A chara, - I strongly agree with Diarmuid Kearney of the National Youth Federation (June 7th) that Minister for Justice Michael McDowell should consult with those who deal with young people on a daily basis before proceeding with his plan to introduce anti-social behaviour orders. Indeed, I would suggest that he consult directly with young people and ask their views on his proposal - and on the range of entertainment available to them in the evenings.
In many parts of Ireland, the local pub is the prime centre for social activity - meetings, quizzes, medal presentations, family gatherings, etc. Mr McDowell was the Minister who banned young people from these premises after 9pm.
I am now concerned that the proposed Asbos will be misused to classify young people who are just hanging around the streets as criminal. This is not a way to ensure respect from young people for the forces of law and order and will further alienate them from civic society.
Engaging young people in the development of their community and listening to their concerns are far better ways to encourage civic responsibility. - Is mise,
Cllr MALCOLM BYRNE
(Fianna Fail),
Cathaoirleach,
Gorey Town Council,
Gorey,
Co Wexford.
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Madam, - The excellent letter from Diarmuid Kearney of the National Youth Federation naturally emphasises the ill-effect that these nasty little law-and-order rat-traps will have on young people; may we add our own comments as elderly and potential "habitual offenders"? We call ourselves that because now and again we are so enraged at the corrupt capers cut by government (national or local) that we find ourselves compelled to take part in street demonstrations, pickets, poster-displays, marches, etc, at such venues as Shannon (US military use of a civil airport unauthorised by international treaty), Erris (a beautiful corner of the country delivered into the hands of careless and unscrupulous oil-mongers), Dublin (the Iraq war), or Galway.
There is no reason to believe that Asbos will not be served on citizens taking part in such enlightened activities, if the activities should seem effective and thus obnoxious to authority. Only a month ago in Britain a 63-year-old woman (the wife of a clergyman, moreover) was threatened with an Asbo for her indefatigable poppings-up to protest against the huge and unaccountable US satellite eavesdropping installation at Menwith Hill, Yorkshire. In the end in wasn't served, but it was clearly the punitive weapon of first choice and so it will be here, whatever the disavowals of Ministers. It will also be a weapon in the hand of any mean-minded, squinting-window, domestic busybody who is afraid of anyone at all "different" living within an ass's roar of their doorstep - and that sort of bigotry doesn't stop at teenagers.
Michael McDowell's catch-all proposition must be dropped, and at once: it is encouraging to read of the discontent among Fianna Fáil backbenchers. May their courage and common sense prevail. - Yours, etc,
MARGARETTA D'ARCY,
JOHN ARDEN,
Bridget's Place Lower,
Galway.
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Madam, - I agree with Diarmuid Kearney (June 7th) that the Government ought to take a more preventive course and do more to tackle the economic and social reasons behind anti-social behaviour.
However, the preventive aspect alone is insufficient.
Any holistic well-planned system incorporates both preventive and reactive measures. There will be cases where prevention has been unsuccessful, and where reactive measures will need to be triggered, and this is where Asbos can be applied.
In the UK, Asbos have been used effectively to deal with neighbours from hell and perpetrators of night-time disturbances who regularly keep tormented residents awake with loud music, shouting and car-racing.
I'm sure the persecuted are grateful for the Asbos against the prosecuted, and I'm sure Mr Kearney and others would feel the same way in those victims' shoes. - Yours, etc,
NIALL O'DONOGHUE,
Narva,
Finland.