Madam, - I am surprised at the reaction to the recent spate of killings in the capital - and in some cases surprised by the double standards being applied.
The reality is that we will not win the war against organised crime or the drug barons until the hundreds of thousands who finance these evil empires by buying illegal drugs such as cannabis and cocaine realise that it is their money which financed the illegal guns used in the murder of an innocent plumber in Finglas last Tuesday.
We need more resources and a greater will on the part of those in authority if we are to succeed. We also need to educate those who use drugs socially that it is no longer "cool" to be contributing to the chaos which now exists. The time has come to run advertising campaigns reminding those who use illegal substances that it is they who fund the evil, immoral people who show no respect for the rule of law or for human life itself.
Some years ago it was acceptable to drink and drive. Today, because of the constant publicity campaigns, it is seen as irresponsible and dangerous. Maybe if a similar effort was put into reminding people who purchase illegal drugs of the damage they are causing it would not be so socially acceptable to smoke a joint or snort some cocaine.
Yes, we need more funding and more manpower; but we also need people to be less hypocritical and face up to their own responsibilities if we are ever to win this war against organised crime and the drug lords. - Yours, etc,
JIMMY GUERIN, Howth, Co Dublin.