Speaking as an Ulster man, born and raised in Northern Ireland, and a first hand witness of the horrors inflicted on ordinary people by terrorists of both sides, McClean comes across as one of those individuals who seems entrenched in the past.
Citizens had high hopes for the future after the signing of the Good Friday Agreement, and in doing so, had to accept that conditions of "peace" included the release of convicted terrorist murderers from prison and the prospect of these monsters being given ministerial positions in an N.I. government.
We were supposed to consign the "Troubles" to history, and both sections of the community move on to forge a bright future for the country and it's citizens.
By and large, whilst we now longer wake up to hear daily news reports of soldiers, police men, or members of the public having been murdered, despite what most people are led to believe, these terrorist organisations STILL EXIST.
Not only are they still in existence, but some have morphed into new gangs which are fully intent on returning N.I. to it's bloody past.
Through his actions, McClean is fanning the flames of sectarianism, goading supporters into reacting, and then complaining when he gets it back.
Reminiscent of times past, whenever terrorists attacked the security forces, and were then wiped out, with the ensuing allegations of a shoot to kill policy by the security forces!
We live in a free society, with relative freedom of speech, and McClean is entitled to his beliefs and views, abhorrent as they may be. He is also entitled to decide not to wear a poppy if he so wishes.
BUT, those he taunts, with his ill thought actions, also have that same freedom of speech and opinions, yet in doing so are responsible for bringing the club they support under a spotlight. This is immoral.
This will continue wherever he goes in Britain, until such times the F.A. grow a set of balls and deal with this issue properly. If a club is penalised for a supporter who is alleged to have abused McClean, then the only correct way to address this is for McCleans club to be penalised for his actions whilst he is playing for them. If he or his club was being fined and banned every time he offended or goaded supporters, he would soon wind his neck in, or find himself unemployed.
Apologies for the long winded post.