Sir, - Coming as it does in the wake of a seemingly never-ending series of political and financial scandals, this disgraceful affair must surely erode what little public confidence was left in the institutions of this State.
It is perfectly obvious from the revelations that citizens are not equal before the law and that (to quote the alleged words of one of the learned judges involved) "a graduate" from "a good family" qualifies for more lenient treatment than a law-breaker from a more humble background. Surely, if any distinction is to be made, it should be the other way round, with those who have abused the advantages of a privileged upbringing being treated more harshly than those who were less fortunate.
A very disturbing feature of this sorry affair is that it came to light only because of a chance encounter and the subsequent tenacity of the Ryan family in pursuing it. How many other similar cases have there been that we have heard nothing about? It is hardly reasonable to suggest that this is the only case of its kind. - Yours, etc., M. D. Kennedy,
Silchester Park, Glenageary, Co Dubin.