Giving and taking the freedom of Dublin

Sir, – Should it transpire the president of Myanmar did a deal with the generals that avoided a full massacre of the Rohingya, what then for Dublin City Council? Would they be missed if dismissed? A cosy emptied chamber would make a fine shelter for the city’s nearby homeless. – Yours, etc,

Prof RONAN O’DOWD,

Electronic Engineering,

UCD, Dublin 4.

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Sir, – So, Bob Geldof is “absolutely stunned” after Dublin City Council revoked his Freedom of the City honour (December 15th). Mr Geldof, in returning his freedom scroll in protest at the inclusion of Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi on the Dublin roll of honour list, said he would be a hypocrite to share honours with “one who has become at best an accomplice to murder”.

His stance is incompatible with his decision to share his honorary Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire with  Lt-Col Derek Wilford, the officer commanding the Parachute Regiment in Derry in 1972 on Bloody Sunday, who was also awarded and retains an OBE. – Yours, etc,

TOM COOPER,

Templeogue,

Dublin 6W.

Sir, – It’s ironic to hear Bob Geldof isn’t happy that Dublin City Council removed him from the city’s roll of honour, after he handed back his Freedom of the City award. His big statement of protest against Myanmar’s Aung San Suu Kyi’s honour has backfired on him. What does he expect in a banana republic?

Put simply, you can’t have it both ways. It’s a rat trap . . . and you’ve been caught. – Yours, etc,

BRIAN CULLEN,

Rathfarnham,

Dublin 16.

Sir, – As an Irishman I feel that Sir Bob Geldof is most deserving of the Freedom of Dublin. The behaviour of the present Lord Mayor is an outright insult to the wonderful people of this great city. – Yours, etc,

BRIAN KENNEDY,

Ranelagh, Dublin 6.