Sir, - I hope your readers who were watching The Ambassador TV series on January 18th noticed the acceptance by its writers of the warnings which the Council for the Protection of Irish Heritage Objects has been circulating to press and gardai over the last couple of years on the connection between drug-dealing and antiques thefts. What will really inhibit the export of stolen antiques - which partly funds drug purchase - is rigorous inspection of containers leaving Ireland through our ports and border crossings.
People should also aware of the help being given to criminals by the latest IR£99 mobile phone offer. Criminals make much use of mobile phones. Until now it has been possible, with a warrant, for the representatives of the law to know where a mobile phone was at any particular time when switched on (and where it was not) what numbers were called, and who was the owner of each instrument.
Under the IR£99 scheme, the purchaser of instrument and call card does not have to give any name or address and as there are no bills, there will be no record of traffic.
The very least Eircell can do is to demand identification, as with other mobiles, and keep a record of calls made in case this is needed at law. The best it can do is withdraw this ill-considered scheme. - Yours, etc., J.G. Lefroy, Chairman,
Council for the Protection of Irish Heritage Objects,
Carrigglas,
Co Longford.