Madam, - The "few bad apples" theory is being advanced on the airwaves in an attempt to diminish the sense of national shock at the findings of the Morris tribunal.
However, as long as the Minister for Justice continues to oppose the creation of a full Garda Authority as vehemently as the establishment of the tribunal itself was once opposed, the people are left in a difficult position.
Without the openness, transparency, independence and fearlessness of a real Garda Authority, how can the public have confidence from now on that the honourable sergeant commended in the Morris report was not in fact one of the force's few good apples? - Yours, etc,
HUGO BRADY BROWN, Stratford on Slaney, Co Wicklow.
Madam, - The disturbing findings of the Morris tribunal come close on the heels of an independent "human rights audit" of Ireland's police force - an audit whose results have been accepted by An Garda Síochána itself.
This report, by Ionann Consultants, identified a number of concerns about police conduct and attitudes - including the very serious problem of "institutional racism" within the Garda.
Given such evidence of malpractice and discrimination and the acknowledged need for police reform, Minister for Justice Michael McDowell must surely reconsider the introduction of anti-social behaviour orders. Asbos - which give gardaí greater discretionary powers, lower the burden of proof and criminalise individuals for non-criminal behaviour, have the potential to make any member of society more vulnerable to the possibility of prejudice, scapegoating or misconduct by law-enforcement officials. - Yours, etc,
ALICE-MARY HIGGINS, Anti-Racism Project, Comhlámh, Upper Camden Street, Dublin 2.