Easter message from the IRA

Madam, - For the first time I have to agree with the IRA "army council" when it says that Irish unity can be achieved by "purely…

Madam, - For the first time I have to agree with the IRA "army council" when it says that Irish unity can be achieved by "purely peaceful and democratic means" ( The Irish Times, April 9th). My agreement would be even stronger if the IRA had added that violence served, and serves, only to postpone reconciliation between Irish people.

The same "army council", which spent decades wrecking the economy of Northern Ireland and its citizens' opportunities, must have learned a hard lesson from the recent sight of a Sinn Féin delegation to Downing Street seeking British resources to rebuild that same economy.

Now let the "army council" follow its recently acquired wisdom and buzz off. - Yours, etc,

SEAN McDONAGH, Bettyglen, Raheny, Dublin 5.