Queen offers sympathy to Irish victims of troubles

The Queen has offered her “sincere thoughts and deep sympathy” to the victims of Ireland and the UK’s troubled past.

At a banquet in Dublin Castle she said with hindsight “we can all see things which we would wish had been done differently or not at all”.

She went on to praise the “lasting rapport” now between the countries.

An apology was not expected, BBC royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell said, but the Queen came “pretty close”.

The Queen said that the two countries’ relationship over the centuries had “not always been straightforward” nor “entirely benign”.

Nicholas Witchell said there was an “underlying sentiment of sorrow and regret” in the language of the speech, which was “a powerful expression, a personal expression by the Queen” and “a wish, finally to turn a page”.

Meanwhile, near the castle, gardai clashed with protesters opposed to the visit.

The Queen is the first British monarch ever to visit the Republic.

Earlier, she visited Croke Park sports stadium in Dublin, where 14 people were killed by British forces 91 years ago.
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