JAMES MORTELL,
Madam, - Congratulations on having the moral courage to grasp the nettle of veracity by referring to the IRA as terrorists in your Editorial of December 21st. What a pity you subsequently fell into the error of referring to "Sinn Féin and its paramilitary wing".
My Chambers dictionary defines paramilitary as "on military lines and intended to supplement the strictly military". Does this mean that The Irish Times considers Sinn Féin a "strictly military" organisation?
More importantly, "The Military Balance" (issued by the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London) which is considered the bible on armed and paramilitary forces of the world, does not list the IRA or any other terrorist groups under paramilitary forces. The only paramilitary forces listed are those which are legitimate State adjuncts to the legitimate armed/security forces of each country: examples include the Gendarmerie of France, the Carabinieri of Italy and the Federal Border Guard of Germany.
Would it be too much to hope that our Government Ministers, RTÉ and the print media generally would emulate your example and show both a little moral courage and some respect for the truth in future? - Yours, etc.,
JAMES MORTELL,
Kilbreckstown,
Stamullen,
Co Meath.