I kept my baby boy in spite of a cruel church

● Sir — The mother and baby redress scheme is now under way. It will bring back so many sad memories for the women who had to give up their babies for adoption. A mother had to have been a resident in a home for six months to be eligible for a penny.

I think mothers who were in a home for any time should receive compensation for the mental cruelty and having to be banished from society as if we had a contagious disease.

Mothers, including myself, were exiled to these convents on acres and acres of land. Many of the nuns looked down on us as if we were lepers.

Thankfully, I kept my son, with great support from my wonderful father. He has grown up to be a fine, kind man.

The two mortal sins at the time in the Catholic Church were missing mass on Sunday and having a baby outside of marriage. Nothing was ever said from the pulpit about the unmarried fathers and their mortal sins. They got away scot-free.

I still have great faith in Jesus, but not in the Catholic Church.

Today’s generation cannot understand how sad and cruel those days were. They would have told the church where to go.

Terry Healy Riordan, Kill, Co Kildare

Now every Friday is a good one for me

● Sir — I always had to eat fish on Good Friday, “You’ll go to hell if you don’t,” I was told when I was seven, Now every Friday I dine on cod and chips at the Miami Cafe, And only have to close my eyes and I’m in heaven.

Leo Cullen, Monkstown, Co Dublin

Schools should show terrifying IRA film

● Sir — While watching The Secret Army, the terrifying documentary last week on the IRA, many thoughts came to mind, but one especially. Not one of the evil terrorists responsible for so much hurt and carnage both here and abroad, and for the murders of innocent men, woman and children, showed any remorse or empathy for their victims.

This film should be compulsory screening in all secondary schools and colleges so that the misguided youth of my country will learn of these atrocities.

Úna Heaton, Limerick city

What about Bloody Sunday dead, Eilis?

● Sir — It comes as no surprise to me that Eilis O’Hanlon shows no regard for the lives of two human beings, but every regard for their victims.

Pearse McAuley was a thug, Rose Dugdale wasn’t. Dugdale was a committed and sound republican, unlike McAuley, who was a psychopath. Does she say the same stuff about the British army and RUC officers who killed and brutalised hundreds of people in the North during the Troubles as she does about these two republicans?

Does her conscience stop when it comes to the 13 people murdered on Bloody Sunday?

Liam Doran, Clondalkin, Dublin 22

I had a wonderful experience at UHL

● Sir — Regarding the continual negative publicity about the situation at University Hospital Limerick, I would like to tell of my recent wonderful experience there. All of the medical staff, caterers, cleaners and porters treated me with great care, compassion and, above all, friendliness, which contributed to my speedy recovery. I cannot thank and praise everyone who helped me in my return to good health enough.

Patrick Cross, Parteen, Co Clare

Assisted dying won’t work in a bad system

● Sir — This nation has a proud history of championing liberally progressive change. Fortunately in our society, one is never too far from a chorus chanting how deeply wrong it is that any individual’s particular belief should decide on the personal and intimate aspects of someone else’s life.

The recommendation for legislation on assisted dying put forward by the Oireachtas Committee has reignited debate and rhetoric of individual and civil liberty. Regrettably, however, one should be cognisant that this new recommendation is not on the backdrop of a perfectly functioning and efficient healthcare and social system.

Given that the environment and circumstances in which we all live guide our personal decision-making, it would be pragmatic to expect our healthcare system to have reached the pinnacle of excellence and exhausted its resources in providing comfort and dignity to those nearing the end of their lives before proceeding with assisted dying legislation.

Dr Mervyn Huston, Athlone, Co Westmeath

We go forward while Russia goes back

● Sir — This weekend, the clocks in western Europe go forward 60 minutes. However, in eastern Europe, the Russian war machine attempts to turn the clocks back 60 years.

Sean Kelly, Tramore, Co Waterford

Clocks, stop taking time away from me

● Sir — I do not look forward to the clocks going forward. At this point in my life, the last thing I need is time being taken from me.

Tom Gilsenan, Beaumont, Dublin 9