Madam, - To dash hope is a cruel act; therefore I refrained from trying to injecting a little realism into the positive response of your readers to the photograph of Cardinal Desmond Connell with Marie Collins and Ken Reilly at the end of December 2002.
There will now be renewed shock and outrage at the Dublin diocese's attitude in the case of "Martha" and "Mary"; but should people really be surprised at the triumph of experience over hope? - Yours, etc.,
ANGELA HANLEY, Beech Park, Athlone, Co Westmeath.