Decommissioning sticking point is irrelevant

ARCHBISHOP Sean Brady has said it was reasonable for republicans to regard DUP demands for photographic proof as humiliating.

I believe this is irrelevant The IRA does not intend to make available such photographs and there is no need for them. The question of photographic proof and transparency arose after the last act of decommissioning.

Gen John De Chastelain’s report could only say that significant decommissioning had taken place. He could not indicate what remained in the arsenal or even what percentage was decommissioned. While no one questioned De Chastelain’s authority, competency or honesty, unionists who so wished could argue that this act was meaningless due to the constraints placed by the IRA on what the general could report.

Gen De Chastelain’s next report may state that complete decommissioning has taken place, that 100% of the arsenal has been destroyed and that no item remained available for future use.

There would be no ambiguity here, no need for any clarification of percentages or what threat remained. Fully decommissioned, nothing remaining, no threat.

Please let everyone carry on with the peace process.

Mícheál Ó Coileáin

Ballyortha South

Doora

Co Clare