Opinion

IRA were far from cowards The majority of historical wars not waged for religious reasons

THE IRA has been called many things in its time. In his weekly column Tom Kelly (March 31) went out of his way to remind us of the opinion of his great hero, Seamus Mallon, that the IRA were "cowards" to the core of their hearts.

Tom agrees with Seamus and tells us so most weeks. Everyone is entitled to their individual opinion.

I and many others believe that Tom and Seamus are fundamentally wrong in this analysis and that neither could ever have tied the laces of the vast majority of IRA volunteers when it came to courage and selflessness. This Easter, Irish republicans throughout Ireland and in many foreign countries will remember with great pride those who have given their lives for Irish freedom.

I have no particular desire for a public row but I will not allow Tom Kelly's description of the IRA as 'cowards' to go unchallenged. I find this description to be objectionable and offensive in the extreme.

The volunteers of the IRA were far from 'cowards', Tom.

BARRY McELDUFF MLA

Sinn Fein, West Tyrone