No home rule

Ayesha Hazarika (Perspective, 30 May 30), quotes an Irish friend of hers, saying, re: the abortion vote, “home rule instead of Rome rule”, ie, the ending of Catholic influence in the country.

Ayesha also goes on to criticise the Northern Irish for keeping anti-abortion legislation. In my view, Ulster is the only part of the UK where the unborn still have some protection.

In matters of social liberalism, what they say about Ireland may be true, but in other matters, such as economic and political sovereignty, Ireland gave up home rule long ago, to the EU. The old revolutionaries must be spinning in their graves! There is a lesson here too, for the SNP. WILLIAM BALLANTINE

Dean Road Bo’ness, West Lothian