Opinion

Critics of Seamus Mallon are not fit to tie his boot laces

I could feel the anger in Seamus Mallon’s voice as he spoke with such passion at the John Hewitt International Summer School about the failure of republicans to understand the Good Friday Agreement. He really didn’t pull his punches and no-one is better justified than he is to feel disappointment that his lifetime of sacrifice has been so badly distorted to further the ends of political parties much more interested in their own preservation than in the interests of this and future generations.

Few know better than Seamus Mallon what Sinn Féin and the DUP have done to undermine the opportunities created by this historic agreement which correctly focussed on how our people can live better together.  It really is very difficult to believe that any political party could fail so badly to put a single proposal in place which would take the focus away from cultural bonfires, duplicity about paramilitary gangs and a whole range of ‘red lines’ which allows politicians to sit on their hands, thump their chests and to hell with the people and their concerns about the things that an assembly could change for the betterment of everyone and especially the disadvantaged, the feeble and the oppressed.

Seamus Mallon devoted his whole life to trying to change this place and he knows better than most just exactly what the lost opportunities are and I have no doubt this was the reason why the anger in his voice was so apparent as he spelled out in simple language the damage done to the Good Friday Agreement by continuing failure to reconcile unionist and nationalists.

In 1974 when the first power-sharing agreement was made Seamus Mallon was a young teacher who gave up everything to make that agreement work and it would but for the continuing activities of both republican and loyalist paramilitaries who had their own ends to serve and had no interest in peace and reconciliation, respect for diversity and acceptance of difference.  

How much more frustrated Seamus must feel now that with a second chance at power-sharing the opportunities are being spurned yet again and who knows what crazy organisations will try to fill the political vacuum if this continues for much longer. Those who now criticise this great Irishman couldn’t tie his boot laces and especially those who are sleepwalking us into yet another uncertain future where the day-to-day issues relating to health, education, employment, benefits, housing and many others are spurned. 

JOHN DALLAT MLA


SDLP, East Derry

DUP’s dismissive attitude is cause of descent in politics

The topic of equality and parity of esteem has witnessed a lot of debate recently with a lot of focus placed on respecting the mandates of the larger parties, DUP, Sinn Féin. This is glowingly illustrated by the Rev Brian Kennaway (July 6) who reiterates gloriously the large mandate given to the DUP by an electorate of 292,316 or 36 per cent of the population of the north. This mass sway of voters he indicates fully endorse the policies of the DUP including the highly emotive subject of abortion and other archaic strategies.


The fundamental principles of democracy allow for this and in turn the will of the people must be respected. Similarly the freedom of expression and the right to assemble must also be respected although this does not give those who fail to respect the rule of law ‘carte blanch’ for criminality when lawful determinations are in issued.

The Rev Kennaway accentuates “are we to turn democracy on its head”? While he makes a lot of compelling points on the subject in question there is a growing concern his argument is on a selective basis. The DUP MLAs at Stormont and their MPs have clearly demonstrated a particular penchant for insulting and derisory behaviour against Catholics/nationalists with one MP previously labelling the native tongue ‘a leprechaun language’. If further proof were needed a ex-MLA ungraciously demanded for a dialect from the low lands of Ayrshire in Scotland to be given the same precedence as a wholly legitimate cultural phenomenon.

Surely Rev Kennaway concedes the disrespect and ignorant swagger of the DUP is more of a concerning issue for most people. Their dismissive attitude to anything progressive is and has been the defining cause for all descent in politics generally.

KEVIN McCANN


Belfast BT1

Traditional Ireland will not be ignored

I got the impression that Jamie Kennedy (July 14) was practically panting with excitement as he told us about his big day out with his homosexual friends at their July 1 parade in Belfast.

Jamie informed us that those who trudged through the depressing rain constituted 1.1 per cent of the north’s population and therefore everyone else should change normal human social behaviour in order to suit their outlook on life. 

Even allowing for Jamie’s questionable figures, that means that almost 99 per cent of the North’s population didn’t bother to turn up in support of his agenda, which I suspect the vast majority are too afraid to speak out against because they fear the wrath of the guardians of political correctness.

There was no rain in Dublin that same day when I, along with an estimated 80,000 others, marched through the city in support of the Pro-Life rally in defence of the 8th Amendment and the protection it offers the unborn.

There was nothing sad or depressing about this march. I was so proud to be there with children and grandchildren sending a clear message to the powers that be, for now, that decent, traditional Ireland will not be ignored.

Next year, when we march through Belfast, I sincerely hope that The Irish News will afford us the same coverage as it did to Jamie and his chums this year.

PATRICIA CONROY


Moy, Co Tyrone

Subsidising British occupation

An editorial in the News Letter recently opined 'Unionism will need to counter SF propaganda in US' (July 24) and claimed that US senator Mitch McConnell is partial to England’s control of Northern Ireland.

For the record, readers should know this: In one of the early Congressional Hearings on the International Fund for Ireland, I sat in front of Senator McConnell as he expressed certain reservations about the fund, among them this memorable one – that it would only further subsidise British occupation of Northern Ireland.

Needless to say  – although I supported the fund given certain conditions, which we had attached to the legislation – Senator McConnell’s comments warmed my Fermanagh heart.

The editorial labours under an extraordinary ‘unionist’ assumption, despite abundant evidence to the contrary – that the Scots-Irish (to use its term) would not be in favour of the republican form of government. Had that been the case, they would have supported King George III in 1776. Instead, of course, they proudly joined George Washington’s army and kicked England out of America. God bless their noble souls.

Their descendants always join me in my signature prayer – God bless America and God save Ireland.

Fr SEAN McMANUS


Washington, DC

Am I missing something?

It’s seems strange to me that because Taoiseach Leo Varadkar attended a gay event in Belfast at the weekend, he was given front page coverage in The Irish News (August 1) but when he didn’t attend a massive pro-life march in his native city Dublin on July 1 (particularly as he is purported to personally oppose abortion) it wasn’t even mentioned.

Why wasn’t a 60,000 rally and the taoiseach’s absence from it given front page cover?

Am I missing something?

Dr OWEN GALLAGHER


Glenavy, Co Antrim