Charity’s association with British Army not appropriate

I must admit to having been unaware of the upcoming charity fundraising event at the K Club to raise funds for the Jack and Jill Foundation, a most worthy cause, until I read the letter from Peter Mulvany (Irish Examiner, Sept 14).

Now that I am aware of the event, which is to include an appearance by members of a British Army regiment, the Band of the Irish Guards, let me make my position clear.

The new political dispensation mandated by the Belfast Agreement, and alluded to by Mr Mulvany, has produced many positives. However, I feel the invitation extended to members of the British Army to appear at a fundraising event for children is most inappropriate. I believe it is more an exercise in conferring a new respectability on the British Army under the guise of charity fundraising, and all the soft focus media or high-powered spin doctoring cannot alter the record of the British Army, both in Ireland and abroad.