Vincent McKenna (@IrishObserver7) profile picture

Vincent McKenna

@IrishObserver7

Historian Specializing in Sinn Fein/PIRA 1969-2026

 The beginning of an End
Joined August 2025
  • Tweets5.4K
  • Following111
  • Followers168
Vincent McKenna retweeted
Paddy Shanks (@PaddyShanks) profile picture
Paddy Shanks
@PaddyShanksNov 2
One of the hundreds of sectarian bombs and shootings, almost forgotten now, initiated by the PIRA, and still rubber stamped by its party in crime Sinn Féin.
OnThisDayTheIRA (@OnThisDayPIRA) profile pictureOnThisDayTheIRA@OnThisDayPIRANov 2
#OnThisDay in 1971 the IRA planted 2 bombs at Red Lion pub & a draper shop; properties adjoining Ballynafeigh RUC police Station, Sunnyside St/Ormeau Rd, Belfast, N. Ireland. #OTD. 3 civilians murdered in the pub; Molly Gemmell; widow, John Cochrane & William Jordon-died 4/11/71.
Image from OnThisDayTheIRA (@OnThisDayPIRA)
Image from OnThisDayTheIRA (@OnThisDayPIRA)
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Vincent McKenna retweeted
Jamie Bryson (@JamieBrysonLLB) profile picture
Jamie Bryson
@JamieBrysonLLB13m
Anyone who knows Carla knows she won’t be pushed around or influenced by anyone. Shame on those briefing this nonsense, and rest assured, we know who they are and they would be best served to stop.
UTV Live News (@UTVNews) profile pictureUTV Live News@UTVNews1h
'I will not have it said that someone is pulling my strings', says Lockhart
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Vincent McKenna retweeted
Jack of Hearts (@Jack_of_Hearrts) profile picture
Jack of Hearts
@Jack_of_HearrtsNov 1
Eileen Kelly was SIX. She was a Catholic... She was watching cartoons with her Dad... She was shot in the chest by Provisional IRA gunmen as she sat innocently with her Father. She died on the way to hospital. The IRA claimed to defend Catholics while murdering Catholic children. Eileen was one of them. No flag or slogan can excuse that.... And Sinn Fein dare to speak of "Justice and Equality" No Sinn Fein led calls for inquiries by the likes of John Finucane for this little girl... Any suggestions why ? 🐶
Image from Jack of Hearts (@Jack_of_Hearrts)
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Vincent McKenna retweeted
Jamie Bryson (@JamieBrysonLLB) profile picture
Jamie Bryson
@JamieBrysonLLBNov 1
You stood shoulder to shoulder with those who covered up the murder as part of the Garvaghy mob.
Matthew O'Toole (@MatthewOToole2) profile pictureMatthew O'Toole@MatthewOToole2Nov 1
I caught up with this series this weekend. The murder of Robert McCartney by IRA men was appalling, but made worse by the systematic, cynical and ongoing denial of justice for Robert by people who loudly and rightly call for justice elsewhere. Solidarity with his brave sisters.
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Vincent McKenna retweeted
Belfast Telegraph (@BelTel) profile picture
Belfast Telegraph
@BelTel11h
I get more sectarian abuse from people from the Catholic and nationalist tradition, the tradition in which I was raised, than I do from Protestants and loyalists, writes Malachi O'Doherty 🖋️ Read more: tinyurl.com/5xsct2ss
Image from Belfast Telegraph (@BelTel)
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Vincent McKenna retweeted
Paddy Shanks (@PaddyShanks) profile picture
Paddy Shanks
@PaddyShanksOct 31
Fascinating article by Shane Paul O'Doherty, particularly around the machinations of a particularly infamous Belfast family of Irish republicans.
Shane Paul O'Doherty (@shaneodoherty) profile pictureShane Paul O'Doherty
@shaneodohertyOct 30
Were there IRA solicitors? irishpeaceprocess.blog/2026/…
Were There IRA Solicitors?

Were There IRA Solicitors?

Prominent Irish journalist, author, editor and broadcaster Tim Pat Coogan [The IRA (1970), Ireland Since the Rising (1966), On the Blanket (1980)] is still with us at or about the age of 91 years. …

irishpeaceprocess.blog
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Vincent McKenna retweeted
Sam McBride (@SJAMcBride) profile picture
Sam McBride@SJAMcBrideOct 30
Half a century ago today, the UVF murdered two Belfast Telegraph delivery men as a 10-year-old watched in terror. My colleague Liam Tunney tracked down one of the killers, whose pathetic response to questions was: “My memory is not what it used to be". belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/…
‘My daddy is dead’: Remembering the Belfast Telegraph delivery drivers murdered 50 years ago

‘My daddy is dead’: Remembering the Belfast Telegraph delivery drivers murdered 50 years ago

Charles Corbett and John Maguire were shot in north Belfast in 1976

belfasttelegraph.co.uk
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Vincent McKenna retweeted
Charlie Lawson (@charlie_lawson1) profile picture
Charlie Lawson@charlie_lawson1Oct 26
Fuck you Wetherspoons!
Angel Of England (@AngelUKxx) profile pictureAngel Of England
@AngelUKxxOct 25
This is disgraceful, I think Wetherspoons have forgotten their roots
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Vincent McKenna retweeted
Aaron Edwards (@DrAaronEdwards) profile picture
Aaron Edwards@DrAaronEdwardsOct 26
“Like a bloody cult”
Jon Burrows MLA (@JonBurrowsMLA) profile pictureJon Burrows MLA
@JonBurrowsMLAOct 26
“One toilet in the bar and yet everyone was in at the time. It’s just ridiculous. It was a wee bit scary actually. Like a bloody cult.” The words of one of Robert McCartney’s sisters about the wall of silence surrounding her brother’s murder.
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#OnThisDay in 1988 the IRA murdered Hugh McCrone, 20. Full time RUCR (police reservist) from Stewartstown, Tyrone, engaged days earlier. Car sprayed with bullets after leaving Kinawley station, Fermanagh, 7:15pm. Injured colleague (22) paralysed tried to return fire, prayed #OTD
Image from OnThisDayTheIRA (@OnThisDayPIRA)
Image from OnThisDayTheIRA (@OnThisDayPIRA)
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Vincent McKenna retweeted
OnThisDayTheIRA (@OnThisDayPIRA) profile picture
OnThisDayTheIRA@OnThisDayPIRAOct 26
#OnThisDay in 1988 the IRA murdered Wilson Smyth, 41. Married father of 3. Post office manager murdered when bomb exploded under his car as he drove out of the staff car park, Tomb Street, Belfast, Northern Ireland #OTD. IRA said they believed Mr Smyth was in the UDR. He was not.
Image from OnThisDayTheIRA (@OnThisDayPIRA)
Image from OnThisDayTheIRA (@OnThisDayPIRA)
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Vincent McKenna retweeted
Ken Murray (@NewsMurray) profile picture
Ken Murray@NewsMurrayOct 25
Very disturbing stuff about the IRA and Sinn Fein tonight on BBC NI re the murder of Robert McCartney.
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Vincent McKenna retweeted
Charlie Lawson (@charlie_lawson1) profile picture
Charlie Lawson@charlie_lawson1Oct 25
No Poppy’s allowed in Wetherspoons???!! I urge you all to boycott Wetherspoons!!!! Spread these word !!!instagram.com/reel/De7Bqlyoh…
Dec Lea (@dec_lea1) • Instagram reel

Dec Lea (@dec_lea1) • Instagram reel

instagram.com
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#OnThisDay in 1989 the IRA murdered Nivruti Islania, 0. 6 months old shot with RAF father in Wildenrath, West Germany. Family were outside snack bar attached to a petrol station when 2 IRA fired on car. Mother wouldn’t leave. “She was in the car clutching the little child.” #OTD
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Vincent McKenna retweeted
Aaron Edwards (@DrAaronEdwards) profile picture
Aaron Edwards@DrAaronEdwardsOct 26
Likely the right sort of soldier to have assigned on this close protection duty. Harry McCallion, another SAS soldier, reveals in his book Undercover War that the intelligence leading to Mrs McAliskey being protected came from an informer inside the UDA. “Collusion”? Hardly.
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Vincent McKenna retweeted
Aaron Edwards (@DrAaronEdwards) profile picture
Aaron Edwards@DrAaronEdwardsOct 26
A public inquiry would seem justified.
Sunday Life (@TheSundayLife) profile pictureSunday Life@TheSundayLifeOct 25
A cover-up operation by the IRA after the brutal murder of Robert McCartney will be laid bare in a new documentary as his sisters continue their fight for justice 21 years on. belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sunda… belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sunda…
New BBC doc lays bare IRA cover-up after brutal Robert McCartney murder: ‘This wasn’t the killers’...

New BBC doc lays bare IRA cover-up after brutal Robert McCartney murder: ‘This wasn’t the killers’...

Unseen footage shows bloody aftermath of 2005 killing that shook the peace process

belfasttelegraph.co.uk
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Vincent McKenna retweeted
Eoin O'Malley (@AnMailleach) profile picture
Eoin O'Malley@AnMailleachOct 25
For all the hand wringing about the ‘far right’, it turns out the far left is a real danger to society. This week’s @Independent_ie column independent.ie/comment/eoin-…
Eoin O’Malley: After all our alarmism over the far right, has France shown that we’re looking in...

Eoin O’Malley: After all our alarmism over the far right, has France shown that we’re looking in...

independent.ie
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Vincent McKenna retweeted
Charlie Flanagan (@CharlieFlanagan) profile picture
Charlie Flanagan@CharlieFlanaganOct 25
Sunday evening music choice is a tribute to the great Donal Lunny. May he rest in peace. - Cúnnla youtu.be/9L3XbuyaqaQ?is=8-UB… via @YouTube
Donal Lunny - Cúnnla

Donal Lunny - Cúnnla

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

youtube.com
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Vincent McKenna retweeted
BBC Spotlight NI (@BBCSpotlightNI) profile picture
BBC Spotlight NI@BBCSpotlightNIOct 25
Murder in Belfast: Sisters Seeking Justice - Watch all episodes on BBC iPlayer now - Part One is on BBC One NI tonight at 10.30pm - Also on BBC Two, Wednesday at 9.00pm
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Vincent McKenna retweeted
Sharon O'Neill (@sharon_scoop) profile picture
Sharon O'Neill@sharon_scoopOct 25
Must watch 👇🏼 bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m0…
Murder in Belfast: Sisters Seeking Justice - Series 1: 1. An Innocent Man

Murder in Belfast: Sisters Seeking Justice - Series 1: 1. An Innocent Man

Stabbed on the street, Robert McCartney dies hours later. Evidence has vanished. Witnesses are frightened, and the police aren’t the only organisation trying to talk to them.

bbc.co.uk
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