Madam, – We were among the group of passengers stranded in Rome whose return to Ireland was documented by Michael Parsons in his reports in The Irish Times during the week.
We would like to point out to your readers that Mr Parsons was not just an uninvolved commentator for our group, but was the central figure around whom the group formed. From a disparate band of helpless and bewildered passengers stranded in Rome airport, he fashioned an effective and cohesive group over the course of the next three days. He showed considerable leadership skills and great care for the most vulnerable members of the group, which included elderly people and infants. By dint of his tireless negotiations with airport officials, hotel managers, Italian bus drivers and French hotel receptionists, he managed to get all of us home safely, amusing us along the way by reading extracts from his contributions to The Irish Times over the bus microphone, taking calls from the Pat Kenny show and composing Latin quotations (with some help from the clergy on board). The Irish Times should be very proud of its correspondent. – Yours, etc,
Madam, – Perhaps Ryanair will in future offer humble pie on its in-flight menu along with passenger compensation? – Yours, etc,
Madam, – For future reference, would the insurance industry please clarify the following aspect of their insurance policies for public guidance? Are insurance policy claims deemed legitimate and admissible in the case of atheists when “Acts of God” occur? – Yours, etc,