Sir, - It seems that in the course of Mr David Trimble's petulant outburst when addressing the UUP last weekend, he found reason to criticise John Major, John Bruton, the Irish Government, the Republican Movement and President Clinton. All were targeted by Mr Trimble's wagging finger before I reached paragraph three of his reported speech.
The arrogance which he and his colleague, Mr Taylor, display is typical of the behaviour of an element within middle class unionism which has never accepted their own sizeable contribution to the divisiveness and bigotry which has nurtured the uglier side of life in Northern Ireland. This failure to take responsibility has led to a tendency to lecture all and sundry from the lofty heights of their self righteous indignation. The people who adopt the arrogant and contemptuous attitude often displayed by Messrs Trimble and Taylor arc, by and large, the privileged and powerful in Northern Ireland society. These people do not need to use guns or bombs to spread hatred, but words and attitudes have played as powerful a role in creating damaging divisions. Messrs Trimble and Taylor might better serve their community by displaying a little humility and indicating a desire to improve their efforts to create better relations with those of differing views in Northern Ireland, the Republic and the UK. - Yours, etc.,
Richmond Court,
Dartry,
Dublin 6.