Give them an inch they'll take a mile

Sonic67

One swallow doesn't make a summer. Yes of course they should have been investigated and found guilty. What question is that? And they should have been arrested and found guilty decades ago and not now.

If we had had it as a policy, perhaps their victims would have been aware of the time limit and came forward before and then they might have served useful sentences and been off the streets while they were still a threat and not old guys. Maybe we might have got Janner too.

There is good reasons why countries do it that way and there's good reasons why we do it our way. Using one person as an example is a deliberate attempt to skew the results and influence opinion.

It's like saying, "would you bring back hanging, but what about for Ian Huntley? Hey? Hey? What about him?"

Meanwhile I see one of the guys who attacked by barracks in 96 is back in the news.

Germany arrests man over 1996 IRA attack on British barracks - BelfastTelegraph.co.uk

Toko Black

It is often the case in these situations that prosecutions couldn't have taken place or people been charged not because the laws were different on the crimes themselves, but the political climate, the government, the establishment etc created an environment where it simply wasn't possible or practical.
There has been a gestalt shift in recent years in how the Government and organisations respond to these sorts of issues. Essentially, the historic approach was always we can't be seen to be anything other than above reproach so anything that could bring our name into disrepute should be covered up, ignored or suppressed with the view with what you can't see doesn't exist.
Now, the Establishment and organisations are still trying to be seen as above reproach, but the response is to investigate and attempt to prosecute any and all potential breaches with the aim of showing how they keep their respective houses in order.

It is a reaction to the historic issues of child abuse in the Churches, state institutions, the entertainment industry etc, and the historic abuse of power over events like Hillsborough.

One could reasonably argue that a la the threads title, things can go to far and it becomes a situation of witch hunts and a climate of overzealous prosecutions.
I would tend to agree with that statement, but I do think cleaning house and being open is the way to go, just tempered against the overzealous and those seeking to profit and make a career of it all.

While I also agree that there can be many situations of hypocrisy in who gets blamed and prosecuted while others seem to get away scot free, I don't agree that two wrongs make a right.
If crimes are committed, I don't agree that because we fail to hold one set of people accountable, we shouldn't prosecute and punish anyone else either.
"They did/said something bad so you can't tell us of for doing something similar because otherwise it's unfair" is not an approach I support or find constructive beyond dealing with toddlers.

rancidpunk

Yep, but just like during certain events of the troubles, this was swept completely under the carpet by 'the powers that be' at the time,

It's why I don't agree with time limits being imposed. It's wrong if someone gets away with a crime, especially so when it's part of a cover up, but it's equally as wrong to ignore evidence of that crime purely because an arbitrary amount of time has passed before it's discovered.

Sonic67

What happened was a lot of people came out after Savile and the police then went on their own witch hunt and pulled in lots of people. Freddie Starr, Jim Davidson, and Paul Gambaccini all later cleared, and charges dropped etc. It's a different climate now and I can't see the same circumstances happening again.

rancidpunk

Indeed, the witch hunt there was as over the top as this one now. Quite how Jim Davidson has avoided prosecution for crimes against comedy is beyond me though.

Sonic67

I am still wishing someone can overcome their childhood demons, and name Noel Edmonds.

McVicar

I had a girlfriend named Summer. So I agree.

Sonic67

SAS and army veterans to name IRA terrorist who escaped justice

Servicemen are producing The Great Betrayal following probe into soldier actions during The Troubles.

The servicemen, led by Sutton Coldfield ex-Grenadier Guard Alan Barry, are producing The Great Betrayal as a response to the Parliament-backed investigation into the actions of over 300 retired soldiers in Northern Ireland.

Alan, who was involved in military intelligence during his time in Northern Ireland, said The Great Betrayal is the 22,000-strong group’s response to being “hung out to dry” by the very country they served.

Sonic67

                        https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10154534678141558

Sonic67

                        https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=10216174681309783