Sir, - The recent slaughter of 14 Serbian farmers is remarkable, sadly, for one reason only. It was reported by the media which previously had ignored countless atrocities committed by Albanian separatists against innocent Serbian civilians. The media all but excuse the mass murder of Serbs through stating categorically and constantly that attacks on Serbian people in Kosovo by Albanians have been revenge attacks.
This spin-doctor technique of rendering killing as being one thing when effected by one side and another thing altogether when effected by another side, must be rejected in the strongest terms.
To the impressionable in our midst the revenge motif gives virtual acceptability to murder on the basis of its being "understandable" in the circumstances. It is not "understandable" or "excusable" in any circumstances whatsoever. - Yours, etc.,
John Kelly, Mullingar, Co Westmeath.