Sir, – I have had this morning an encounter with Citizen Sean. It occurred on Parnell Street at the Cabra and Tyrrelstown bus stop. A query as to what bus would take me to Cappagh hospital led me to ask Citizen Sean, "And what do you think of Brexit?" Reading measured comment in The Irish Times on the subject did nothing to prepare me for Sean's reply. "The f***ing Germans have caused two world wars in the last century that killed millions and now that cow Angela Merkel wants to take over Europe. Let me give you one fact. In 2008, 150,000 people had to leave this country because of those foreigners coming over here to lap up our social welfare benefits. Let Merkel go and tell those Syrians – look, I see them on the TV and they're all young men of fighting age – 'Don't be comin' over here bothering us. Go back to Syria and fight for your own freedom'. And as for water charges, don't get me started."
Is this what Mama had in mind when she cautioned me “Never talk to strangers”? – Yours, etc,
GABRIELLE MAHON,
Clonskeagh,
Dublin 14.