Sir, - The Council of Labour Lawyers is to be congratulated on its principled opposition to its party's line on the bail referendum. The proposal to change the law so as to allow imprisonment for suspected future offences is an example of a Government (and Opposition) panicking in the face of crisis. The same capitulation to fear and vested interests has caused the frightening degeneration in American criminal law over the last two decades.
Much has been said on this subject which I can only repeat. For example, it will not end more than five per cent of crimes and this amount is likely to be made up by the convicted criminals who will have to be released to make way for the remandees. However, there are two other points that should be made.
Firstly, within the last week, anti-drugs agitators have been arrested on information supplied by dubious sources. Under the amendment, it will be possible to keep them out of action indefinitely, if the authorities express the view that they might repeat the offence they are alleged (not proven, remember) to have committed.
Secondly, if the crime crisis is to be tackled, it should involve a more determined crack-down on those involved in the financial scandals of the last few years. More than ever, there seem to be two legal standards in this country. - Yours, etc.,
Clanawley Road, Dublin 5.