Sir,– Despite concerns that his conviction was unsafe, the governor of Missouri allowed the execution of Marcellus Williams to proceed (“The Irish Times view on the continued use of the death penalty: a barbaric practice”, Editorial, October 2nd).
Joe Biden promised to work to end the death penalty. If he means what he says he could show clemency to the 40 men on federal death row. If he decides not to do so and Donald Trump wins the forthcoming election, their prospects are grim.
Mr Trump oversaw 13 federal executions during his final months in office and, if returned, it is likely that the killing spree will resume. The Mandate for Leadership published by Project 25 – which many consider to be the blueprint for a second Trump term – calls for everything possible to be done “to obtain finality” for these condemned men.
Further delay on Mr Biden’s part would be inexcusable. – Yours, etc,
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Prof IAN O’DONNELL,
Professor of Criminology,
University College Dublin,
Dublin 4.