I am just waiting for the point at which a referee gets seriously injured or worse...Go put your own nasty little house in order and we will deal with ours!
Whether you like it or not, the judge took ridiculous licence with his comments, the thing is he could have chosen to say nothing other than a few well chosen words and I am sure someone like Colin Duncan could have made the rest up! Just ask the govenor of Kaunas!
To the poster above to talks about hypocrisy (sic)- [perhaps you should have gone to a better school?]
venemous
Aye ok then. Clearly i attended a different school from you.
Regarding your laughable attempt at suggesting Glasgow City Council leaders are Rangers fans who all attended the UEFA cup final may i suggest you read up on your history of corrupt GC officials and Labour MP'S who to a man have attended Celtic Park and other venues ( most recently the ex leader to the tune of £30,000 ) using cars paid for by taxpayers not to mention the contracts awarded to companies headed by those of a certain religious persuasion.
Then again, it is well nigh impossible for you and your fellow kind who wear the green and grey hoops to face up to FACTS such is your blind bigoted ignorance.
I sincerely wish you and your likeminded kin the very worst that life can bestow on you.
p.s.
All of the aforementioned will of course have the audacity to kneel before thier spiritual leader in Bellahouston Park in the near future without a shred of remorse at thier controversial despicable dealings
Read the full sentence before taking a quote to suit your own agenda. Fool
Leave the sad point scoring dhims to play their wee games, their fascination with the Rangers is seriously unhealthy and is something that they need to deal with.
The story itself, the judge is a fool. He made a comment with the aim to grab attention to those scum bags who disgraced themselves and indeed any link they claim to have with the Rangers.
Surely all we want here is an equal footing, we take the constant battering in the press regarding the supporters who shame the club, a very small minority, but none the less they exist. Why oh why won't the Scottish media report in a fair unbalanced view? one of the reasons is the club itself and it's failure to stand up for the fans. For too long under Murray, we have been an easy target and the dignified silence has done us more harm than good. Say what you like about Lawell, he takes no nonsense from those in the media should a damaging Celtic story be doing the rounds.
"Glasgow council: would that be the same council who recently had a corruption scandal explode when several of its upper management attended the very game in question here- the 2008 UEFA Cup Final in Manchester- all on work time and had the council pay for it all?"
Ahh, dhims and facts, they just dont go together. The individuals in question were employed by Strathclyde Partnership for Transport and were sacked for expense irregularities. meanwhile back at Glasgow council - "friends" of the council get multi million contracts for services despite them not being the lowest bidder or having any experience of the area of business and then sub contract it out to other people. other "friends" have land purchased at well over market rates and then make donations to surprise surprise the Labour party.
Glasgow Council aka the George Square Celtc supporters club.
Ok so the rankers fans caused slightly less damage than the IRA,is this really the depths to which this rankers daft hack will sink to in order to exonerate his fellow fans from the carnage they caused and the kicking half to death of policemen.
This man is not normal and in need of some sort of psychiatric help.
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