I understand why the relatives of Scottish soldiers, often just boys at the time, will be upset by links with Sinn Fein but their anger would be better directed at the UK government and senior officers who sent them, ill-prepared, into a brutal civil war, in the first place.
The UK has full diplomatic relationships with political parties of government in countries, from Ireland, through Kenya, to Israel and Malaysia, where similar young Scottish soldiers were sent, similarly ill-prepared, to die. Should we ask UK ministers to apologise?
This is another media/opposition campaign, exploiting these parents and relatives in an effort to undermine the SNP, just the same as their previous, sickeningly cynical campaigns on SNP ‘fraud’, ‘infected’ hospitals and ‘failed’ ‘ferries.
Also Swinney need not apologise for Sinn Fein ‘links’ as IRA was not responsible for the deaths of any Scottish civilians in Scotland
Key Facts from Historical Records
- IRA policy on Scotland: During the Troubles (roughly 1969–1998), the IRA deliberately avoided bombing campaigns or major attacks in Scotland. They viewed Scots as “Celtic cousins” and restricted mainland operations primarily to England. This was an unstated but consistent policy, even as they carried out hundreds of attacks in England. heraldscotland.com
- The one minor exception: In May 1981, the IRA planted a small bomb at an oil terminal in the Shetland Isles (Scotland) on the same day Queen Elizabeth II was visiting nearby. It caused no injuries or deaths. en.wikipedia.org
- No recorded civilian fatalities: Extensive records of IRA attacks (including Wikipedia summaries of their campaign, CAIN database references, and historical analyses) show no deaths of Scottish civilians on Scottish soil. Loyalist groups like the UVF did carry out attacks in Scotland (e.g., Glasgow pub bombings in 1979, which injured people but killed none), but these were not IRA actions. en.wikipedia.org
In short, while the IRA caused many deaths across the UK and Ireland, historical evidence confirms they did not kill Scottish civilians in Scotland.
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Talking-up Scotland 
One of our relatives did several tours in Ireland and he confided in us that they were not always gentle in their dealings there.
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The National has a good article on the cynicism of Arlene Foster, former DUP leader, smearing John Swinney from her House of Lords perch.
How cynical attacks on John Swinney show pro-UK ‘terrorism’ hypocrisy | The National
Alex Salmond said “Never apologise” and JS could take his advice now.
Why are unionists so unfailingly bitter?
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bitterness is a core function of britishness. If they can’t have it they hate it.
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The only terrorist faction that has in the past, and will in the future kill Scottish civillians in Scotland are the British.
As Scots we are astronomically more likely to be shot dead by a British soldier in a Scottish street than be defended by one. And that is a FACT Swinney should ram down their stinking British throats every time they raise the IRA card re: Sinn Fein.
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the republican army fought against the terrorist activities of the British state.
the British state started it and continued the war, refusing to negotiate, despite the many British deaths along the way.
none of the above affects Scotland’s relationship with the Irish government.
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Ireland was Partitioned 1923. Universal suffrage 1928. Ireland can vote to reunite.
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