Courtroom affairs - Ban court interference

KATHLEEN LYNCH TD has apologised for intervening with Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy in the case of a rapist sentenced to 14 years in jail by the Central Criminal Court last week. Trevor Casey was convicted of raping two sisters in their early teens.

Many politicians write what may be little more than perfunctory letters on behalf of constituents. But there are, however, areas in which such representations are an affront to democracy and civility.

Ms Lynch has accepted that her letter was ill advised and inappropriate. But it was not actually illegal.

She wrote the letter on behalf of the convicted man at the request of his family. It was properly presented to the judge by the defence counsel. In different cases the procedure would be considered proper and normal.

It should not be the specific case but the whole procedure that should be unacceptable. The Oireachtas should legislate to delineate areas in which politicians should not encroach.

The law is supposed to be applied without fear or favour, and any attempt by an elected representative to obtain favour on behalf of any convicted person is a perversion of both our republicanism and our democracy. It should therefore be illegal.