I read The Irish News from cover to cover every day and have done so most of my life. I have often thought of putting pen to paper in response to the various articles that have appeared in your Letters page, but my good intentions were like ‘the road to hell’. Now in my eighties, I have finally managed to do so before it is too late.
It is a source of amazement to me over the years that many of the contributors from the south of Ireland are so critical of the actions taken by the nationalist or Catholic or republican community in the north against the various atrocities committed against the nationalist Catholic people living here, particularly Messrs Fitzgerald and Sullivan, regular contributors, who are simply in my opinion what we refer to up here as ‘western Brits’.
I fully endorse and applaud the response by C Hughes – ‘Vague attempt to put blame for north’s sectarian conflict on Irish Catholics’ (August 12) – regarding where the real blame for where the conflict in the north lies.
While there are some discrepancies as to the total number of countries/nations in the world and the actual number invaded by Britain, the one thing not in doubt is that Britain invaded and created wars in 90 per cent of them, including Ireland.
While I too do not “excuse the dark deeds committed in the name of the republican cause” and there are many rights and wrongs of any conflict, let us not lose sight of the source of
that conflict.
So I would say to John Cushnahan – ‘Glorifying acts of murder’ (August 12) – who criticises Sinn Féin for their failure, among other things, to apologise for the IRA campaign of violence, were it not for the actions of the British there would have been no such violence in the first place. Perhaps the apologies should start with the British government.
J WATSON
Portaferry, Co Down
Simply not true that there’s no alternative to present protocol
Edward Murphy – ‘No alternative to protocol’ (August 19) – asks what changes may be made to the protocol. I have an email from the Cabinet Office replying to several queries that I made and it states that the proposals in the Command Paper:
“...would mean that full customs and SPS processes are applied only to goods genuinely destined for the EU while allowing goods made to UK standards and regulated by UK authorities to circulate freely in Northern Ireland.”
This seems perfectly sensible to me, as the EU certainly has a legitimate interest in the nature of the goods entering its own territory but no comparable interest in goods circulating outside of its Single Market.
Whether that be in Northern Ireland, or in the rest of the UK, or in any other ‘third country’ – or are we to suppose, for example, that the EU should be dictating to the US government what goods are permitted in their territory?
Furthermore the UK government makes a generous offer to help the EU protect its Single Market by bringing in “new legislation to deter anyone in the UK looking to export to the EU goods which do not meet EU standards or to evade these enforcement processes”.
It is simply not true that there is no alternative to the present protocol, and nor has that ever been an accurate description of the situation.
DR DENIS COOPER
Maidenhead, Berkshire
Intemperate talk
Sean O Diobhilin – ‘Follow the Church’s teachings’ (August 11) – refers to the Fifth Commandment as an answer to the debate about pregnancy. ‘Thou shalt not kill’ was the Church’s teaching actually. The Church teaches that on occasion it is ‘permissible’ to kill. His letter is significant in that it epitomises the ‘heat and noise’ around the ‘abortion debate’. It highlights the absolute attitude of both sides of the debate. And it effectively suffocates any attempts at conversations, real and moral, in matters relating to pregnancy.
I would go further and say that attempts at conversations like this are shouted down. I am aware that legislation is coming down the track. Taking up a ‘do-or-die’ opposition is really a culmination of forcing people into an absolute pro- and anti- place. I believe this disenfranchises many, many people that do not agree with either place. I would argue that there has to be a place where those most involved by issues concerning conception and pregnancy can surely have their say, away from the ‘noise’ and intemperate talk.
MANUS McDAID
Derry City
Guantanamo’s oldest prisoner
Saifullah Paracha celebrated his 74th birthday on August 17 as the oldest person detained in Guantanamo by the US. He was cleared for release in May after 18 years being locked up without any charge. That is over three months and no news of a release day so far although he was cleared by six US government agencies including the CIA. He suffered a third heart attack in 2020 and the question is will he survive another in the harsh conditions of Guantanamo.
Abdul Latif Nasser was released in July last year but that was after a five-year wait from clearance which was granted to him in 2015.
Saifullah can not wait another day never mind years.
JOSEPH McGLEENAN
Co Armagh
Fly in the ointment
Brian Feeney (August 18) states that Britain wants to get out of Ireland - one of the few things I agree with him about. Unfortunately there’s just one fly in his ointment. The Republic doesn’t want the six counties either – as nationalists will discover when they get their sacred border poll. What’s plan B then, Brian?
JOE DEVLIN
Belfast BT11
Expression of thanks
Afundraiser for Air Ambulance NI was held at Golden Sands Holiday Park in Benone on August 21. There were bouncy castles, bingo, pony rides and a Waterfoot Sandcraft Sculpture of the Air Ambulance as well as lots of other fun activities.
At last count, more than £10,000 was raised.
ANDREW DIFFORD
Air Ambulance NI
