Sir, In the Ard Fheis speech in Monaghan this year, the Sinn Fein president stated that "Sinn Fein is absolutely committed to democratic and peaceful methods of resolving problems. He pledged Sinn Fein's commitment to peace and to negotiations and to agreement, and said that for Irish republicans, the aim has never been the victory of one section of our people over another, but a new union of Catholic, Protestant and Dissenter." There were other wonderful phrases in that speech about wanting to reach an accommodation with unionism" "to make peace with unionists", about the need for republicans to build equality and partnership, about how Sinn Fein could not be reconciled, to the "denial of civil and religious liberties.
But where do all these aspirations and lofty ideals stand in the light of this week's brutal murder of two policemen in Lurgan? What was achieved by plunging two more families into grief and endangering further the lives of, so many more people? Where is Sinn Fein's commitment to peace and democratic politics now? Where is their courage and leadership when all they can do is express shock" and say it is a time "for calm, for all of us to reflect on the situation"?
Sinn Fein are still trying to have it both ways. They constantly talk about having a substantial mandate but they won't even recognise this mandate themselves. They talk a lot about peace. but they seem totally unaware of the commitment, leadership and vision required to bring about peace. They go on about all "party talks" about "honest dialogue" - yet each time they come nearer to entering talks, they allow the IRA to scupper their chances. Their spokespersons talk about how they delivered the ceasefire in 1994, yet they now say they are unable to bring about a ceasefire, even with the large mandate they received (on a peace ticket), and all the other factors now working in their favour.
The fact remains that they are still under the command of the unelected and unrepresentative IRA Army Council. They place their allegiance to this anonymous, secret and unaccountable group above their allegiance to the people they purport to represent. As long as they are willing to remain in that situation, then they can't seriously talk of being committed to peace.
There was no justification for this week's killings, just as there was no justification for the killings of John Slane, Sean Brown and Robert Hamill and all the other murders too numerous to recount. There, is, no justification for anyone hiding behind flowery phrases now - either they want peace or they don't either they want to enter talks or they don't. - Yours, etc.,
Batterstown,
Co Meath.