Sir, – Emma DeSouza’s article “Northern Ireland’s young deserve better than the mess they will be left with” (Opinion & Analysis, January 4th) reminds us that within Northern Ireland, “Social housing remains 90 per cent segregated, education remains 90 per cent segregated, and more than 100 ‘peace walls’ still stand”.
I can’t help with the first two issues, but there is a simple solution to the problem of the peace walls. It should be clear to any informed observer that the reason the dividing walls have remained in place for such a long time is because the people living on either side want the walls to stay. I would suggest that all those commentators (and there are a lot of them) who bemoan the continuing existence of the peace walls should swop houses with those people currently living next to the walls. Following the exchange of houses, the new residents on either side of the peace walls could then vote for their demolition. Assuming they still held the same opinion following their move into the “interface areas”. – Yours, etc,
TOMÁS MAOILSEACHLAINN,
Lettermacaward,
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Co Donegal.