Sir, - As stated on your front page (July 22nd) "under British law, Gallagher would have been convicted and served his sentence in a secure mental hospital". Our Mental Health Act 1945 is so outdated that it is almost laughable if it were not for the very many who suffer great distress as a result of its inadequacies.
It is true that a new mental health bill is in the pipeline, the result of European pressure to ensure we meet our responsibilities under human rights legislation. What a shame that the proposed legislation is a limited document to achieve the absolute minimum in meeting the above requirements. In Northern Ireland, mental health legislation and department of health polices have led to the development of a comprehensive service that Dr Muiris Houston referred to in his article "Lessons from Abbeylara" (July 3rd).
Service users and their families are not powerful advocates of change and unless the Government is going to have a "road to Damascus" experience, change will only come about from enlightened public and media pressure. - Yours, etc.,
Frank Browne, Clondalkin Village, Dublin 22.