Sir, - Before the recent extension of the licensing hours, I wrote to your paper outlining my grave concerns.
Since the change has been made, many of my fears have been realised, namely an increase in the carnage on our roads and in unprovoked violence in our towns and cities after closing time.
Where did the pressure come from to have our licensing laws extended? Do our legislators feel any responsibility for the decline in law and order and the increase in the cases of injuries and deaths on our roads, especially at weekends? They have a duty to give our young people good example and not pass laws motivated by greed.
Laws should be enacted to protect and not destroy our citizens, especially our vulnerable young people. - Yours, etc.,
Paddy O'Reilly, Roscrea Road, Templemore, Co Tipperary.