Collins’ letter - Inexcusable intervention

Politicians of all hues are quick to champion the independence of the judiciary — but only until one of them feels the need to try to influence our courts.

Deputy Niall Collins, no stranger to a shaky patch on the high moral ground, is the latest to step across this line. He intervened in a case of a widowed drug dealer because, he claims, he wanted to best serve the interests of the four children involved.

Bunkum, absolute bunkum. If that needed to be done then the man’s defence team could have brought the situation to the judge’s attention.

Mr Collins is not the first, nor will he be the last, to intervene in this most inappropriate way. Were he just a Dáil foot soldier that would be bad enough but he is Fianna Fáil’s Justice spokesman.

His crass behaviour means Mr Martin, who promised a new, squeaky clean Fianna Fáil, has little or no option but to replace him.