Don’t damage peace to score points on Sinn Féin

I am not a political supporter of Sinn Féin but I am a supporter of the peace process in Ireland. 

I fear that some political parties, north and south, are trying to achieve short-term political gain, at the expense of Sinn Fein, over the possible involvement of former or existing IRA or Sinn Féin members in recent murders. It would be irresponsible to damage the Irish peace process for such unjustified political reasons.

Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael would do well to remember the crimes and human rights abuses committed by their own paramilitary predecessors during the war of independence and the civil war, including the execution without trial of prisoners of war.

More recently, some former Irish Government ministers, and some opposition politicians, were convicted of various crimes, and perhaps several more should have joined them. However, this does not mean that the Irish Government as a whole, or any one political party, has been guilty of these crimes, or even complicit in them.

I believe that Sinn Féin are now genuinely working towards peace and democracy. The crimes of a few members or ex-members should not be misused to damage the I peace process as this will damage the future of democracy in Ireland.

Dr Edward Horgan

Castletroy

Limerick