Sir, - Kieran Clifford complains (April 5th) that your paper has not given adequate recognition to the death of Mr Sands and others. Mr Sands decided to end his own life. That was his prerogative. Mr Tom Oliver, Mrs Jean McConville and thousands of others were not given that choice. Mr Oliver was a citizen of this State, a decent father and husband who gave his allegiance to this State and to its institutions. If the State is to be perpetually commemorating our dead, let it be the many citizens and members of the Army and Garda whose lives were taken by forces attempting to subvert democracy here. - Yours, etc.,
Padraig McGinn, Ballynamony, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Leitrim.