Sir, - I am one of those described by Vincent Browne (December 8th and 15th) as a lionising and hypocritical agenda bring fan of Sean O'Callaghan. Were I to reply in the same idiom, I would describe Mr Browne as a patsy pathetically following the Provo agenda. But I won't. Since we were at university together, I have always respected Vincent Browne's integrity, his energy and his determination to bring to Ireland a form of investigative journalism that was badly needed.
I have often, though, questioned Mr Browne's judgment, which is particularly suspect now as he conducts against Sean O'Callaghan a vicious campaign, that is in the interests only of the IRA.
In 1979, Mr O'Callaghan rejoined the IRA as an unpaid Garda agent for the next six years he risked his life to save others. Along the way, with his Gardai handlers, he had to make appalling choices in the interests of the State for which they worked he confessed many years ago to the crimes he committed during that period to maintain his cover.
Like Mr Browne, I have spent my life in the gentle pastures of ordinary citizenship, but unlike him, I have the imagination to understand something of the difficulties faced by those who protect the State against aggression or subversion. I know on excellent authority that there are many people alive today who would without Mr O'Callaghan's intervention now be dead.
At present, Mr O'Callaghan is engaged on a mission to explain why he believes the republican movement is not interested in peace except on its terms. The IRA would like to kill him, but may postpone the pleasure for PR reasons. In the meantime, they hope to have him discredited. I am sorry to see a journalist of Mr Browne's eminence play into their hands. - Yours, etc.,
40 Pope's Lane,
Ealing,
London W5 4NU.