Madam, - I have been somewhat bemused by recent coverage of the Provisional IRA and its Sinn Féin mouthpiece in the Irish media.
It is not that the critical commentary the Provos have received is unwelcome - quite the opposite. It is long past time that the IRA was disbanded; its campaign of terrorism brought nothing but grief to the North of this island and set back for many decades the cause of Irish unity - unity by consent, that is, not the sectarian numbers game Gerry Adams and (shamefully) Mark Durkan have been pushing recently.
No, my surprise is that so many people seem so surprised. Murder, robbery, money-laundering, punishment beatings, lies and intimidation are completely in character for the Provos. They are not misguided patriots. Their ideology was based on sectarian bigotry; their tactic of choice was terrorism (freedom-fighters don't target civilians). Wolfe Tone would be turning in his grave at the Mafia now claiming his mantle.
Peace was always a worthy goal but we have been led down a dangerous road of moral blindness. We should realise by now that "creative amibiguity" was in fact deeply destructive. We must return to first principles: private armies and summary justice have no place in a democracy. Sinn Féin must be held to basic democratic standards. - Yours, etc.,
KAROLE MICHAEL CUDDIHY, Carrigaline, Co Cork.