I AM absolutely gutted for the woman who had to witness 50 friends of Danny Foley, who was convicted of sexually assaulting her, shake his hand and hug him in court while he was awaiting sentencing in Tralee Circuit Criminal Court (Irish Examiner, December 17).

THE revolt by backbench Fianna Fáil TDs against Transport Minister Noel Dempsey’s plans to lower the legal blood alcohol limit is a bleak example of the absolute failure of representative democracy for the people of this state.