Sir, Sinn Fein's leaders arrogance is exceeded only by their confusion. It is as illogical for Gerry Adams to criticise John Bruton for "intervening" in the Northern election as it was for some Fianna Fail people to criticise Austin Currie for "intervening" by being a candidate in the 1990 presidential election. As illogical, but even more reprehensible.
Adams's childishly angry reaction to Bruton's self evidently accurate observation that Sinn Fein and the IRA are two parts of the same overall structure, represents one of the most partitionist utterances made for many years. Sinn Fein used to revel in being described as the IRA's political wing it regarded this as a badge of honour. All candidates used to run on the ticket of "unequivocal support for the armed struggle". Two organisations in one "movement".
The IRA perceives itself as an "army" and, as armies do, believes itself to have the right to kill in pursuit of such political objectives as legitimate, accountable authority determines. In fact, the IRA goes further and claims to be the only legal armed force in the whole of Ireland. The Irish Army and Naval and Air Services, as well as the Guards, are actually illegal bodies in IRA speak and this preposterous, unhistorical, ant democratic twaddle is fully endorsed by Sinn Fein, and by Sinn Fein only.
How fortunate that only some in the North, and a tiny minority in the South, swallow this nonsense. Hence, when the Taoiseach stated that voting Sinn Fein meant supporting violence, he merely reminded us of the obvious. It does not follow, of course, that if the IRA calls a ceasefire it will then become appropriate to support Sinn Fein.
I hope that Mr Gerry Adams will not be too upset at my "intervening" in his part of the UK election by way of the letter. I believe that any Irish man or woman has the right to express an opinion on political affairs in any part, and about any part, of Ireland. I do not require Mr Adams's permission to do so, nor does John Bruton. - Yours, etc.,
South Co Dublin.