A central point in your editorial (Comment, 28 February), that the alleged misuse of Irish passports in the recent Middle East assassination is casting worldwide suspicion on the Irish passport, is misplaced because this was already the case before the present controversy. When Mary O'Rourke TD advocated shooting Robert Mugabe, head of an African state, in June 2008 there was a muted response in Ireland to her suggestion of assassination.

You can be sure that many foreigners living here, including the various embassies, noted what O'Rourke had publicly advocated regarding the assassination of the head of another state and the apparent public acceptance of the suggestion. They would also have been aware that O'Rourke is a senior dynastic and well connected member of the Irish political establishment – viz her two nephews Mr Brian Lenihan TD and Mr Conor Lenihan TD are currently serving government ministers – and her views carried weight.

I respectfully suggest that O'Rourke's advocacy of assassination in 2008 and the mute acceptance of such cast a dark shadow over the Irish passport before the current events in the Middle East.

Micheal O'Cathail

Sandycove, Co Dublin