"The wages of sin nowadays are a few years
of full board and lodging at the country's expense with a
chance to study for a degree, followed by tender loving care
from ex-prisoners aid societies. The wages of sin of a victim
are poverty, oblivion and a lonely grave. It's the sinners
the tabloids pursue with their cheque books." This is
not a description of the situation of which we are only too
well aware of in Northern Ireland but a quotation from a Dick
Francis thriller, "To the Hilt". (1996) It is an
encapsulation of the thinking of many today who are horrified,
and very, very angry at the treatment of sufferers from the
crimes of others, who without repentance for their evil deeds,
are treated with a leniency which makes a nonsense of law
and order in this country. Whatever the reasons for such clemency
to criminals elsewhere in the United Kingdom the reason for
the release of terrorists here is to further the progress
of the Belfast Agreement of which this decision was a part.
The primary hope from the implentation of the Agreement of
the Government was, and is, that the horrors of terrorism
will not be revisited on Great Britain. What is done is in
the search for peace in Northern Ireland. In that pursuit
decisions have been taken and allowances made that are contrary
to what is normal and acceptable in British society. Incredible
things are happening. Who would have believed that after 30
years of suffering from the horrifying effects of terrorism,
terrorists would be in government and with their arms and
munitions intact? There is no need to labour the point but
what has happened here has turned morality, honesty and decency,
on its head and the norms of a democratic society have been
abandoned in the search after peace. But what kind of peace
is possible if it is built on a basis of dishonesty and distrust
for the terrorists have yet to meet their obligations, and
in which the Government and the Prime Minister have acted
shamefully? Nothing that is happening now gives us confidence
for the future. Politics remain in a grievous state of unease
and uncertainty. He must be an ultra optimist who hopes that
out of the maze will come what every good citizen wants, proper
government real peace and lasting prosperity. The "ceasefires"
have shown that this peaceful province has excellent prospects
for prosperity. The evidence for that is everywhere in the
changed and greatly improved appearance of our cities, towns
and villages. The impression is that most people are living
the good life in a pleasant environment. There is too, the
availability of people highly regarded for their intelligence,
skill, ingenuity and adaptability in an area recognised everywhere
for its superior standards in education and training, and
worker and employer relationships. A devolved government must
build on this to produce a fair, just and peaceful society
for all its citizens. We may not believe that the present
administration can obtain this goal. If that is proved to
be the case then we must have one which makes it happen. Whatever
we think of those presently in government in Stormont we want
a devolved government in Northern Ireland. But the polticians
in that government must not be representatives of forces and
influences, sectarian and divisive, destructive of the true
democracy we want here.
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