Justice cannot yield to outcry

■ While it was inevitable that the outcome of the much-publicised Belfast rape trial would produce mixed reactions and strong feelings (Irish Independent, March 29), what is surely of the utmost importance is that full due process be maintained in all criminal trials, irrespective of the nature of the alleged offences.

It would be highly retrograde to make changes to the law in relation to certain types of cases simply for the purpose of making it easier to secure convictions in such cases, because making this easier would also increase the likelihood of wrongful convictions.

Indeed, the ubiquity of social media and the febrile atmosphere created by the likes of the ‘#MeToo’ phenomenon make it all the more important to hold the line here by not yielding to pressure – however intense it might be – to make changes of this sort.

Regarding anonymity in rape trials, in view of the adverse consequences that cases of this kind can have for accused parties even when they’re found innocent (and when the accused are innocent, the stresses of such trials must surely be greater for them than for complainants), is there not an argument for extending anonymity to the accused as well as complainants while such cases are in progress, with the identity of the accused not being revealed until a trial has been concluded – and then only if they have been found guilty?

Hugh Gibney Athboy, Co Meath