Madam, - Recent concern over anti-social behaviour brings to mind my daughter's experiences. Recently she was harassed at a Dublin bus stop for the second time in 18 months or so. In both instances it started with begging for money. On the first occasion it was a young man who, when she replied - genuinely - that she had none, threatened her with a syringe and robbed her of her mobile telephone.
Most recently it was a group of young girls and boys who pushed her around and verbally abused her when she did not give them money. Some observations on these events and their similarities:
1. Both times she went to the gardaí, who did not seem overly interested. Petty crime and anti-social behaviour appear to be of little concern, yet as American policing has illustrated, action at this level can pay dividends.
2. The pretext each time for harassment was begging. At the risk of upsetting the Irish poverty industry, should such direct and intimidatory begging be legal?
3. On both occasions she was subjected to a loud barrage of unrepeatable obscenities. This hardly seems to raise an eyebrow nowadays - part of the coarsening of our society.
4. Both times there were a number of other people at the bus stops and passing by who did not intervene, or show any concern at her upset afterwards. The words attributed to Edmund Burke come to mind: "It is necessary only for the good man to do nothing for evil to triumph". - Yours, etc.,
DESMOND DRUMM, Ballinagappa Road, Clane, Co Kildare.