Madam, - There has been increased speculation recently about the possibility of a full state visit to the Republic of Ireland by Queen Elizabeth II. Some prominent political figures, such as President McAleese and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, have publicly suggested that the time is now right for such a visit.
I would be strongly opposed to it. I believe a visit by the British monarch would be a deeply divisive and polarising event at this time. Leaving aside the issue of the unresolved national question in Ireland, my principal reason is the way the British state has hindered and obstructed investigations into the activities of sections of the British state security services during the period of the armed conflict in Ireland.
In a report carried by The Irish Timeson February 20th, the Taoiseach, in response to a question by Fine Gael leader Enda Kenny in Dáil Éireann, said he believed a British file existed which would be of assistance in establishing if members of the British security forces were "involved in or knew in advance about the killing in 1989 of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane".
Mr Ahern also said senior figures in the British security services were unwilling to share information that would be of assistance to an inquiry into the killing of Mr Finucane.
In November 2006, a report issued by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice spoke of "acts of international terrorism that were colluded in by the British security forces". The report went on to highlight instances of British obstruction in investigating such crimes as the Dublin and Monaghan bombings of 1974 and the Miami Showband massacre of 1975.
Given these circumstances, I find it difficult to understand how any Irish government could contemplate a royal visit.
Queen Elizabeth is not only the British head of state; she is also colonel in chief of all united Kingdom armed forces. A full state visit at this time would give the impression of normality between our two countries. Nationalist Ireland cannot accept this situation with equanimity. Indeed it would be seen as a provocative act.
I hope a time will come when a visit to Ireland by a British head of state will become a normal and uncontroversial event, welcomed by all, but clearly that time is not now.
- Yours, etc,
TOM COOPER, Delaford Lawn, Dublin 16.