Sir, - Look, it's all very well saying that the proposed change to the Constitution regarding bail will put known villains behind bars - has anyone checked the statistics? According to Councillor Tony Taffe, a mere five per cent of crimes committed are the work of those released on bail.
Changes in the bail laws are not the answer: it is not beyond the bounds of possibility that a totally innocent person is remanded in custody for a lengthy period before being set free by the courts - or are we going to go even further down the path of National Socialism and do away with trials altogether? It seems we are halfway there already, what with TDs talking of people being "found committing a serious offence" and the possibility of those seeking bail committing "another serious offence"!!
Let's get to the nub of the problem - delays in trials, lack of consecutive prison sentences for reoffenders, shortage of prison space - and tackle these instead. Otherwise we run the risk of dangerous infringements of civil liberty for any one of us. - Yours, etc.,
River Gardens,
Glasnevin,
Dublin 9.