Sir, – It is difficult to argue with the logic employed by Judge Martin in reaching his conclusion regarding the non-appropriateness of a custodial sentence for the Anglo Irish bankers Whelan and McAteer.
However the age-old debate about justice not just being done but being seen to be done continues. I recall, not so long ago, a man getting six years for a garlic-for-apples scam. This was reduced to two years on appeal. I believe the public would perceive the Whelan and McAteer convictions to be more serious than the garlic-for-apples case and they will therefore see a serious sentencing imbalance.
Justice not being seen to be done inevitably leads the public to believe there are different standards in sentencing. Whether this is true or not will be the subject of continuing debate until the perception is dealt with head on. Yours, etc,
NORVILLE CONNOLLY,
Williamstown,
Castlebellingham,
Co Louth
Sir, – The people blame the banks, the banks blame the regulators and the regulators blame the Government. I am not suggesting that the Government should blame the people to complete this circle of culpability, but behind closed doors they might well do. We must all accept some responsibility for what happened in Ireland in the 1990s. Everyone, from taxi drivers to judges, bought into the bubble and gambled on rising property values. Most people bet and most people lost. We should stop looking for scapegoats and move on. Yours, etc,
MARK WOODCOCK,
Longford Terrace,
Monkstown,
Co Dublin
Sir, – If we apply the criterion of the prevailing culture of the time to the non-jailing of the two Anglo-Irish executives, as suggested by Jane Kinsella (Letters, May 1st) then Judge Nolan’s decision was really not a surprise.
But just because events reflect the culture of a particular time that does not make them right. There's a lovely saying from an old classic court case movie called The Winslow Boy, in which Robert Donat, as the solicitor acting for the boy, who has been accused of stealing in school, says "Let right be done." Was right done here? I don't think so. Yours, etc,
BRIAN Mc DEVITT,
Ardconnaill,
Glenties,
Co Donegal
Sir, I’ve no doubt that Gearóid Ó Loingsigh (Letters, May 1st) didn’t get away with misdemeanours during his youth on the grounds that “he made me do it” or “I didn’t know it was his”. Nor of course would he have deserved to as it is likely that he would have been aware of his wrongdoing. He would not have been advised on the matter by his parents or led into sin by an infirm aunt gently reassuring him on the matter.
Mr Ó Loingsigh also looks forward to Judge Nolan absolving “petty criminals” on the grounds that their motives were not based on greed. Such a notion entirely misses the point of the judgement, which was that the accused not only understood that their actions were entirely legal but also had at least tacit approval from the regulatory authorities. There is no doubt that the Anglo debacle is a less than glorious period in our history but Judge Nolan in his judgment demonstrated the wisdom of Solomon in this politically charged spectacle. Yours, etc,
GEOFF SCARGILL,
Loreto Grange,
Bray,
Co Wicklow
Sir, Regarding the outcry at the lack of a prison sentence for the Anglo-Irish bank duo, I think it would be wrongheaded to see this country as perverse, preposterous and dysfunctional. Rather we need to look at what we excel at and capitalise on it. We offer blue chip premium impunity, and with the right marketing, Ireland could be a world class white collar crime haven.
We could attract Russian oligarchs, African despots, a swathe of the European business class and a raft of top drawer international bankers. Within a short timespan, Ireland could overtake New York and London as a major financial centre. In addition to impunity we can offer top drawer golf courses, first rate country clubs and seven star hotels and restaurants.
Getting the right tone is key; obviously we are not, in any way, shape or form, condoning or accepting blue collar criminals. They will be dealt with in the usual manner: crisply, expeditiously and harshly. Let’s all put our shoulders to the wheel and make this happen. Yours, etc,
PAUL STUART,
Drumcondra Park,
Dublin 3
Sir, – An old English verse quoted by GK Chesterton would seem to fit the bill: “The law locks up the man or woman / Who steals the goose from off the common / But leaves the greater villain loose / Who steals the common from the goose.” Yours, etc,
STEVE McGARRY,
Fremont Drive,
Bishopstown,
Cork
Sir, – If legal precedents are anything to go by, then Judge Nolan has set a very unhealthy precedent at the trial of the former Anglo Irish bankers. A pair of defendants were found guilty by a court of law, yet they receive no punishment of note. An arm of the state was severely negligent in its supervisory role and yet all of those culpable are either still in plum jobs or are retired on large pensions. It would be easy to infer from Judge Nolan’s decision that in the case of a crime that involves too many people, to the extent that to punish those in involved would damage the State, the best outcome is to let sleeping dogs lie. Yours, etc,
DARREN WILLIAMS,
Sandyford View,
Blackglen Road,
Dublin 18
A Chara – It would appear that in Ireland only the most naive and unambitious of thieves gets sent to prision. So, a word of advice to the petty criminal: aim higher, dream bigger and walk tall! Is mise,
BILLY Ó HANLUAIN,
Cashel Road,
Kimmage,
Dublin 12