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>LETTER TO LOCAL EDITOR > >A Chara, >On Easter Sunday members of our immediate and extended >family visited the graves of close relatives and >former friends. One in particular was an active member >of the Irish Volunteers who with other former >ex-prisoners and prominent figures, e.g. the late Sean >Dolan, later served on the Derry Brigade Staff, >Oglaigh Na h-Eireann. Both men gave long and faithful >service to other organisations such as the GAA. > >In addition, the distinctive memorial Celtic Cross has >at its centre the original badge of the Volunteers and >in years gone by a flag pole was kindly placed there >by some organisation in Derry. We do not know which >one as we received no written communication. > >We contribute annually to at least one graves >association. We were led to believe that bodies such >as these would at the very lease ensure that the Irish >tri-colour would be flown at Easter and that no >republican graves were ever ignored. > >Our family do not know if the flag was flown at the >grave on previous Easter Sundays as we usually go on a >short break at this time of year. We do visit on >birthdays, Christmas, anniversaries and on father’s >and mother’s day. We noted also that the rope on the >flag-pole was either removed or stolen some time ago. >We were told that the ropes were often taken away when >the flags were taken down but always replaced. Sadly, >this Easter we saw no rope replacement. We are now in >a situation where we do not know what to believe from >fellow republicans in Derry even though they are aware >we often donate to bodies that care for patriots’ last >resting places, wherever in Ireland. > >We hope that no other ‘Old IRA’ families will have >experienced our disappointment this year or ever will >again in the Easters to come. Surely someone somewhere >has an explanation? Why should the flag be flown at >most republican graves, and not some? >The veterans of the War for Independence and the >Second Defence of the Republic against partition >surely deserve better from all and any group which has >taken on the task of raising these flags at this >pivotal time of remembrances. Or is it a matter of >‘parity of esteem’ for some, and not for others? We >pray not! > >Disappointed Republican family >Address supplied

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