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GAZETTE
JULY/AUGUST 1983
Correspondence
The Editor.
28th June 1983
Th e Incorporated Law Society of Ireland Gazette,
Blackhall Place.
Dub l in 7.
I r ememb e r, about fifteen years ago, coming across a
little bo ok which set out a kind of legal shorthand which
had c ome to be used by practising lawyers. I think the
book wou ld have been published maybe fifty or sixty
years ago. The system outlined was not a shorthand in
the sense of using signs such as in Pitman or Gregg but
rather a well worked out system of abbreviations for
wo rd s, especially abbreviations for legal expressions
continually in use.
I have always regretted that I did not buy that little
book on the occasion in question and I have since made
many attempts to trace it both by mentioning the matter
to c o l l e agues and also by writing to various London
b o o k s h o ps which deal in both new and secondhand legal
b o o ks but always without success. I write this letter in
the h o pe that s ome b o dy may have a copy of such book
and if so I would very much like to have the opportunity
of perusing it.
Few solicitors or barristers have shorthand and it
strikes me that, if there was at one time a well worked
out type of legal shorthand of the kind I have mentioned
a b o v e, it might well be worthwhile reviving it.
You rs etc..
Maurice J. Ke nny.
Solicitor.
Co r as Iompair Eireann,
St. Johns.
Islandbridge.
Dublin 8. "
The Editor.
14 June, 1983
Incorporated Law Society of Ireland Gazette,
Blackhall Place.
Dub l in 7.
De ar Editor.
I was more than a little surprised to read about the
n ews pap er c omme nt on, and the actual text of, what I
a s s ume is the editorial in your April, 1983 edition,
entitled "Fit the Crime", especially that part of it which
referred to the Dail debate which took place in relation
to what has c ome to be known as the Fairview Park case.
It is clear to me that wh o e v er wrote the editorial was
neither present in the Dail at the time, nor took the
trouble to actually read the Dail report on the
proceedings, but based his or her commentary on the
mo re lurid aspects of the media coverage given the
d e ba t e.
Th e editorial said "Our Judges have, since the
inception of the State, served its people well — far better
than its Legislators ha v e ." Would the writer like to
indicate what evidence exists to bear this out. I find it a
rather strange statement indeed, especially when one
bears in mind that all memb e rs of the judiciary have
been appointed by Legislators at s ome stage or another.
The standard of the Dail debate was described in your
Ga z e t te as being "deplorable": you said "It s e emed as if
De pu t i es were vying with each other in advocating
punitive sanctions, almost regretting that transportation
is no longer available as a punishment. It is not the duty
of politicians merely to e c ho each popular catch cry." I
e nc l o se herewith a copy of the Dail Report involved and
I challenge the writer of this emotive commentary to
point out to me where that statement is borne out in the
contributions of the
vast majority
of those who took part,
including
the
undersigned
—
your
blanket
c ond emna t i on admitted no exceptions.
In fact, the tone and content of the contribution made
by
most
of the speakers was extremely moderate, very
controlled, in no way emotive and for most of us was
entered into with very many misgivings. As you will
appreciate, it is most unusual to hear any politician
discussing or debating in the Dail a judgement given in
the Courts and this particular constraint, along with the
verv strict rules which apply in the Oireachtas — but
which clearly are not observed when it c omes to
editorials in the I.L.S. Gazette — relating to order and
propriety in debate, ensured that, for the most part,
moderation and responsibility were the order of the day.
Accordingly, I will be grateful if your writer would
now read the debate (which he clearly had not done
previously) and indicate to me and to your readership
whe t her he still asserts that "Deputies were vying with
each other in advocating punitive sanctions etc . .". One
is entitled to expect a higher standard from youreminent
publication than this level of abuse.
Sincerely yours.
Michael Keating. T . D . , Alderman
Dáil Eireann,
Baile A t ha Cliath 2.
Editorial Note: Deputy Michael Keating is correct when he
states that the official Dail Report does reveal that a number of
deputies
made contributions
to the motion which were
moderate and controlled. Unfortunately, circulation of the Dail
Reports is not such as to have any influence on public opinion in
general. The reports of the debates in the national
newspapers
were carefully considered before the article was written and the
Editorial Board is satisfied that the comments made in the
article were fair and were based on the evidence available to the
public generally. - Ed.
MARR I AGE COUNSELL ING SERVICE
A conference on
"MARRIAGE ISSUES IN IRELAND"
will
take placc on 14 Octohcr. IW3 at Irish Management Institute.
Sandvford. Dublin. Speakers will include Nicholas Tyndall.
B . A .. Chief Officer of the National Marriage Guidance
Council. England and John Haynes. Ph. D.. President of
Mediation Training Institute.
Cost £12.
(HI
inel. Lunch.
Bonking: Secretary. Marriage Counselling Service.
24 Grafton Street. Dublin 2.
167