Courtroom contrition

Madam, - Lately I've noticed that when some crook is convicted of a crime, the presiding judge, when considering an appropriate…

Madam, - Lately I've noticed that when some crook is convicted of a crime, the presiding judge, when considering an appropriate sentence, seems to place enormous weight on whether or not the lawbreaker was properly contrite.

Am I the only person who doesn't care about a criminal's feigned apologetic attitude?

If anything, I am more sympathetic to the felon who comes right out and appends the guilty plea with: "I offer no excuse" - and in doing so, doesn't add hypocrisy to his or her sins. The obvious fact is that, like a six year old who's caught with his hand in the cookie jar, culprits are only truly remorseful about being caught. - Yours, etc.,

EDWARD D. RAFFERTY, Millpark, Castlebridge, Co Wexford.