Sir, – On Good Friday I drove from Woodland, outside Letterkenny, to Derry to walk the Peace Bridge over the Foyle river. I wished to keep in mind, during my walk, the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Belfast Agreement on Good Friday 1998.
In early August 1969 I was with 96 others at an FCA summer camp in Fort Dunree. We were sent home early after more trouble broke out in Derry. Little did we know that the Troubles would last from 1968 to 1998 – in effect, a 30-year war.
Despite an array of problems, including the Omagh bombing in August 1998, there has been significant peace since May 1998.
We have travelled a long way and we all know more graft is needed to help sustain peace. If justice can be named the first virtue of a social institution, maybe peace is its sister and something much longed for by the many – sufficient to warrant a critical mass for the good. – Yours, etc,
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DR JAMES FINNEGAN,
Letterkenny,
Co Donegal.
A chara, – Once again The Irish Times repeats that glib statement by the late Seamus Mallon that the Belfast Agreement was “Sunningdale for slow-learners” (“Shape of Belfast Agreement was in many respects as predictable as a rabbit in a magician’s hat”, Fintan O’Toole, Opinion & Analysis, April 8th). Besides being potentially insulting to those with learning difficulties, this resort to sophistry deserves to be scrutinised.
Under Sunningdale, while there was an attempt to resolve governance, there was no attempt to resolve the underlying cause of violence, and all the protagonists – the IRA, British Army, the RUC, the loyalist paramilitaries – were still involved in conflict.
Under Sunningdale the RUC continued to brutalise prisoners being interrogated. Under Sunningdale the British army and the RUC continued to fire plastic bullets – but only at nationalists.
Under Sunningdale street protests were violently repressed – but only nationalist ones; no attempt was made to break up illegal unionist barricades aimed at overthrowing the powersharing executive. Under Sunningdale loyalists bombed Dublin and Monaghan. Under Sunningdale the UDR continued to harass and abuse rural nationalists.
Under Sunningdale the British army continued to blow up bridges and crater roads along the Border, separating communities and siphoning all human traffic through a dozen major British army checkpoints. Under Sunningdale the British army continued to seal off entire streets and carry out illegal censuses. Under Sunningdale internment continued: I was interned in Long Kesh with hundreds of others. Women continued to be interned in Armagh jail.
Under Sunningdale Sinn Féin was a proscribed organisation.
Now compare Sunningdale with the Belfast Agreement! – Yours, etc,
DANNY MORRISON,
West Belfast.
Sir, – In your outstanding supplement on the various aspects of the Belfast Agreement anniversary (April 8th) perhaps the reference to the key role played by a number of women resonates most with our current fragile peace.
Who can really estimate what final wisdom Daphne Trimble and Pat Hume imparted in those final crucial hours? Who will measure the real progress that Mo Mowlam achieved when the men of courage and vision needed a little more of her goading?
Let’s not forget the part played by Eileen Paisley to bring her man, eventually, to the table, albeit later. Thank you, ladies. – Yours, etc,
IAN ELLIOTT,
Belfast.