Sir, – I have great sympathy for John Waters in light of his recent experience (News Agenda, September 4th).
The event has prompted me to wonder why it is that in this age of advanced technology that it is not possible for off-street car parks to charge for the actual time involved rather than the punitive system that allows the operator to charge “per hour or part thereof ”. This is a prime example of unabashed profiteering.
I believe that this is one area where the Consumers Association of Ireland could usefully apply its talents. Perhaps with a little of the vigour that was applied to the plastic bags and smoking issues this “disease” could also be eliminated. – Yours, etc,
PADRAIG O’ROURKE,
Merrion Road, Dublin 4.
Sir, – Hooray for your columnist John Waters and his brave actions in refusing to pay a parking fine (News Agenda, September 4th). The regressive parking laws imposed by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council have been harsh on local retailers, with many businesses closing in recent years.
Hopefully, Waters’s resistance to such bureaucratic nonsense and paying the price by spending a brief time behind bars, will help turn the tide. – Yours, etc,
MICHAEL CULLEN,
Albert Park,
Sandycove,
Co Dublin.
Sir, – Now that he has suffered the Hell of 45 minutes behind bars for making a stand against the “system”, can we take it that John Waters will henceforth be known as the Dún Laoghaire One? – Yours, etc,
NIALL GINTY,
The Demesne,
Killester,
Dublin 5
Sir, – John Waters: “I was weighed, measured and put in a cell with two men”. (News Agenda, September 4th).
Who was served by or obtained fulfilment from this sentence? It would have been much more sensible to have given him community service. Perhaps Waters could arrange to be arraigned again, and this time ask the judge for community service, and write about that experience. Perhaps our judges upon reading it might consider using it more often.
Or better yet, when issuing fines, give the recipient the option of paying the fine or doing hours of community service – it might catch on. – Yours, etc,
DECLAN MOYNIHAN,
Mannix Road,
Drumcondra,
Dublin 9.
Sir, – Small offence in Dún Laoghaire. Not many jailed. – Yours, etc,
NICK HILLIARD,
De Courcey Square,
Glasnevin, Dublin 9.
Sir, – John Waters and his principled stand against bureaucracy (news agenda, September 4th) has to be admired, as does the judiciary, which, in sending The Irish Times man to clink for a day (well two hours anyway) ensures justice has been satisfied and the philosophy that we are all answerable to the law has not been compromised.
The same thing happened in Liverpool years ago, when offenders for trivial cases were often sentenced to a similar length of time, but instead of being hauled off to Walton jail, they would be told to sit at the back of the court for the duration of the day’s proceedings. Procedurally convenient. Justice done. – Yours, etc,
FRANK GREANEY,
Lonsdale Road,
Formby,
Liverpool, England.