Madam, - At a stretch, an absolute stretch, I can see why your paper would record the award - for the first time in 20 years - of the Victoria Cross to a soldier in the British army (World News, March 19th). It's a worthy news item; the first recipient of the award was an Irishman; almost 15 per cent of those that have won it were Irish.
However, what I cannot accept is the publication of the citation. It is one thing bringing this award to the attention of your readership in the form of a news story, but it's another to engage in British military jingoism by allowing it so much space in a Irish national newspaper to such a story. By doing this, The Irish Times comes across as a glorified Soldier magazine. - Yours, etc.,
RONAN GALLAGHER, Dublin 8.