Sir, - I wonder whether those dealing with claims for damages for alleged loss of hearing have considered that these men may have attended discos in the past with subsequent damage to their hearing. It is well-known that decibel meters have gone off-scale when tests were carried out in disco halls. The damage to people's hearing from such sustained noise levels is a matter of medical fact.
As an ex-gunner in the second World War, I think I would have been exposed to somewhat more severe conditions than those claiming damages, certainly than most of them, and I intend no disrespect. Over 50 years later my hearing is still well above average and I do not remember anybody at the time complaining of deafness.
I accept that some men will be unfortunate enough to suffer hearing loss as a result of army service. I do not know whether audiologists can distinguish between hearing damage due to gunfire and that due to disco music, but this aspect should not be ignored. After all, we are talking about many hundreds of millions of pounds in taxpayers' money. - Yours, etc.,
Blackrock, Co Dublin.