Veterans’ perspective sadly missing from Mr Coveney’s interview
I noted your lead article (Thursday December 8) where Simon Coveney’s interview centred on the legacy bill that is currently progressing through Westminster. Whilst Mr Coveney focused on victims and survivors, who rightly are an integral part of addressing the legacy of Northern Ireland’s past, the veterans’ perspective was sadly missing.
As the Northern Ireland Veterans Commissioner it is my responsibility to speak on behalf of the veterans who served during Operation Banner. In doing so, it is important to remind society that more than 1,000 members of the security forces lost their lives during this period in providing a safer Northern Ireland, not forgetting the many that were injured and still live with life-changing injuries to this day. The vast majority of those who served during the Troubles did so with dignity and professionalism in order to help prevent civil war.
Since my appointment as Veterans Commissioner, in September 2020, there have been three legacy trials in Northern Ireland, all against veterans, with no cases being brought against republican or loyalist terrorists – in the eyes of veterans and others, they see this as an imbalance in the current legal system and are therefore discontented with what they see as a rewriting of history.
One of the most painful issues for Operation Banner veterans is the demonisation that is peddled by some sections of our community in Northern Ireland. The facts remain that 90 per cent of deaths caused during the Troubles were at the hands of terrorists (60 per cent republican and 30 per cent loyalist). Of those groups, the Provisional IRA were responsible for approximately 1,700 deaths. Another issue that needs addressed, on behalf of veterans and innocent victims, is the constant glorification of terrorism, particularly by some elected representatives.
Reconciliation is front and centre in the title of the legacy legislation, yet the glorification of terrorism continues and only leads to further re-traumatising of the victims of terrorism.
Veterans respect the rule of law and were carrying out their uniformed duty under the most stressful of circumstances. Veterans do not equate their service to ever be considered equivalent to those who carried out acts of premeditated murder and terror – there is no moral equivalence between those who served in our security forces and members of terrorist organisations.
The legacy of Northern Ireland’s past is emotive and still very raw for many. I will continue to work towards a fair and balanced system, that recognises the peacekeeping duties of those that I represent, where their service is recognised for what it was, as opposed to being demonised and misrepresented by some.
DANNY KINAHAN
NI Veterans Commissioner
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Our society needs God
As our society continues to ditch every aspect of the Christian values that once underpinned our civilisation we now have the reality of generations of children growing up without any understanding of the spiritual values that our ancestors knew. In our modern world anything is acceptable, whether it is promiscuity, immorality, sneering attacks on traditional values, and a media which regards itself as duty-bound to destroy Christianity. The result is that young people feel totally unable to deal with the problems and tragedies of everyday living. In the modern religion of secularism political correctness is regarded as its 10 commandments.
Do those people who sneer at Christianity ever consider the harm that they do to young people who feel totally unable to deal with
issues such as death, sickness and all the other problems of life? In terms of historical analysis our society was built on the bedrock of sacred laws of God, the 10 commandments, which are the basis rules of civilisation. Without these traditional values we have ‘hell on earth’ – a never ending cycle of violence and all the other crimes which are destroying our way of life. Our society needs God.
KATHLEEN WHYBRAY
Omagh, Co Tyrone
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Parents should not be fooled by pro-British politicians
I WOULD like to respond to Connie Egan, Alliance, North Down (November 7), regarding her party’s obvious political aims and ambitions to ‘encourage, facilitate and support’ integrated education – so-called integrated faith schools.
First of all, I have personally experienced this so-called integrated education as a nice euphemism for non-Catholic, non-Irish schools. In fact, it is deeply erosive of our Catholic religious education system.
It alienates Catholics from our true and rightful identity, all against the background of certain politicians knowingly and conveniently putting the blame for the conflict and political discord on the existence of our Catholic schools here in Northern Ireland.
Therefore these so-called inter-faith schools are very much focussed on fostering a pro-British royalist and pro-Protestant ethos.
So really what these integrated education (inter-faith schools) enthusiasts are working towards is copper-fastening the injustice of the partition of our country by Britain and maintaining the failure of British rule.
Political discord will not be ended by disposing of the Catholic sector.
Catholic parents have every right to have their children taught and educated to be free to practice and celebrate our Catholic faith and feast days and Irish culture.
And so, my advice to Catholics; hold onto your schools.
Don’t be fooled by pro-British politicians.
C HUGHES
Belfast BT7
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Forewarned is forearmed
I note yet another drama, featuring the Magdalene Laundries, is being filmed (in part) in Portaferry where the company’s many, huge entourage vehicles are installed, ironically, in a car park at St Patrick’s Catholic Church.
This type of drama often heavily castigates the Catholic Church and the nuns, without a balanced contribution about the state sector, and without answering pertinent questions such as: why the women were in these homes, who put them there and why the fathers are never mentioned.
It may be that this drama series will be more proportionate in its interpretation but, as its printed resume is scant, it is hard to estimate this.
We should be asking the relevant questions.
Forewarned is forearmed.
I.A. CORR
Portaferry, Co Down
