Irish politicians vindicate ancient philosopher

THE ancient Scythian philosopher Anacharsis argued in 600BC that laws are like cobwebs — strong enough to detain the weak and too weak to detain the strong.

He would surely find himself at home in Ireland in 2009.

Remarkably, and again, the political establishment in our country has skilfully managed to perform dark magic in dispatching any talk of accountability with regard to yet another betrayal of trust.

We the people, not to mention the media, are apparently not extending natural justice to John O’Donoghue.

The poor man was driven from office in an undignified way.

The same establishment, of course, has more than a vested interest in shutting this particular Pandora’s Box.

The cunning pseudo defence of “let he who hasn’t sinned cast the first allegation” will be manfully deployed in the coming days, not to mention how “negative talk will damage our reputation abroad”.

Just once I would like to see one of our compromised politicians stand up like a man and declare with as much sincerity as he can muster that “I am guilt of wrongdoing.

I betrayed your trust. I take full responsibility for my actions. I have failed to uphold the standard of behaviour expected of me as your servant and, as a consequence, I can no longer remain in office.

There is as much hope, I hear you say, of a cobweb catching a racehorse.

Declan Doyle

Knockmannon Cross

Lisdowney

Ballyragget

Co Kilkenny