Sir, - The recent Lost Lives broadcast by BBC/RTE will be viewed by many as empty words to help make certain politicians feel "less uneasy". It has, however, created additional pain for many innocent victims who have had to endure untold anguish during the holiday period as a result of government appeasement of terrorism.
To hear David Trimble talking about victims is hypocritical when he has no difficulty dining with leading Sinn Fein/IRA members.
To hear the Sinn Fein president, Gerry Adams, and the PUP's David Ervine taking part in the programme is particularly difficult for the innocent victims of terrorism.
To hear the US President, Bill Clinton, the British Prime Minister, Tony Blair, and all the pro-agreement parties crying crocodile tears for the forgotten victims when those very politicians are responsible for placing Sinn Fein/IRA in government is particularly sickening.
The BBC and RTE have acted appallingly by including political representatives of terrorist organisations in a programme concerning lost lives particularly at such a difficult time for the victims.
The media as a whole would have been better spending their time with the forgotten victims rather than creating additional hurt by showing prisoner releases in every news broadcast and newspaper for several days. - Yours, etc.
Norman J. Boyd, MLA, Northern Ireland Unionist Party Assembly Member for South Antrim, Parliament Buildings, Belfast 4.