Madam, - It is very sad that Capt James Kelly failed to have his good name cleared by the Irish Government before his death.
Capt Kelly was a fellow Bailieborough man, of which he was eternally proud. He was also a notable journalist, author and historian, and contributed much to life in our town and county. Obviously we was most famously a member of the Irish Army and he served his country well over many years. He deserved better. Let us now hope and pray that he has truly found peace at last. - Yours, etc.,
SEAN McKIERNAN (Jnr), Bailieborough, Co Cavan.
Madam, - In the words of Mr John Bruton, Capt James Kelly "acted in a patriotic spirit with the authority of the State" at the time of the arms crisis in 1970. Mr Bruton went on to call on the authorities to clear Capt Kelly's name. All very laudable and I say two cheers for Mr Bruton. But why two cheers only?
Many people have believed in the innocence of Captain Kelly for many years. I have believed it ever since I read his apologia Orders to the Captain some 30 years ago. My question for Mr Bruton is this. If you believed (as you say you do) that Capt Kelly was innocent, why in all your years as a Minister and as Taoiseach did you allow this injustice to fester?
I am pleased with Mr Bruton's belated call for the injustice to be set to right, but until such time as he answers this question I say two cheers only. - Yours, etc.,
Father IGGY O'DONOVAN, Meath Street, Dublin 8.