Political interference all too prevalent in Ireland

YET again we have had the unedifying spectacle of an elected public representative interfering in the judicial process — Labour TD Kathleen Lynch making contact with the sentencing judge in a rape case involving two young sisters.

Despite the admission by Ms Lynch that she did not know the convicted rapist, she nonetheless made representations on behalf of his family in an attempt to secure leniency in sentencing. It could be argued that Ms Lynch’s interference in this case was self-serving with the aim of ingratiating herself with her constituents for political gain.

Unfortunately, this inappropriate culture is all too prevalent in Ireland.