Perverse system treats the criminals as victims
INTERESTING to read your report, ‘The chilling reality of Wild West Dublin’ (MoS, June 10).
Unfortunately, we live in a state where, in the courts, criminals are portrayed as being victims of crime and where the real victims are ignored. Free Legal Aid creates a money-making gravy train for the legal eagles.
The country needs a zero tolerance on crime. But until the legal system cares about the real victims this will never happen.
Tommy Deenihan, Blackrock, Cork.
Free-range children
WE have free-range eggs, freerange chickens, free-range livestock and many other types of free-range food. Studies prove that free-range animals are more content and less anxious than animals that are cooped up 24 hours a day.
I think it is now time to have free-range children.
Children that, for a few hours per day, should play outside rather than sitting in an enclosed room in front of a screen playing war games or car chases for days at a time.
I know that with some parents, they’ll let the computer or the phone be their children’s babysitter or guide through life. Don’t! If you want your children to turn out well rounded, socialable, content and less anxious, let them be free-range children.
Kevin Devitte, Westport, Co. Mayo. Bullying Mary Lou
I CANNOT but agree with the sentiments expressed by Ailbhe Murphy (MoS letters, June 10) about Mary Lou McDonald.
Her bullying attitude makes me feel that she thinks people are entitled to their opinion as long as it’s the same as her own.
The Sinn Fein party’s policy of imposing penalties on members who are not allowed to have their own views on matters is totally over the top. It has something in common with the Catholic Church, whose chiefs like to do their thinking for members of the flock. The manner in which both groups treat those who exercise their rights is both bullying and sad.
Liz Lawless, Navan, Co. Meath. SF’s true colours
SOME have questioned the advisability of the Leo Varadkar visit to the Orange Order and the Féile in west Belfast. While these issues are debatable, it may be appropriate to give those involved the benefit of being considered wellintentioned if not wise.
But contrast all of that with Sinn Fein’s mean-spirited objection to the honouring of Seamus Mallon by bestowing on him the freedom of Drogheda.
Seamus Mallon is one of the giants of Irish history who tried to bridge the gap between communities in a peaceful and generous manner. But Mary Lou and Michelle O’Neill will continue to pose as representing new and liberal politics advocating respect and inclusiveness and whatever you’re having yourself in pseudoliberal guff so acceptable on RTÉ.
These are the same people who are refusing to restore powersharing because they are not getting enough ‘respect’. What petty-minded hypocrites.
Pat O Mahony,
Look to St Francis
THE Campaign for the Abolition of Cruel Sports will be calling on the Pope, when he visits, to support the abolition of hare coursing in Ireland.
The Pontiff took the name of Saint Francis of Assisi, patron saint of animals and the environment, a man who abhorred acts of cruelty to beings he hailed as his ‘brothers and sisters’. Each October, on the saint’s feast day, animal blessing are held worldwide, officiating clergy calling down God’s protection on ‘all creatures, great and small’.
At the so-called National Coursing Festival earlier this year, I saw hares running from hyped-up dogs in the middle of a blizzard. Thick, swirling snow, driven by searing winds, fell on a converted racecourse. Captive animals dodged and skidded around the slush-covered baiting venue. Well-dressed fans howled their approval, laughing, cheering, gambling, and swigging whiskey in a latter-day coliseum.
The three-day fixture was the culmination of a five-month season during which hares were mauled, had their bones crushed, or were ‘dispatched’ by having their necks broken following other injuries. Video footage exposes the gut-wrenching savagery our government allows.
It may be too much to hope for, that the Pontiff will find the time, or the inclination, to speak out on this issue when he visits in August. It will not be at the top of his list of diplomatic or ecclesiastical priorities.
Whatever about His Holiness, we believe that Saint Francis would have banned coursing.
John Fitzgerald, (Campaign for the Abolition Of Cruel Sports), Callan, Co. Kilkenny.