Madam, – Having read Gerry Adams’s article (Opinion, June 22nd), I wondered where he was when the IRA thugs were torturing Jean McConville: was he standing up saying stop? The 1916 Proclamation guarantees this woman’s most basic right, her right to life. Where was he when young tearaways were being shot in the ankles or knees and being left crippled for life? I did not hear Mr Adams shout “Stop, these citizens have rights”. And when members of the SDLP and their families were being threatened for speaking out against the activities of the IRA? I do not remember Mr Adams saying, “Stop, these citizens have a right to voice their opinions”.
As I remember, any time Mr Adams was asked to condemn an IRA atrocity his standard answer was: We are not in the politics of condemnation. Never once did he mention the human or civic rights of the victims. For over 30 years I didn’t hear Mr Adams once say to the leaders of the IRA, stop what you are doing, the people you are killing and maiming have rights under the 1916 Proclamation.
I don’t want Mr Adams or his friends in Sinn Féin to speak to me of citizens’ rights as I find it too hypocritical to bear and I for one would never want to live in his socialist-type republic and I suspect neither would a majority of my fellow citizens. Which would explain why there are only six Sinn Féin TDs from a total of 165.
If someday I hear Mr Adams calling for a public inquiry into the torture and murder of Jean McConville and who in authority in the IRA authorised it, then I would consider listening to what he has to say. – Yours, etc,