Madam, - Although it is difficult to raise a dissenting voice against the compensation award to Frank Shortt, I disagree with your Editorial of March 22nd and believe the Supreme Court erred in its award of punitive damages against the Garda.
It is one thing to award punitive damages against a tobacco company that wilfully misleads consumers with respect to the health risks of smoking cigarettes. It is another thing to award such damages where the force itself did not, nor ever would, condone the acts of a small rogue element within.
The force may not have dealt with the situation well, but it does not deserve to be punished and humiliated as a body in this unprecedented way. While no-one could deny compensation to Mr Shortt, a massive increase in general damages was sufficient. This is a poor day for Irish jurisprudence and has set a bad precedent. - Yours, etc,
CIARAN McCOURT, Dartry Park, Dublin 6.