I wish to comment on the report (LT, May 12 about the young girl accused of knife offences being sent on a residential course at a riding school at a cost of £300.

After retiring from twenty years service on the magis-trate’s bench, and a good deal of that time as chair of the youth court, I spent three years working with the youth offending team.

During that time I worked with a dedicated team of officers trying to get young offenders off the treadmill of crime, with records of 75-80% success rate.

If we spend £300 on this young girl to find a career that she wants to pursue in her life, and she succeeds, will that not be more useful to society than just letting her go on to a life of crime that may see her in prison, costing ten times more than that in a week?

The comments of people you interviewed are just typical of people who do not understand the problems of some young offenders who might change if given a chance.

Coun Ron O’Keeffe JP.