Sir, - For Kevin Myers to condemn the Law Society, or indeed anyone, for "homely preaching" and "sanctimoniousness' (An Irishman's Diary, January 22nd) demonstrates that he has finally lost all sense of irony.
He also criticises the Law Society for a "pre-judicial statement" that it is decades of neglect by the Army and the Department of Defence which is responsible for causing these truly astounding losses to the State.
However, with 97 per cent of all cases concluded to date resulting in either a court award or a settlement payment (with implicit acceptance of liability) in favour of the claimant, even Mr Myers might conclude that legal liability is well established.
In its propaganda campaign to blame the claimants, their lawyers, the judiciary, indeed anyone but itself for this debacle, the Department of Defence reveals that one military manoeuvre which it has mastered is the diversionary tactic of creating a smokescreen. Mr Myers is lost in this smoke and, although not deafened, appears to be blinded.-Yours, etc.,
Ken Murphy,
Director General, The Law Society, Blackhall Place, Dublin 7.