ELAINE BRADSHAW,
Sir, - A great blow was struck against the efforts of Tidy Towns committees and local authorities last Friday by a Dublin court. Judge Terence Flynn threw out three cases taken against litter louts because the wardens had not produced the offending cigarette butts in court.
The learned judge said wardens would have to personally retrieve butts which they see being thrown from cars if they are to seek convictions.
With the greatest respect to the judge, this is outlandish and even comic. Are we to assume from now on that wardens will have to pick up used condoms, dirty nappies, etc and produce them as evidence in court before they can hope to get a conviction against littering? How ludicrous can we get? Surely common sense should prevail in our courts. - Yours, etc.,
ELAINE BRADSHAW, Keep Kilkenny Beautiful, Upper John Street, Kilkenny.