Sir, - The Irish and British governments are undoubtedly gratified that, in spite of the gains of the DUP, the overwhelming majority of people have voted for pro-agreement parties and politicians.
This is an encouragement to everyone and a sign of hope that is most welcome as the "mad month" of July approaches.
It is bad enough that most people in the North now greet the summer season with fear and anxiety. It is unbearable to consider that we could be dragged back to those days when turning on the radio or opening the newspaper every morning was a cause for dread.
God forbid that we could ever find ourselves back in the times when murder and violence were daily occurrences. This, however, is exactly what the dissidents and extremists, on both sides, are offering our society. They have no alternative to the Belfast Agreement except the same old hardline bigotry, entrenched opinions and relentless stances.
Unfortunately, there still exists in Northern Ireland, an extremely potent and deadly hatred that will likely be much in evidence again in the near future. Once more, the shadow of Drumcree Hill looms across the land. We are already seeing the demons of sectarian terror at work, in the burning of churches, attacks on homes, bombings and intimidation.
The two governments and the majority of our elected representatives must stand firm, refusing to be intimidated by the customary toxic ranting of certain recalcitrant public figures and the deranged activities of those whose passions they inevitably and habitually inflame.
All Christian people on our island, therefore, must pray very hard, in the days and weeks ahead, asking the Lord to be with those who are patiently striving to resolve our age-old problems; and that those whose attitudes and mentalities would plunge us back into our worst nightmares will be either thwarted or converted. - Yours, etc.,
Fr Patrick McCafferty, Glenview Street, Belfast.