1 April 1999 Edition

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Mála Poist

Some things will never change


A Chairde

In May 1969, the outgoing leader of the Ulster Unionist Party, Terence O'Neill, remarked: ``It is frightfully hard to explain to Protestants that if you give Roman Catholics a good job and a good house they will live like Protestants, because they will see neighbours with cars and television sets. They will refuse to have 18 children, but if a Roman Catholic is jobless in the most ghastly hovel, he will rear 18 children on national assistance... If you treat Roman Catholics with due consideration and kindness, they will live like Protestants, in spite of the authoritative nature of their church.'' (Belfast Telegraph, May 5th, 1969).

Thirty years later, almost to the month, another UUP leader, David Trimble, in his party address remarked: ``I believe the majority of people in the Catholic community have moved on. They believe now in the alternative to violence, which is education, hard work and respect for the right of others.''

Some things, it appears, never change. And among these is the arrogance of unionist leaders, who clearly see nationalists as inferior, ill educated, lazy, with no respect for others and having a tendency towards violence.

When people seek to understand why David Trimble won't engage with Sinn Féin, is opposed to change based on equality, and refuses to seek an accommodation to move the peace process foward, perhaps they should examine the racist ethos which underpins Orangeism and consequently much of unionism.

Belfast Sinn Fein Councillor, Chrissie McAuley
Belfast City Hall

Friends of the Garvaghy Road



A Chairde,

It was with tragic irony that on the same day a coalition of different groups and individuals met in London to launch a support campaign for the beleaguered residents of the Garvaghy Road, the solicitor for over two hundred of them, who had just won for them the right to recieve damages following vicious assaults by the RUC was killed in a car bomb.

Rosemary Nelson represented people across the divide in Northern Ireland and did not discriminate, except to fight against injustice. When I first saw her she shared a platfrom with a Stephen Lawrence Campaign member. She was representing the family of Robert Hamill, who was kicked to death by a gang of loyalists yards from an armoured car full of RUC officers, who did nothing at all to prevent the attack.

It is the same racism she fought against when representing those residents of the Garvaghy Road. I know that her death will only strengthen the resolve of our new support group, and to highlight to the world the injustice she died in trying to redress.

If you would like to join our campaign, make a donation or would like further information, please contact:

The Friends of the Garvaghy Road
PO Box 3923
London
NW5
or Phone: 0181-4428778.

Denis O'Halloran
London

Stomach trouble



In response to Christy Ward's April 25 column on the blackout of Irish news by the US media, let me reassure Mr. Ward that despite the disgraceful job our colleagues have done covering the Nelson tragedy and the northern conflict in general, there are plenty of us in the American media familiar enough with English food to gladly `turn down lunch with Prince Charles for a pint with Joe Cahill'.

Joe Carroll
Gary, Indiana, USA

An Phoblacht
44 Parnell Sq.
Dublin 1
Ireland