Deserters’ families were also innocent victims

Mr Cooper rightly points out (Letters, Feb 15) the failure of the State re the Bethany House victims, but makes mischevious and caustic comment by comparing the experiences of alleged deserters to these children.

Might I remind Mr Cooper that the children and families of these alleged deserters were also innocent victims and I and some of them have been fortunate enough to have our abuse claims vindicated within the redress board. We all suffered in one way or another from past decisions and the painful memory of that abuse is still with us. Irrespective as to differences of opinion on the issue of deserters per se, the families and their children are innocent victims and it is not dependent as to whether your parent was in the British forces.

Peter Mulvany