Madam, - Emer Massey's Irishwoman's Diary of April 4th rubbed the scab of a wound which I had tried to let heal through forced forgetfulness. Last Saturday I walked with a group from Newcastle along the Grand Canal to Naas. I kept trying to avert my eyes from the ubiquitous litter - sometimes "just" a few plastic bottles and the occasional nappy, more often sacks of rubbish dumped in the hedges.
One walker from Scandinavia asked me why Irish people did this and I asked the other walkers, but no real explanation could be provided. I ashamedly had to say we were a filthy people.
I would gladly assist Ms Massey in leading out the chain-gang of shackled litterers. - Yours, etc,
SEAN MULLAN, Harold's Cross, Dublin 6.