Madam, - The complaints about an advertisement by Farrell Family Law Solicitors, which encouraged people who had an "unhappy family Christmas" to contact them for confidential advice, should cause people in positions of power to reflect on the impact of family law on families and on society ( The Irish Times, January 8th).
Complainants felt the advertisement was tasteless and Angela Farrell, managing partner of the firm, has said she realises that the advertisement has "caused offence". However, to describe the advertisement as merely "tasteless" or "offensive" ignores the real issue. The problem is not the wording of the advertisement but what it exposes.
It gives us a glimpse of the truth behind the misleading facade which suggests that family law is beneficial to families and society and that the legal profession plays an honourable role in helping families to resolve their problems in a fair, just and constructive manner.
The truth is that the adversarial legal system facilitates the legal profession in exploiting family tensions and exacerbates feelings of anger, hostility and revenge to a degree that is destructive for all family members, especially children. The only real winners in this destructive industry called family law are the lawyers.
That is the reality behind the so-called "tasteless advertisement".
- Yours, etc,
MARY T CLEARY, Amen, Navan, Co Meath.