PATRICK MATTHEWS,
Madam, - Kevin Myers (An Irishman's Diary, January 15th) claims that throughout the past 30-odd years, "the largest sporting organisation in Ireland, the GAA, voted to support the terror campaign [of the IRA\]". I hope that both you and he will be willing to withdraw this unjustified statement and print an apology.
This is not an abstract issue. Over the past 30 years, a number of officials and players have been murdered by loyalist paramilitaries because of their association with the GAA. Other people have been murdered for the "crime" of standing outside a GAA clubhouse.
Club premises have been the target of bomb and arson attacks. The paramilitary organisations involved tried to justify these actions by allegations of GAA support for the IRA.
I have no doubt that if or when some loyalist in the future continues this tradition, you and your columnist will throw up your hands in horror and express your condemnation. Those of us who are members, players, or supporters of the GAA will treat that horror and condemnation as the hypocrisy that it is and with the contempt that it deserves. - Yours, etc.,
PATRICK MATTHEWS,
Rathmines Road Upper,
Dublin 6.