The Way Forward

Sir, - Fintan O'Toole (July 6th) is critical of what he alleges is a Sinn Fein orchestrated plot to denigrate unionists by alleging…

Sir, - Fintan O'Toole (July 6th) is critical of what he alleges is a Sinn Fein orchestrated plot to denigrate unionists by alleging that they "don't want to see a Fenian about the place". Mr O'Toole says there is no unionist statement to that effect unless we go back to Basil Brooke's infamous statement in 1932.

Obviously Mr O'Toole has not read the Hansard reports of proceedings at Stormont until its prorogation in 1972. If he had, he would have seen many utterances couched in the same terms. Quite apart from that, however, do we require statements to prove a course of conduct? Mr O'Toole is clearly totally ignorant of the history of the behaviour of unionism towards Catholics/nationalists in the North since partition. He knows nothing apparently of the rank discrimination in jobs, housing, etc. The shameful record is well documented and can be made available. The fact that such behaviour has been less outrageous in recent times is not due to any conversion on part of unionism, but rather because power has been taken from them.

Rather than have Fintan O'Toole set up sham defences for them, present day unionism should be made to prove its bona fides; that it has changed its ways and is prepared to earn the trust of the nationalist people by implementing fully the Good Friday Agreement. So far the omens for such change are not auspicious. - Yours, etc., Patrick Fahy,

Omagh, Co Tyrone.