Northern Ireland

Press, 13 May 1981, Page 20

Northern Ireland

Sir, — Your “sympathy for Northern Ireland” editorial is no more than sympathy for British law, institutions, power and economy in the six of the nine counties of Ulster. Northern Ireland was created under threat of violence from the Orange volunteers; its boundaries were formed to ensure the majority that would support partition from the rest of Ireland and association with the colonising power, Britain. This is not a religious war but a political and economic struggle for Ireland to be united and free. In 1791 a Protestant, Wolfe Tone, wished to abolish the memory of past dissensions

in forming' the 'Society of United Irishmen. Your analysis is limited to the last 12 years. British law has oppressed the Irish for centuries. The death of Bobby Sands and the stand taken by the Republican hunger strikers bears witness to their political belief: Ireland is not yet one, nor free, and requires liberation. — Yours, etc.,

ROB McFELIN. May 10, 1981.