Sir, - As a white South African living in Ireland, I felt the Orange Order's cries about discrimination had a distinctly hollow ring. They reminded me of the last cries of the South African white establishment which battled so hard against equality. Thankfully, the days of one tradition blatantly asserting its supremacy over the other are history in post-Good-Friday-Agreement Ireland.
Would the Orange Order, as "progressive defenders of civil liberties" allow a Gay Pride Parade through a staunchly Loyalist area? The order showed its true agenda with the presence of thugs like Johnny Adair and rumours of Combat 18 collaboration. With each additional day of strife, they further alienated moderate opinion world-wide., - Yours, etc.,
John Grant, Fitzwilliam Street, Ringsend, Dublin 4.