Sir, – Peter O'Reilly was the head of the Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service when a suicide bomber blew himself up in May 2017, killing 22 people, mostly teenage girls. Under his command, his subordinates reached the scene after more than two hours, resulting in the death of some of the injured whose lives could have been saved. It was a huge blunder for which he apologised. On September 1st, he started his new job leading Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (News, August 27th). He was foisted on the people of Northern Ireland, about whom the English do not give a fig. – Yours, etc,
Dr SAUL ZADKA,
London.