LETTER : Definitions of democracy in Northern Ireland

From Mr Douglas Pinnock

Sir: Why are we, the British people, not allowed to know who really runs the IRA and, hence, who we should be negotiating with? Apparently, there is a seven-man "Army Council" who, by a vote, took the decision to end the ceasefire (resulting in the bombing of Docklands). But who were the voters?

All over the world, where there is discord, men take these decisions; but mostly we know who they are, or are allowed to know who they are by governments and the press. In the UK, we are not even allowed to know whether Messrs Adams and McGuinness are part of the body that would have taken this recent decision.

Yours faithfully,

Douglas Pinnock

London, SW14

13 February