Sir, - If we have had a dual system of justice in this country, it seems that we now have a triple one: one for the rich, one for the poor and the least equitable one of all for judges.
If indeed there has been a dual system of justice in operation, then Mr Justices Hugh O'Flaherty and Cyril Kelly seem to be, from all we have been told about them, the least likely people to have been promoting it. Yet the burden of blame and the full onus of responsibility for all the ills of the judicial system has been placed on them in an unjust and cruel way.
Equally, it seems they have been made to suffer because of the lack of a judicial disciplinary procedure. If such a system had been in place it is unlikely that the punishment would have been so extreme - excessive in my opinion. To lose your position and status in society is a severe blow for anyone. But I understand that both of these men will also be excluded from practising at the Bar as a result of this case. How are they to earn a living in the future? As if all this was not enough, the Minister for Justice decided against the payment of gratuities. When pushed to explain this decision he simply said that it wouldn't go down well.
I sincerely hope that a sense of justice and humanity may yet be found in Government circles and that the Minister will be enabled to reduce the excessive penalty imposed on Mr Hugh O'Flaherty and Mr Cyril Kelly, by increasing their financial settlements, by way of gratuity or otherwise, in a way that would reflect their valuable contribution to our society. Until justice is seen to be done in this respect, we are diminished as a people. - Yours, etc., Helen Bourke,
The Gables, Ballinteer Road, Dublin 16.