Madam, - Leaving aside the relative rights and wrongs of the Nally manslaughter case, I do find myself wondering what might have been the verdict had the situation been reversed.
Imagine a scenario in which an elderly member of the Travelling community encounters apparent ne'er-do-wells prowling around his halting site, perhaps with a view to forcing the family to leave through intimidation (a situation which, sadly, is far from unknown).
Fearful for the lives and property of his family, the Traveller shoots one of the intruders dead and claims he acted in self-defence.
Would this have resulted in an acquittal of the charge of manslaughter at the ensuing trial? And would there be such an outpouring of sympathy for the killer? Call me an old cynic if you like, but I suspect both the outcome and the popular reaction would be quite different in such circumstances. - Yours, etc,
DARIUS BARTLETT, College View, Midleton, Co Cork.
Madam, - According to RTÉ, supporters of Pádraig Nally as well as "local politicians" have "called for legal changes to be made to shift the balance in favour of people who face an intruder in their home or on their property".
After the Nally case, it appears, we householders can now legally shoot an intruder, follow him as he leaves, "beat him like a badger", reload our weapon and shoot him again, and, being certain that he is dead, heave his body over a ditch.
Exactly how much further do these people want to go? - Yours, etc,
PHELIM MURNION, Páirc Thiar, An Spidéal, Gaillimh.
Madam, - I read with delight the news that Mr Padraic Nally was found not guilty of the manslaughter of John Ward. Mr Nally was a law-abiding citizen forced to take extreme measures to defend himself and his property. The victim was a man with a history of violent behaviour who had more than 80 criminal convictions.
The news of the Nally verdict has been greeted with predictable outrage by the Travelling community. In my opinion the fact that Mr Ward was a Traveller was utterly irrelevant to the circumstances of this case. The only people who have sought to make an issue of this are Traveller representatives, who appear to believe that a different standard of law should apply to their community.
It is a pity that organisations such as Pavee Point do not speak out and condemn the actions of violent criminals like John Ward who are not representative of the travelling community. Instead they appear obsessed with a desire for revenge against law-abiding citizens like Pádraig Nally. - Yours, etc,
Dr RUAIRI HANLEY, Francis Street, Drogheda, Co Louth.
Madam, - After the Nally case I must wonder how soon before a hill-walker is shot by a farmer "living in fear". I have done a great deal of walking in rural areas in Australia, France and Spain - but nowhere am I as fearful walking as I am in rural Ireland.
On the Continent, when following marked paths, you will often pass through farms and past the open doors of farmhouses. Last year I did part of the Wicklow Way and, in the heavy rain, got lost. I count myself lucky I found the path again and did not need to call at a farmhouse to ask my way.
I feel more welcome and safe walking in countries where I do not even speak the language than I do in the land of my birth.
One of Mr Nally's friends was reported (Kathy Sheridan, December 15th) as saying: "No one here understands rural Ireland". It is an Ireland I have no intention of taking the risk to understand. - Yours, etc,
BRYAN McGUIRE, Richmond Hill, Rathmines, Dublin 6.
A Chara, - Noel Dempsey said on RTÉ's Saturday View that he was convinced that the not guilty verdict on Mr Pádraig Nally was due to the fact that the deceased person was a traveller. This is a most reprehensible statement from a Government Minister.
It is also deeply insulting to the jury which heard the case and deliberated for such a long time on its verdict.Juries are composed of ordinary decent citizens.
Jury service is a most disagreeable experience, imposed on some citizens, with too many categories of people excused. - Yours, etc,
ANTHONY JORDAN, Gilford Road, Dublin 4.
Madam, - There are very few experiences in life which are as intellectually unsettling as the discovery that one is in agreement with a Fianna Fáil Minister; but thus it was when I heard Noel Dempsey (speaking on RTÉ's Saturday View) taking serious issue with the outcome of the Pádraig Nally manslaughter trial. - Yours, etc,
BARRY HEALY-DOYLE, Greenville Terrace, Dublin 8.
Madam, - I have heard many commentators state that the verdict in the Pádraig Nally case was due to anti-Traveller prejudice, but I strongly suspect that, had Tom Ward and his son been settled people from Dublin, Galway or Limerick, the jury's decision would be the same. People in Ireland are sick of crime and it was always unlikely that a jury would convict an elderly man, living alone, who was defending his property, even if his use of force was not proportionate. - Yours, etc,
MICHAEL WALSH, Dun Laoghaire, Co Dublin.
Madam, - In acquitting the killer of John Ward, the jury has effectively reintroduced the death penalty for petty criminals. How many will have to die before civilised, democratic values prevail? - Yours, etc,
GORDON DAVIES, Bray, Co Wicklow.
Madam, - Where will the Nally verdict lead our country? Considering many of the reactions in print and on air I fear a gun-toting, vigilante-driven society lies ahead for Ireland. How dare we have such little regard for life, that when a man is beaten and shot in the back it is judged as reasonable force in protecting property? What next?
Regardless of mitigating circumstances and the people involved, we cannot allow Pádraig Nally's actions to be seen as lawful. A man is dead and the majority applauds. Shame on us. - Yours, etc,
CARA DONNELLAN, Ballycullen, Dublin 24.