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Irish Independent
12-08-2025
- Politics
- Irish Independent
Letters: The scale of destruction and death by Israeli action is impossible to justify
Many believe the killings are intentional, despite the excuses or lies used by Israel to justify its killings. They regard it as the Israeli state's way of stopping the flow of on-the-ground news that captures the horrifying spectacle we see on our TVs each and every day. How can the intentional targeting of 1,400 medical staff, working in hospitals in Gaza, since the October 7 attacks by Hamas and its proxies, be justified? Where is the justification for the targeted killing of 61,430 people and over 200 who have starved to death, or those who have been killed in the process of trying to get food? While we need to see the end of Hamas and its militant comrades, with the release of hostages, how can America or those who supply weapons to Israel justify so much death and destruction? While we have condemned atrocities on both sides of this conflict, with a hamstrung and ineffective UN Security Council incapable of doing anything to stop this conflict, and an America under Donald Trump a willing participator that supplies weapons to this genocide, who will be held to account when this war is finally over? Christy Galligan, Letterkenny, Co Donegal The Tricolour is a symbol of unity between the green and orange – be proud of it Darragh McManus's piece 'Other countries fly their flags without embarrassment – it's time we did so too' (Irish Independent, August 11) is timely. The original Tricolour, handmade by a group of French-Irish women – descendants of the Irish Wild Geese – was presented to Thomas Francis Meagher in 1848. The tragedy of the Irish Tricolour emanated in 'political' hatred in the aftermath of the Civil War and the 1926 split in Sinn Féin. Post 1922, there was little official teaching of the origins, or symbolism, of the national flag in local museums or libraries. Its description varied according to the tutor, some refusing to accept the 'Orange' – opting for Green, White and 'Yellow'/ 'Gold' due to ingrained misunderstanding of the symbolism. Mr McManus's points out: 'The whole point of our flag's design, after all, was to promote reconciliation, not division: orange and green, the white of peace between them.' Politicians of all parties allowed the Irish national flag to be usurped by the murdering PIRA post 1970, instead of taking ownership of the flag and all it symbolises. We are all proud of the aeons of history of the island of Ireland; it is time every Irish person took complete ownership of a great symbol with pride. To do so would create a genuine reason for a united Ireland; a genuine reason that requires truth, decency and respectful acceptance of each citizen of the four provinces. Declan Foley, Melbourne, Australia A Putin win signals that borders are negotiable if you use enough brutality Your editorial warns of the dangers in sidelining Ukraine in any territorial negotiations ('Throwing Ukraine under the bus is not a legitimate solution', August 11, Irish Independent). History shows us that once a precedent is set, others are quick to exploit it. The world learnt this in 1938, when ceding the Sudetenland to Hitler in the name of peace only emboldened his appetite for conquest. Within a year, Poland was invaded and Europe was engulfed in war. To reward aggression by granting land is to signal to every autocrat that borders are negotiable if you bring enough force to bear. If Ukraine is carved up under diplomatic cover, the next decade will see a rise in opportunistic invasions – not only in Europe, but in regions where old disputes lie dormant, waiting for a signal that the strong may once again take from the weak. Enda Cullen, Tullysaran Road, Co Armagh Presidential hopefuls remember: the office is supposed to be impartial The programme that aired on TG4 last Sunday night discussing president Patrick Hillery's tenure over his two terms in office showed the principles regarding impartially that the next president should uphold. Mr Hillery was asked by taoiseach Garret FitzGerald of Fine Gael to dissolve the Dáil and call a general election in January 1982 when the budget failed to be passed. He refused to speak to several high-ranking politicians within the main opposition party, Fianna Fáil, who wanted to persuade him to not call a general election in order for it to try to form a government. As Mr Hillery was a former Fianna Fáil politician, I am sure he was under severe pressure to speak to his former party members. He showed great respect for the impartially of the office in calling a general election. We will hear a lot over the coming few months regarding the personalities and political ideologies of the citizens looking to become the next president, but once elected the president is bound by the Constitution. Eamonn O'Hara, Manorcunningham, Co Donegal Bureaucracy suffocates democracy and does so at great cost to the taxpayer By definition, 'democracy is a system of government where the power is held by the people'. The reality is that democratic values of public engagement have been replaced in recent years by a complicated maze of bureaucracy. Elected governments have farmed out the role to EU regulations and directives to unelected civil servants, who in turn act on the promptings of government-funded NGOs and vested interests who in turn profit from government investment. Local democracy has become redundant. Bureaucracy is the real thief of democracy and taxpayers' money; it creates a multiplicity of laws and regulations, which bamboozles the average citizen. It breaks one of the most basic rules of the law – that 'the law must be clear and precise'. It must be understandable to all who are bound by it. In Ireland's case, the president, who is the last signature on every bill brought into law, should keep this in mind. That would ensure that our courts are not taken up by petty squabbling among barristers and judges as to meaning of laws passed. It's often too costly for the average citizen to challenge any law or get justice, but not for those with deep pockets. Nuala Nolan, Bowling Green, Co Galway
Belfast Telegraph
07-06-2025
- Belfast Telegraph
‘Every day has tears': Belfast mum of Nóra Quoirin describes her heartbreak almost six years after daughter's death
Nóra Quoirin, who would have turned 21 last week, vanished from her room at the Dusun rainforest resort in 2019. Her body was found nine days after she went missing. An inquest initially recorded her death was by misadventure, but her mother Meabh has always believed her child was abducted. A second inquest returned an open verdict, with the judge agreeing with the family that Nóra could not have made her way through the jungle on her own. In a new interview with The Irish Times, Meabh said she does not believe anyone will ever be brought to justice for Nóra's death. 'The judge did say it was highly probable Nóra had been abducted and led there by someone else, but of course we just don't have proof of that, and I don't think we'll ever have answers,' she said. She added: 'I have zero faith in Malaysia ever paying attention to Nóra's case again. 'In the end, I try not to carry any anger. I don't think I do carry any anger.' Nora lived in London and was the daughter of French-Irish parents Sebastien and Meabh, who is from Belfast. The 15-year-old was born with holoprosencephaly, which affects brain development, and was described by her family as 'vulnerable'. When she disappeared from her hotel room her parents raised fears she had been taken. However, police in Malaysia said they found no evidence of abduction or kidnapping. A post-mortem examination revealed Nóra died from internal bleeding probably caused by hunger and stress. Her funeral took place in Belfast, and she is buried in Milltown Cemetery. Meabh told The Irish Times she still has photographs of her daughter on her walls. 'I can't bring myself to take any of them off the wall,' she added. 'So I just go around the house looking at them and talking to her and laughing about the stupid stuff she would laugh at and crying. Every day has tears.' Meabh marked what would have been Nora's 21st birthday with a trip to Hillsborough Forest Park. 'We went to Hillsborough for a picnic, with her [favourite] chocolate cake, and there were purple rhododendrons and purple flowers absolutely everywhere, and it was almost like this display had been put on for her birthday,' she added. 'She might not be standing physically beside me, but my universe is still filled with Nóra, constantly.'
