Sir, May I congratulate Vincent Browne on his column of July 3rd? The divide in Ireland today over crime is not between those who are hard or soft. It is between those willing to take the hard decisions necessary to tackle both the emerging crime lords and the demand for drugs which fuels their empires, while preserving our hard won civil rights, and those who prefer flawed legislation and pompous speeches.
It is no surprise that most of our politicians are afraid to act to curtail demand for drugs. It is no surprise that they have failed to speed up the justice system, allowing Tony Felloni two years grace before trial this, not the bail laws, is the real indictment of our system. It is no surprise that, with an election only a year away, they are following their politics of the last atrocity. Where the Government's package addresses the causes of crime while offering a swift, fair justice system it is to be welcomed. Knee jerk measures on bail, silence and seven days detention, however deserve emphatic rejection. Yours, etc., Templeogue Wood, Dublin 6.