Waterford: A Franciscan friar in Waterford who served with the RAF during the second World War has spoken out against war on Iraq, writesCarol Duffy.
Brother Columbanus said at a weekend anti-war protest in the city that women and children would be worst hit by the conflict.
"Don't mind about the armies, soldiers and politicians and the likes of Blair and Bush; when the war happens, the bombs will fall on innocent people - people like yourselves standing here today. Worst off will be women and children, young people and old people who are innocent of the whole conflict.
"This is your only way to demonstrate that you do not want war," the friar told 300 protesters who gathered at John Roberts Square in the city after an anti-war march.
"War is evil, the good Lord himself said: 'Blessed are the peacemakers; they shall inherit the Kingdom to come'. We are the peacemakers."
Brother Columbanus - who also attended last month's major anti-war protest in Dublin - recited St Francis' prayer for peace at the event which was attended by trade unionists, members of Waterford's artistic community and a number of local politicians.