Sir, - Una O'Higgins O'Malley, in her letter to your paper published on February 10th, seriously misrepresented my position on Orange parades on the Garvaghy Road. She said that Fr. Stack SJ "believes that Catholics must on no account allow Orangemen to return from Drumcree along the Garvaghy Road".
In 1995 we came to a settlement, in the interest of the wider peace process, and voluntarily withdrew our protest to the Orange parade on the Garvaghy Road. Our actions were in stark contrast to the triumphalism of Rev Paisley and Mr Trimble when the parade reached Portadown town centre that day. It is hardly fair that Una O'Higgins O'Malley now compares my attitude with that of the Rev Paisley.
I agree with Cyril Ramaposa that "you will not make peace with your brother without understanding and forgiveness . . ."
We want to sit down and talk with the Portadown Orangemen. We are consistently trying to bring chat about and to reach an understanding whereby the deeply held values and principles, on both sides, can be accommodated. Respect and dignity is the bottom line for Christians. - Yours, etc.,
Churchill Park, Portadown BT62 1EU, Co Armagh.