Sir, - I would like a little belly niche now that it is all over. Extreme republicans seem to be the favourites of the media when it is a question of the bellyache about unfairness in Northern Ireland so maybe you will indulge a moderate unionist this time for rarity value if for no other reason.
As a candidate in the Foyle Constituency for a moderate unionist party I felt we were at a serious disadvantage when campaigning because there was no IRA ceasefire in place before the election. In practice the areas in which we could campaign were very restricted because of the very real threat of violence towards us, including possibly being shot at.
Candidates for a moderate nationalist party would at least have been able to campaign in most areas although Sinn Fein candidates might have been unwise to enter certain areas. Formally at least, with loyalist ceasefires in place, even they were not under threat.
In the event, we in the moderate unionist camp in Derry are going to be unrepresented in the forum. I wonder how moderate we can remain if such unfairness continues? - Yours, etc.,
Ulster Unionist Party candidate,
Whitehill Road,
Eglinton,
Derry.