Madam, - In recent days, Gerry Adams has attacked SDLP representatives for asking tough and probing questions about the murder of Paul Quinn and the shooting of an off-duty policeman in Dungannon.
For more than 30 years SDLP representatives have consistently and courageously asked the hard questions. They have challenged the actions of loyalist and republican paramilitaries and state forces, despite intimidation, threats and physical attacks.
Inspired by the bravery of people such as the late John Fee, who suffered severe physical attack for expressing his views against violence, the SDLP will continue to shine the light of justice on such attacks, no matter how inconvenient the truth may be to any party or government. Gerry Adams should remember the old Irish proverb: "Truth stands when everything else falls".
Maybe he will ask a tough question of the woman he appointed a minister, Michelle Gildernew, the Fermanagh and South Tyrone MLA.
After this week's gun attack by dissident republicans on an off-duty PSNI officer in Dungannon, does she still stand by her comments on BBC Northern Ireland's Talkback on February 15th this year? When she was asked whether she would advise the public to contact the police if they saw "dissident" republicans with weapons, she said that, personally, she would not contact the police. - Yours, etc,
Cllr TIM ATTWOOD, Lakeglen Green, Andersonstown Road, Belfast 11.