Sir, - I have a background of 26 years' service in our Defence Forces and 11 years in business close to the Border. I also had the privilege to serve in Cyprus, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine and Egypt. During this period I witnessed many real or imagined, successful and unsuccessful "ceasefires".
It is my opinion that the current republican and loyalist ceasefires are, by any international standards, and accepting some local "blips", extremely successful and disciplined. It is further my belief that this success could only result from a serious mind-change on the part of those involved. Does this not go a long way towards proving new and good intention?
If "threat" is known to be allied to intention, does this demonstration of good intent not constitute an enormous first step towards total decommissioning?
It is my sincere hope that we do not throw these dramatically successful demonstrations of new intent back in the faces of those who sought and delivered change, by failing to appreciate the enormity of what they have managed to achieve. - Yours, etc.,
Brian McKevitt, Dundalk Street, Carlingford, Co Louth.