Madam, - David Rose of the Progressive Unionist Party made a very telling observation in his recent letter on the Belfast Agreement (February 2nd). He wrote: "Over time, the people who had been persuaded to think anew in 1998 returned to the DUP".
So is the DUP the political representative of extremist loyalists? Why would extremist loyalists return to the DUP if they did not believe that the DUP was the party best able to articulate their political aspirations? More importantly, when is the DUP going to be made to accept responsibility for the actions of extremist loyalists among its supporters?
David Rose and David Irvine appear to be doing all they can to keep the lid on things. Now the DUP needs to be made accountable. It is time to put an end to its Taliban-like religious and cultural intolerance and demonstrate to all that its leaders are fit to govern.
David Trimble once said that Sinn Féin needed to be "house trained in democracy". Perhaps the DUP also need some house training. Convictions on both sides of the Border hardly enhance one's claim to suitability for government; no doubt our Minister for Justice impressed this fact on Peter Robinson during their recent meeting in London.
The time has come for the DUP to show just how really democratic they are. - Yours, etc.,
PATRICK DOYLE,
Knocklyon,
Dublin 16.