Sinn Fein’s vote in Irish peace process

Re “Are its Troubles over?” editorial, Jan. 30

This editorial states that the police in Northern Ireland “arrested and killed many Roman Catholics over the decades in which they fought for Northern Ireland’s independence from Britain.” In fact, during the period of “the Troubles” from 1969 to 1998, the Royal Ulster Constabulary was responsible for 55 deaths. Over the same period, the Irish Republican Army killed more than 1,700 people. The IRA killed more Roman Catholics than the constabulary and British army combined.

Sinn Fein’s decision to accept the police is welcome, of course, but we should not forget just which organization was responsible for the vast majority of the killings in Northern Ireland. Without the sacrifice of the constabulary in defending democracy and the rule of law, there would be no peace process today.

JONATHAN CAINE

London

The writer is a special advisor for Northern Ireland/Constitutional Affairs for the British House of Commons.

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This editorial is a welcome commentary on the Irish peace process. However, it depicts as “unthinkable” the Sinn Fein vote to support a fresh start on policing and, in our view, perpetuates misconceptions that the stumbling block to progress has been Sinn Fein.

Sinn Fein’s vote is all the more significant because further evidence of police corruption was revealed in a report released shortly before the resolution was adopted. It is nothing less than a magnificent act of Christian generosity that the victims of decades of British misrule agreed to work with the same police who “coddled” loyalist killers.

The reasons for optimism about the restoration of democracy in the north are the leadership and generosity of Sinn Fein and a British government under Prime Minister Tony Blair that has shelved the lawlessness of former Prime Ministers Margaret Thatcher and John Major.

JACK MEEHAN

National president

Ancient Order

of Hibernians

Quincy, Mass.