TRY HARDER FOR DONNA MARIE'S SAKE.
Try harder, for Donna Marie's sake
NO MATTER what the pressure on them today, David Trimble and Gerry Adams should take a few minutes to re-read the letters from Donna Marie McGillion.
As she says, she is not a politician. She is just an ordinary person who would never have become famous if it had not been for the terrible injuries she suffered in the Omagh bombing.
But in these last crucial days before the deadline for the peace process runs out, it is people like Donna Marie who really matter.
For far too long, politicians argued while thousands like her were slaughtered and maimed.
It is not that the majority of those who live in Northern Ireland do not care about principles. They do. But they care about peace even more.
They want to live in a Northern Ireland where children can grow up free from terror, as Donna Marie says in her letters.
If no deal is done by Wednesday, the appalling bloodshed and violence could swiftly return. And this time there would be no way out.
Mr Trimble and Mr Adams have gone so far. Their courage reflects the bravery of the ordinary people of Northern Ireland. Now they have to find that little bit more.
The Good Friday agreement brought real hope to the province for the first time in 30 years.
It meant the leaders on both sides swallowing things which stuck in their throats. But that showed true strength, not weakness.
They must not give up. If they do, the winners will be a handful of psychopathic killers.
And the losers will be Donna Marie and millions like her.
NO MATTER what the pressure on them today, David Trimble and Gerry Adams should take a few minutes to re-read the letters from Donna Marie McGillion.
As she says, she is not a politician. She is just an ordinary person who would never have become famous if it had not been for the terrible injuries she suffered in the Omagh bombing.
But in these last crucial days before the deadline for the peace process runs out, it is people like Donna Marie who really matter.
For far too long, politicians argued while thousands like her were slaughtered and maimed.
It is not that the majority of those who live in Northern Ireland do not care about principles. They do. But they care about peace even more.
They want to live in a Northern Ireland where children can grow up free from terror, as Donna Marie says in her letters.
If no deal is done by Wednesday, the appalling bloodshed and violence could swiftly return. And this time there would be no way out.
Mr Trimble and Mr Adams have gone so far. Their courage reflects the bravery of the ordinary people of Northern Ireland. Now they have to find that little bit more.
The Good Friday agreement brought real hope to the province for the first time in 30 years.
It meant the leaders on both sides swallowing things which stuck in their throats. But that showed true strength, not weakness.
They must not give up. If they do, the winners will be a handful of psychopathic killers.
And the losers will be Donna Marie and millions like her.
Further Information
Publisher: THE MIRROR
Ref: TM/089
Published Date: 28-Jun-99
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