Madam, - Gerry Adams is perfectly right. All "the usual suspects" are jumping up and down and demanding that the IRA stop its murderous campaign and disband.
But the usual suspects he speaks of are not a rabble of malcontents and misfits, but more than 90 per cent of the free people of Ireland who vote for political parties other than Sinn Féin. Minister for Justice Michael McDowell and the PDs are part of that massive majority.
Mr Adams should face his responsibility as a leader of what he calls a democratic political party and enter the grown-up world of agreement through negotiation. The smiling face of perennial victimhood has lost all credibility. - Yours, etc.,
NIALL GINTY,
Killester,
Dublin 5.
Madam, - The IRA's statement reveals just how thin is the veneer of civilisation adorning the so-called republican family. The mantra about their democratic mandate clearly doesn't translate into anything approaching an understanding of what constitutes normal democratic activity, with the limitations this implies.
What's needed is a glossary to explain in plain and unambiguous language what normal society means by "democratic", "criminality", "funding", and other terms. It might be useful if such a glossary also provided examples of specific exclusions for the benefit of slow learners. - Yours, etc.,
PETER MOLLOY,
Haddington Park,
Glenageary,
Co Dublin.
Madam, - The IRA has offered to shoot the murderers of Robert McCartney. Clearly it knows who these killers are. It should give the names and any evidence it has to one or both of the democratic police forces of this island so that due legal process may prevail, as mandated in a democracy. - Yours, etc.,
JOHN WALSHE,
Temple Park,
Dublin 6.
Madam, - With reference to your editorial of March 9th, the IRA cannot breach its ceasefire when it has never declared one. What it declared all those years ago was a "cessation of military activity". That, in IRA speak, could mean anything, and will mean exactly what the Bold Fenian Men decide what it means on any given occasion. - Yours, etc.,
GERRY McARDLE,
Mountjoy Square,
Dublin 1.
Madam, - When the sheep's clothing slips, the wolf is strongly advised to keep its mouth shut - the teeth are a dead giveaway. - Yours, etc.,
HUGH CAMPBELL,
Johnswell Road,
Kilkenny.
Madam, - The family of Robert McCartney has rejected an offer by the Provisional IRA to shoot the murderers of their brother. In making this offer, the IRA shows it has completely missed the point of the family's campaign. However, this does not support the theory that the Army Council of the Provisional IRA is synonymous with the leadership of Sinn Féin, for it is difficult to imagine Gerry Adams and others being foolish enough to permit a statement like this.
Perhaps the Taoiseach is right to adopt a neutral stance on this issue without evidence to prove otherwise. - Yours, etc.,
CAROLINE McGEE,
Killiney,
Co Dublin.
Madam, - Since the IRA are so keen to shoot somebody - in the interests of the peace process, of course - and since the continued existence of the IRA is a major obstacle to the peace process, would it not serve everyone's interests if the IRA were to shoot themselves? - Yours, etc.,
KEVIN AYLWARD,
Slievekeale Road,
Waterford.