Old battles must be revisited if only to set the republican record straight

WHILE I understand John Smith’s sentiments in wishing to ‘let the dust settle on old battles’ (Irish Examiner letters, August 26), I would like to remind him why this dust was raised in the first place.

After the civil war ended, most nationalists and republicans wished for nothing more than to put the events behind them and get on with their lives.

Sadly, this was not to be the case for many as the past continued to haunt them. Many so-called diehard republicans who found Ireland a cold house for those of their political outlook had to emigrate or suffer petty harassment.