ON the assumption that Martin McGuinness's visit to Warrington was a sincere gesture of condolence to the families that suffered in the IRA's bombing of that town, not to mention other such atrocities on the mainland of Britain, then I give credit to him for his visit. Martin was a self-confessed IRA member, in fact a high-ranking member, playing his part to have Ireland united using violence to that end. The IRA's modus operandi at that time was to unify Ireland by the bomb and bullet, sadly they did not pay attention to the past where the policy of bomb and bullet failed many times over. Now that the war is over and this country (Northern Ireland) is still attached to the British system I pose the question to Martin - and his comrades in arms - do they not wish they could turn back the clock ? Imagine for one moment that if the IRA had approached their aims, through the path of dialogue - even friendship - it cannot be beyond one's imagination that today this country may very well have been united.
Ironically, the greatest obstacle for Ireland's unity has been created by the policies of the IRA, for it has left, deep, bitter memories, not to mention the death, destruction, crippling and disfigurement to thousands of innocent men, women and children, Catholic, Protestant and others, has created the problem we all face today.
Harry Stephenson
Kircubbin
