Poppies offend you, terrorists offend me

Those from the Catholic nationalist/republican community who take offence over and refuse to wear the poppy have every right to do so.

Indeed, those who fell in the Great War, World War II and those from Nato who held the line during the Cold War did so to ensure those who hate the poppy can have the freedom of expression they now enjoy.

However, I would earnestly ask those honest Catholic nationalists to dwell for a moment on the fact huge swathes of us have to feel deep hurt every time we see proud, unrepentant, convicted PIRA terrorists holding positions of power in our councils and assembly and hectoring us on ‘Honesty, Integrity and Respect’.