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| Fanning the flames of sectarianism | Fanning the flames of sectarianism |
| (6 months later) | |
| I would like to protest in the strongest terms at the rash and blatantly prejudiced comments expressed in Simon Hoggart's column (13 October). As a former resident of Northern Ireland and a current teacher at a Catholic school in England, I was astonished by the claims attributed by Mr Hoggart to a former Northern Ireland Office minister that he could allegedly spot child abuse occurring in Catholic schools by looking into the faces of pupils. | I would like to protest in the strongest terms at the rash and blatantly prejudiced comments expressed in Simon Hoggart's column (13 October). As a former resident of Northern Ireland and a current teacher at a Catholic school in England, I was astonished by the claims attributed by Mr Hoggart to a former Northern Ireland Office minister that he could allegedly spot child abuse occurring in Catholic schools by looking into the faces of pupils. |
| Mr Hoggart makes no attempt to locate these vague comments within any specific time frame or location, instead being content to leave the reader with the impression that such abuse currently occurs in NI Catholic schools and is being covered up by some higher political agenda. Mr Hoggart undoubtedly knows that child protection policies, standards and practice are as high and stringent within NI Catholic schools as they are in any other school in the UK. | Mr Hoggart makes no attempt to locate these vague comments within any specific time frame or location, instead being content to leave the reader with the impression that such abuse currently occurs in NI Catholic schools and is being covered up by some higher political agenda. Mr Hoggart undoubtedly knows that child protection policies, standards and practice are as high and stringent within NI Catholic schools as they are in any other school in the UK. |
| The former Northern Ireland Office minister is breaking the law by not disclosing any information he may have about actual abuse to the police. He should also be obliged to offer these intuitive powers of detection to the relevant authorities, who would be able to utilise them to good effect. | The former Northern Ireland Office minister is breaking the law by not disclosing any information he may have about actual abuse to the police. He should also be obliged to offer these intuitive powers of detection to the relevant authorities, who would be able to utilise them to good effect. |
| Shame on Mr Hoggart for using these vague comments in his column as a vehicle for expressing prejudice and causing offence. Brendan McMullan Sheffield | Shame on Mr Hoggart for using these vague comments in his column as a vehicle for expressing prejudice and causing offence. Brendan McMullan Sheffield |
| • I have always enjoyed Simon Hoggart's writing, particularly his witty exposure of parliamentary pomposity, but I was saddened by his reporting of a claim by a former Northern Ireland minister that some children in Catholic schools were being abused (presumably, he means sexually). It is disturbing that bigoted accusations continue to fan the flames of sectarianism in Northern Ireland. I wonder which political party the ex-minister represented. Joe Haynes Wargrave, Berkshire | • I have always enjoyed Simon Hoggart's writing, particularly his witty exposure of parliamentary pomposity, but I was saddened by his reporting of a claim by a former Northern Ireland minister that some children in Catholic schools were being abused (presumably, he means sexually). It is disturbing that bigoted accusations continue to fan the flames of sectarianism in Northern Ireland. I wonder which political party the ex-minister represented. Joe Haynes Wargrave, Berkshire |
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