Sir, - Hugh O'Flaherty's response to a request for help in relation to a person in trouble would appear to be a spontaneous and genuine gesture rooted in humanitarian spirit and basic justice. In retrospect he undoubtedly acted unwisely and could have simply advised the person who sought his advice informally to contact a solicitor. He should have refrained from raising the issue with the High Court Registrar.
On threat of impeachment, Mr O'Flaherty resigned his position as a Judge of the Supreme Court. By acting in this honourable way and given the degree of hounding which he has endured since then, he has paid the price dearly and should now be given some peace and privacy.
Mr McCreevy nominated him for the post of vice-chairman of the EIB with, we are led to believe, the full backing of the coalition Government. The Minister for Finance and the Government, in my view, made a political blunder in deciding to offer this appointment and indeed have publicly admitted this error of judgement. Accordingly, if anybody should step aside at present, it should be the arrogant Mr McCreevy and preferably this whole lame-duck and inept pseudo-administration which is losing all political credibility by hobbling inexorably from one crisis to another.
Now that the decision - albeit misguided - has been made, Mr O'Flaherty, an essentially decent and distinguished individual, should be allowed to take up his position. He and his family should be spared the indignity and stress of further public pillory. - Yours, etc.,
Patrick J. O'Brien, Maynooth, Co Kildare.