Sir, - In the context of the present discussion about prison conditions, it might be apposite to quote from Nelson Mandela who, in his autobiography Long Walk to Freedom, says, on page 233, "A nation should not be judged by how it treats its highest citizens, but its lowest ones, and South Africa treated its imprisoned African citizens like animals".
How would we feel, I wonder, should President Mandela decide to pay us another visit and ask to have a look at our prisons? - Yours, etc.,
Corbawn Drive,
Dublin 18.