Trevor Ringland: Many victims of terrorism were forced to wear hoods, but they never got to remove them

The allegations that they make against the security forces are serious.

Such actions were wrong, unjustified and unacceptable in a democracy, and that has long been recognised.

The use of violence to further political aims on this island was also wrong and unacceptable.

The conflict known as the Troubles was unnecessary and there can be no justification that it occurred.

We ought to make sure that is the message that is always imparted to young people, while we work through the consequences of what happened as constructively as we can.

Over 700 soldiers were murdered and without the Army, there would have been a civil war.

They made mistakes, committed wrongs and were a blunt instrument in a civil environment, but unlike paramilitaries they saved countless lives.

The police have been left with a heavy burden when it comes to dealing with the past.

Their priority should be dealing with murders, some of the victims of which were forced to wear hoods and never got to take them off.

Many of the perpetrators who killed them and over 3,000 others were hiding under their hoods as well.

Too often ‘dealing with the past’ has become cover for those who want to fight the battles of old and perpetuate the hatreds that caused so much misery in the first place.

We should counter these efforts, by always exposing the futility and tragedy of using violence, so that young people never repeat the same mistakes of previous generations.

Trevor Ringland, Holywood, Co Down