Welcome ruling

THE High Court judgment concerning the legitimacy of the Oireachtas inquiry into Judge Curtin’s alleged misbehaviour is most welcome.

This is important because elected representatives have to be responsive to public opinion, but in cases such as this there is a danger that they would be exposed to public hysteria rather than public opinion.

Such hysteria - whipped up by a vocal minority, elements of which have no qualms about telling barefaced lies - could intimidate public representatives on the Oireachtas committee into behaving less than fairly with Judge Curtin.

It is good to see the judiciary play its legitimate role in this affair. It is good, too, to see that Judge Curtin will be getting a fair hearing despite the best efforts of the gutter press.

Joseph Barry

123 Morehampton Road

Donnybrook

Dublin 4