Sir, – Whether tickets for the Olympics in Rio were illegally traded or not is a question for another day, but the treatment of Pat Hickey and Kevin Mallon by the Brazilian “justice” system is absolutely appalling.
Would the televising of Mr Hickey’s arrest have been permitted in this country? Hardly. Would both men have been detained in a maximum security prison here, if they’d been arrested in this country? Hardly. The treatment of both Mr Hickey and Mr Mallon in Brazil readily suggests a legal system that has nothing to do with justice and everything to do with the need for slick PR and “showboating”, which has now infiltrated every area of public life around the world. Why do Irish politicians and the Irish media not object to this horrific treatment of Irish citizens by the so-called justice system of another country?
If anything, both our media and politicians appear to be rubbing their hands with glee at the awful treatment of Mr Hickey by the authorities of a foreign country. Why is that? After all, this case is solely about a few hundred tickets, for a major sporting event, that might have been illegally traded. Nobody died as a result of the alleged “touting”, nobody is out of pocket (that we know of) and the world continues to turn, despite the events alleged to have taken place.
Whatever the outcome of the legal process in Brazil, Irish politicians and the Irish media need to get a grip of themselves in this instance, recover their sense of perspective and proportion and make the strongest possible protests they can make, right now, against the appalling treatment of Mr Hickey and Mr Mallon in Brazil. – Yours, etc,
TIM BUCKLEY,
Cork.
Sir, – Surely any fair-minded person would have concerns at the manner of the public arrest and deliberate humiliation of an Irish citizen who has been incarcerated in a foreign country without being charged with any offence. What was the necessity for tipping-off journalists to the dawn raid by police to arrest a 71-year-old man? Where are the legal protections against invasion of privacy in Brazil, or do they exist there at all?
The Government has a duty to protect all Irish citizens from such denials of basic fair procedures, whether politically favourable or not. It takes courage to protest against such ill-treatment, and it seems to be lacking in Government circles. – Yours, etc,
LIAM MOLONEY,
Naas,
Co Kildare.
Sir, – By far the most popular Olympic sport in the Irish media has certainly been schadenfreude. Gold medals all round! – Yours, etc,
JERRY CROWLEY,
Chapelizod,Dublin 20.
Sir, – Two medals and a tribunal? – Yours, etc,
PAUL DELANEY,
Dalkey,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – Another toothless inquiry (“Inquiry powerless to compel witnesses”, August 20th). In Ireland we are bedevilled with compromise, like the man on his death bed who repeatedly refused to renounce the devil. When pushed for an answer, he eventually replied, “Well, it’s like this. I’m really in no position to antagonise anyone.” – Yours, etc,
BOB BRENNAN,
Newbridge, Co Kildare.
Sir, – Businesses such as bars and banks can be licensed or regulated. Can’t sports bodies also be put in a box? –
STUART McLAREN,
Oranmore,
Galway.
Sir, – Our Minister for Sport is looking more and more like a hurler on the ditch. – Yours, etc,
PAT HARROLD,
Nenagh,
Co Tipperary.
Sir, – Derek McHugh (no relation) suggests that BMX racing is somewhat akin to riding a trike in his youth (August 18th).
My own view of the BMX racing I viewed on TV was that it is a cross between downhill skiing and the Grand National, and is not something I would want my kids to try at home or elsewhere. – Yours, etc,
KIERAN McHUGH,
Howth,
Dublin 13.