Sheehy Skeffington endorsed North policy in private letter

Perhaps the endorsement of Taoiseach Jack Lynch's Northern Ireland policy which speaks loudest is a private handwritten letter from Senator Owen Sheehy Skeffington, dated June 5th, 1970.

More usually critical or sceptical of government policy, but essentially a fair-minded man, Sheehy Skeffington felt impelled to write given recent events.

"I just want to say that in my view you have emerged therefrom with great personal dignity and with increased stature.

"I can well imagine that your decision with regard to Mr Boland cannot have been easy, but it is also clear that, having made every possible allowance - as you did - you could not, in the final analysis, have, with honour, taken any other course than the one you adopted.

"Your line on the North, also, strikes me as the only acceptable one.

"I have no doubt that there remain wide areas upon which I should disagree with you, but at the present juncture I desire simply to salute the courage and dignity with which you have met a very nasty situation and certain vile and despicable attacks arising therefrom.

"Decent Irish public opinion is with you one hundred per cent on these issues."

Mr Lynch received the letter on June 8th. That morning's papers reported Owen Sheehy Skeffington's sudden death.

In sympathising with his widow, Andree, Mr Lynch expressed himself as "deeply touched by the obvious sincerity of his words" adding that he would "like you and your family to know how much I appreciated this generous gesture from one who differed fundamentally from me and my colleagues on many issues".