I WOULD like to pay tribute to Art McMillen who passed away on Saturday, September 6.
Art was a former leading republican like his brother Billy, who once led the Belfast IRA.
I spent many happy hours in Art's company at his home, where I always found him generous, kind and helpful. He tried to explain where this came from by saying that his parents had drummed into him Catholic teaching about loving one's neighbour of whatever creed, class or race.
He told me that his grandfather had been Master of an Orange Lodge in Scotland.
Art kindly gave me a photograph of his brother standing in his election office in Divis Street beside a large banner displaying part of a poem by an Irish Presbyterian: "Then let the Orange Lily be your badge, my patriot brother - the everlasting Green for me; and us for one another."
The office became embroiled in riot and controversy over a small Tricolour in the window. The Divis Street riots followed with windows being broken by young loyalists from the nearby Shankill. This could be seen as the beginnings of the Troubles. But the humanity shown
by Art and his brother Billy McMillen stands as a monument to the possibility of better things.
I can't recall how I first met Art McMillen but I believe loyalist Gusty Spence spoke kindly of him.
Gusty also told me that the first republican he had briefly spoken with at Crumlin Road Jail was Billy McMillen during 1970.
Art McMillen leaves me with pleasant memories. He also leaves a quiet but lasting legacy that we could all emulate.
ROY GARLAND
Belfast BT17
