Carers and elderly waiting for justice

Sir — Am I the only person who was shocked at the Supreme Court ruling on the ‘slopping out’ case?

For the 70,000 or so of us women (mostly) who stayed out of the workforce to take care of ill and infirm members of the family and who ‘slopped out’ commodes and bedpans throughout this country, our reward was being deprived of our full contributory pension despite the fact we had more than the required number of stamps.

The prisoner who was incarcerated for seven and a half months was awarded €7,500 for infringement of his constitutional rights while the 70-yearold pensioner is discriminated against financially and expected to survive with a €57 shortfall each week. For ever.

Where is the justice in that? Name and address with editor

Plaques to honour great Niall Toibin

Sir — Can I add my words to those which have already honoured the late Niall Toibin, a great Irishman, a great Corkman and a man who could be described as an extraordinary ordinary man.

I would suggest a plaque to his memory outside the Abbey Theatre in Dublin and at the Cork Opera House.

Not many performers of his generation came close to his versatility, creativity, humour and humanity.

Harry Mulhern,

Millbrook, Dublin

Show Maria Bailey some compassion

Sir — Well done to Niamh Horan for calling out the trolls who continue to harass Maria Bailey.

Maria Bailey is a human being, she is not perfect. But she is paying a heavy price — personally and professionally — for mistakes and errors of judgment. Yes, she is a public representative but isn’t it a sad reflection on our society that she cannot pick up her children from school without negative comment?

I can’t imagine the suffering she is going through. She has lost her father, endured the swinggate controversy and now faces the loss of her job.

So let there be some compassion. Let her grieve and deal with matters without further ridicule. Draw a line and move on — but not to another victim. Public shaming has its consequences, even on strong personalities. Maeve Donohoe,

Cootehill, Co Cavan

Politicians must act on fox-hunting

Sir — With her great regard for animals, Fiona O’Connell regularly highlights the cruelty of fox-hunting. It is not a sport and is banned in most countries.

Here in Ireland hunts, both home-grown and from abroad, are welcome to chase and terrorise foxes to their death.

A recent Red C poll found more than 75pc of people support a ban of hare-coursing and fox-hunting. Choosing to ignore public opinion and appearing to pander to special interests, the main political parties refuse to ban this brutality.

It is encouraging to read of ordinary people taking a stand and actively protesting against hunting. Come on, politicians. Ger Brown,

Midleton, Co Cork

Go raibh maith agaibh, TG4

A dhuine uasal — Í nGael Taca i gCorcaigh, mhol duine dár grúpa dúinn an clár Uchtú ar TG4. Tháinig mé ar an clár inné agus gan dabht is é an clár is fearr a chonaic mé le fada.

Bhí an t-iriseoir Evanne Ní Chuilinn go hiontach, thar barr ar fad le guth blasta milis, lán de chroí agus mothúchain, is a chuid Gaeilge soléir sothuigthe.

Bhí sí féin ucthaithe, cosúil leis an mbeirt bhan eile sa clár a bhí ag lorg a máithreacha nó a gclainn nó daoine a bhí gaolmhar doibh freisin.

Nílim chun níos mó a léirú ach molaim do gach éinne an clár seo a fheiscint ar TG4.

Go raibh maith agaibh, TG4. Eibhlin Ní Laocha,

Bóthar Wilton, Corcaigh