I.R.A. bomb attack

Press, 8 November 1984, Page 20

I.R.A. bomb attack

Sir,—As a complaisant apologist for the British oppressors of his country, Conor Cruise O’Brien has forfeited his credibility with Irish people who want to see their country liberated. The conditions for Ireland’s liberated unity are first, a treaty between the British and Irish Governments in which Britain renounces all claims to Irish territory and recognises the Irish people’s sole rights over Irish territory, and second, Britain withdraws its troops from the occupied six counties. The conditions laid down by C. H. Dobson (November 3) are a gross infringement of Irish sovereignty, seeking to impose an English solution on purely Irish concerns. Minority self-rule based on religious privilege must be banished from Irish soil for ever. The assassination of Mrs Gandhi shows the political folly of a religious minority wanting to establish itself as a self-govern-ing state. Ireland has had enough of a situation which British imperialism exploits as a divide and rule policy. — Yours, etc., M. CREEL. November 3, 1984. Sir, — S. O. Mahony dimisses my conditions for Irish unity in two lines, and then devotes the rest of his letter to a personal attack on Conor Cruise O’Brien, such is the level of modem political debate. Let me ask two direct questions: 1. What does S.O. Mahony consider I.R.A. terrorism has contributed to Irish unity? 2. How will British withdrawal from Ulster achieve a united Ireland? It seems to me that some Irish Republican sympathisers, especially those far away from Ireland, seem to crave far a bloody conflict between Ulster and Eire; and for what? A very devastated and disunited Ireland methinks. — Yours, etc., C. H. DOBSON. November 5, 1984.