Sir, - In her article "A New Year, a new round of attacks on women (January 11th) Mary Cummins was very angry - and justifiably so. The picture she painted, of murder, rape, violence, fear, is not a pretty one, but unfortunately it is the scenario that pertains today, not alone in towns and cities, but in the very heart of the countryside.
God be with the dear, dead days of my childhood, when we never locked the front door or were never afraid of walking home at night in the dark. The most serious offence the Gardai met with was a riotous drunk, or a cyclist without a light.
Ms. Cummins pointed out how much women have to fear in today's lawless world, simply for being women; and declares it is time to shout "stop". She mentioned "the spiritual bankruptcy that exists in the vacuum created by years of lack of real contact between churchmen and us", and the lack of response to outrage from leading churchmen and politicians to the savage murder of Marilyn Rynn. "This country is out of control - politically, morally and spiritually leaderless and rudderless," she wrote.
I agree wholly with her sentiments, and think a copy of her article should be pinned to the office walls of all our TDs and political leaders. - Yours, etc.,
Cartronkeel House,
Moate,
Co. Westmeath.