Sir, - As a person of courage and great warmth Mo Mowlam put a novel and welcome stamp on Northern Ireland. Her direct approach to people in local communities and on the street endeared her to those of us who have felt in the past that we were being talked down to or talked at. Of necessity she may well have rattled cages with her direct and intuitive style. Like so many of us she also made mistakes and must inevitably have suffered enormous disappointments.
Northern Ireland was once a class-rotten society. We have come some way in breaking down social barriers, but there is still a long way to go. Classless in her approach, Mo Mowlam recognised people, not backgrounds and seemed, thankfully, uncomfortable with pomp in office. Through her manner of communication she showed that the uniqueness of each person is what matters, that we all have the right to a dignity of our own. She will be etched quite vividly on the memory of friend and foe alike. There was no veneer. We got what we saw and we got it without the frills. Furthermore, she helped to pave a way to the future for us all. We wish her good luck. - Yours, etc.,
John Robb, Consensor, New Ireland Group, Charlotte Street, Ballymoney, Co Antrim.