Sir, - Before rushing out to vote "Yes" in the forthcoming Bail Referendum, as advocated by all the major political parties, the electorate might pause to consider the words of Benjamin Franklin, which could have been penned specially for the occasion, but which were actually written in 1773:
"Those that give up an essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety". - Yours, etc.,
Foster Place North,
Ballybough, Dublin 3.