Let the punishment fit the crimes

JUST a few thoughts on how we might punish those who have brought our country to economic hardship, Prison sentences would be great, but they would be extremely hard and very expensive to get, solicitors fees would surely run into the millions of euro, and even if they got a prison sentence they would be left out on temporary release, in about one third of the time, due to over-crowding.

So maybe we could impose a sentence upon them, (they may even volunteer to take it rather than face prosecution) called the “Irish Recession Punishment“, which would include the following: He/she may never live/rent or stay in a house bigger than a three bed semi-detached within city or town limits, or a small cottage in rural areas, (max home capacity 1,100 sq foot), with an appropriate garden size.

And certain areas where he/she is not allowed to live in, eg Blackrock in Dublin or Montenotte in Cork, etc.

He/she may never be allowed an overnight stay in any four or five-star hotel in Ireland or abroad.

He/she may never be allowed to own or drive a car which is less than 5 years old. The engine capacity must be 1.5 litre or less, and no vintage cars allowed. He/she is not allowed to employ a full or part-time driver, gardener, cook or cleaner.

He/she may never be allowed membership of any golf course, tennis club, etc.

Foreign holidays to be limited and stamped on their passport, to a maximum of 30 days per year.

The names of the offenders punished to be made public and published in all national newspapers, so the general public can do the policing for the gardaí.

Any breach of the Irish Recession Punishment will result in a mandatory six-month jail term, and punishment to be concluded on release.

Jail terms to be doubled and tripled, etc if further breaches occur.

None of the above “punishments” are terrible hardships, but it is by most of these standards that myself and the majority of the Irish population live by.

Ken Cashman

South Douglas Rd

Cork