Sir, - Your Northern Editor refers to "the hate-filled hell-hole that is Northern Ireland" (The Irish Times, December 31st). While it is true that there are too many people on this island (North and South) who manifest the hatred which leads to the kind of atrocities which have occurred recently, to describe the state of Northern Ireland as a "hate-filled hell-hole" is not only inaccurate, but grossly unfair to the thousands of ordinary decent and friendly people who live here, and it is very regrettable that a paper of your standing should publish such a statement. - Yours, etc., (Rev Dr) G. B. G. McConnell,
Warrenpoint,
Co Down.