Sir, - Love is a much abused word. I have heard sexual abusers speak of the love they had for the children who were their victims. It would be truly dreadful if John Waters, in his rage about the treatment of men whom he feels are denigrated by the media, or the priest and sister-in-law of Christopher Crowley, in any way made love appear an excuse for the murder of a child. Copycat reactions do occur. Last month a Texan mother drowned her five children and some days later a little boy here was drowned by his mother. It is hard not to feel the latter action was in some way associated with the former.
John Waters is right in saying many fathers feel badly treated by the family courts when it comes to custody of or access to their children. Surely it would be possible to have reporting in an anonymous fashion of the family courts; years ago Nell McCafferty reported for The Irish Times on the Children's Court and the insight it gave us all into the workings of the Court and those before it was very useful. Could not such a column be reviewed?
At the child's funeral Father O'Riordan reminded us that Christ said: "Judge not least ye be judged". True, and a few chapters later in St Matthew's Gospel, speaking of the fate of anyone who harmed a child, Christ says: "It would be better for him if a millstone were put around his neck and he was thrown into the depths of the sea".
Nineteen children have been murdered in this State over the last two years. Many were murdered by a parent. Some of the killers subsequently committed suicide or attempted to do so. We all have a responsibility to ensure this grim figure is not extended. - Yours, etc.,
Senator Mary Henry, MD, Seanad ╔ireann, Baile ┴tha Cliath 2.