Bring political and corporate villains to justice

WHILE accepting that any citizen has a right to defend his, or herself against condemnation by a state official which one regards as outlandishly unjust, there is nonetheless an obligation on whomever feels ill-done by an investigative process to abide by a certain protocol and respect the official, and the office held by that individual.

The behaviour of Denis O’Brien and Michael Lowry, was utterly scandalous.

In a orchestrated ad hominem attack upon Judge Michael Moriarty — a judge universally noted for his courtesy, and pleasant demeanour — Messrs O’Brien, and Lowry engaged in an open, and savage character assassination attempt; this surely represents a bridge too far, and brings the judiciary into contempt.

Leaving aside, however, the histrionics of both of the central characters concerned in the Moriarty Tribunal Report, the very report itself raises the question as to whether this method of inquiry into political and corporate wrong-doing is desirable to begin with. Surely what is needed is a sensible law inserted into our constitution to root out political, and corporate villains and bring them to justice within a radically shorter time-frame, and in an equally radically cost-effective way. Tribunals must be consigned to the past.

Dan Boyle of the Greens proposed that we define, and translate into legislation, the law of economic treason. Democracies have a right to defend themselves against misfeasance and malfeasance perpetrated by ruthless power-elites, corrupt politicians, and corporate interests.

The time has come to act in defence of citizens’ rights and establish such a legal tool as an instrument of law to fight this manifestation of venal crime, as the state would tackle any other form of criminality.

Pierce Martin

Celbridge

Co Kildare