Sir, - Sailing against the wind may be Vincent Browne's stock in trade. However, unwittingly or otherwise, his armchair rationalisations about the crime situation are consistent with the blather that has underpinned the inaction of politicians for too long. In contrast, your Drugs and Crime Correspondent John Maher's excellent analysis more than out weighs Mr Browne's musings.
Whether he likes it or not, Mr Browne's assessment of the implications of Veronica Guerin's murder has echoes of the infamous remark: "What crisis? There is no crisis!" To argue that x, y or z statistic has improved compared with a decade ago is not the point. All the issues that have been long overdue for attention should have been adequately addressed by, for example, 1984. The media coverage of recent days is similar to coverage dating back more than a decade and a half. However, should those who have prevaricated for so long be aided and abetted by refuge in comparisons with international crime statistics? Do we wait until we catch up with those at the top end of the league?
Mr Browne must surely realise that public concern about crime cannot be dismissed as an overreaction to media coverage. If he doesn't, then let's hope that his blindspot with crime statistics is only an aberration. - Yours, etc.,
Blackrock,
Co Dublin.