Sickening end to a stroll in the park

ON a recent sunny afternoon my wife took our kids to Fitzgerald's Park in Cork.

It was buzzing with kids and the gardens looked great, but the idyllic picture was torn apart very quickly indeed.

A group of adult males, accompanied by children, were swilling cans of beer and once their bladders were full they simply stood up and urinated at will. Time to go.

Leaving the park the scene deteriorated even further a teenager, encouraged by parents, defecated in the middle of the park near a tree.

Sickening.

With all the debate on underage drinking, drug abuse and violent behaviour on our streets, it's time the parents of this country stood up and accepted their responsibility - they're not perfect, and neither are their little angels.

We seem to have lost pride in ourselves as individuals, in our communities, our towns and villages.

Jerry O'Leary,

17, Linden Ave,

Beaumont,

Cork.