Sheriff Richard Davidson passed a lot of comment on to the man who was jailed in Dundee for five years for drug offences.
It amazes me how a judge can make such remarks. I don’t think it is necessary or acceptable.
James Dempster was jailed for crimes relating to cocaine and cannabis dealing. However, calling a person low-life and a liar is irrelevant to the proceedings.
Because this man committed a crime, does that make it OK to call him names?
There are many court proceedings in Dundee, but I believe it is rare to hear this kind of language being used by a sheriff.
If Sheriff Davidson was trying to set an example, I suggest he remains focused on crime and try not to become personal. — Court Watcher.
Gymnastics winners had worked hard
I reply to the letter about the Dundee schools gymnastics competition being unfair.
My daughter also participated in this competition and to our excitement her team came third in level 1.
This was a big surprise and I can say from all the mums and dads of the girls in the team that these girls definitely weren’t hand-picked to win the competition.
The girls put in a lot of hard work and practice.
It was very well organised and I would like to say a big thanks to the coaches for the organisation of the competition and the help they give my daughter when she attends her gymnastic class. — Proud Mum.
Competition was a farce
I too felt sincerely aggrieved by the Dundee School Gymnastics Competition.
I took my young niece along to the event and found the whole thing to be a farce.
Not only was it glaringly obvious that some of the children were larger and in better physical condition but it was heart-breaking to see the younger kids make so much effort with absolutely no recognition whatsoever.
What kind of way is this to encourage our potential gold medal winners of the future? — Vault A Disappointment.
Tory tests
Conservative leader David Cameron has been telling everyone the “New Tories” will listen to Scotland.
Yet he boldly states Scots do not want independence. If he truly believes this then let him test his theory in a referendum and listen to the Scots speak.
Or is the modern Conservative Party merely an echo of the past, which will continue to deny Scotland basic democratic rights? — The Watchman.
Slashed expenditure expected
In reply to letter writer Politico, no-one wants cuts.
But if, as is likely, the Tories win the election, many English Tory MPs want Scotland’s high public expenditure slashed. — Dryburgh Reader, Dundee.
Nicola “witch-hunt”
The criticism of Scotland’s Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is taking on the aspect of a witch-hunt.
Ms Sturgeon is, in the opinion of many, an extremely competent MSP. Witness her handling of the threatened swine flu epidemic, for example.
Ms Sturgeon is a trained solicitor and, once qualified, she used her talents to assist people in her area with their legal problems as an alternative to moving into private practice.
One can argue the wisdom of her involvement in the case of the alleged fraudster, but there can be no doubt of her commitment to assist those who seek her help.
Attacks on SNP council policies or, as in the case of Ms Sturgeon, individual MSPs, would merit more attention if, on occasion, commentators would concede that restrictive measures have been forced upon them by a Labour Government hell bent on ensuring the present financial crisis is solved at the expense of those least able to afford the cuts. — James Smith, Brownhill Place, Dundee.
Critics should get perspective
Letter writer Allan Petrie suggests Nicola Sturgeon should resign for articulating the concerns of a constituent’s family to a court of law.
If this is a resigning matter, what would Allan Petrie prescribe for say, Tony Blair, for involving Scotland in the Iraq fiasco, Gordon Brown for helping finance nuclear weapons or Alistair Darling for bringing our economy to its knees?
There are very real problems in Scotland, thanks to Labour’s mishandling of the economy.
People should get a sense of perspective and let Nicola Sturgeon, one of the most able politicians of her generation, get on with her job of assisting her constituents and her country, rather than constantly criticising. — The Watchman.
Anger at lack of talk
I was surprised to discover last week the Lochee Burns Club in Dundee will be closing at the end of February.
A number of others and I are disappointed at the lack of communication on behalf of the Burns Club.
They organise the annual Burns Competition for Dundee Schools and have done for years. I contacted them last month for confirmation when it would be held and was told Saturday, March 6.
Why, therefore, did someone from the Burns Club not contact the schools to advise there would no longer be a competition or even place a notice in the Tele? I think this is a real shame for those kids. — Disappointed Parent.
Urban myth?
With reference to the letter on jam jar currency: I was born in 1941, in the Hilltown area, and from before the war ended, I had become a regular cinema patron. I never knew of anyone who gained entry to the cinema by this payment method.
I operated a Barber Shop on the Hilltown, and this subject was regularly aired over the years, often by men born in the 20s and 30s, and I never met anyone who had actual experience of this. I believe it’s an urban legend. — Tom Dolan (former Hulltoon Barber).
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