DES MacMAHON,
Sir, - Your Editorial of July 17th on the IRA apology welcomes the statement as being unambiguous and straightforward. The writer seems to have read a different statement to the one I read.
The IRA says it was never its intention to at any time to kill "non-combatants". This is simply not true. What about the systematic ethnic cleansing by murder of Protestants living in isolated Border areas?
What about the 12 Protestants murdered at La Mon House while attending a dinner dance of the Irish Collie Club in February 1978? What about the eight Protestant workers murdered at Teebane crossroads in January 1992? I could go on and on.
I find it profoundly disappointing that neither you or any member of the Government or Dáil drew attention to yet another blatant lie from the Provisional IRA. The threat of further violence has terrorised us into appeasement and silence. A sad day for democracy. - Yours, etc.,
DES MacMAHON, Shrewsbury Park, Dublin 4.
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Sir, - In the light of Sinn Féin/IRA's recent "apology", I wonder where Det Garda Jerry McCabe might fit into their hierarchy of victims. - Yours, etc.,
STUART ELLIOTT, Swords, Co Dublin.