Mandela was inspiring

The sad passing of Madiba is all part of life and he will be remembered by everyone who seeks justice and fair play. Mr Mandela was first and foremost a revolutionary despised by so many for so long, especially our close neighbour.

I think of two things in relation to Nelson Mandela. One is a young lady called Mary Manning who stood outside her comfort zone and refused with others to take South African products at Dunnes during the horrible apartheid era. The other was a young boy of 16 who got his first letter published in a newspaper in Belfast with the Irish News. When I wrote about the apartheid regime, I waited for my father to come home from work to show him the fruits of my labour. I have not stopped writing since. We salute you Madiba.

Paul Doran