Sir, - The director of Schizophrenia Ireland, Orla O'Neill, makes the case that John Carthy "was a victim of gaps in the healthcare system" (July 6th).
She goes on to offer "a partnership with the Garda".
The police service "is in constant contact with people with mental illness. . .and it is vital that some understanding, skills and expertise are developed."
In a general way, such insights would be of benefit to gardai. But what Ms O'Neill appears to be proposing is a anew formal responsibility for the Garda Siochana, as social workers, running the risk of diluting its essential peace-keeping duties.
As I recalled in my letter of May 1st, there was a time when an unarmed garda, relying alone on local knowledge and native wit, invariably succeeded in overcoming a distressed neighbour armed with a shotgun or a pitchfork.
Has the nature of mental illness so changed in the meantime as to create the present anxiety about the capacity of gardai to deal with similar problems? The presence at the scene of social workers and others must detract the garda who has all the "understanding, skills and expertise" he needs in his role as peace officer.
In a quiet different case of an imprisoned hostage, thankfully rare in our society, the Garda commander at the scene might decide to requisition the services of a psychologist, without compromise to the primary responsibility of police to restore the peace.
Ms O'Neill makes a contribution to the bridge-repairing between the Garda Siochana and the community that must follow the present crisis of confidence.
This will come when the service has been restructured to recover whatever has been lost in the essential rapport between communities and their local peace officers that existed in the traditional personal identity and trust in individual gardai transcending respect for the impersonal institution. - Yours, etc.
Gregory Allen, Upper Road, Blackrock, Co Dublin.