Madam, - I read the letter from Paul Williams of Kilkee (Nov 22nd) with incredulity. Mr Williams stated that "There is no evidence that those responsible [for the murder of Paul Quinn] . . .were acting on orders from above." How does he know? Has he evidence to the contrary? He says that "by all accounts the murder was carried out by a local criminal gang. . .". Mr Williams, by most accounts in south Armagh and north Monaghan the IRA was responsible. If you wish to split hairs on the level of sanction then that is a different matter but to try to airbrush the IRA out of this horrific and most savage murder is unbelievable.
As for ". . .hard slog that has brought us to where we are today", I can only say that I have no knowledge as to where Kilkee has been brought to but I have reams of evidence as to where my own area of south Armagh has been brought to and believe me, it is not the place sought by the Pearses, Connollys or Sands of this country.
Those who cry loudest about criminality are slow to call for a debate on or investigation into criminality in this region. I wonder why. - Yours, etc,
JIM McALLISTER, St Patrick's Park, Cullyhanna, Co Armagh.