Dear Ireland,

I am very sorry you and your wife are having to go through this right now. I agree that things are just racheting up more and more in Belfast and the lack of action to quell the violence coming from the loyalists is going to explode in a far more dangerous way than it has been for the last year.

The constant attacks on the residents of Short Strand, the girls at Holy Cross, the attacks that go uninvestigated, none of this inaction by the police is helping and the political climate (the suspension) is just lending this type of "bravado" to the thugs that have been edging towards this all along. It amazes me that when there is even a hint of suspicion that a nationalist might be involved the police exhaust themselves to find the culprits, but when they have names and photos of loyalists that are committing these acts there are no arrests. Very strange.

My prayers and good luck to you and your wife.