Madam, - The members of Galway County Council voted recently to keep Michael "the Stroke" Fahy in office despite his incarceration for fraud against the same council.
As Mr Fahy continues to be one of my public representatives in the Loughrea electoral area, I and my fellow citizens have effectively been disenfranchised by the very body we elected to ensure our views are heard.
Despite being arguably illegal, this decision sends out the message that politicians, no matter their creed, will stick together to protect their own rather than do the right thing.
The lack of any easily identifiable higher body to which to appeal this decision effectively leaves the local politicians above any legal or moral retribution.
It is hard to imagine a similar circumstance in any but the most corrupt and politically bankrupt society - perhaps that is exactly where I live. - Yours, etc,
MORGAN MATTHEWS,
Roevehagh,
Kilcolgan, Co Galway.