LETTER: McGuinness polar opposite of Hume

SIR – John Hume is a great Derry man, a great peacemaker and a great Irishman. Martin McGuinness was his polar opposite. 

He conducted a terrorist war against peace and people until such time as he and IRA-Sinn Féin were militarily defeated. It was easy for him to sue for peace when there was no other option. 

His was a life of recklessness, killing, bombing and internecine slaughter. His legacy will not take up too many pages in the history of Ireland, but for this.

The violent organisation he led, which appealed to hot-headed young people, only served to shorten their own lives and others within their own community by following blindly the course set by Martin and others, who foolishly believed their way was the only course for Northern Ireland to follow. He, in the final days of his life, allowed himself to be further used by Sinn Féin to bring down his government when there was no good reason to do so.

Shinners call this the ‘unarmed strategy’ and how far have they moved away the past? Not too far, say the Irish who know them well.

The language of the defeated is usually couched in words which attempt to portray pseudo victory in order to save face. There is a fierce bitterness in NI and people like Martin are to the fore in such irresponsible conduct, while toying with constitutional politics.

Not to be trusted – and their long-term goals have little basis in continuing a peaceful path if the climate is conducive to their overall long-term strategies.

Their ‘cutting-edge’ mentality is never too far from the surface.

Robert Sullivan,

Bantry.