Create a New Forum Admin Login Member Login Contribute to Voyager Search VoyForums Help Desk VoyForums Exchange VoyForums Directory/Categories VoyForums Homepage VoyForums News FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

[ Show ]

Support VoyForums

[ Shrink ]

VoyForums Announcement: Programming and providing support for this service has been a labor of love since 1997. We are one of the few services online who values our users' privacy, and have never sold your information. We have even fought hard to defend your privacy in legal cases; however, we've done it with almost no financial support -- paying out of pocket to continue providing the service. Due to the issues imposed on us by advertisers, we also stopped hosting most ads on the forums many years ago. We hope you appreciate our efforts.

Show your support by donating any amount. (Note: We are still technically a for-profit company, so your contribution is not tax-deductible.) PayPal Acct: Feedback:

Donate to VoyForums (PayPal):

[ Login ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, 2, 3, [4] ]

Subject: Mistaken Identity or What Paddy?... Author: Jim Martin [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] Date Posted: 21:08:34 02/24/05 Thu Belfast city centre tour comes to mind once again. Certain incidents that happened all those years ago suddenly reappear and you start to reflect what if!....There had been a bombing concerning some squaddies patrolling along a balcony of a block of flats,could have been the Divis flats where a bomb had been planted behind a mattress on the walk-way and was set off by remote deternation when the patrol were along-side,regardless fatalities were taken. Word had been passed down from intelligence that they wanted to interrogate two suspects that were seen legging it from the scene. Discriptions were circulated to all units in Belfast. I remember one of the suspects by discription given would have stood out like a sore thumb in a crowd. Tallish,long blood haired youth which had a stooped shoulder and walked with a limp. I thought at the time could'nt be many fitting that discription knocking about!....We were on mobile patrol just leaving the GCH going down Royal Avenue by the lights on the inter-section by Castle Street.I was in the back of the landrover and noted two youths coming out from Castle Street into Royal Avenue. The discription fitted one of the youths to perfection I could'nt believe it! They clocked me watching them and stopped,hesitated, and started to back track back up Castle Street.The vehicles could not turn right as we were committed to carry straight on up Royal Avenue.Consequently I dived out the back and gave pursuit. When they saw me coming after them they high-tailed it at speed. I remember chasing after them reciting the bullshit off the yellow and blue cards that was engrained in my head. I stopped about half way up and chambered a round up the spout,dropping to the kneeling position ready to fire. I had the bastard in my sights in that split second the crowd closed in by the Taxi-rank and shielded the bastards! I'm convinced to this day that the paddy I targeted was the one they were after. I was extremely pissed off that I had missed the opportunity of shooting this bastard. The way these two run was justification enough for me to believe that these paddy's were guilty as sin. All this happened in a matter of seconds but when you are in that position seems a hell of a lot longer. The adrenalin flowing through you makes your senses sharper somehow. On reflection,this many years after I'm glad that I did'nt pull the trigger for obvious reasons to do with the ramifications that could have occurred. I believe that I did another three tours of N.Ireland after this,but fortunately never came that close again to actually pulling that trigger!.....Such as life!....Wouldn't you say?... [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]