SIR: I take exception to the letter from E Goodwin (BEN, May 8) applauding Tony Blair and Mo Mowlam for the Northern Ireland Peace Initiative. It is grossly out of order.

Granted Tony Blair is the British Prime Minister and she his Northern Ireland Secretary, jobs for which they both get well paid. Beyond that they just so happen to be privileged to be in the right place at the right time.

The Peace Process is not just something that happened since New Labour took office. No, it's been going on about five and a quarter years, since that very wintry night in February 1993, when John Hulme crossed the border into the County Donegal for secret talks with leading members of Sinn Fein, a move which Mr Hulme was very much condemned for, because at that time Fenians were only allowed to talk through an actor's voice.

Mr Hulme knew he had to do this if only to reduce the number of murders in his own constituency. All honour is rightly his and any suggestion to the contrary is a travesty of justice.

A Devlin

Glynne Street

Farnworth

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