A Chara, - I am mystified by Jamie O'Neill's allegation of a sinister sub-text in Prof W.J. McCormack's project for forensic investigation of the Casement "Black Diaries" (August 9th). As no honourable cause is served by ignorance, suppression or even unsubstantiated assertions of truth, surely we should welcome an inquiry.
Casement was condemned to death for treason against the British Imperial State, of which Ireland was at the time a part. The issue of homosexuality was not raised in the courtroom, although it may or may not have been a sub-text. Undoubtedly, the campaign for commutation of his sentence was execrably undermined by bigoted anti-homoerotics or by those who knew all too well how to stir up related prejudice or fear.
If forensic analysis "outs" Casement, he will be proved beyond all reasonable doubt to have been an open and brave homosexual punished additionally for and through his sexuality. If it indicates that the documents are total or partial forgeries, he remains a great humanitarian victimised by anti-homoeroticism and a witness to its evil.
Whatever the outcome, those who waged the campaign of slander and libel, those who yielded to it, and those who denied its veracity, were all tainted, to a greater or lesser degree, by homophobia or fear of a homophobic society. Their behaviour is a salutary reminder of the prejudice, hatred, cowardice and sinister fear of "the other" to which, irrespective of sexual orientation, we are all far too susceptible. - Is mise,
Prof Mary C. King, Ballyduff, Ashford, Co Wicklow.