Give Northern Ireland back to the Irish people

REGARDING the upcoming presidential election, I think it’s time for change and to forget the past.

There was a time I would connect Sinn Féin with the IRA, and I wouldn’t dare mention a united Ireland for fear of being called a sympathiser, and I am probably sticking my neck out now. But I think it would be making a statement to the rest of the world to have a president from Northern Ireland, not particularly Martin McGuinness, but he is the candidate put forward.

There is talk about Fianna Fáil changing their name due to brand damage, I think it is more important for Sínn Féin to change name as there is so much violence associated with their past connections which probably put many Irish people off supporting their campaign for a united Ireland.

I will stick my neck out further now and say I think the British Government should give Northern Ireland back to the Irish people, even though I am aware many Northern Ireland citizens do not want this, but it is part of the island of Ireland and if I wanted to be part of Britain I would go and live there. Britain gave up control of other countries, which they colonised, such as India. Why not give Northern Ireland back to the Irish people?

To simplify it, if you take someone’s property and give back part of it, but in the meantime someone settles in the part you kept, and years later the owner wants that part back also, he is entitled to it. But perhaps I am over-simplifying it.

Gerry Mulcaire

Cluain Ard

Bweeng

Mallow

Co Cork