The Culture Of Killing

Sir, - For the information of Dara ╙ Criodβin (October 17th), my letter of October 13th was in response to Kevin Myers's Irishman…

Sir, - For the information of Dara ╙ Criodβin (October 17th), my letter of October 13th was in response to Kevin Myers's Irishman's Diary on the subject of the killing of journalists. I wrote about loyalists who target journalists and the fact that loyalist killings and attacks had received comparatively little media attention. I did not write or imply, contrary to what Mr ╙ Criodβin suggests, that it was OK for anybody to kill anybody else.

Martin O'Hagan was killed by loyalists who have or had links with the "security forces" and unionist politicians. Martin O'Hagan researched that, among other things. That is possibly why the gunmen killed him. Incidentally, he is also the second person linked to the publication of The Committee, which researched links between loyalists and state forces, to be killed. The first was Rosemary Nelson, also assassinated by the LVF.- Yours etc.,

Anne Speed, Offaly Road, Cabra, Dublin 7.