Madam, - In his recent single and in various media interviews, Mr Brian McFadden, formerly of the group Westlife, has said he was physically assaulted by a member of the Christian Brothers order, while a pupil at one of its schools.
Let us apply logic to this claim. Mr McFadden is not yet 25 years old; so this alleged assault is relatively recent. He obviously knows the school he attended and must know who assaulted him. If this alleged event happened in the past ten years, we could presume that the teacher in question is still alive and that any of Mr McFadden's fellow past pupils who may have been present could verify Mr McFadden's claim.
To rescue his credibility, Mr McFadden must now either follow through the claim or make peace with his alleged assailant and his former school. Unless he does more than simply sing about his experience, the merits of his claim my be judged by his inaction.
Yet the school, his former teachers, the Christian Brothers and all who owe their success in life to their launching hand will be done an injustice. - Yours, etc.,
KEN FENNELLY, College Green, Maynooth, Co Kildare.