Sir, - At the risk of provoking your ire and the likelihood of your not publishing this letter, I have to tell you that your Editorial of August 22nd, "A Week after Omagh", was weak, wish-washy and far below the standard demanded by the sad occasion. By contrast, your columnist Kevin Myers put his unerring finger on the reasons for the malaise and the mayhem that plagues the body politic of this divided island.
The real truth and tragedy of the Omagh massacre can be well compared to the Frankenstein monster we allowed by our tolerance and laxity to grow to take its revenge on innocent people of both communities in Northern Ireland over the past 25 years. In addition, a letter-writer to your paper during the week of mourning, and with a great deal of truth, reminded us of the sinister fact that terror grows with the rich fertiliser of support, overt or hidden, within the very community that becomes its victim.
In your article you acknowledge rather vaguely the need for greater security, a matter that needs to be spelt out. You quote extensively Mr Ahern's caveats about forcing the pace of decommissioning, a measure which should have no need of euphemisms. You take naive comfort from the possible announcement once again of a ceasefire from the various splinter groups, the Real IRA, etc. It is now clear that without a resolute and clear-cut effort to crush the Provos they will become the Hydra of Greek legend - cut off one head and another will pop up. Your leader does not give me much hope either for the Agreement or for a final end to the bomb and the bullet.
Looking back, was the whole cause, in the words of one of our greatest leaders, worth the shedding of one drop of blood - never mind the deaths of over 3,000 people? - Yours, etc., John F. Fallon,
Boyle,
Co Roscommon.