WITH regard to Sunday's drive-by shooting, RTE's Aine Lawlor this morning spent 10 or 15 minutes deploring what had happened without once using the word "wrong", or "sin". Lots of talk about gardai, sanctions, shocking new lows, amnesties for gun owners, etc . . . not a word about morality.

She was indeed flummoxed because as an intelligent secular humanist she could see the uselessness of every weapon in the humanist arsenal. Neither the stick nor the carrot, could be expected to work in such cases of wanton violence.

Does anyone remember the philosophy lecture in Trinity College in the early '70s, entitled 'The Open Society and its Enemies'? The lecturer asked us did we really want an open society. Almost unanimously we answered, "Yes." Then he asked, "But are you prepared to pay the price?" Just a little less enthusiastically we answered "Yes" again. Would we still do so . . . if we had the choice?

To catch a glimpse of ourselves to see where Western 21st century society is now at, I recall the last few sentences of William Golding's Lord of the Flies. Like Aine Lawlor, the white clad naval lieutenant deplores the barbaric behaviour of the boys on the island, whom he has come to rescue. But behind him out in the bay a destroyer rides at anchor. Behind Onya we have the invasion and rendition planes landing and taking off at Shannon.

Someday somebody in authority in Ireland is going to give in and use the word "wrong". Until then we continue downhill with gay abandon.

Brian Flanagan, Buncrana, Co. Donegal.

Dun Laoghaire people might prefer 'Kingstown' From Keith Nolan

PERHAPS the loyal subjects of Dun Laoghaire in line with their county council's decision not to display the 1916 Proclamation might prefer 'Kingstown'?

Keith Nolan, Caldra House, Caldragh, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Leitrim.

Kinsale man responsible for book's publication From Jeanette F Dugan Huber

MOST newspapers are reporting on the phenomenal sales of The Third Policeman by Flann O'Brien due to its connection with the American TV series Lost. But I wonder how many of your reporters or readers are aware that if it wasn't for a Kinsale-born man, Brian O'Nolan would be known only in Ireland as Myles na gCopaleen who wrote the column 'Cruicksheen Lawn' for The Irish Times, instead of having gained the international reputation as Flann O'Brien that exists today.

The late Timothy O'Keeffe was born in 1926 in Scilly, Kinsale, and went on to become a prominent London publisher. In 1959 he convinced O'Brien to allow him to reissue his first novel, At Swim . . . Two Birds, after it ostensibly disappeared from the face of the earth during World War II.

When O'Brien died, Tim's own company, Martin Brian & O'Keeffe, posthumously published The Third Policeman after he unearthed the manuscript from O'Brien's personal papers.

While Dalkey Archives of Illinois is the respected publisher of The Third Policeman today, along with HarperCollins in Britain, had it not been for O'Keeffe's determination, the manuscript would have mouldered away, unpublished, unread and unsung, and its story would never have influenced an award-winning American TV drama. Other famous Irish writers such as Patrick Kavanagh were also among O'Keeffe's list of authors.

I know all this because it was my house O'Keeffe was born in; a plaque on the wall installed during Kinsale Arts Week 2005 tells passers-by who he was, so let us include Timothy O'Keeffe in our justifiable prideful boasting about Flann O'Brien in the press, too.

Jeanette F. Dugan Huber, "Ard na Lir", Scilly, Kinsale, Co Cork.

Time to sift fact from fantasy in the Bible From Alan Murphy

I WAS interested to read Fiona Looney's article on Mary Magdalene but thought it contained one tiny flaw; whilst there were some worthwhile points in the piece . . . its deconstruction of the various myths, orthodox and unorthodox, which surround 'the Magdalene' . . . it seemed to accept, or at least not openly ridicule, the testimony of theologians who read the Bible story of the resurrection as fact, whilst referring to the gnostic gospels as non-historical.

As far as I know, it is clear to most biblical scholars that the Bible is a mixture of history and mythology (some even dispute the fact that Jesus existed) and that the identity of Jesus, both in the Bible and subsequently, has been heavily mythologised.

The whole notion of the resurrection is based around the idea that Jesus was/is divine, but according to AN Wilson and others, the historical Jesus could not have believed himself to be the son of God (a Greek idea) or have intended to start a new religion available to gentiles. It's also worth noting that it was not uncommon for revered individuals to be granted divinity posthumously, in Jesus's time.

Perhaps it's time to (as far as possible) sift fact from fantasy in relation to the whole Jesus story? Especially if you're a journalist.

Alan Murphy, 192, Glasnevin Avenue, Dublin 11.

Full marks to Fiona on Mary Magdalene From Celine Mangan

CONGRATS to Fiona Looney on her article on Mary Magdalene. A pleasure to read accurate journalism, beautifully written.

Celine Mangan, celman@eircom. net Delevan misses the point on leaders From Mike Gaffney

RICHARD Delevan misses the point in his article "Judges, EU economists, Liveline producers . . . meet our real leaders" (News, 5 March). The real issue is that there is a huge leadership vacuum in Ireland. The EU economists, judges and Liveline are occupying the stage vacated by those who were elected to lead but have chosen not to do so . . . the politicians.

Maybe it is not their fault, as there is a great misunderstanding as to what leadership is.

It is not about managing an economy or about being electable. It is not about being charismatic or about being inspirational. Great leaders do one thing: they provide CLARITY.

CLARITY of direction . . .creating a clear compelling vision of Ireland's future.

CLARITY of purpose . . . a clear plan as to how the vision will be achieved. Without CLARITY there is confusion and ineptitude, both rampant in our political system.

It is time for our elected leaders to rediscover the meaning of the word responsibility . . . "the ability to respond" and by so doing to demonstrate leadership through providing CLARITY.

Mike Gaffney, Director, Leading Enterprises to Advanced Performance mike@leapadvisors. ie Censorship and freedom of expression From John Kelly

THE issue of banning printed information from public view is gaining momentum with the latest departure, in the form of an edict issuing from Garda HQ, banning a poster advertising a public meeting organised by the GRA and the AGSI (reported in the media, 10 February).

Coupled with the ban on notices informing people of public meetings and events, enforced with rigour by Dublin City Council (DCC), this represents a frontal assault on freedom of expression. Notices advertising issues such as Planning and Political Corruption, Homelessness, The Iraq War, The Shell to Sea Campaign and even Global Warming, have been removed and destroyed by DCC.

The council's defence of this policy is purportedly the litter problem in Dublin. Is it not strange that cities in other countries, with a far superior environmental record than DCC, ie, France, Sweden, Germany, England, etc, have in place effective, dedicated poster sites, that publicise issues of political and social concern?

Why is there a blanket prohibition on such mediums of communication in Dublin?

Much commentary has recently centred on freedom of expression, a cherished democratic right. We might well pause to consider the state of affairs in our capital city before we proceed to lecture others on this issue.

John Kelly, Galtymore Road, Drimnagh, Dublin 12.