Madam, - Maurice Neligan continues to wield his scalpel brilliantly (HEALTHplus, October 14th). Would that he were running the health service. However, he makes one point that I believe is misplaced and, in so doing, perpetuates a myth.
He refers to King Canute, who allegedly made a fool of himself by trying to stop the tide from coming in. I believe history has been unkind. When the medieval Viking king allowed the waves to wash over the feet of his throne, he was pointing out how utterly powerless the mighty can be.
It may be an apocryphal tale, but Irish bankers could learn something from his example. Humility, perhaps. - Yours, etc,
DECLAN KENNY, Leixlip, Co Kildare.