Political climate not right for royal visit
While acknowledging the inclusiveness and reconciliatory ethos of Mrs Mary McAleese’s presidency, I believe it to be totally inappropriate and divisive for such a visit to take place while some issues affecting Northern Ireland remain unresolved.
Not alone is Queen Elizabeth head of state, she is also head of the British armed forces holding various titles, among them colonel-in-chief of all the Guards’ regiments.
As the families of those murdered in Derry on Bloody Sunday, and Dublin and Monaghan in May 1974, await the outcome of tribunals of inquiry and judicial reports to see to what extent the queen’s regiments were involved in the murder of their loved ones, no royal visit should take place and no invitation should be issued.
Tom Cooper
23 Delaford Lawn
Knocklyon
Dublin 16
