The INLA declared a ceasefire in 1998 but did not begin decommissioning its weapons until 2009. The graffiti shown above (Rossville St, Derry) calls on it to unite with hard-line republicans from the Continuity and Real IRAs.
Denis Donaldson, IRA and Sınn Féın member, was killed by a shotgun blast to the chest in April 2006. He was living in a Donegal cottage after being outed as an Mi5 and Special Branch informer. The Real IRA later (2009) claimed responsibility. Next to that graffiti is “Vote your No. 1 army” (previously seen in 2005) with a number of modifications: it looks as though “Real” was replaced with “C” (Continuity IRA) and then all of the modifiers have been deleted in favour of simply “IRA”.
“Remember collusion victims”. The graffiti refers to a Gaelic football game played between local club St Brigid’s and the PSNI. It was the first time the PSNI squad had played a team from the north (Irish Times | BelTel).
The “comm” from Bik [McFarlane, OC in Long Kesh] to Brownie [Gerry Adams] upon the death of Bobby Sands was posted on the wall in Dromara Street in the wake of Richard O’Rawe’s allegations that Sınn Féın leadership had turned down an offer from the Thatcher government that might have ended the strike after four deaths (Guardian).
“We have nothing to offer but blood, tears, and sweat. Whatever the cost maybe, we shall fight on the beach’es [sic], we shall fight in the fields and on the street’s [sic]. We shall never surrender.” A message from “E.B. [east Belfast] Loyalists” in Castlereagh Parade, combining two speeches of Winston Churchill’s:
1940-05-13: “I would say to the House, as I said to those who have joined the government: I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat. We have before us an ordeal of the most grievous kind. We have before us many, many long months of struggle and of suffering. You ask: What is our policy? I will say: It is to wage war, by sea, land and air, with all our might and with all the strength that God can give us, to wage war against a monstrous tyranny, never surpassed in the dark and lamentable catalogue of human crime.”
1940-06-04: “We shall defend our island whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches. We shall fight on the landing grounds. We shall fight in the fields and in the streets. We shall fight in the hills. We shall never surrender. ”
“Wheresoever, howsoever or whenever we are called upon to make our exit, we shall do so as free men. – UVF East Belfast.” Three hooded gunmen frame a verse from Laurence Binyon’s For The Fallen.