GERARD LEE,
Madam, - In his excellent article on the closure of Shanganagh Castle Detention Centre (Opinion, December 9th), Dr Paul O'Mahony states: "The 1,000 or so children who drop out of school every year. . . form a hugely disproportionate number of those who come into conflict with the land. Shanganagh has a proud record of taking on the education of such youngsters. . ."
The closure of this pioneering and unique (in this State) resource is a further move towards criminalising disadvantage. As Dr O'Mahony points out, even those who do not believe in the notion of rehabilitation must agree that paying more for less return - i.e. more closed prison spaces with a diminished rehabilitative focus - does not make economic sense.
So if closing Shanganagh is not justifiable on either social or economic grounds, why is the Justice Minister, Michael McDowell, doing it? - Yours,
etc.,
GERARD LEE,
St Agnes Park,
Crumlin,
Dublin 12.