The old curse of Northern Ireland has not gone away – terrorism. Terrorism continues to dog the province like a Damocles dagger waiting to be dropped at an unexpected moment. The recent attempted murder of two police officers in Belfast should convince normal people that there is some way to go before we can truly say Northern Ireland is a different place. Once again, it is necessary to convince republican extremists that murder will not change anything in Northern Ireland. Killing people in cold blood for politically motivated reasons is inhuman and sinister. Claims that terror groups have gone away, particularly the IRA, or have been wound up are contradicted again and again with insurgent behaviour and recognised code words. Republican extremists are still playing out the old routine with the British forces in Northern Ireland – so what is the difference between Northern Ireland today and 40 years ago? People are still getting murdered for sick and twisted political reasons. Granted, the bombing campaign has abated. However, other methods are as constant as ever and just as deadly. No-one should have the slightest bit of political sympathy for those trying to murder police officers who are putting their lives on the line for the sake of a safer and better community. How dare extremists try to snuff them out because they want to make a political statement. Law enforcement people should not be pawns in a murderous campaign to suit a terrorist agenda.
Members of the public are also at risk from dangerous terrorist attacks and could be shot or killed when these bloodthirsty and indifferent attacks are taking place. Clearly, extremist groups are trying to remind Northern Ireland that they have not gone away in claiming the lives of people. They do not give a damn and under no circumstances should anyone listen to the rhetoric that they are no longer in existence or have been wound up. These claims are not borne out and should be immediately contradicted as very misleading propaganda. Unionists have made it absolutely clear that they will not consider a united Ireland ‘until there is no further cause for concern’.
With terrorism in the mix of Northern Ireland’s affairs there will always be cause for extreme concern and rightly so. Republican extremists seem to be more interested in killing people than achieving their alleged goal of unity. They want to keep on fighting a war on the legacy of 1916, but have no interest in democratic institutions whatsoever, given their violent actions. It seems to be much more important to them to stick it to the British, than realising the dogma of ending partition we keep hearing about. How long more will Northern Ireland be cursed with the scourge of terrorism or will the vacillation of the hot, lukewarm, and cold war between extremist republicans and the Crown go on indefinitely – despite the passage of the GFA and the removal of the Republic’s claim over Northern Ireland in its constitution?
MAURICE FITZGERALD
Shanbally, Co Cork
Well done Sean in doing DUP’s work for them
Sean Ó Fiach (February 9) never fails with his repetitive rants. However I agree with his initial statements about the DUP’s record by looking after “their own” and continued sectarianism. True to form however he then goes on to his usual anti Sinn Féin tirade.
He, DUP like, delves into the past by mentioning the RUC’s actions at IRA funerals. While still a work in progress, the PSNI are referred to by loyalists as the PNSIRA so gone is their view of being “our” police force and they must be doing somethings right. Loyalists complain about the Magherafelt flag pole by saying the RUC would not have let its destruction happen. Regarding Sinn Féin’s alleged lack of highlighting abuse of prisoners I recall Martin McGuinness raising the case of Tony Taylor from Derry several times and MLAs visiting Maghaberry to try and resolve the issues there. Have many Shinners not been threatened by these so-called republicans and is this not abuse as well?
I don’t recall Sean condemning these in any of his many letters.
I believe Sinn Féin maybe should have pulled the plug sooner but the Fresh Start initiative was a hope for change which the DUP reneged on. I have asked Sean, and others like minded, what their alternative is. Abstention from all political institutions thus allowing unionists go back to their wonderful utopia of 50 years of misrule, discrimination and bigotry? Direct rule from our oppressors of 800-plus years?
In conclusion well done Sean by doing the DUP’s work for them by diverting from where many of the problems arise – RHI, Red Sky, SIF, Acht na Gaeilge etc. You seem to have more in common with the DUP than you realise.
TOMAS O DUBHAGAIN
Belfast BT11
No place in north for gun-toting criminals
The shooting of a woman and her son in James Street, Coleraine is grotesque in the extreme and is, without doubt, the work of loyalist paramilitaries
masquerading as the ‘alternative police force’ as well as judge and jury.
It shouldn’t surprise anyone that across the north there has been a spate of these ‘paramilitary shootings’ because that is what happens when political institutions fail. Evil men try to fill the vacuum created by bad politicians who abuse their power and collapse the institutions of government.
Everyone, including the 48 per cent who didn’t vote in the previous election, has a duty on election day to exercise their franchise and elect good politicians who will introduce good laws and practices which give no excuse for the re-emergence of killer gangs that claimed so many lives in the past and left even more crippled for life.
I call on anyone in Coleraine to cooperate with the PSNI to round up the gun toters who are still determined to exercise control over large parts of the north for their own evil ends.
JOHN DALLAT
Kilrea, Co Derry
Rediscover sacred liturgy at weddings
In the Ridley Scott epic Gladiator, the hero Maximus asks the crowd: “Are you not entertained?” “Is that not what you are here for?” It can be directed to the cultural Catholic, which has been shown with Catholic flash mob ((February 7).
The image of priest and congregation invading the sanctuary, serenading the bride, shows that entertainment rather than sanctification seemed to be an essential part for Catholic nuptials. In many ways, the Nuptial Mass is viewed as the warm-up act for the reception and not as the central reason why they are there.
Having once attended a traditional Latin Nuptial Mass in London, the difference was clear – reverent silence, with hearts and minds directed to God, aided by the beauty of a centuries old rite, impregnated with the glorious polyphany of William Byrd. No flash mob, no I-pads on show; neither idle chat at communion, nor bland music. Until the sacred in liturgy is rediscovered – especially at weddings – and the crassness of innovation becomes an embarrassment, the commander of the Felix Legion will still be looking for an answer to his questions.
JDP McALLION
Clonoe, Co Tyrone
Alternative facts
ARLENE Foster’s recent rejection of an Irish language act for the north is clearly inspired by the ‘never let facts get in the way of a good argument’ school of thought.
In the course of her tirade, Mrs Foster claimed that there are more Polish speakers than Irish speakers.
So what, even if it were true?
As far as I know, the Polish community has not called for any legislation to promote their language.
More to the point, the 2011 Census indicates that 5.3 per cent of the north’s population speak Irish as against 1 per cent who speak Polish.
President Trump’s spin doctor would be proud of you Mrs Foster.
FRANK PATTERSON
Wezembeek, Belgium
