An open letter to Ian Paisley

YOUR constituency has backed you and for this, according to your own words, you are humbled. However, there is a wider environment involved beyond the boundaries of your constituency.

What about the remainder of the people in Northern Ireland and as you are a representative in the national Government in Westminster the eyes of Scotland, England and Wales are upon you and have their opinion of your “holiday oversight”.

It does not end there; what about the world-wide Christian community which you profess to belong to?

I suggest to you that just because your constituency backed you, and probably your political party, in my opinion there is not closure to your “forgetfulness” in failing to disclose your foreign holiday dealings.

You also need to address your God who will no doubt forgive you.

I suggest to you in order to be honourable and upstanding in the situation you need to address the financial gain you received.

My suggestion to you is to return the money to a worthy cause and one that springs to mind in union with your Christian belief is Christian Aid for which I understand there is an office in Belfast.

According to the Christian Aid website, for each £1 donated they can match this with Government and EU funds adding £4 to every £1 donated, and their website gives illustrations of emergency cases they fund.

Let the public know you have done this by having confirmation printed in the Belfast Telegraph and in my opinion this would bring proper closure and show you to be an honourable man worthy of praise.

I leave this challenge with you. How you react will be interesting.

R GRAHAM Hillsborough