The fourth estate is forced into silence by plutocrats and those holding power

Broadcasters and correspondents who felt compelled to investigate critical situations like problems in money-lending and beef production, for example — and there were others — found themselves in court or having to move abroad or in a different career.

They had challenged elements or components in power structures. Until recent times, one didn’t challenge the Church.

Satire tended to die with the arrival back to power of one political denomination or, indeed, vanished during one of such administrations. Satirists still remain fairly shy on topics.

The fourth estate, in a period of much suffering, can be likened to a “ghost estate”, characterised by a lifeless muteness when needed.

It is socially abhorrent to leave ill, vulnerable people in hospital corridors for many hours awaiting treatment and a bed. Unless very sick people are treated in time, their condition worsens.

It is sad that those holding power, including the likes of plutocrats, can seem to cause the press to be meek in time of relevant instances of genuine public interest. The press indeed! And plutocrats sense this muteness.

We have all endured the horrible results of the bubble years both in society and the economy. We witness the cynicism of bailed out banks, chasing those enticed to over borrow and become indebted for a dream of home ownership with rising house prices, driving people into unsustainable predicaments with the ensuing market collapse.

We citizens bear the loss due to speculation, “light touch” overall regulations and private banking failures. We will carry this burden for generations.

One hundred and eleven people on trolleys in hospital corridors reflect this. So do families in debt, being chased by citizen-supported banks, as do debtors’ accounts being put in the hands of vulture funds.

We who picked up the pieces of our lives and try to continue living are expected to meekly, like the fourth estate, bow to our fate.

Tom Ryan

Doon

Co Limerick