Let Brooklyn’s example be heeded by our politicians

THE 18th century German philosopher Friedrich Schiller believed that ‘the Law is the protector of the weak’. It is a sentiment that most law-abiding citizens hold firm to, even unconsciously. Thankfully, most of us do not have to test whether this statement holds true. Most of us go through our lives with little interaction with the State’s judicial system. Which is why the appeals court judgement last October may have passed many by, had it not been for brave campaigners like Kathleen Chada, Andrew McGinley and Sonia Aylmer, who spoke out for the weakest of the weak: their slain children. Veiled behind a curtain of censorship, this paper tried to give voice to their dead children. And thankfully the State listened. But it should not now be congratulated for righting the wrong. The State created a harm. Unintentionally. But for the period of time that the State was aware of this harm, it was responsible for it. It is good that the law has been changed. It is humane that these children’s names can now be properly remembered. And to some, it might seem like the State acted relatively quickly. But, in reality, six months was too long for this absurd law to be allowed to remain on the books. Our legislature can act with awesome speed when it chooses to. Instead, it waited until the tragic case of Brooklyn Colbert came to court in February. Brooklyn’s mum Sonia deserved to be able to say his name from the steps of the court that convicted his murderer. The State should have foreseen this circumstance from the moment the October judgment was made. Our politicians are there to serve the people, and to pass laws that protect the weak. Let this lesson, that this beautiful boy taught us all, never be forgotten.