Changing values

THE judge’s direction to the jury in the Nigerian circumcision case was simply amazing (Irish Examiner, October 8). They were not to judge the defendant with any “white, western values”.

Does this mean that a white westerner would be found guilty, whereas a Nigerian would not? Where is the independence of Irish law which should stand on its own values, reflective of what we Irish people believe to be right or wrong rather than based on skin colour?

Anyway, when people come to live in Ireland they should accept how we as a tolerant people want to order ourselves as to right and wrong. Change can come from the political process and by referendum. But surely the judge has made the law an ass?