Collusion: Unionist silence is astounding

IT astounds me that the main unionist parties have refused to debate the police ombudsman’s report into RUC/UVF collusion on the grounds that it would give “nationalists a chance to grandstand”.

Even if they care nothing for the nationalist victims of these heinous crimes, they might care to remember that these murderers and drug-dealers whom the RUC actively protected for years killed the occasional unionist and devastated their own communities through the drug trade.

Refusing to engage with crimes of this nature on the grounds that it would allow your political opponents score some points is akin to the ostrich burying its head in the sand.

In fact, not condemning them only lends comfort to the perpetrators and sets the tone for similar behaviour in the future.

On the other hand, a full and frank debate, along with multi-party condemnation, would send a firm message to the PSNI that this kind of behaviour will not be tolerated in the future.

Joseph Bergin

Caragh Green

Naas

Co Kildare.