Nuclear tsunami threat shows Putin’s contempt

AS UKRAINE continues to be mauled by Putin’s murderous regime, these weeks in our history carry little succour for any democratic country.

This past week was notably tormenting from an Irish point of view. Having, in the weeks before invading Ukraine, manipulated the honesty and naivety of our south coast fishermen to cynically cast a shadow of inadequacy on the functioning of the Department of Foreign Affairs, Moscow upped the ante this week with state television graphics illustrating how Putin’s war-kit could acquire a capability to wipe out the British Isles with a nuclear tsunami in retaliation for supporting Ukraine.

The fact that our sovereignty wasn’t respected by mention in the broadcast underlines Russia’s attitude to small nations.

Michael Gannon, Kilkenny city.

State of our defence

TWO former army officers have been quoted recently as having stated that Ireland’s defence is in worse shape than before the Troubles began in the 1970s.

Our troop numbers are down 20% since 1971, half our ships are tied up in dry dock, our barracks are closed and our aeroplanes are still propeller-driven. It seems all our Defence Forces could do in the event of an invasion is to organise an orderly surrender.

This would be funny if it wasn’t so serious. In view of the mockedup clip of a nuclear missile attack on these islands that we saw on Russian state TV in recent days, we are in a bad place in terms of adequate State defences.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has called for an apology, but it has apparently fallen on deaf ears.

Tom Towey, Clonacool, Co. Sligo.

Bombing files

CALLS for the discontinuation of diplomatic relations with Russia were further strengthened when Russian state TV broadcast clips simulating Ireland being wiped out by a nuclear strike this week.

However, if those calling for the expulsion of the Russian ambassador are to be morally and ethically consistent, they must also hold to account others responsible for atrocities against other innocent victims.

On May 17, 1974 in Dublin and Monaghan, 34 innocent citizens were killed indiscriminately in the most devastating attack in the history of the State. Following the publication of the final report of the Commission of Investigation into these bombings by Mr

Justice Henry Barron, it was established that it was ‘neither fanciful nor absurd’ that members of the security forces in Northern Ireland could have been involved in these bombings.

Furthermore, it was established by Barron that files which may be of assistance in identifying those responsible for these bombings were in the possession of the British government. Despite repeated calls for these files to be released, successive British governments have refused to cooperate. The victims of the bombings are still being ignored by those whose duty it is to identify the terrorists, not harbour them.

Tom Cooper, Templeogue, Dublin 6W.

Michael D and Musk

I FOUND President Michael D Higgins’s recent criticisms of billionaires controlling online discussion to be somewhat disingenuous. My understanding is all social media platforms are owned and controlled by very rich individuals.

The President’s criticisms come on the back of social media giant Twitter recently confirming it would be moving ahead to sell its company to the billionaire Elon Musk for $44bn.

Facetiously, I found it all rather ironic to hear our wealthy President accusing another wealthy individual of narcissism. After all, it was the late English actor John Hurt who once said, ‘Life is full of ironies and paradoxes’.

John O’Brien, Clonmel, Co. Tipperary.

Soaps and alcohol

DRAMA series Fair City is getting very carried away with public house scenes and blatant crass advertising.

There is hardly a scene now in the series which is not in some way associated with alcohol and its centrepiece, the pub. The series is also bringing more and more scenes with alcohol into view outside the pub.

There is a huge problem with alcohol in this country and also gambling, yet script writers are going hell for leather to bring the pub and other vices into our homes to advance normalisation and promotion.

Can this country do anything without alcohol being involved?

Maurice Fitzgerald, Shanbally, Co. Cork.