Anniversary of Ian Gow assassination

Twenty years ago Ian Gow was killed by a bomb planted in his car, which could as easily have been started by some other member of his family. The fund established in his name distributed a million pounds to disadvantaged young people in Northern Ireland

The IRA boasted its responsibility for the assassination, saying he deserved it for being a close associate of Margaret Thatcher. The authors of his murder, who have contributed only destruction and death to Northern Ireland, today collect MPs' salaries and full expenses despite refusing to take their seats in parliament.

And the son-of-a-bitch John McDonnell, who celebrated IRA assassinations as late as 2003, is still the MP for Hayes and Harlington and a leading light of the left wing of the Labour party.

Their methods were cowardly, but you can't blame the IRA for wanting no part of such a contemptible polity.