Domestic violence

Once again, a rugby player ‘‘set to play on the international stage’’ assaults his female partner, damages her face and she has other injuries to her body, is let off without conviction because a conviction was liable to damage his career. This is not the first time this has happened to some sporting individual.

What is even more disturbing is that the rest of the article, by Philippa Yalden, the readers are told about how good the player is. Try to remember by the time you have read the article he is the offender, but at this stage you feel he is the victim. Clearly he had no choice but to give his partner a good old-fashion hiding, apparently because she would not shut up and listen to him.

What’s wrong with this woman, did she not realise she could endanger her partner’s career? Please let’s get it right: domestic violence is not OK. It does not allow anyone irrespective of their station in life – good player or labourer – to assault his/her partner and told it is OK in case if affects your career.

Pat Weeks, Hamilton

Editor’s reply: It is a sad fact that there is so much domestic violence that we do not consider a labourer’s bashing of his girlfriend to be news. The rugby player in question made the court appearance worth covering because he is well known to people. His career was duly noted as part of the coverage.