Adams and McGuinness’ positions should come with transparency

The political class in the UK and Republic, who do not have to live with the criminality of the nationalist and loyalist terrorists, refuse to face the reality that SF/IRA never went away.

The peace process threw communities to the mercy of drug dealers and thugs, with nothing to create education or employment opportunities. There are more so called peace walls than when the violence was in full flow. Communities are more divided than ever.

I don’t think anyone will deny that Bertie Ahern, Tony Blair and Bill Clinton personify the best example of shallow surface politics that never tackled the root cause of any issue. They created the peace process to stop high profile bombings but did not put in place a framework for the communities to start getting to know each other. In return people like Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness (and plenty of others) were allowed to pretend they were never involved in crimes that no normal society would stomach.

Adams likes to claim he’s ready to take the place of the late Nelson Mandela but at least Mandela had the guts to admit his past. Adams and McGuinness should account for their freedom by having their past verified in a commission, like the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of South Africa. Then, if people still want to vote for them, that is their choice an reflects their morals.

Desmond FitzGerald

Canary Wharf

London