Reader rejects politics of condom nation

NOW it can be told. The real reason Veronica Guerin was killed. And Jerry McCabe. Why our drugs problem is so great, and our crime rate. Drumcree, Enniskillen, and whatever you're having yourself. There's a very simple explanation for it all, he condom! Ms Mary Kennedy of The Irish Family league explains in a letter to the Clare Champion. She begin's by regretting Veronica Guerin's death, deplores "all attacks on human life", refers to "politicians" and "media people" wondering what has happened to our sense of values and, having set the stage, poses the million dollar question: "Are they not aware that they have contributed in large measure to this decline in values?"

She explains how. "In the 1960s, the contraceptives trade moved in and broke the law against contraceptives. The Government could have dealt with this, but they allowed it to go on and eventually legalised the sale of contraceptives."

She then asks "is it surprising that the drug trade, seeing that the breaching of the law as thus rewarded, moved in?" And "in this "anti life activity" she says, "the contraceptive trade was aided and abetted by free favourable publicity, from all media, radio, television, and print".

After the condom, - le deluge. "Sodomy was legalised, information on the provision of abortion, and finally divorce are now all `legal'".

"For the first time in the history of the State," she points out, "what is immoral is legal by the actions of our politicians." "So why be surprised that crime is on the increase?" she asks. Nothing will remedy this but "legislation and education to direct itself to helping men and women to be good citizens." And if we don't? "Then the end of our society is predictable - chaos." Who would have thought the (increasingly) dear old prophylactic could be the cause of so much mayhem?

The Clare Champion also reports that the county's most famous psychiatrist, Dr Moosajee Bhamjee TD, is "quitting" his post as a consultant at Our Lady's Hospital in Ennis". But not quite. He has taken leave of absence without pay "from October until the General Election in 1997". That's confidence for you. Hardly. The good doctor has recently been embroiled in a double jobbing controversy.

In Kildare, they are annoyed with their politicians for different reasons. The Leinster Leader reports that the people of Clane are deeply unhappy over a decision of Kildare County Council to rezone 119 acres of land near the town for housing, by 18 votes to five.

A survey carried out by the Clane Committee Against Excessive Rezoning purported to show that 97 per cent of residents were opposed to the rezoning.

Members of the county council's Clane Area Committee ar reported as rejecting "innuendo" by residents against the rezoning decision. Cllr P. J. Sheridan (FF), who moved the motion to adopt the rezoning decision, told the meeting: "I don't sell houses, I don't build houses, I don't buy houses and I don't own any land." Cllr Jim Reilly (FG) said the committee members were motivated by a desire to improve the area. "Anything to suggest otherwise is wrong, he added.

Houses of a different kind are the cause of anger in Carlow. The Nationalist reports residents of Little Barrack Street - the oldest street in Carlow town, dating from the 1780s - have started a campaign to have two of the 16 terraced houses demolished there in recent weeks "rebuilt to their original specifications". The houses were listed as protected in the town's 1990 development plan, according to one resident. At 5 a.m. on July 5th, a demolition crew began knocking down the two terraced houses. The owners of the property however insisted "everything according to the planning permission was adhered to".

And a meeting of Drogheda Corporation descended into commotion when Mr Michael Bell (TD) accused a fellow alderman of "hypocrisy" over a proposed 95 house development at Five Oaks. According to the Drogheda In dependent, Mr Bell said Mr Fergus O'Dowd, had promised to support both the objectors and the builder. "You stoop very low," responded Alderman O'Dowd, "and when you stoop to lies and filth, I have no time for it." He left the meeting.

But the most ridiculous headline of the week was in the Roscommon Champion. "They can't hold their drink or common sense in Ballaghaderreen, says Judge," it reads. Judge Bernard Brennan was commenting on a case involving unruly behaviour by two local lads. They were ordered to put £50 each into the court poor box. "Ballaghaderreen is the fisticuffs town of my area," he said, with some annoyance. He may well be right. But as for holding their drink there, few do it better.