Madam, - The attitude of Dr Ruairi Hanley (December 19th) to the verdict in the case of Padraig Nally is indicative of the new level of moral bankruptcy we have reached.
The statement that "the victim was a man with a history of violent behaviour who had more than 80 criminal convictions" is presumably supposed to convince us that his life is somehow less valuable. Is Dr Hanley seriously suggesting that Mr Ward's record diminishes his right not to be beaten with a brick and shot in the back with a reloaded shotgun as he limped away from Mr Nally's farm?
The verdict in this case is a deeply troubling one. More troubling, indeed, are the attempts by local Mayo politicians to exploit the raw emotions of the public for cheap political gain. Those public representatives, like Dr Hanley, are advocating an acceptance of violent retribution which is surely a dangerous step for any civilised society to take. - Yours, etc,
Cllr AODHAN O RIORDAIN, Deputy Lord Mayor of Dublin, Clonliffe Avenue, Ballybough, Dublin 3.