Sir, - Although the three tourist buses burned in Belfast (The Irish Times, June 7th) were being used mainly by young backpackers, the rented car also destroyed by arsonists was hired by my younger sister and my 74-year-old mother. Australians of Scots, Cornish and Irish descent, they had only just arrived in Ireland, and were really looking forward to a planned month-long visit, primarily to research family history in both North and South.
They will be staying for some of the time with the family of a young Irishman currently visiting Australia. I work with his girlfriend and several other young Irish nationals - one from Belfast - all of whom have really endeared themselves to the people "down under". Those I have told are appalled by this incident, and angry at the negative impressions of their homeland created here by such thoughtless, petty vandalism. How would Northern Irish families feel if their own young backpackers (and there are hundreds here in Sydney) were targeted in such a fashion?
I thank God my mother and sister were not injured, but this has been a nasty beginning to a trip they have really looked forward to. I do realise that the misguided idiots who sought to inconvenience foreign visitors in such an unpleasant fashion are by no means typical of the people of Northern Ireland, and the Irish Tourist Board staff and others who have helped plan the visit could not have been kinder, more helpful and welcoming.
Nevertheless, although I am descended from both loyalist and republican Irish, I will be all the more glad after this to call myself Australian! - Yours, etc.,
Faye Owner, Bellingen, New South Wales, Australia.