Why we have so many criminal children
The chief justice has suddenly discovered that "fatherless homes are to blame" (Irish Examiner, Jan 12) for the increase in youth crime serious crimes by children rose by 70% in 2002.
Enlightened people have known this for years.
Family values campaigners are worn-out from trying to get someone in authority to listen, and while welcoming the intervention of the learned judge, many of them could be forgiven for feeling that the little has come far too late.
They are disappointed that while the chief justice correctly identifies a symptom, he says nothing about the root cause.
He fails to tell us that the growth in fatherless families is directly connected to the divorce culture and the anti-natural family laws and policies of successive governments. These have corrupted marriage to such an extent that young people don't see any point in marrying any more.
Fathers who do marry are often legally forced out of their homes, leaving mothers alone to bring up the kids. These fathers usually find that they are legally obliged to pay maintenance and mortgages on the first family home while at the same time providing for the necessities of life themselves.
They often end up financially and emotionally battered many even suicidal.
The mothers must seek paid employment outside the home just to keep body and soul together, and the kids are either farmed out at great cost or left home alone for much of every day.
It's time to stop pointing the finger at fathers and mothers. The real culprit is the diabolical political and legal system that today's parents have inherited because of bad government.
It's time for parents to fight for the restoration of commonsense if only for the sake of the children.
Nora Bennis,
16, Revington Park,
North Circular Road,
Limerick.
