Ms Goodwin is factually incorrect on two points: 1. Ireland was never a colony of England's for the simple reason that Ireland had and has representation in the national parliament of the United Kingdom at Westminster. Prof Niall Ferguson of Harvard, an expert on colonisation and empire, conceded this fact to me in writing. No colony had democratic representation in the British empire. 2. Neither the majority of the people of Ireland nor the UK ever voted, eg in a referendum, for the separation of (the Republic of) Ireland from the UK. After World War 1 the UK was so exhausted that our govt, which included Winston Churchill at that time, gave into IRA terrorism. That is the root cause of the Irish shambles. As a Bostonian are you aware, Ms Goodwin, that Texas votes every year whether or not to stay in the US? That's a privilege never accorded the people of Ireland until the current Belfast Agreement. By your reasoning perhaps Texas is merely a colony of the USA?

Dr David Green, Athens, Greece

Ellen Goodwin, seeing that you come from a country founded on genocide and slavery, you are ill-placed to start preaching at us across the Atlantic.

Robert C, London, UK

Quite right Ms Goodwin - give America back to the Indians...

DoTW, T Wells, Kent

Ellen Godwin claims that the partition of Ireland in 1922 was 'against majority wishes' . May I point out that in the Irish Free State elections of June 1922, anti-treaty parties were resoundingly defeated by the pro-treaty parties. This may have been a pragmatic acceptance that ran counter to the aspiration of many republicans but nevertheless does demonstrate that the reality is perhaps a bit more complex than Ellen Godwin seems to suggest.

David, Falmouth, UK

Just deep seeded ignorance!

alex jones, lon, uk

Auldreekie, it is more courageous to use one's given name. I am not American.E Goodwin

Ellen Goodwin, Boston , USA / MA

In fact both Ellen and Edwina are right.

Ellen said that partition against the wishes of the majority is the root cause of the lingering conflict.

Edwina said murderous scum ... fifteen men to kill one.

Both are right.

I'm English through and through - the sooner there is an all Ireland solution the better - but violence will just delay this outcome as we won't negotiate with terrorists.

MikeW, Glos, UK

Considering the options, the Government of Ireland Act was laregly welcomed - and those who opposed it fell more on the Unionist (as in Union with the UK not the whole union of Ireland) side than the Republican. While British involvement in Ireland (before the partition) was and is a contributing factor, the legal position of Ireland could hardly be described as colonisation; unless the Union of Scotland in 1707 would also be descibed as that. Further to ascribe labels, such as root cause, as opposed to primary circumstance, does provide an answer of how to maintain any level of progress or, if applicable, addressing questions of organised crime; for whatever reasons this murder happened, it does not appear it was to avenge English involvement in Northern Ireland

hmurphy, Cambridge ,

A typically ignorant American response from Ellen Goodwin. What about the horrors and permanent damage perpetrated by the USA over the past few decades and continuing today.

Please don't preach about something from the past and something you are plainly clueless about.

Auldreekie, Edinburgh, Scotland

The curse of colonization and the partition of Ireland against majority wishes by England in 1922 is the ROOT CAUSE of the lingering conflict in Ireland. Like most english people ,edwina rigby doesn't have a clue of the horrors perpertrated by her nation. E Goodwin

Ellen Goodwin, Boston , USA / MA

It is high time the murderous scum still dispensing their own disgusting brand of Law And Order were rounded up and imprisoned.
Fifteen brave men to kill one?
Beneath contempt.

edwina rigby, Blackburn, England