Sir, - The capitulation at Garvaghy Road to Orange mob rule, and the contrasting easy application of batons to nationalist heads, confirm that the RUC is not an impartial police force. Employing Protestant/unionist police in Catholic areas is as insane a policy as it would be to send Catholic/nationalist police into Protestant areas. Note that the latter insanity is merely aspired to, and by a dwindling minority, whereas the first is a reality.
Given that there can be no complete solution to the Northern Ireland problem. what should be done? The Irish Government should accelerate the already developing process whereby as British will and power erode in Northern Ireland, it increasingly acts as guarantor for the nationalists. This would eventually lead to full scale joint sovereignty or shared authority, whereby the symbols and aspirations of both communities will be given equal recognition and protection by the two Governments, and their security forces will act resolutely to prevent fanatics of either side entering rival territory to insult, assault or kill.
The United Kingdom as we know it will probably break up in the next century, and today's actions or inactions will determine whether we can avoid a Yugoslav scale catastrophe in Northern Ireland. One thing is certain: treating extremists on one side as pariahs, while cravenly surrendering to those on the other side, is guaranteed to make the problem worse.
Yours, etc.,
Bray,
Co Wicklow.