Sir, - Watching blanket news coverage of the unfolding tragedy in Omagh on Sunday afternoon last, and living as I do in the vicinity of Croke Park, one could not help getting an uneasy feeling in one's stomach as loud cheers could be heard coming from the home of the GAA. The minute's silence was welcome, but perhaps postponement of the event would have shown a little more respect to the victims and their families.
The burning of the Union Jack at a recent game at Croke Park only highlighted the continuing sectarian divide that exists in our national games. Perhaps now would be an appropriate time to abolish Rule 21 as a gesture of reconciliation to those members of the Northern Ireland defence forces who helped people to cope with the tragic events in Omagh while others felt it right to watch a group of men run around a field not a million miles away. - Yours, etc.,
Anthony Fortune,
Sherrard Street,
Dublin 1.