There has been a lot said and done over the past few weeks in respect of the Assets Recovery Agency (ARA) – and their operation in Manchester. There have also been a lot of things said by those who stood accused by the ARA in this particular operation. To that end I won't comment as there is obviously a lot of legal sorting out to be done.
However, the role of the Assets Recovery Agency and the role of terrorist godfathers and mothers in this society and in North Belfast deserve closer inspection.
The ARA is needed in this society and across Ireland. For too long thugs, gangsters and murderers masquerading as "heroes" from all sections of the community have made and continue to make obscene amounts of money; whether it was selling drugs, the exploitation of women through prostitution, racketeering, illegal cross-border fuel sales and cigarettes and alcohol. These criminals should not be given the opportunity to make or take a cent and anything that they have made or taken should be taken by the state from them.
That is where the ARA is vital – if only they would be seen to do more against the criminals.
In addition to this the "godfathers and mothers" of terrorism are generally doing okay by anybody's standards. I know some of them from my days as a councillor and walking the streets of North Belfast and beyond.
Some of these "heroes" would look down their noses at me and my former colleagues because we didn't support violent ways or because we dared to condemn the Provos for acts of terrorism (I condemned all involved in oppression of the community).
In turn the loyalists just thought that we were all Provos and hated us.
When I think of it they had a cheek but then they always thought that they were special. Special they were not, liars and thieves and murderers they were and are.
In addition to this, some of these very same people were to put it mildly "milking" it for everything they could get.
In one sense I couldn't understand how some of these people never worked a day in their lives – how could they when they spent their days out defeating all things British or Irish (Loyalists)?
But they had big flash cars, more than one house, designer clothes and a house in Donegal – yes, even some of the loyalists had a house or two across what they called the "frontier".
These people lived lifestyles that their neighbours could only dream about and usually have to spend a pound on for a scratch card.
All of this money gathered illegally and usually at the expenses of those in the community who could least afford to spend the money.
I was going to say shame on them, but that wouldn't make a difference to these hardened criminals who had no hesitation of squeezing money out of the community, but cry like babies when the chips are down.
That is why we need an Assets Recovery Agency.
These criminals should lose everything but the basic finances for them and their families to survive.
The big houses and cars, the numerous local and foreign homes and the off-shore bank accounts all have to be taken off them, and the proceeds should go towards alleviating the poverty that exists in this society.
I have referred in the past to the levels of deprivation that exists across the community spectrum, it is around 46%.
Wouldn't the millions that these gangsters have stolen and taken from the community be well placed and directed back into it? Wouldn't that money help with building much needed new homes in North Belfast, playgrounds for our children and new health facilities to name but a few.
That is what I really resent about these people. They attempt to give an image of caring for the community. They are liars and duplicitous and many are in it for themselves.
The true republican and loyalist is the man or woman who peacefully and honestly goes about their personal and political business without taking the community to the cleaners.
They don't necessarily have the flash car or second house or off-shore account, or if they do they have earned it honestly. Their only vice may be a flutter of a few pounds on the horses or a pint in their local.
I don't think that the ARA has really gotten into its stride. I hope that it does so and finally gets many more of the thugs who have milked this society for too long.
