Madam, - Conor Brady, in his article "SF policing stance has parallels with establishment of Garda", is right that there are parallels between the Sinn Féin-PSNI situation of today and the Sinn Féin-Garda situation of the 1920s and 1930s (Opinion & Analysis, January 6th).
Moreover, mistrust by nationalists of the police in the Free State similar to such a mistrust of the police in Northern Ireland today must have existed in the 1920s and 1930s. The title Garda Síochána (Guardians of the Peace) must have been employed to overcome this.
The word garda (guard) is a distinct departure from the word police.
Police implies force, while the term guard or guardian implies a person who looks after someone or something, as does the word custodian. The implied change of image from a service that delivers force to a service that delivers support is all-important.
A golden opportunity may have been missed when the RUC was renamed the PSNI. If it had been renamed the PCNI - Peace Custodians of Northern Ireland - the benefit would have been twofold: (a) the term PC could have been retained by the rank-and-file members of the peace custodians providing a strong symbolic link, (vis-à-vis police constable) to a service many existing police in the PSNI were proud to serve for noble reasons; and (b) the direct translation of the title into Irish would have been Garda Síochana an Tuasceart, providing a strong symbolic link for the nationalist community to its aspirations.
I expect that the overwhelming majority of police in Northern Ireland see themselves, or would prefer to see themselves, as instruments of peace and caring, rather than instruments of force.
It may not be too late to make such a change. Perhaps, while Sinn Féin is surveying its members for their opinion on the matter, the PSNI could do the same. - Yours, etc,
BRENDAN P. GALLAGHER, Loughnagin, Letterkenny, Co Donegal.
Madam, - Sinn Féin should expand its ardfheis motion regarding its attitude to the PSNI to include, definitively, its attitude to An Garda Síochána. Over the years there have been many incidents and utterances emanating from SF origins which would cause considerable disquiet in this area.
While they are at it, perhaps they could also update us regarding their current stance in relation to the Army (ours, not theirs). - Yours, etc,
MICHAEL LEE, Portmarnock, Co Dublin.