Madam, - Sean and Roisin Whelan claim (Dec 9th) that the SDLP "exhibited political cowardice" in not fielding candidates in areas where hunger strikers were standing in 1981 and thus gave in to an attempt to blackmail the Irish people.
The SDLP's decision was both a moral stand as well as a sensible one. The majority of people on the ground in these areas wanted this and the SDLP, being a party of the people, followed their intentions. Also, on a sensible note, the SDLP would have lost large support within the nationalist community if it had resisted.
The SDLP is a pragmatic party and has shown through its actions in the last 20 years that it is willing to take chances even if it means self-sacrifice on its part to pursue a better life for the people of Northern Ireland. Sean and Roisin Whelan seem to think this is tragic. Tell this to the hundreds that are still alive today thanks to the courage and foresight of the SDLP. - Yours, etc.,
JEROME A. MCCARTHY, Auburn House, Rathmines Park, Dublin 6.