Sir, – I usually enjoy Martyn Turner’s cartoons but that in the paper of April 16th, while bigoted and nasty, was also spectacularly unfunny. The entire readership is aware of your paper’s longstanding anti-religious stance but this cartoon marks a new low. It is a great pity that the same zeal for anti-religious comment, so prevalent in your newspaper, is not applied to critical analysis of current government scandals. Perhaps your paper’s deference to the Labour Party is preventing such analysis and criticism. Yours, etc,
ALEX FORAN,
Knockabawn,
Rush,
Co Dublin
Sir, – As a reader of your paper for 55 years I am disappointed that you allowed the publication of the offensive Turner cartoon on April 16th. Its publication was an error of judgement and warrants an apology to the priests of Ireland and to your readers. Yours, etc,
JOE FALLON,
Taylors Hill.
Sir, – Martyn Turner's cartoon of April 16th was a new low in Irish journalism. When I saw it I was immediately reminded of the 19th-century cartoonist Thomas Nast and his sectarian cartoons. The Irish Times is doing its best to win the race to the bottom in Irish print journalism. Yours, etc,
LIAM FOLEY,
University Road,
Newcastle
Galway
Sir, – Perhaps Martyn Turner’s cartoon (April 16th) was a bit below the cincture but he’s a satirical cartoonist. It’s his job to be offensive! Yours, etc,
PAUL DELANEY,
Beacon Hill,
Dalkey