Corrections and Clarifications

In a book review in Saturday's editions, Kevin Myers asserted that President McAleese was not from Ardoyne in Belfast. This assertion is incorrect. The President lived in the parish of Ardoyne for the first 21 years of her life.

The article made further assertions concerning the house in which the President and her family lived at Fruithill Park. We are happy to clarify that this house was not bought by the President's father; it was a previously derelict house which the family rented from nuns. The property has since been demolished.

Referring to the report of the booby-trapped tailfin of a rocket launcher which had been found in the same house in Fruithill Park, we have been asked to clarify that the tailfin was found in the garden of the Leneghan house during the time that the family was moving in. The President only became aware of this later when she was junior counsel to Sir Anthony Campbell QC in the criminal injuries action which followed the injury and deaths of the soldiers concerned.

A headline and introduction to an article in Saturday's editions incorrectly suggested that EU leaders would this week agree to establish a rapid reaction force of 50,000 troops. In fact, they will agree to develop the ability to pull together rapidly and deploy in crisis situations a multinational force of that size from pre-allocated national units. There is no suggestion of creating a single standing force. The error occurred in the editing stage.

When errors occur, it is the policy of The Irish Times to correct or clarify as soon as it is practicable. Readers may contact the Readers' Representative's office by telephoning 016792022 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday. Outside these times they may contact the Duty Editor.