Madam, - May I add a footnote to Frank Bouchier-Hayes's Irishman's Diary on Darrell Figgis (April, 21st)? TCD historian Cliona Rattigan's research in the British archives at Kew has shown that the miscarriage that resulted in Rita North's death was an induced one.
Rita told a doctor who tried to save her life that, before leaving Dublin, she had used glycerine and a "syringe" with "a long narrow nozzle" attachment - a reminder of the dark days of self-induced and backstreet abortion in Ireland. - Yours, etc,
SANDRA McAVOY, Douglas Road, Cork.