IRA ceasefire created a window of opportunity

RECENT utterances by Minister for Justice Michael McDowell prompts me to write. The IRA ceasefire in 1994 created a window of opportunity for achieving a lasting solution of the situation in the Six Counties.

The Irish people owe a deep debt of gratitude to Gerry Adams, John Hume, Albert Reynolds, Fr Alex Reed and the other unsung heroes who helped in creating the Northern Peace Process. Those good people achieved mission impossible.

In the years leading up to the ceasefire, they had to withstand a barrage of criticism. from certain quarters. This criticism was led by the Sunday Independent, prominent among those critics was Michael McDowell.

The Peace Process has almost certainly been responsible for saving the lives of hundreds of people.

The Peace Process is a tender plant which requires careful nurturing. The last thing it needs is provocative statements by Michael McDowell.

Michael O'Connor

Kilvoultra

Macroom

Co Cork