Sir, - W.G.A. Scott, an ex-policeman (December 23rd), criticised President McAleese for unveiling a memorial to all those people who died directly or indirectly as a result of drugs. His argument is that consuming drugs is a voluntary activity and therefore those who died are as much deserving of a memorial as, say, a drunk driver who dies while killing others in an accident
Your correspondent misses the point on a number of issues.
National and local drug task forces have been set up to combat the root cause of the drugs epidemic. In all cases these task forces are in areas where life choices for young people are limited and the risks of descending into addiction are immense. This link is beyond dispute. Much remains to be done, but if your corespondent's way of thinking prevails, the situation will only worsen. Falling into addiction in these areas is not voluntary.
The memorial which he ridicules is part of the process of addressing the drug crisis. The significance of the President coming down on a cold December afternoon to unveil a memorial to all those who died from drugs was that our society was finally admitting it had failed those who died. She realised the uniqueness and sacredness of the occasion. She spoke as a mother to mothers who had lost children to a social epidemic. People who had hidden their feelings of grief and loss were deeply moved by the occasion and still talk about how in touch the President was with them.
We stood beside the President when she was introduced to a mother who had lost three children to heroin in the space of 18 months. Deeply moved, the President asked how she could face the days. The mother said that the memorial and the President's visit would make the next day a bit easier.
Your correspondent clearly comes from a generation of policemen who had no analysis of social issues and felt no need to see the causes of crime and drug addiction. It was this type of attitude that allowed, by default, open dealing to go on in areas such as that where the memorial now stands. The Garda, particularly members of the Drug Squad, who were present when the President unveiled the memorial, were moved as much as the rest of us by the occasion. They know the extraordinary significance of the memorial and, unlike your correspondent, are aware of the link between addiction and social conditions. - Yours, etc.,
Mick Rafferty and Tony Sheehan, (on behalf of the ICON Memorial Committee), Buckingham Street, Dublin 1.