Blarney festivities - Holding to account

The controversy over the St Patrick’s Day festivities in Blarney has the makings of old-style dispute between the people and the local landlord. Of course, in reality it is not nearly so simple.

At the heart of this controversy is not an issue of a landlord denying anybody’s rights, but a demonstration of the need for people to recognise that the current compo culture which has been allowed to run rampant is a real threat to everybody’s freedom.

Public festivities are in trouble because of public liability insurance. Everybody knows of claims by people who stepped into a pothole or walked into a door because they were not looking where they are going. They sue the local council or the owner of the property for negligence. What they are saying, in effect, is that it is your fault. This clearly perverts any sense of justice.