A chara, – Gerry Moriarty's article "Peace dividend on Falls includes youths who prey on tourists and locals alike" (July 8th) refers to the term "hoods" for young criminals as coming from the hoodies they wear. The term was, however, widely used in Northern Ireland in the 1970s as I recall, before the fashion for hoodies, and is derived from "hoodlum". – Is mise,
JOE McLAUGHLIN,
Bonnyrigg,
Midlothian,
Scotland.
Sir, – Having read Gerry Moriarty’s article on the gangs of youths terrorising their locality, and the long, long list of government bodies that some say must step up and deal with these youths, I couldn’t help but notice how these children’s parents did not make the list of persons responsible for changing the “hood” mentality and behaviour. – Yours, etc,
NUALA HOGAN,
Birr,
Co Offaly.