Sir, - With reference to a military parade by Sinn Fein through Dublin on Sunday, October 18th, it is the golden rule of democratic societies that the military come under the civilian authority and are apolitical. A political party must not have an armed wing, as it can use punishment rather than persuasion to harvest votes. The Nazi Party in Germany got elected with the help of three million uniformed armed thugs who intimidated the voters and opposition. It is not a free election when a political party has an armed wing.
Our Constitution is not silent on this and all members of the Government take an oath to uphold the Constitution, which states clearly in article 15, 6-2: "No military or armed force other than a military or armed force raised and maintained by the Oireachtas, shall be raised or maintained for any purpose whatsoever." - Yours, etc., Stephen Fallon,
Barrington Street,
Limerick.