From South Armagh to the Aran Islands

Bairbre de Brún MEP and Robert McBride with Coiste's Mike Ritchie, Laurence McKeown, Stephen McGlade and Caoimhín Mac Giolla Mhín

th Umkhonto we Sizwe (the ANC's military wing) to his current role as Police Chief. "I see no inconsistency whatsoever," he replied. "I've been fighting criminals all my life."

Despite headlines in the Irish News the following day claiming Robert had urged Sinn Féin to support the PSNI, he said nothing of the sort. What he did say was that if republicans want to prepare themselves for taking political power in Ireland, then policing has to be resolved. He added that putting on a uniform of a state armed force was something he found very difficulty to do but that it was necessary for him. "I find it very uncomfortable, the marching, the saluting, the regimented way of life, but that is how it looks at present and we must deal with realities. We must never confuse principle with tactics."

The summer school continued over the following two days with speakers from the media, academia, politics (republican, unionist and loyalist), human rights organisations and restorative justice.