Madam, - In response to Mr Tom Cooper's letter (January 11th) in which he questions the credibility of the Police Service of Northern Ireland and the Chief Constable's comments in the wake of the Northern Bank robbery there are a number of points that need clarification.
The reality is that, far from being a discredited police service, the PSNI is leading the way in developing innovative and community-based policing techniques, which are the envy of police services throughout the world.
The PSNI has been described as the most accountable police service in the world. The proposals which have been implemented in relation to Special Branch and the formation of the new Crime Operations Department have been described by the Oversight Commissioner as meeting "the best practice requirements of any police force in the world".
Most recently the Oversight Commissioner said that the progress that has made in implementing the Patten recommendations has been excellent and that the degree of policing change accomplished is both remarkable and unparalleled.
Mr Cooper also refers to the investigation by the Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Sir John Stevens. He might recall that the Chief Constable, Hugh Orde, was in fact, part of the Stevens team and indeed headed the outside police team investigating allegations of collusion and investigating the murder of Pat Finucane, on which the team secured a conviction.
No one disputes that policing in Northern Ireland has been difficult and contentious at times. Likewise, no one can dispute that the police service has implemented unprecedented policing reforms, and put in place systems and structures to ensure a first-class policing service for all of the people in Northern Ireland.
In relation to the Northern Bank robbery, the Chief Constable has stated that on the basis of the investigative work done to date, and considering the intelligence and information available, it is his view that the Provisional IRA was responsible for this crime.
While there are obviously political implications arising from the Chief Constable's assessment, that is for politicians to deal with. The priority of the police service is to solve this terrible crime and bring those responsible for justice.
We look forward to continued support and help from members of the public to help us to do so. - Yours, etc.,
SINÉAD McSWEENEY, Head of Media and PR, Police Service of Northern Ireland, Knock Road, Belfast 5.
Madam, - I would assume that, as Chief Constable of the PSNI, Hugh Orde is not one to make outlandish statements without having the proof to back them up. To this end, I believe him when he says the IRA was behind the Northern Bank robbery.
If this is true, no other political party on this island should have anything to do with Sinn Féin.
They should be told in no uncertain terms to withdraw from the negotiations regarding the future of Northern Ireland. Sinn Féin has for too long acted like the problem child of Irish politics, doing whatever it likes without being kept in line, but this has to stop at some stage.
The line taken with them by other parties is similar to the policy of appeasement practised towards Germany in the late 1930s - and we all know how well that worked. - Yours etc.,
DENIS HURLEY, Kilbrittain, Co Cork.
A chara, - Your Editorial "Does the IRA take us for fools?" (January 8th) is based solely on the recent statement from Hugh Orde of the PSNI which gave us his "considered view" that the IRA was responsible for the Northern Bank robbery.
In the celebratory rush to agree with Mr Orde's opinion, The Irish Times, politicians and others have failed to show the objectivity to be expected in such circumstances.
It would appear that nobody has questioned the need for the leader of a police force to make such a swift public statement concerning a serious ongoing investigation where no charges have been brought. Surely his pronouncements can only undermine that ongoing investigation. What was to be gained by issuing such a statement? It was prefaced with his comment that "he had not bowed to political pressure", but the spin in the media in the previous week certainly contained all the hallmarks of the world of politics.
It is not so long since we had the Stalker inquiry - an inquiry which, once it got near the truth, was closed down. We still have the Stevens inquiry, which is investigating allegations of collaboration between security forces and loyalist paramilitaries. It would appear that the change in name given to the RUC has also managed to cleanse some minds of that force's recent past.
Those who have accepted Mr Orde's words in such a sycophantic, unquestioning manner do us all an injustice. Had similar comments been issued by some far-off dictator, Irish politicians and media would have questioned the basis for such prejudicial remarks.
It would appear that when it happens nearer home - whether it be comments from Mr Orde or our own Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell - the burden of proving the guilt of the accused has been supplanted with the burden of the accused proving their innocence.
Your recent Editorial finished by stating that "the breach of trust with the democratic community is so serious this time that both governments have to take stock of the peace process". Might I suggest that it would be more appropriate if both governments took stock of their respective justice systems? - Is mise,
E.F. FANNING, Churchtown, Dublin 14.