PATRICK O'SULLIVAN,
Sir, - Is it fair that some people can drive at speeds up to 95 m.p.h on our roads in an eight-vehicle cavalcade without fear of prosecution, while those who wish to engage in legitimate protest on the streets of Dublin are beaten with batons? - Yours, etc.,
PATRICK O'SULLIVAN,
Westbourne Lodge,
Templeogue,
Dublin 16.
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Sir, - Given the vicious behaviour of some members of the Garda Síochána on the streets of our capital city, given that evidence has been given in our courts of harassment and gross abuse of power by gardaí. Isn't it time the Garda was made responsible to a police board comprised of the people's representatives? - Yours, etc.,
FINTAN HOEY,
Meadow Mount,
Churchtown,
Dublin 16.
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Sir, - Surely in these times, when various incidents are serving to lessen public confidence in our police force, we need to review how its actions are investigated? Public confidence is unlikely to be improved by the fact that any inquiry commissioned by the Minister for Justice will be carried out by either Department employees or Garda officers. This is seen as self-justification, as something that convinces an organisation that its actions are justified, even if others do not agree.
In the interests of all involved, would it not be better for an independent body to undertake such an inquiry? The results of such would be seen to be impartial and based on fact.
I think that the time has come to discuss the setting up of an independent Ombudsman with the power to make necessary inquiries and prevent the kind of accusations which some Northern people made in the past: that the police force serves to defend only the political and social convictions of its members, rather than being a genuine public service that treats all with parity of esteem. - Yours, etc.,
EAMONN O'MAHONY,
Park Drive Crescent,
Castleknock,
Dublin 15.
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A chara, - As a hard-working taxpayer, like Gerard Reynolds (May 8th), I am sick and tired of our city streets being handed over more and more to cars and traffic at the expense of pedestrians and cyclists. Pedestrian lights appear to be treated as a necessary evil timed to force pedestrians to race across the road as quickly as possible so as not to delay the polluting motors too much. Cyclists, meantime, are given tiny cycle lanes where they can fight for space with buses, taxis and parked cars.
With the polling day looming, I would ask the political parties to examine their policies about city planning. Cities are about people, not traffic. That's why I am happy to take part in street parties like the one on May 6th and am happy to let non-campaigning citizens reap the benefits - the fresh air and quiet, traffic-free streets - that we reclaim, albeit for a short time. - Is mise,
DARAGH BREATHNACH,
Talbot Street,
Dublin 1.