Brendy ...

Sorry you got goaded into responding. I've been out of action on these threads for a while but was going to post a response in support of the GUEST whose desire for anonymity I completely understand and sympathise with and whose comments were, I feel, in order given the provocation.

Though I don't live in Northern Ireland now, I did live there till I was 21. I still consider it my home. Most of my best friends here in London are from Northern Ireland originally - from both political persuasions. Therefore I feel qualified to comment as I'm about to.

It turns my guts to see people from outside Northern Ireland seize on opportunities such as this to start to pontificate. I too have read the previous thread and the combination of arrogance and naivete was frightening.

If people really wish to express their sadness at the taking of a young life in circumstances which advance no cause, they could start a simple thread to serve as a "book of condolences".

Otherwise like GUEST I fear that this will just be used as a soapbox for people living outside Northern Ireland to preach at those who have to spend our lives dealing with the situation we find ourselves in.

This is one of those occasions where I wish there was scope for deleting a thread!