A chara, - I feel it is necessary to respond to a letter from Mr A. K. Kinsella (July 13th) which was personally abusive and inaccurate. I find his reference to my priest friends as "a small group of Republican clergy" objectionable - not because there is anything wrong with a priest holding republican views, but because there is an assumption here about the political views of certain priests with whom my name has been associated. Those priests who signed a letter in support of the Garvaghy Road residents along with me are solely concerned about human rights and justice, and as events since have shown, they have every right to be concerned in view of the plight of Catholics in isolated and in predominantly Protestant areas throughout the Six Counties.
Throughout my life I have tried to promote peace with justice and have supported every effort in recent years to bring about peaceful agreement. All of this is on record for Mr Kinsella to read. I believe in building a just, tolerant and pluralist society in Ireland. I, along with others, do not think that the removal of Rule 21 would contribute in any way to the building of such a society.
It was in this context that I was critical of Dr Clifford for his intervention. I was pointing out that Dr Clifford was not reflecting the grassroots opinion of people in the North of Ireland regarding the RUC and the British forces. I believe until we have a new police service which I understand is part of the Good Friday Agreement it would be most unwise to give the RUC legitimacy by removing Rule 21 at this time.
To suggest that I am one who promotes "bigotry and intolerance", along with the Rev Ian Paisley, is a serious and dangerous allegation to make. The letter was hostile towards me personally and showed ignorance of my beliefs and my work. Given the degree of hostility toward me shown in this letter I do not expect an apology but I do expect that Mr Kinsella be more careful with his allegations when he puts pen to paper in future. - Yours, etc., Fr Joe McVeigh,
Springhill Close, Belfast 12.