Madam, - Who does Michael McDowell think he is fooling with the spectre of a Fianna Fáil/Sinn Féin coalition? Does anyone seriously believe that Tony O'Reilly would continue Independent Newspapers' slavish support for Bertie Ahern were he even to consider this option? Bertie is about as free to coalesce with Sinn Féin as Tony Blair is free to decide to abolish sterling. Much of the rest of our press is more or less British-owned and even less likely to tolerate such a move.
Given Fianna Fáil's relaxed attitude to political ethics, a tame press is a sine qua non for its continued success. Mr McDowell should find another bogey man to frighten the voters; this one does not fool anyone. - Yours, etc,
TIM O'HALLORAN, Ferndale Road, Dublin 11.