A chara, – Andy Pollak (April 24th) asks why the IRA does not follow the example of the Basque group Eta in apologising for the suffering it caused during its armed struggle.
Perhaps he does not recall the IRA’s 2002 statement, in which it apologised sincerely for all civilian casualties, and acknowledged the grief and pain of the relatives of all enemy combatants killed in IRA operations.
It is hard to see what would be achieved by a second statement 16 years after the first, issued by an organisation which ceased to exist more than a decade ago. – Is mise,
Dr GARETH P KEELEY,
Jülich,
Germany.
Sir, – Andy Pollak has every right to accept at face value Gusty Spence’s 1994 declaration of abject and true remorse at UVF killings. However, he should not forget that the UVF still exists and their armed thugs continue to terrorise Protestant communities, despite statements to the contrary. – Yours, etc,
GEARÓID Ó LOINGSIGH,
Bogotá,
Colombia.