Abolishing the death penalty

A chara, – I fully appreciate that there has been huge pressure on your space in recent days and weeks

A chara, – I fully appreciate that there has been huge pressure on your space in recent days and weeks. However, I am very disappointed that you have not yet reported that on March 9th governor Pat Quinn of Illinois signed legislation which abolishes the death penalty in that state.

That was a humane action and fully justified on all possible grounds. I am sure that it will encourage and influence the growing number of states that are beginning to realise that the death penalty is a broken system which cannot be fixed. I hope and pray that the few remaining hard-core states of Texas, Ohio and Alabama come to the realisation that the death penalty is a cruel and inhuman punishment which lessens all of us. – Is mise,

SEÁN Ó RIAIN,

Gairdíní Bhaile na Lobhar,

Baile Átha Cliath.