Madam, - Cllr Michael Fitzgerald stated he has not killed anyone with drink-driving. What about the survivors? Perhaps he would care to visit the National Rehabilitation Hospital? Then he could learn from those who have survived as innocent victims of drunk drivers.
Half of the children attending for rehabilitation do so as a result of road traffic accidents, mainly because of reckless or irresponsible adults who are too selfish or ignorant to know better.
Perhaps he would care to see the people with such severe brain and spinal injuries they cannot turn in bed without help, cannot wash, dress, eat or go to the toilet without help.
I can introduce him to the many learning to use wheelchairs because they cannot walk. Or how about meeting those with severed limbs?
Or maybe if he realised how his local community care budget is wholly insufficient to fund treatment and life-time care of even one such victim he might be more concerned? Let's hope his electorate is.
Even driving with a blood alcohol level at the legal limit, he is approximately seven times more likely to be involved in a car crash than if he had no alcohol.
Then again, maybe one day his visit to the National Rehabilitation Hospital might be for a lot longer than he would ever wish. - Yours, etc,
Dr NICOLA RYALL, FRCPI, Consultant in Rehabilitation Medicine, National Rehabilitation Hospital, Rochestown Avenue, Dún Laoghaire.