Here is this week’s People’s Letters Page…
Dear Editor,
“We need to see each other smile; we need to sing again” is the chorus An Taoiseach uses in a song with no verse nor meaning.
Spring is coming he sings as he forgets to remember the most vulnerable, leaving them on the scrapheap of hope.
A new beginning is not always a new place, it is a state of mind.
We still need to be mindful of others.
Darren Lalor
Tyrrelstown
Dublin 15
Dear Editor,
I was saddened to learn of the death of author/journalist Colm Keane, but I find that sadness is offset to some degree in the case of this talented man by the enormity of his achievement in documenting so many instances of Irish Near Death Experiences (NDES) and other possible evidence that we do indeed survive the demise of our mortal bodies.
His books brought immeasurable comfort to grieving people, to others to sought meaning in a world that often seemed bereft of any, and gave those of us inclined to scepticism on all things paranormal or supernatural some food for thought and maybe a reason to re-think our staunchly-held views or preconceptions.
His books Going Home and The Distant Shore, in particular, are outstanding works on the subject of NDEs. What I found most impressive about the cases he documented was the testimony of people who were resuscitated after being declared clinically dead and who then described in clear detail what was happening in the hospital at a time when they were at the very least unconscious and technically “dead.”
Regardless of one’s religious affiliation or lack of adherence to any doctrinal belief-system, the cases Colm presented in his books make for fascinating reading and would, I imagine, test the strength of even the most ardent materialist.
His research into a subject that touches all of us also helped Colm to find the strength to continue writing and asserting his humanity in the face of a severe and debilitating illness.
After a writing career largely dedicated to offering hope in the midst of despair, I have no doubt but that this writer has himself made that journey that I believe we’ll all make one day, to that “Distant Shore”: To a world infinitely more agreeable that this one where suffering ends and loved ones await our arrival.
Thank you, Colm Keane, for shining a light on the greatest mystery of all.
Thanking you,
John Fitzgerald
Dear Editor,
We fully support families who have come forward over the years, and again lately, demanding independent public inquiries into their torture as a result of State policing policies, including the Garda Heavy Gang.
Following RTE’s shocking and disturbing Crimes and Confessions series we again draw attention to the outstanding requirement by the Irish Government to hold independent public inquiries into each substantial allegation of torture, whether requested or not.
The State requirement to hold statutory independent public inquiries follows the State’s signing of both the UN Convention Against Torture and the European Convention of Human Rights.
In the Sallins Case, we, along with our family members, reiterate the demand for an independent statutory public inquiry into our treatment by the State from 1976 to the present day.
Passage of time or payment of compensation is irrelevant to the duty under the conventions to hold enquiries.
State apologies for the results of an inquiry can only be made after an inquiry.
Each day that passes without the inquiry is renewed and real-time cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment and a further breach of our Convention rights.
Yours sincerely,
Osgur Breatnach, Mick Barret, John Fitzpatrick, Nicky Kelly and Brian McNally
Dear Editor,
Ahead of the planned Russian naval war games due to take place soon off the south west coast, I just want to draw your readers attention to an aspect being overlooked.
While a lot of focus has rightly been put on the potential environmental damage the Russians could inflict on the marine life off the Irish coast, there could be another worrying fallout to these ‘war games’.
The Russians will be conducting their exercises very close to the AC-1, a 14,000 km trans-Atlantic submarine cable system which links the USA to the U.K., Netherlands and Germany.
From what I’ve read over the last few years, Russian submarines and spy ships are aggressively operating near this, and other, vital undersea cables.
Just a few weeks ago Admiral Tony Radakin, who is the head of the UK’s armed forces, warned that Russian submarine activity is threatening underwater cables that are crucial to communication systems around the world.
Speaking to the UK Times he said there had been a “phenomenal increase in Russian submarine and underwater activity” over the past 20 years.
He also said the Russians could “put at risk and potentially exploit the world’s real information system, which is undersea cables that go all around the world”.
This is also causing concerns among some American military and intelligence officials that the Russians might be planning to attack those cables.
NATO’s military leadership has likewise warned in recent months that the Russian navy is aggressively probing undersea communications cable networks.
These cables form a global infrastructure system that transmits 99 percent of the international data sent over the internet.
Heaven help the Russians if they cut off the internet for the USA and Europe!
Yours sincerely
James Carney,
Cabra