Powerful but flawed

THREE bastions of Irish society - the Catholic Church, financial institutions and the gardaí - have been found to be seriously flawed.

Public trust in all three is low. Church and garda representatives who attempted to cover up or defend the indefensible have added only to the pain of the victims of wrongdoing.

Do the banks enjoy immunity from prosecution? I hope not.

I believe that within the ranks of the church and gardaí there are victims, too - the decent people who have served honestly and fairly. The promotion systems that placed the culprits in positions of authority need to be abolished.

The banking culture breeds greed which has seriously damaged all financial institutions in this country.

John J Hassett

Croke Street

Thurles

Co Tipperary