Last Monday a final farewell to Betty Williams – Nobel Peace Laureate and co-founder of the Peace People – took place at Roselawn Cemetery, Belfast.
However, because of the Coronavirus restrictions put on burials, it was a sad day for her family and friends as they could not gather all together in the Roselawn Chapel (it was closed) to grieve and wish Betty goodbye and thank her for all she had given to them personally, to the people of Ireland, to the world.
For a woman who loved her daughter Debbie, her son Paul and her three grandchildren passionately and who responded with an urgency and strength to anyone suffering who asked her help, especially children, it was a sad occasion, and yet it was too a time for a celebration of a life
well lived.
Betty Williams loved life, she enjoyed her life and she loved people.
On March 17 Betty was admitted by ambulance to the Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast. The next morning at 7.30 am Betty passed away.
She had a difficult few years after back surgery and other health problems.
I last saw Betty at a Peace Summit in Barcelona and as we greeted each other I was shocked at how frail she had become and in pain and weakened by back pain. In spite of this, I still was shocked to hear of her death on March 18.
I would like to take this opportunity to extend to Betty’s daughter, Debbie, son Paul and Betty’s three grandchildren and extended family members, the sympathy of my husband Jack, myself, and family the sympathy of all her friends in the Peace People and reconciliation movement, both at home and in the international community.
I loved Betty and I consider it a great privilege to have known and worked with her.
Betty was a woman of great courage, with a loving compassion for all children. After returning from living in the United States, she choose to live in the Republic (2004) and together with her daughter Debbie, set up an organisation – World Centre of Compassion for Children (WCCC) – in Knock, Co Galway.
Through this organisation she, in her great spirit of generosity, reached out to many people globally. She had a particular love of Italy where she worked with refugees and migrants.
For myself and those who had the pleasure of knowing her as a friend and co-worker for peace, she will be sadly missed, but we will remember and celebrate a great life lived to the full and in service of the children for whom she had a deep compassion and love.
Thank you Betty from all your friends and particularly the youth whom you inspired so much.
MAIREAD CORRIGAN
Belfast
Off with kid gloves and leave political correctness on the shelf
It is horrendous to think that, during a time of such strife and uncertainty, young thugs are using the coronavirus as a weapon to attack members of An Garda Síochána as well as those in the health care profession who are putting their own lives in danger by trying protect us from sickness and death.
Louts bereft of conscience or direction think it serves a warped purpose by spitting and coughing in the faces of administrators of law and order, the Gardaí alongside the nurses and doctors who would treat these very same hoodlums with due care and attention if they were hospitalised.
In these extraordinary times, the gloves should be taken off as far as powers to deal with undesirables is concerned.
I have watched on social media sites how Italian, Indian and Spanish police have dealt out rough on-the-spot justice to those who have complete contempt for law and order.
Off with the kid-gloves and leave political correctness on the shelf.
Sometimes in life you have to be cruel to be kind and this is one period of emergency where that philosophy should be tested to the full.
JAMES WOODS
Gort an Choirce, Dún na nGall
Indomitable spirit of Ulster will see us through
The time will soon come when we require the matchless logistical skills of the army to assist in the battle against coronavirus. There can be no mixed messages from the politicians, no rejections or pontificating no-go deployment directions. The armed forces must be welcomed without equivocation. At times like these the value of all contributors to this fight and the integrity of civic society deserves to be addressed by confident political leadership sharing level headedness and dependability – which is not apparent in the executive.
Given the sobering truth that the first and deputy first ministers are unable to hit it off, the importance of their joint responsibilities is sacrosanct and should personify the ability to deliver the ‘right’ message. The people are unsure of OFMDFM’s leadership material and worry if the office and executive are fit for purpose when immersed in petty party political bickering. For too long the right message is not being transmitted – differences are setting the wrong tone and upsetting people.
The indomitable spirit of Ulster, which has taken us through many a tough testing crisis, will be strong in the face of the coronavirus without the witless antics of politicians but preferably in concert with their leaders. Northern Ireland people in their unique manner always find a way to rise above suffering to overcome adversity.
DAVID McNARRY
Strangford, Co Down
Control by technology
The recent news that the French state is using drones to keep people in check is a worrying development and using the covid-19 pandemic to try out its population surveillance programme.
The Israeli state is using the same crisis to tap into people’s mobile devices as a means of herding its population.
Picture the dystopian future in a cashless society. They use drones as a means of control using its updated surveillance and face recognition. They are able to capture your face linking this with your banking details and suddenly those of us who oppose the state cannot access much-needed funds to live and support our families.
Welcome to their world of control by technology.
PAUL DORAN
Dublin
