Republican News · Thursday 7 February 2002

Shampoo Tories

A Chairde,

Many thanks for the plug in Fifth Column for The Anglo-Irish Murders, my satire on the peace process (HarperCollins, £5.99).

However, I have to demur at your allegation that Sean O'Callaghan is 'with MI5 and Dudley Edwards on the Tory cocktail circuit'. Cocktail parties, as the Sinn Féin President can tell you, are what Americans have. Tories, Sean O'Callaghan and I prefer champagne.

Sadly, contrary to your cherished myth, neither Sean nor I can answer for MI5.

Ruth Dudley Edwards

O'Callaghan and Trimble

A Chairde,

I see that the informer Sean O'Callaghan has resurfaced as a parliamentary advisor to David Trimble. Someone already in the pay of MI5 and its stable of right-wing English newspapers is obviously duty bound to attempt to prop up what remains of the imperial system that sustains him.

When asked by Joe Duffy on RTE's Liveline (28 January) whether he was being paid by Mr Trimble, O'Callaghan said no, because he had not joined and was not a supporter of the Ulster Unionist Party.

Is this the same Sean O'Callaghan who addressed the Friends of the Union group in 1998 "on behalf of all pro-Union people", who argued passionately against Scottish independence and who praised that other professional West Brit and southern unionist, Conor Cruise O'Brien. O'Callaghan finished his peroration to his newfound friends: "We can back the Ulster Unionist Party, we can back David Trimble."

Sean O'Callaghan's continued level of willing self-delusion is indicated in the same speech in relation to the LVF (those other agents of MI5) handover of a token weapon: "We have seen how decommissioning can work in practice." Not long after this gesture on behalf of their political masters, the LVF were allowed to return to the habitual practice of killing Catholics, whose demise was then duly ignored by David Trimble, Sean O'Callaghan and the right-wing newspapers he writes for.

Mick Finnegan,
Cabra,
Dublin 7

Coleraine students and the RUC/PSNI

A Chairde,

I wish to take this opportunity to reply to an article which appeared in last week's paper (31 January). The article stated that I had rejected a motion passed at a General Meeting at the Coleraine campus on the 11th December 2001.

Firstly, I think that it is sad that Mr MacEachaidh could not have contacted me in person, but rather had almost copied the Belfast Telegraph's article ad verbatum.

If I could make my position quite clear on this issue: I fully support the wishes of those students who have voted to reject the RUC/PSNI at the Coleraine Campus - as members of the Students' Union, they have exercised their democratic rights effectively and clearly.

I must also clear up any ambiguity surrounding the content of the motion discussed, which proposed that the Students' Union should not "support" the new policing arrangements - nothing more. Therefore, I cannot be mandated on something which the motion does not contain.

As a Students' Union Officer, representing over 21,000 students, my own personal opinion on the acceptability/unacceptability of the RUC/PSNI is totally irrelevant.

On a related note, as an Officer representing students at Belfast, Coleraine, Jordanstown and Magee College, I cannot be bound constitutionally to a motion only passed on one, two or even three campuses, if not passed on the fourth.

To clear up further points raised in the article: yes, the motion was "student driven" because it was proposed by a number of students, and of course the result was only a "snapshot" (albeit a very important snapshot) because the Coleraine Campus has a population of approximately 5,000 students, so how could a vote by 150 students be regarded as anything other than a snapshot of student opinion?

I trust that this response clears up any misconceptions regarding Coleraine students and the RUC/PSNI.

Colum Delaney,
Overall President,
University of Ulster Students' Union

Student democracy

A Chairde,

The article that Seán MacEachaidh (Thursday 31/01/02)submitted to your newspaper again leaves me disheartened. So many people have a go at student unions for being too political, not political enough, for being too complex in their democractic structures or not being democratic enough.

I am just even more surprised to see someone like Mr MacEachaidh criticise student unions. He was a student officer when I was at Jordanstown and should know better.

When 150 students get together for a meeting and make a statement about anything, it cannot be described as the opinion of the entire college.

I fully endorse the rejection of the RUC/PSNI on the grounds outlined, however, this is merely 'a snapshot' of student opinion. If 150 students got together and agreed that the police force has 'an outstanding human rights record' or 'there should be an immediate halt to the Bloody student inquiry', is this the opinion of Ulster students? No, it is merely a sample or snapshot. Should the president of the college act on these new statements as if they were policy? No.

For far too long in the north an opinion of a few has been the policy for the rest to the detriment of the working class people, this has been very wrong as we all know. I thought that of all people Mr MacEachaidh would know that. Obviously not

J.McGill

Loughgall Request

The Loughgall Truth and Justice Campaign is in the process of writing a commemorative booklet on the nine men killed at Loughgall in 1987. We are seeking friends etc, who would like to include their own special memories of any or all of the men in the book. Stories, poems, illustrations etc, are all welcome. Names do not need to be included and all material will be returned upon request. We would very much appeciate any assistance on this project.

Mairead Kelly
62 St John's Crescent,
Clondalkin,
Dublin 22
email: mpkelly1@eircom.net