Madam, - Many people are asking how Charles Haughey could get away with such criminality for so long. I believe he had the hallmark of the typical little bully-boy who, on achieving a position of power, surrounds himself with sycophants who know exactly what "The Boss" wants. He doesn't even have to instruct them.
What beggars belief is that his family is still in denial, as are many in his party. That the family should be claiming legal expenses from the taxpayers is laughable.
I believe the Criminal Assets Bureau should be instructed to seize all State expenses, including the €25 million cost of the tribunal, from the Haughey estate.
To have "devalued the quality of a modern democracy" must rank as the worst indictment any politician could have. For Taoiseach Bertie Ahern to eulogise such a man was to devalue the principle of a State funeral. What honourable man or woman would want one now? - Yours, etc,
JAMES MORAN, Knockanure, Bunclody, Co Wexford.
Madam, - Now that the report of the Moriarty tribunal has been published, would it not be appropriate, not to mention ethically, morally and legally necessary, for the legal representatives of the Lenihan family to issue a claim against the Haughey estate for the recovery of €194,517?
This sum of money is made up of the €265,000 which Charlie Haughey collected for Brian Lenihan's liver transplant surgery in the United States, less the actual surgery cost of €70,283, and less the insulting €200 which Mr Haughey had delivered in his state car to Mrs Ann Lenihan while she waited at Dublin Airport to fly to America to be at her husband's bedside, while Charlie pocketed the surplus.
The rightful place for that €194,517 is in the estate of the late Brian Lenihan. - Yours, etc,
D.J. O'GORMAN, PC, Oola, Co Limerick.
Madam, - Mr Bertie Ahern regrets that he signed blank cheques for Charlie Haughey.
But who would be Taoiseach today if he had refused? - Yours, etc,
L. SMITH, The Elms, Donnybrook, Dublin 4.