A chara, - My children have been attending St Matthew's school in Sandymount for the past 14 years, and during this time I have attended Irish dancing classes, school bazaars, and sales of architectural salvage (sic!) in the Presbyterian Church on Trintonville Road. However, my pedigree as someone with a valid perspective on the environmental vandalism that we in this community witnessed last Wednesday does not, apparently, pass muster. I am not a Presbyterian, nor "even a Protestant". Nor are my ancestors buried in St Matthew's graveyard. This, according to T.G. Lockhart (September 22nd) disqualifies my attempts to prevent the demolition of the church.
Over 20 years ago I, a mere blow-in from Waterford, was deeply involved in the campaign against the ESB's proposal to build a nuclear power station at Carnsore Point, Co Wexford. Does Mr Lockhart consider that since my family headstone was in the adjoining county, I and the thousands involved in this campaign did not have the right to prevent a travesty?
The fact that this serene, beautiful, historic building was wantonly destroyed in spite of the best efforts of locals and their political representatives to reach a compromise solution is incomprehensible. The fact that the church, complete with leaded windows, invaluable granite sills and lintels, huge intact timbers and beautifully carved inner fixtures was brutally razed to the ground without any attempt to salvage any of these features is nothing short of criminal.-Yours, etc.,
Mary Phelan, Lea Crescent, Sandymount, Dublin 4.