Sir, - As the RUC lies writhing in its death throes from the wounds inflicted by those it thought its friends and forgotten by those whom it has sought to protect over the years, can I say these few words in a lament to what will be seen as one of the greatest acts of betrayal in the history of any nation to those responsible for this cowardly act.
It is not at the feet of Sinn Fein/IRA or the Republican cause that the blame lies, but at the feet of those it trusted. Like Caesar it stumbled as, one after another, these so-called unionist politicians with their Judas kiss of friendship, plunged their honeyed words of deceit into their heart. Can I say that is particularly nauseating in the extreme to hear this man Ken Maginnis pontificating about a force he has never served in and knows little about and the effect the implementation of Patten will have on policing. Surely even at his age he should realise that it was he and his kind who brought it about. It is scarce wonder that Rudyard Kipling's final damming line of Cleared, March 1890, cries out: "We are not ruled by murderers, but only by their friends".
As no doubt H.M. Government will sacrifice the brave men and women of this noble force on the altar of expediency and treachery I will remember the ghosts of the 302 men and women who died some of whom sit with me every day of my life. Not for such sullied aims as theirs did they give their lives, but for decency, love of their country and justice for all.
I finish with the words of that great defender of the Union cause, Rudyard Kipling, who wrote on the Liberal government's granting of home rule in the Transvaal and Orange River Colony after the Boer War these words which appear somewhat apt:
What is their sin that they are made
Rebellion's lawful prey?
This is their sin - that oft betrayed
They did not oft betray;
That to their hurt they keep their vows,
That for their faith they died;
God help them, children of our house,
Whom England hath denied! - Yours, etc.,
John Lyttle, Lansdowne Park, Belfast 15.