Madam, - I wish to express my anger and frustration at the announcement by the Minister for Justice that he intends to introduce anti-social behaviour orders (ASBOs) in this State (The Irish Times, March 11th).
In Britain these orders can be issued to children as young as 10 years of age. Although it is a civil order, a child served with an ASBO need only breach it once for it to become a criminal matter.
Ideologically speaking, this move may be perfectly in keeping with Mr McDowell's professed belief in the need for inequality in society, for it is well known that anti-social behaviour is often symptomatic of poverty and social exclusion. Consequently, ASBOs will only serve to criminalise, and thus further marginalise, the very same children from disadvantaged backgrounds who have suffered already as a result of this Government's lack of social investment in recent years.
In the late 1990s Ireland was severely criticised by the United Nations for its appalling record in protecting the rights of children. If the ASBO is introduced here it will further undermine the rights of children. If Mr McDowell wants to reduce anti-social behaviour surely it would make more sense to do so in a social rather than a criminal context.
Invest in children, Minister, not prison places. - Yours, etc.,
NEIL FORSYTH, Rossberry Lane, Lucan, Co Dublin.