Sir, - I was very surprised to read in your edition of December 16th that our revered President had unveiled a memorial to commemorate drug-abuse victims in the north-east area of Dublin's inner city. I am speaking as a former senior police officer who dealt with drug addicts in London in the 1960s and early 1970s and I have to say that I never met a drug addict who was not taking drugs voluntarily and who was not fully aware that taking and dealing in drugs was a criminal offence. In fact, invariably each was the architect of his or her own downfall. Youth and family circumstances were very often used to excuse this criminal conduct.
Can we now expect that our President will at some future time unveil memorials to commemorate the following:
1. Persons who have been murdered while being robbed by drug addicts seeking money to buy drugs;
2. Persons who drink to excess and, while driving their motor cars, are unlucky enough to kill themselves and, regrettably, other innocent members of the public;
3. Members of illegal subversive organisations who are killed in the course of planting bombs, robbing banks, etc.?
It would make as much sense, to me anyway. I have the greatest respect for the President but I think she was badly advised on this occasion.
Season's greetings to one and all. - Yours, etc.,
W.G.A. Scott, Friars Hill, Wicklow.