Marked contrast MAUREEN HENRY Lammermuir Gardens, Glasgow

When referring to an article, include date and page. Avoid ‘Letters to the Editor’ in e-mail subject matter. No attachments. Keep letters to under 300 words. We reserve the right to edit letters. Send submissions, which must have a full address and phone number, to:

❚ The Editor, The Scotsman, 30 Queensferry Road, Edinburgh EH4 2HS;

❚ lettersts@scotsman.com

What contrasting messages were sent from B elfast and E d i n b u rg h ye s te r d ay (yo u r report, 24 April).

In B elfast, at the funeral of a y o u n g a n d i n s p i r a t i o n a l j o u r n a l i s t , w h o s e l i f e w a s defined by inclusiveness and who worked tirelessly to break down barriers, we heard the plea for p oliticians to work together to end the divisions that have blighted Nor thern Ireland.

T h e p l e a f r o m F r M a r - tin Magill and others was in stark contrast to the divisive language from First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who, in the S cottish Parliament, put party before country, and set S cotland again on the path w h e r e t h e l a n g u a g e o f division, conflict and discord wi l l d o mi n a te t h e n a t i o n a l conversation.

Was I alone in noticing the response by politicians to the words of the minister at Lyra Mc Ke e’s f u n e r a l s e r v i c e i n Belfast? There was a gradual sp ontaneous standing ova - tion then, near the end, the two Sinn Fein leaders looked at each other, nodded and then stood. Finally the DUP leaders stood, it has to be said, with what looked like bad grace!

C o u l d we h a v e a c l e a r e r

indication of the heart of the Irish problem? JAMES WATSON Randolph Crescent, Dunbar, East Lothian

ments of children from the mining communities of Scotland and Wales, a legacy that will outlive the achievements o f t h o s e wh o n e ve r u n d e r

sto o d the strength or cohe - sion of these communities and conspired to destroy them.

LORIMER DM MACKENZIE Buckingham Terrace, Edinburgh