Madam - Fr Iggy O'Donovan writes from Rome (September 10th) to accuse me of a "hysterically harangue" against President McAleese over her recent visit to Belfast. Further, he claims that I make absurd criticism from the "safety of the South".
If anybody is being hysterical and absurd it is Fr O'Donovan, who from his safe haven in Rome is clearly out of touch with the appalling reality being experienced by many members of his church in the North.
The North is now recovering from an orgy of violence orchestrated by unionist paramilitaries and facilitated by leaders of the Orange Order and unionist politicians. A 29-year-old Catholic man is in a critical condition after he was attacked by a unionist mob in east Belfast. Every week, there are casualties such as this at the hands of unionist gangs, sometimes resulting in deaths such as those of Lisa Dorrian (25) and Thomas Devlin (15).
If Fr O'Donovan refrained from knee-jerk reaction and apprised himself of the facts in the North, where for months now Catholic communities have been subjected to yet another campaign of systematic unionist violence, he would understand why my criticism of Mrs McAleese's visit to Belfast was measured and justified: in the midst of this cauldron of hate she chose to visit a couple of unionist sites and a UDA "brigadier"- instead of expressing solidarity with persecuted communities such as those in Ahoghill, Co Antrim, or Ardoyne, Belfast. One can only conclude that Mrs McAleese is more concerned with promoting her media image of "building bridges" than acting out of humanitarian principle to highlight real injustices.
Your correspondent from Rome also needs to know that I was born and grew up in Belfast, and have family there, so it is certainly not from the benighted safety of the South that I write. Also, he quite absurdly infers that I have a problem embracing Protestants in the tradition of republicanism. Given the nefarious influence of his organisation (the Roman Church) on the cause of freedom in Ireland, I think it is rich for him to attempt giving a lecture on Irish republicanism.
I certainly do not have a problem with the vision of "Protestant, Catholic and Dissenter". What I do object to are self-serving politicians and other so-called leaders who through their choices and actions sanitise an appalling situation which in turn only gives cover or legitimacy to the bigots and thugs while innocent people are being attacked. I challenge Fr O'Donovan and Mrs McAleese to come to the North and walk in solidarity with those victimised communities. - Yours, etc,
FINIAN CUNNINGHAM, Whitestown, Co Louth.
Madam, - Contrary to the view of Finian Cunningham (September 9th), I did not feel the President's visit to Belfast was "insulting and laughable". In fact, I have the height of admiration for her courage and extraordinary sentiments of goodwill at this crucial time, which is in keeping with the esteem she has worthily earned, especially abroad.
Her action was all the more courageous as she and her family had bitter experience of the sad events which had riven Belfast during the past few decades. This was particularly so in the areas intended for visitation - akin to "going into the lion's den" - when she metaphorically emulated the heroism of Androcles of Ancient Rome who befriended the lion.
Might I suggest this exercise to your correspondent: discard the militarism which is implied from his comments and try befriending the very people he condemns. He seeks a "courageous stand for truth": let him follow "I am the Way, the Truth and the Life" and the peace of Christ will surely follow. - Yours, etc,
TCG O'MAHONY, Serpentine Avenue, Dublin 4.