Initial reaction

Sir, – In his "Irishman's Diary" ("Man of letters", January 21st), Frank McNally discussed some of the personalities who, like Charlie Haughey (CJH), were often known by triple letters. A famous holder of perhaps the best of such letters is Lord O'Donnell, a former British cabinet secretary and head of the civil service there. Being Gus O'Donnell, his commands were initialled GOD. – Yours, etc,

KEVIN O’SULLIVAN,

Letterkenny,

Co Dublin.

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Sir, – I recall that the Daily Telegraph used to refer to former Conservative leader Iain Duncan-Smith as "IDS" in headlines. It never caught on. Other papers referred to him as "top Tory" or "Tory chief" in their headlines. – Yours, etc,

JAMES O’KEEFE,

Crumlin,

Dublin 12.