Sir, – Is it any wonder our society is plagued with violence? You report that a 17-year-old youth who fractured another youth's skull with a hammer because he was shouted at and got angry was given a suspended sentence ("Sentence suspended for teen who hit schoolboy with hammer", May 30th). If deterrence to criminal behaviour is in there somewhere, would someone please point out where? – Yours, etc,
JOHN F CRONIN,
Dublin 6W.