Justice needed
A chairde,
The Robert Hamill case points up all that is wrong with this
society. Last April Robert, a 25 year old Catholic, was kicked
unconscious by a crowd of thirty loyalists in the centre of
Portadown while the RUC looked on. His friend was also beaten but
survived. Robert died from his injuries eleven days later. After
his death six loyalists were charged with his murder. On 31
October three of the loyalists were released. The judge
sympathised with them.
Would this happen in any other country in the world? The
prosecution stated that they could not find witnesses to give
evidence against these men. Robert's family believes that the
other three charged and still in custody will also be released.
The British government will be monitored very carefully to see if
justice is going to be done in this case. There needs to be an
independent investigation into the role of the RUC on the fateful
evening. Those responsible need to be brought to justice.
Fr Joe McVeigh,
Ederney,
Co Fermanagh.
Big business and politics
A chairde,
In Britain, left-wing Labour MPs have courageously joined Tories
and Lib-Dems in calling for an inquiry into possible links
between the one million pound donation from Formula 1 chief,
Bernie Ecclestone, to the Labour Party and the Labour
government's decision to exempt Formula 1 racing from curbs on
cigarette advertising.
Here, there is wide agreement on two points:
1. All political parties who were in government over the past 10
years have got donations from big business (as confirmed by the
McCracken Tribunal);
2. The poverty gap has got worse over the past 10 years as
economic policies have favoured the well-off (as confirmed in
studies by the Conference Of Religious in Ireland and TCD's Dept
of Economics).
Surely, there is a strong case for any new tribunal into
political donations to investigate if there is a link between
these two facts.
(Dr) Sean Marlow.
Dublin 11
Taking the Euro
A chairde,
In recent weeks, many Irish economists have labelled the Irish
government's decision to enter the EMU ahead of Britain as
tantamount to entering a ``boom-bust cycle''. It would be improper,
they contend, for the Republic of Ireland to enter the EMU
without linking arms with Britain.
Nonsense. Firstly, Britain is no longer a major economic player
on the global stage. It is currently the fourth largest economy
in Europe, a position which is destined to diminish as new tiger
markets enter the European arena in future years from central and
eastern Europe.
Secondly, the EMU will not suffer because Britain stays out.
However, British companies will find that the decision taken by
their government will dent their overall competitiveness, and
obstruct future growth.
Thirdly, whether Britain enters or not will make very little
difference for major British companies, many of whom are already
adjusting business practices to trade in the euro.
Foreign-controlled multinationals, which together represent 45%
of all business and industry located in Scotland, Wales and
England, can be expected to trade in the euro from day one.
The real shame for the Celtic Tiger economy is that after 75
years of independence, 40% of this country's total exports are
still sold to one market, England. This is a whopping 70% in the
case of indigenous Irish companies.
Perhaps our national leaders, industrial development gurus and
our esteemed economists can explain why indigenous Irish
companies continue to sell 70% of their total exports to the UK?
Based on this model, the English region of Yorkshire has a more
varied export content and dynamic, with 54% of total production
from this area going to exports, than this so-called independent
Celtic Tiger nation of ours.
Let's put this absurd trading reality in context. The global
marketplace comprises 8 billion consumers, 1.2 billion of which
reside in Europe. That said, how can we as a sovereign economy
justify exporting 70% of our total indigenous exports to a
country with just 55 million people, and a marketplace equating
to less than 5% of all Europeans, and 0.01% of the total world
population? Has anyone got an answer?
Kieran O'Loughlin,
Limerick.
Roads claims rejected
A chairde,
I would like to take issue with a letter published on 6 November
about road protesters in England. Unlike the writer, I was much
involved in three major campaigns in England. He claims ``road
protesters seemed easily put off by court injunctions''. Rubbish!
People were always in court, both locally and in London. I myself
have cross-examined one of the heads of the Highways Agency.
He also claims we were ``put off by the threat of a short spell in
jail''. There are currently people in English jails serving very
long sentences for damage to diggers etc.
I have a female friend who was sent to Holloway for assault after
a professional climber sliced her thumb with a knife. Martha
Ellis was on a life support machine for four days after falling
sixty feet from a tree during an eviction in Bath in 1994.
Finally, to the claim about elitism of protesters. Anyone was
welcome on the camps except, of course, officials of the state.
If they did not come it was probably because they were happier
watching TV and lapping up the propaganda it provided so
effortlessly.
Martin O hAinbhith,
Donegal.
Prison ship Argenta
A chairde,
I am compiling a project on the prison ship SS Argenta. I am at
present searching the recently released documents in the Public
Records Office in Belfast but unfortunately these do not appear
to have a list of the internees. I would be grateful if any of
your readers who may have any information or know anyone who was
on this prison ship would contact me.
Feargal O'Domhnaill
Cnoc A Bhile
Coalisland
BT71 4PF
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