Sir, - All criminals are law breakers, but are all lawbreakers criminals? If zero tolerance policing becomes the norm, will ALL lawbreakers be pursued with equal vigilance, and in all parts of Ireland? Memories are still strong in many parts of a time in our history when a police force was given almost unlimited power to apprehend lawbreakers.
Is it not ironic that the descendants of the victims of that time of repression are the party which wishes to see its reintroduction?. Surely more effective policing can be introduced without trampling on civil liberties?
Before giving unqualified support to the Fianna Fail policy, I would ask each individual Have you ever broken the law? Never? Never exceeded the speed limit? Never in a pub after hours? Never parked on a double yellow line? How would you have reacted if you were summoned on each occasion? Do we want a police state in Ireland, and has 1984 finally arrived? - Yours, etc,
Maiden Street, Newcastlewest,
Co. Limerick.