A chara, – In the years since the signing of the Belfast Agreement, the murders have taken place of Joseph Rafferty, Robert McCartney and recently Kevin McGuigan, allegedly by members of the Provisional movement.
We have seen the continued lack of co-operation in tracing the so-called disappeared, the cover-up of child abuse carried out by the IRA, the Northern Bank robbery, and ongoing allegations of intimidation, criminality and vigilantism.
Yet every time the leaders of Sinn Féin are questioned about any of these incidents, they close ranks and claim political point-scoring by rivals and express concerns for the peace process. The peace process belongs to all of us, as much (and in fact, more so) to people such as Maíria Cahill and the families of those murdered or abused by the Provisionals as it does to Gerry Adams and his unquestioning acolytes.
If the peace process is to be real, it means that all citizens on this island have the right to live free of intimidation, abuse, murder and criminality and that those who perpetrate such actions or seek to cover them up or justify them are held to account. – Is mise,
Cllr MALCOLM BYRNE,
Gorey, Co Wexford.
Sir, – Garda Commissioner Nóirín O'Sullivan has claimed in a letter to Sinn Féin that she had "no information" that the IRA existed or that it was involved in criminality in Border counties ("Individuals linked to IRA still involved in crime, says Garda", August 25th).
However, a lack of intelligence could be explained by the significant reduction in Garda resources along the Border rather than any cessation of illegal activities on the part of the IRA. Garda personnel, including those from specialist intelligence units in the crime and security branch, have been transferred elsewhere or, following retirements, have not been replaced.
This is despite mounting concerns over republican fuel smuggling, including the millions of euro and pounds in tax revenue lost to the Irish and British governments.
Earlier this year Louth county councillors passed a motion condemning fuel laundering. The Green Party in Louth has concluded that the refusal to maintain or increase Garda capabilities may amount to “light-touch policing because of the peace process” (“Councillors debate report on republican fuel smugglers pumping toxic waste into water supply”, January 19th).
Whether through deliberate neglect or complacency, the diminution of Garda numbers and expertise on the Border leaves the State ill-equipped to respond to the PSNI chief constable’s statement that the IRA is still in our midst. – Yours, etc,
EDWARD BURKE,
Rosscarbery,
Co Cork.