The local community and I are absolutely disgusted at the cruelty demonstrated by the recent inhumane beating and drowning of three defenceless animals near Banbridge. We are horrified that there are individuals who can inflict such cruelty on defenceless animals. What sort of evil mindset do they have?
While there has been progress in safeguarding animals, more needs to be done. The 2011 Welfare of Animals Act introduced a range of measures, such as the new enforcement powers for action to be taken to prevent cruelty. However, there has been a wholly inadequate number of convictions since the act’s implementation.
In fact, there is an ongoing perception that perpetrators of these types of crime get away lightly when it comes to punishments from the courts. Recently the Ulster Unionist Party revealed that over the period 2011 to 2015, only two of the 201 cases of animal cruelty before the courts had the maximum penalty imposed. This has sadly contributed to some of the sickening scenes of offenders walking free from court and jeering.
We need to see more convictions and more custodial sentences. The DPP has new powers to challenge sentences for undue leniency and it is important that these are fully applied. Those responsible for animal cruelty are committing these crimes because they don’t fear the law. We need to send out a strong clear message that this society won’t stand for it.
The Ulster Unionist Party published an Animal Welfare policy document in April this year. One of its main proposals was to create a central register of people convicted of animal cruelty. This would also greatly improve the information currently collated and stored for those found guilty of inflicting suffering on animals.
Please, I am asking anyone with information regarding the brutal killing of these dogs to report it. If they are capable of doing this to these three dogs then they are capable of doing it to any of our much-loved family pets.
Cllr GLENN BARR
UUP for Banbridge area
Northern nay-sayers getting their second wind
As someone whose father, uncles and grandfather were involved in the old IRA in Co Cork back in the day, and subsequently one being interned in Ballykinlar and others in the Curragh camp during our civil war, being on the losing side; yet I am, of course, entitled to an opinion on Northern Ireland as is Brian Patterson, regardless (November 16).
Time and our Constitution has decided, and long before 1969 (and the resultant madness of the ‘new’ IRA for more than 30 years) that our republic has long been established, and that the border does in fact, denote that Ireland is indeed a country of two nations. The great Seamus Heaney said there would never be an united Ireland, territorially.How right he was, knowing reality clearly.
We all voted, south and north through the GFA, that this is the official and legitimate state of Ireland. So-called republicans agreed, but it often seems to me Sinn Féin saw no further than getting IRA people out of prison.
Now northern nay-sayers appear to be getting their second wind, and are sounding off as loud as ever with the same old worn-out rhetorical petulance.
As for Cork being the ‘rebel’ county, Brian might be interested to know it was a chap in 1491 named Warbeck, claiming to be one of the usurped ‘princes in the Tower of London’, came to Cork but was in fact an imposter and declared a ‘rebel’ by King Henry VII,who later pardoned his supporters in ‘rebel’ Cork, saying: “I suppose they will crown an ape, next.”
Take note, Judy Peddle, fellow Corkonian (November 23).
Mr Patterson claims I am not a regular little west Brit writing but on occasion to The Irish News, who by this comment would like to see people like me not considered for publication, which appears partitionist even by his own high standards of unity.
I will write more often if this is acceptable to The Irish News where freedom of speech has long been its noble editorial stance.
ROBERT SULLIVAN
Bantry, Co Cork
Taking Catholicism literally
Recently I have read several right-wing Catholic letters and feel compelled to reply, from a Christian and pro-reformation perspective – not a bigoted narrative.
Five hundred years ago Luther took a stance against what he saw were abuses in the Catholic Church, whereby rich people could pay to sin – known as indulgences. Give the Church some money and Catholic priests turned a blind eye, basically.
Transubstantiation got writers here going, claiming only a Catholic priest can turn wine and bread into the body of Jesus, literally, and not as a metaphor. So, Protestants are wrong to take the bible as ‘gospel’ but the Catholic priest or Pope are to be taken literally with the Eucharist?
The role of many confused readers, as some attacked the Free Presbyterian view, saying it was fine to pray to Mary, only for Fr McCafferty to say Mary worship was wrong. Mary was the mother of Jesus, so I would simply pray to god, rather than via Mary or a saint.
The rule of tradition in the Catholic Church was held up as proof the Catholic Church was right.
Simply being around for a long time means little on a moral basis, never mind theologically.
There were and are mass sexual abuse cover-ups in the Catholic tradition, so certain readers need to be more objective.
PAUL GREEN
Newtownabbey, Co Antrim
When Ireland wore blue
With reference to John McLaughlin (December 6) – the colour blue in both Northern Ireland and Republic of Ireland football kits is nothing new.
The All-Ireland team prior to the IFA/FAI split in 1921 wore blue, St Patrick’s blue to be precise. The IFA team continued to wear blue until 1931 when it started wearing green, due it is said, to the clash of colours when playing Scotland. The FAI sent a team to the 1924 Olympics that wore blue in a game against Bulgaria.
Since the late 1980s and the commercialisation of football, various manufactures of the Northern Ireland kit have incorporated blue into home and away kits. This has been reflected in the support with many club banners and scarves also being green white and blue.
Perhaps when the FAI and their supporters in the ‘north’ see the error of their ways and rejoin the IFA once again, the national team can proudly wear the blue of St Patrick alongside the green?
MARTIN LOWRY
Newcastle, Co Down
Bible is a light in the darkness
Danny Treacey (November 24) referring to The Bible writes : “It is an enigma that a book that offers so little, creates a mania inverse proportion to its credibility”.
Yes Danny; that is the Bible. It’s a calling to home and community; a belonging to God: being the companion of Jesus.
It’s a light in the darkness.
It is not a puzzle or enigma as he calls it.
Danny take a walk up Slemish Mountain. Sit on a rock and contemplate how the young Patrick decided he must bring a light to this beautiful land.
Within a short period, Irish Missionaries were bringing peace, love and unity to a devoted post-Roman world in Europe, Asia, Africa and beyond.
Christ took over the world.
OLIVER McKAVANAGH
Lurgan, Co Armagh
