Don't look back in anger

Nothing can bring back those who died during the 'Troubles'. It's 31 years today since ten ordinary factory workers were shot to death in the back of a Ford Transit in an event later to be known as the Kingsmill Massacre.

They were killed simply because they were Protestants - no other reason - in retaliation for the deaths of five men the night before who happened to be Roman Catholic.

Watch the video linked off this BBC news page. It should be on the syllabus in every school in Ireland. Just like Greysteel, Kingsmill makes me angry because, despite what the IRA would have us believe, this aspect of the 'Troubles' wasn't war: it was the outright slaughter of innocents in an atmosphere of pure evil.

The job of our generation is to ensure we never again slide to those depths. Much as I detest what the IRA (and all terrorists) did, it's Bigger for Unionists now to listen and try to understand the Republican psyche than to alienate them once again. And it's Big to set an example. I trust there'll be now show of weapons in Bessbrook today.