Madam, - I totally disagree with the sentiments on capital punishment expressed by Mrs Mary Stewart (September 11th).
The major purpose of the death penalty, which the writer chose to ignore, is of course to prevent the killer giving a repeat performance.
I find myself wondering what her reaction would be if a man who had severed 20 years (most unlikely in this country!) for killing her brother was released from prison and, within a short time, proceeded to murder her sister? Would she execute him or would she allow him to carry on regardless? I'd hang him personally the first time round. Every victim is someone's son or daughter or brother or sister.
The writer states categorically, without quoting a single acceptable reason, that no one has the right to take life. I agree - but with the addendum, that anyone who does take life must be prepared to forfeit his or her own. We are given only one life and no one should take it away without having to suffer exactly the same penalty.
Great evil exists in this world of ours and there is only one way to defeat it: wipe it out by using every means known to man including the death penalty.
Many good Christians, and I'm sure Mrs Stewart falls into this category, regard the death penalty as being anti-Christian. Suffice it to say, if the Romans had the same spineless attitude to capital punishment as many countries have today, the Last Supper would not have been eaten, Christ would not have been crucified, he would not have risen from the dead and Christianity would never have existed.
What more proof could anyone want to establish the efficacy of the ultimate solution? - Yours, etc.,
W.G.A. SCOTT, Friars Hill, Wicklow.