Madam, - I was fortunate to attend the Special Olympics opening ceremony on Saturday evening, and was astounded by the sheer quality of the event. It was a credit to the effort, organisation, commitment and professionalism of all involved and left us all very proud of what we can do when we put the national shoulder to the wheel.
We received tickets to the event because we were hosting an American family - two ladies in their thirties from Wisconsin, who were accompanying their cousin, an athlete on the US. team.
After such a bright start to the week, I was dismayed on Monday when they told me that, after a few hours' sightseeing in Dublin with their cousin, they did not intend going into the city again.
During their short sojourn near O'Connell Bridge, they had been harassed by a "young lady", who for no apparent reason verbally abused them for being "f***ing yanks who think they know it all".
They also witnessed some "young gentlemen" shouting abuse at gardaí, who were evidently powerless to stop them; and finally, on the bus home, they were frightened out of their lives by another "gentlemen" who was under the influence of drink or drugs.
The shame is that the wonderful welcome and goodwill created by thousands of Irish people can be dissipated in a matter of minutes by those in our society who have no concern for the rest of us with whom they share this country and planet.
Why is Irish society so tolerant of this kind of behaviour, which has turned large parts of our capital into a no-go It is intolerable - and the rest of us are letting ourselves down by accepting it as a fact of life. If it means reinstating the use of the birch, then so be it. The alternative - to sit idly by while such thuggery takes over our city - is not an option. Yours, etc.,
MARK YOUNG, Streamstown, Co Dublin.