It’s no wonder Rockall’s ownership is disputed – so why not share it instead?

In 1985 Ireland’ s Michael d’alton observed that “a Scot, it would seem from his name, has made a landing on Rockall”. The alleged ‘ S cot’, Tom Mcclean, had planted a Union Jack and stayed for 40 days, though in an attempt to claim the currently disputed island in the North West Atlantic “for England”.

D’ Al ton countered by recounting his par tina successful, albeit brief er, Irish tri colour planting exp edition in 1975. In recalling these exploits recently, a Dublin newspaper called Mcclean a “British man”.in fact, Tom M cc lean’ sid entity is at least as confused as are claims on Rockall. His mother gave birth to Mcclean in Dublin’s Bethany Home in 1943, because she was unmarried.

Not the first to suffer involuntary child migration to England,Mc clean w assen tuna ccompanied in 1947 to“Mr F egan’ s Home” for“P rot estant Boys” at Yardley Gobion. He was later misinformed that his parents had died in a fire.

Mr Fegan’s junior orphanage was run by women who, according to Mcclean’s 1983 memoir, “weren’t nuns, but they dressed as if they were... We had Bible classes every day, twice on Sundays.”

Since food was poor and in short supply, boys“fought among ourselves to get enough to eat”. Mcclean further recounted, “I learned to fight early and was often beaten for it”. This treatment prepared Mcclean for life in the British Army’s parachute regiment, before transfer to the SAS.

He then turned to adventure. In 1969 Mcclean was the first to row the Atlantic alone, from Newfoundland to Blackso d Bay in Mayo. He did it again in 1982, in a boat 9ft 9in long.

After tracing his roots Mcclean remarked in 2010, “I claimed Rockall for England when I was Irish”. He added, “It’s quite a story, with Ireland and England and everything”. He observed, “I’m an Irishman sounding like an Englishman, living in Scotland… [E]very single person in my family going back generations is Irish”.

Now, the government of where Mcclean has lived for many years is claiming Rockall (Scotsman, 10 June). Perhaps Mcclean’s shared, if complicated, heritage could inspire the Irish and Scottish governments to share the uncomplicated rock.

DR NIALL MEEHAN Faculty Head, Journalism & Media, Griffith College, Dublin

Bobby M cD on agh, former Irish Ambassador to the UK and EU, said this about the SNP’S claymore-rattling over Rock all :“The S NP government, whose principal policy is to seek independence, is forcefully asserting its interpretation of UK rights more than the UK government itself.”

I can think of only three reasons for this: it’s either a belated sooking up to Scots fishermen, an attempt to show up Westminster, or a “power grab” for a couple of frigates and a big tricorn hat so SNP External Affairs Secretary, Rear Admiral Fiona Hyslop can carry out her threat that vessels will be deployed to take “enforcement action” against Irish vessels found fishing within 12 miles of Rockall”. Pathetic ALLAN SUTHERLAND Willow Row, Stonehaven