20/08/03

Tony Martin came downstairs to a dark room where a torch was shone into his eyes, blinding him.

He fired into the darkness to scare the intruders off, not knowing someone was lurking there. Hardly shooting someone in the back a la Wild West.

He was a frightened man who had been let down by the law, as we all have.

We should go back to the days when the police upheld and enforced the law instead of pandering to the so-called rights of criminals, which have been granted to them by liberal thinkers since the 1960s. - Raymond M Kelly, Chester-le-Street.

IT IS amazing how some people overflow with concern and compassion for the offender, no matter how hardened, but have only scorn for the victim, no matter how vulnerable and isolated.

The "16-year-old lad" (HAS, Aug 13) was in fact a career criminal with a record of 29 previous convictions. Just think what that figure represents in terms of human suffering.

By nipping that promising career in the bud, Tony Martin saved us all a lot of trouble and expense and should be thanked and congratulated. - T Kelly, Crook.

RELIGION

MOST rational people will agree that God does not exist (after all, who believes in ghosts?).

Assuming the Lord is unproven, what logical right have Christians to scorn the existence of a rain- or thunder-god (Saturday Sermon, Aug 16)?

Natural sky gods are just as likely to have being as some third party good guy pulling all the strings.

I'm a British pagan sun-worshipper who is fed up with the Christian church thinking the "Hidden One" is the be-all and end-all of divine religion. - Aled Jones, Bridlington.

ROYAL FAMILY

AS Prince Charles is only a tenant of Clarence House, it is time they upped his rent!

What he will be raking in from people willing to pay to nosey around his ground floor will go a long way towards the increase. - M Elliott, Darlington.

ANIMAL CRUELTY

WHEN I read in The Northern Echo about what some barbaric morons had done to that horse in Bishop Auckland I hoped a local businessman would put up a reward for the capture of these people.

What sad, sick people could do that? How anyone thinks up some of the things that happen to animals makes me think we should be taught from children how to be more caring. - P Martin, Croxdale.

SHARON GRIFFITHS

WHEN I read the letter of complaint from E Turnbull (HAS, Aug 14) I could not believe that anyone could be so devoid of humour as to take exception to Sharon Griffiths' remarks about cutting off her son's willy with a rusty bread knife.

I laughed out loud when I read it - so obviously only a humorous threat that nobody with the slightest sense of humour would take it seriously.

Sharon's writing is always so sensible, and often hilarious. It is a joy to read. - Mary Lewis, Barnard Castle.

DARLINGTON FC

ON Saturday I went to the Reynolds Arena, expecting to see a good game of football.

Before the game started the atmosphere was brilliant, but after the half time interval the game became a shambles.

The Darlington team was awful, in fact it was the worst Darlington team performance I have seen in 59 years of being a supporter.

Unless we get some good players we will be in the Conference League next season. - Brian Ward, Darlington.

As someone living near the Reynolds Arena in Neasham Road, I am not bothered in the least about crowd trouble or parking difficulties during home games.

Judging by the lack of signings and the usual tripe coming from the club, Darlington will probably be in the Conference League next season with small attendances at the stadium.

It is not my fellow neighbours that I feel sorry for, but the long-suffering fans of the town's club. These last few years have been hell and I hope and pray that someone comes along and saves us from extinction as the future is not too rosy at present with decent players leaving and non-league ones coming in to replace them.

Darlington is a large town that deserves a professional football club.

This is our club, always has been and always will be. Let's start to voice our concerns at the way that DFC is being managed before it's too late. - June Lawson, Darlington.

POLICE

HAVING read the comments by Ray Mallon (Echo, Aug 15) on the case of the two speeding police constables, I thought it would have been appropriate for him to have also condemned the excuse offered by the Cleveland police superintendent, in another case, who alleged he could not remember who was driving the speeding car.

May I also add, although I do not intend it to be an excuse, the fact that many police officers are living too far from their place of work. This practice was not allowed at one time, so some responsibility must rest with senior management. - AS Frank, Whitby.