Madam, - There should be no surprise at the defiance of the criminal justice system by criminal gangs, now par for the course throughout the country, not just in Limerick and Dublin (although Limerick is now the most extreme example).
These elements operate under the law of the jungle where only the strongest survive. Attempts at reform and rehabilitation are wasted on them and we are now reaping the whirlwind of the kid-glove, do-gooder groups that have landed us in this mess.
Gardaí need no extra powers and would be foolish to revert to any strong-arm policy for short-term gain. The core issues is sentencing policy, which is currently a shambles and an affront to innocent victims of crime.
Every day we read of judges imposing "mandatory" 10-year sentences on drug traffickers but with the last three or four years suspended. Factor in three more years' remission for "good behaviour" and your serious criminal is back on the streets after a few years ready to take up where he left off.
And what sort of justice system have we got where mass murderers and psychopaths are freed back into the society they have terrorised after serving just a fraction of their sentences as part of a so-called peace process?
Life is now very cheap in this country and the only people serving life sentences are the parents and families of murder victims, failed by the system that allows the killers of their loved ones to walk free after 10 years of a so-called life sentence. Life, except in the most exceptional cases, should mean life and unless we get real and confront this tide of evil washing over the country, we should not be surprised if criminals feel free to give the two finger salute to our so-called justice system.
For years this failed system has been saying to criminals, Yes you can get away with murder, Yes, crime does pay and pay handsomely. It's time we changed the tune, Minister. - Yours, etc.,
JOHN F. MURRAY, Garrylucas, Kinsale, Co Cork.