Madam, - Further to the letter from John Waters (December 4th), my letter of December 2nd was not intended to be a personal attack on this man.
He was mentioned because he has expounded a certain view on the matter, similar to the Amen group, on many occasions in his newspaper column. My generalisation about drinking was not intended to refer to him. I accept that I should not have made this generalisation, as it is hurtful to some men.
Mr Waters says he spends much of his time caring for his young child. He is to be admired for this, just as I admire anyone who looks after their children on their own. If my letter caused any distress to Mr Waters, this was unintentional, and I unreservedly apologise to him for any hurt caused to him.
I was not defending "my business" or "my profession" in my letter, as stated my Mr Waters. I was defending the family law system, which is onerous work for all those involved, and which is not helped by pressure groups who sometimes create more difficulties for all concerned in this tragedy of marriage breakdown.
Mr Waters refers to the "loving fathers whose human rights have been trampled upon" by solicitors. It is judges who make the difficult and painful decisions, not solicitors. - Yours, etc.,
MUREDACH DOHERTY,
Lower Beechwood Avenue,
Dublin 6.