Letters special on East Lancs magistrate who called yobs 'scum' (From Lancashire Telegraph)

Letters special on East Lancs magistrate who called yobs 'scum'

10:57am Wednesday 19th May 2010 in Darwen

The Lancashire Telegraph has received dozens of letters following our stories on the row about the East Lancashire magistrate branding two teenage vandals 'absolute scum'. Here is a selection of them.

I am sick of the politically correct disease that’s sweeping this country.

The unbelievable action of relieving magistrate Austin Molloy of his duties after dealing with two yobs who desecrated Blackburn Cathedral by stating that normal people would consider them ‘absolute scum’ is frightening.

Furthermore, the actions of the court clerk, challenging Mr Molloy in open court followed by her approach to one of the mothers, necessitates her immediate withdrawal from any court in the land.

She has not only undermined the magistrates but also sent out a message that these yobs can do whatever they want without any recrimination.

These feral people have shown a total lack of respect, ignored the line drawn between what is acceptable and unacceptable behaviour and cocked a hoot at the rest of us who strive for decency.

We’ve just celebrated the anniv-ersary of VE Day. I wonder what the men and women of this land who fought for our democracy and freedom of speech would think of this clerk and her ilk?

Coun Konrad Tapp, Meadowhead Ward, Blackburn with Darwen.

ONCE again Blackburn with Darwen has shot itself in the foot, big-time.

The two 16-year-old idiots with previous records vandalised Blackburn Cathedral but cannot be identified and, as usual, got a small fine and slap on the wrist.

I feel sorry for Mr Molloy being barred from the bench for using a very mild word against the little darlings.

The court clerk should have been told to sit down and shut up.

Also, to the mum who lodged a complaint, I’d say you are 90% to blame for your son’s actions. You should be ashamed!

Mr Molloy, I have never heard of you but I feel sorry for the petty, childish way your colleagues are treating you.

I was called worse names at school by the teachers.

If you are getting a petition up to clear your name please send me some copies.

I think I could get 500 to 600 signatures at the very least.

By the way, which group do the lads belong to – the 67,000 who play truant every day, or the 20,000 who are expelled from school?

Frank Crompton, Lightbown Street, Darwen.

I’m willing to bet that not one correspondent agrees with the Clerk of the Court.

Quite apart from whether she overstepped her remit (and I think that her actions should be the subject of an enquiry), she plainly failed to act in the interests of good public order.

Do you want a society whose tone is set by a respected pillar of the community with 18 years’ public service, or the kind of ill-bred louts we’re all familiar with?

Good governance (like good parenting) is quite possibly a thing of the past.

Name and address supplied.

The cathedral was the victim here.

These 16-year-olds will have been laughing all the way home because the magistrate was challenged by a court clerk. What is going to happen to her for going against the court’s correct procedure? Nothing.

If my children had done that to the cathedral I would not be sending a letter of complaint – I would have wanted my kids punished.

Name and address supplied.

Whatever happened to calling a spade a spade?

The country has gone mad with political correctness.

It is bad enough that these people cannot be named and shamed for what they did, without tying the courts’ tongues as well as their hands.

Stan Melling, Lower Darwen.

What right does the clerk have to undermine the authority of the court?

Mr Molloy deserves a commendation from the High Sheriff for his actions.

All power to your elbow, Mr Molloy, and I look forward to reading about your reinstatement in the Lancashire Telegraph.

Roger L King (via email).

What Mr Molloy said is only what all law-abiding decent people would think and say.

These vandals entered our beautiful cathedral and desecrated it.

How can it be wrong for them to be verbally rebuked?

M Lockley, address supplied.

The court clerk owes Mr Molloy an apology as his words were not inappropriate.

The dictionary describes one of the meanings of ‘scum’ as ‘a vile person’. Their conduct was certainly vile.

Frank Harrop, Hoddlesden.

Yet again the criminals have come off best. If they are not scum, what are they?

This magistrate should be given a medal, not suspended.

W Strahan, Darwen.