Sir, - The letter from Maria O'Connor (May 9th) and earlier correspondence regarding the booing of Rangers players at Lansdowne Road paint a picture of bigotry that seems very depressing. But whenever I hear a general criticism of the role of the Republic in Northern Ireland's affairs, I always remind the speaker that, during the World Cup of 1982 in Spain, for which the Republic's team had failed to qualify, the Dublin pubs were packed with fans cheering Northern Ireland's brave little team to the rafters. The Dublin fans who warmed our hearts then haven't gone away, you know. - Yours, etc.,
SAM McAUGHTRY,
Comber,
Co Down.