Madam, - In your edition of April 26th, Brendan Grehan SC (Opinion & Analysis) and an eloquence of lawyers (Letters) all express concerns about Michael McDowell's Criminal Justice Bill 2007. Their concerns are ill-founded.
In a move reminiscent of Pierre Trudeau's handling of Canada's October Crisis of 1970, Michael McDowell has brought in radical laws to strengthen society against vicious criminal gangs. Ordinary decent people don't give a damn about the finer points of legal debate. They want longer sentences, less bail and no home comforts in our prisons for the criminal classes.
This new Bill will strengthen the State's ability to bring down the crime gangs. Increased detention time to question suspects, restricting the right to bail and the introduction of crime prevention orders are all measures the Irish people will fully welcome in the battle against the criminal gangs.
Michael McDowell should be congratulated on drafting such a fine Bill. - Yours, etc,
JOHN KENNY, Monkstown Valley, Co Dublin.