ALAN or other English/British readers. Apologies in advance for getting serious but here is a thought for you. Have you ever considered that the so-called 'Irish Problem' is in fact a 'British' problem. I live in the Republic of Ireland where there has been very minimal terrorist activity. The minority support for and tolerance of IRA violence is thankfully dwindling rapidly. It seems to me that most of the atrocities are commited on 'British controlled land' by people resident in Britain. I feel its a bit unfair therefore that you would make a comment asking the Irish to leave their bombs behind. I understand the pain, death and damage caused by the violence but it did not eminate from my country but internally within your own. We see a similar double take by English sports commentators, for instance, if Darren Clarke was to win this weeks US Open he would be the British golfer but if he fails to qualify he is Irish or an Ulsterman. Please don't tar us all with the same brush