Sir, - I am concerned, and not for the first time, by the balance, or rather the lack of balance, in the letters being published in the Irish Times concerning my column.
Monday's edition contains two letter in relation to recent columns. One of these, directly relating to my debate with Fintan O'Toole, is extremely hostile, inaccurate and misleading. For example, it describes my column of a week ago as vitriolic. That column contained no vitriol. It was a calm and measured exposition of the facts. Is there no requirement for letters to be even vaguely in accordance with the truth?
The second letter was even worse, being merely a bad attempt at sarcasm by somebody who was once told he was funny and never forgot it. The thrust of it, however, was to rubbish me without having to engage with a single word I've written.
I know I will be told that I must be prepared to take criticism. I know I must, as a columnist, take the rough with the smooth.
Where is the smooth? I know, because they have taken the trouble to e-mail me with copies, that at least a number of people have sent letters in to the Letters page of late supporting my arguments. Not only have these not been published, but several of such people were able to predict, on the basis of their past experiences, that their letters would never see the light of day in The Irish Times.
Last Tuesday, I debated these issues live on national radio with Fintan O'Toole. The calls to the programme were more than 90 per cent in favour of the position I outlined.
Why is The Irish Times, in its letter page and indeed in other ways also, so determined to suggest that there is no support, and indeed no possible justification, for the arguments I make? - Yours, etc.,
John Waters, Dalkey, Co Dublin.
On this topic, as on others, we try to ensure that the letters published are a fair reflection of those received. - Ed., IT.