There is a deep and troubling feeling of retribution running in undercurrents in the City. There are swirling clouds of thunder gathering over the city, on streets, in shops and work places, the topic is dark and foreboding. The gathering storm threatens a whirlwind, which could damage the fragile walls of tolerance and open the floodgates of intolerance.

The unbridled threat of violence is about.

The city has gathered in silent vigil for one of ours. We see the shocking images of him now bound, blinded, white of hair, gaunt and now caged, kept alive only by our cry for mercy. Reinforced by World leaders; Irish, Arab, Muslim, and Christian, the images embitter our deep senses of faith and humanity.

We have aligned ourselves to the nature of injustice and the prolonged resolving of imposed power. We wept for the victims of gas and torture and divided our city in the measure of resolution. Now our son is branded and singled out for sacrifice. Our pain is deepened by the guilt of passive association for we can only wait and keep our public vigil. It is not good to be partial to wicked men or to deprive a righteous man of freedom and justice.

BEWARE

The scavenging National Tabloids circle, sensing another story, they create words of compassion, understanding and empathy, where none ever existed before. In our troubled past in our deaths and wounding, they printed vile unjust inhuman stories backed by heads of Government, Police and Establishment Enforcers. Do not attend to their words.

For now they lay in ambush planted deep in the city, smelling retribution and acts of division where none existed before. These writers of wickedness are ready to fan the flames and to record in their Tabloids their deep-rooted condemnation of all things Liverpool and Scouse. The vitriolic Tabloids will dispense words of division to create their stories and desperate sales.

We must beware.

In Italy women of compassion were released on waves of joy. Other innocents are considered for release, measured, not in humanity and faith but in pieces of silver, an ancient ritual of ransom. Will the unfolding truths reveal not stances of belief founded in fairness but in a rule of acts of lawlessness? Kens' hooded captors must reveal their intent. Only time will tell the rawness of our city's' plight.

Is Ken a prisoner of religious fanatics or a hostage for fortunes and the stench of ransom?

If vengeance is sought let it be centred on the perpetrators of Kens' demise lest unfair retribution destroy our city's greatness, our historic knowledge of what IS right and just.

Do not let the "Sun" rise in the east to report on a divided city. They have a history of vengeful retributive reporting.

In this our hour of examination as the truth is revealed do not remove the ancient landmarks, which our fathers have set.

Support and leave the faithful Muslim to their peace loving faith.

Let those in hoods who behead for unpaid ransoms be seen to be bedevilled, in their belief and their worship of silver.

We will continue to be a city of one.

Give us back our son.

Donna nobis pacem*

(* Grant us peace)