Madam, – It would appear that following opinion polls showing that the campaign of Senator David Norris for the presidency has received considerable public support, a reaction has set in. This has taken the form of a smear campaign attempting to identify Senator Norris erroneously as an endorser of paedophilia (Home News, June 1st).
Whoever is behind this campaign, it is clear that for some groups in our society the democratic election of a gay man as President of Ireland is a bridge too far.
Senator Norris is an academic who has given this State considerable service and I do hope that he will not be dissuaded from pursuing his campaign by these blatant smear tactics. I believe that Senator Norris may still win the election; and if I might paraphrase the words of a recent visitor to our country I would say to him: “Is feidir leat”. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – Further to Mary P Bailey’s letter (May 31st), surely Mary Harney has enough pensions? – Yours, etc,