Sir, - As a priest of the Church of Ireland, I too, like the Rev Stephen Neill (July 17th), feel ashamed at the perceived inaction of our church over Drumcree.
To the outside world, which is largely ignorant of, and does not differentiate between, areas of this small island, the Church of Ireland, through its church at Drumcree, has become inextricably associated with triumphalist sectarianism and hatred.
Our Representative Church Body has stated that it did not give permission for the use of Drumcree lands under its control. Why then, when it was obvious that the stand-off was inevitable, did it not obtain the necessary court injunctions to prevent the abuse of those lands by that sinister and militant mob whose actions undoubtedly whipped up sectarian violent thuggery all over Northern Ireland and gave implicit permission to those cowards who murdered three little children?
For evil to succeed it is only necessary for good men to do nothing. - Yours, etc., (Rev) Ann Wallace,
Knapton, Abbeyleix, Co Laois.