Gold medal urine test

Madam, - Isn't it incredible - the mass of media hype and Garda investigation over a misappropriated phial of equestrian urine…

Madam, - Isn't it incredible - the mass of media hype and Garda investigation over a misappropriated phial of equestrian urine? The serious crime rate is increasing every day. Surely the Minister for Justice could have gardaí spend their precious time solving serious crimes, not chasing "golden raindrops"? There was a saying, which I think is appropriate: "Horses' asses outnumber horses". - Yours, etc.,

PETER STAFFORD,

Dublin Road,

Malahide,

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Co. Dublin.

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Madam, - Your issue of November 4th contains the headline, "Details emerge of horse urine sample delivery". Here the main noun, "delivery", is modified by no fewer than three nouns - "horse", "urine", "sample" - that are required to function as adjectives. This is an egregious example of what Dr Johnson called "irregular combinations", and is scarcely worthy of the paper of record.

Write instead: "Details emerge of delivery of sample of equine urine". - Yours, etc.,

BRIAN ARKINS,

Professor of Classics,

NUI, Galway.