Dr. Louise Richardson

…de la Financial Times:

“I had also become very interested in Irish language and literature.”

She wore what’s called a fáinne, a lapel ring that signified Irish was her preferred language. “Speaking Irish became my political statement.”

She believes now that this emphasis on the cultural eased the transition away from supporting violent Republicanism, and that her own experience may have a wider application.

Since part of the attraction of joining a terrorist group is that it provides a strong cultural community, an intelligent deradicalisation programme would encourage Muslims, for example, to express their Islamic identity – “but in positive, non-violent ways”.