Madam, – I must congratulate Pamela Palmer for her excellent letter (March 29th).
I’ve been on the same tack for many years with very little success. I fear Ms Palmer will have to accept that we are a nation of litter louts. In addition to the items she mentioned, those of us who live in rural areas have to contend with loutish farmers who litter the public highways with their muck.
If one complains to the council a “slippery road” sign is stuck up and remains until blown away by the wind. The muck also remains until washed away by rain and traffic. When I complained to the Garda Síochána I was told that, while it was a criminal offence to create a hazard, this is Ireland where farmers are a law unto themselves. Until there is a policy of prosecution and hefty fines, the problem will not be resolved.
Undoubtedly it would be difficult to detect the litter louts, but it wouldn’t take Sherlock Holmes to work out who the muck louts are. – Yours, etc,