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Writing a letter 37 years later

  • 01-05-2021 10:13pm
    #1
    Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 415 ✭✭


    I'm thinking of writing a letter to a man who ran me down as a 4 year old. He smashed my leg and never told my parents. I almost lost my leg because of infection. My parents never knew exactly what happened to me , they just found me lying in the street crying. The only reason I remember who did it is because it came back to me after I had another injury on the same leg. Like a suppressed memory. He asked me to not say a word to my parents and if I did he would give me a toy. I've no doubt it was him as he used to speed on the road we lived in. There's more details, I won't go into that 100 percent makes him the perpetrator after I told my father. Anyway, my leg has never been right since. It has slight muscle wastage and starting to get arthritis in it. I want to let him know after all of this time , without revealing who I am, that what he done was wrong. He will put two and two together and know who has wrote to him, but I'm wondering if in any way me sending the letter would get me into any bother


«1

Comments

  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,433 ✭✭✭NomadicGray


    How confident are you in your memory? Seems like something you need therapy for and not 'revenge'


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 985 ✭✭✭Mjolnir


    johnmck wrote: »
    I'm thinking of writing a letter to a man who ran me down as a 4 year old. He smashed my leg and never told my parents. I almost lost my leg because of infection. My parents never knew exactly what happened to me , they just found me lying in the street crying. The only reason I remember who did it is because it came back to me after I had another injury on the same leg. Like a suppressed memory. He asked me to not say a word to my parents and if I did he would give me a toy. I've no doubt it was him as he used to speed on the road we lived in. There's more details, I won't go into that 100 percent makes him the perpetrator after I told my father. Anyway, my leg has never been right since. It has slight muscle wastage and starting to get arthritis in it. I want to let him know after all of this time , without revealing who I am, that what he done was wrong. He will put two and two together and know who has wrote to him, but I'm wondering if in any way me sending the letter would get me into any bother

    I mean sending a single anonymous typed letter would have zero repercussions, but what are you hoping to achieve. As long as you make no threats, or allegations to others which could be deemed to be defamatory, or demands of reparations you'll be fine.
    Likely it'll be bined or set alight.


  • Posts: 5,369 [Deleted User]


    Why anonymous? If you wish to confront him, confront him.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 985 ✭✭✭Mjolnir


    Why anonymous? If you wish to confront him, confront him.

    Probably because writing an accusatory letter to someone with your details on it, based on nothing but memories of when you were four could actually lead to issues. Just a wild guess.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 26,089 ✭✭✭✭Mrs OBumble


    Depends what you want you achieve with it.

    One option is to write the letter, but not send it.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 2,393 ✭✭✭raclle


    How confident are you in your memory? Seems like something you need therapy for and not 'revenge'
    Revenge? :D

    He's simply sending him a letter


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,536 ✭✭✭touts


    johnmck wrote: »
    I'm thinking of writing a letter to a man who ran me down as a 4 year old. He smashed my leg and never told my parents. I almost lost my leg because of infection. My parents never knew exactly what happened to me , they just found me lying in the street crying. The only reason I remember who did it is because it came back to me after I had another injury on the same leg. Like a suppressed memory. He asked me to not say a word to my parents and if I did he would give me a toy. I've no doubt it was him as he used to speed on the road we lived in. There's more details, I won't go into that 100 percent makes him the perpetrator after I told my father. Anyway, my leg has never been right since. It has slight muscle wastage and starting to get arthritis in it. I want to let him know after all of this time , without revealing who I am, that what he done was wrong. He will put two and two together and know who has wrote to him, but I'm wondering if in any way me sending the letter would get me into any bother

    Memories, no matter how vivid, can often be incorrect. That is especially true from an event as traumatic as this and from an event when you were as young as 4. You may well be 100% right in what you are saying but before you do anything I would strongly urge you to seek some professional help and counseling. You are not alone in this and you really need to get help and support rather than heading down a path of anger and potential vengeance. If you can't afford help then talk to some of the victims support charities like 1 in 4.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 415 ✭✭johnmck


    How confident are you in your memory? Seems like something you need therapy for and not 'revenge'

    My memory is solid on it, it's something he said about the toy he would give me, because he would be the only person who had access to them. I remember going to his house in my cast , knocking on the door and asking for it.

    As for the other people saying I need counselling , this is something that has come up in counselling.
    I'd feel writing the letter would get it off my chest once and for all


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 22,648 ✭✭✭✭beauf


    Obviously there's all sorts of wrong with that the driver did. But can he be solely responsible for an unsupervised 4yr old playing in a street, where cars were known to speed on.

    I'd be interested in hearing what the legal angle of this is.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 229 ✭✭guitarhappy


    I wrote a letter like that myself once. As a young person I had been seriously wronged by someone. As the years and decades passed, it seemed even more unfair that I had to continue to bear the injury, the shame, and Injustice while they got off scot free. I didn't write anonymously, I signed my name and the recipient of the letter knew who I was.

    I didn't get the response I hoped for. People have an enormous capacity to deny responsibility for their egregious behavior and to twist and distort truth and reality to their own advantage.

    In writing I had hoped to exorcise or reframe the trauma to help me move past it. The reality is sometimes bad things happen to us and you can't get justice, you can't make it have never happened, you can only move on with it in your life history as part of what makes you who are. Stuff happens, life is unfair, other people can be small and disappointing and disinterested in fixing the wrong they done or the damage they have caused.

    For a while I replayed writing the letter.... should I have not written it, should I have written it but not sent it, should I have confronted them in person, etc, on and on. There is no right or wrong way to do it, it's your own spiritual journey. But you can't give someone that much power over you and your happiness. You can't let flawed people rent space in your head.

    They say "The best revenge is living well." Whether you write the letter or not, understand that the recipient is not worthy of any more of your life energy. The best revenge is to live your life very well. You ​can't un-remember but you don't have to let it prevent you from living an otherwise happy life.


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  • Posts: 3,689 ✭✭✭ [Deleted User]


    People have an enormous capacity to deny responsibility for their egregious behavior and to twist and distort truth and reality to their own advantage.
    You can't let flawed people rent space in your head

    I've been there and known such people.


  • Posts: 5,369 [Deleted User]


    beauf wrote: »
    Obviously there's also sort of wrong with that the driver did. But can he be solely responsible for an unsupervised 4yr old playing in a street, where cars were known to speed on.

    I'd be interested in hearing what the legal angle of this is.

    The legal angle is speeding and leaving the scene.

    "Sort of wrong"? He left s child injured on the street after hitting him!


  • Posts: 5,369 [Deleted User]


    Mjolnir wrote: »
    Probably because writing an accusatory letter to someone with your details on it, based on nothing but memories of when you were four could actually lead to issues. Just a wild guess.

    How so? Its a private letter between two adults.

    Provided it's not threatening or blackmail, I see no issue


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,305 ✭✭✭nibtrix


    How so? Its a private letter between two adults.

    Provided it's not threatening or blackmail, I see no issue

    Well it’s in the UK rather than Ireland, but here’s a recent example where a private letter has been recorded by the police as a hate “incident”:

    https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin//showthread.php?t=2058181815


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 32,136 ✭✭✭✭is_that_so


    johnmck wrote: »
    I'm thinking of writing a letter to a man who ran me down as a 4 year old. He smashed my leg and never told my parents. I almost lost my leg because of infection. My parents never knew exactly what happened to me , they just found me lying in the street crying. The only reason I remember who did it is because it came back to me after I had another injury on the same leg. Like a suppressed memory. He asked me to not say a word to my parents and if I did he would give me a toy. I've no doubt it was him as he used to speed on the road we lived in. There's more details, I won't go into that 100 percent makes him the perpetrator after I told my father. Anyway, my leg has never been right since. It has slight muscle wastage and starting to get arthritis in it. I want to let him know after all of this time , without revealing who I am, that what he done was wrong. He will put two and two together and know who has wrote to him, but I'm wondering if in any way me sending the letter would get me into any bother

    I'd also agree with the idea of writing but not sending a letter. Having seen the very catastrophic effects of this scenario on a family, at very least it helps clarify your own feelings.

    What can actually be achieved so long after the fact by communicating with someone you otherwise don't care about?

    Writing is a very cathartic way to face down what's inside of us by telling stories that can no longer hurt us but it doesn't need to be seen by anyone else.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 22,648 ✭✭✭✭beauf


    The legal angle is speeding and leaving the scene.

    "Sort of wrong"? He left s child injured on the street after hitting him!

    Auto correct typo it was meant to say all sorts of wrong.


  • Registered Users Posts: 715 ✭✭✭Stihl waters


    How anonymous would it be, how many did he run over that he would forget something like that, I'd prefer to meet him face to face and have a chat


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 415 ✭✭johnmck


    How anonymous would it be, how many did he run over that he would forget something like that, I'd prefer to meet him face to face and have a chat

    He's an old man now, not sure I want to approach him.


  • Posts: 5,369 [Deleted User]


    nibtrix wrote: »
    Well it’s in the UK rather than Ireland, but here’s a recent example where a private letter has been recorded by the police as a hate “incident”:

    https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin//showthread.php?t=2058181815

    So irrelevant and not on the same subject


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 415 ✭✭johnmck


    beauf wrote: »
    Auto correct typo it was meant to say all sorts of wrong.

    Simple fact of the matter was that as a result of the injury he caused I was never able to play football confidently. I enjoy sports and think I would have been a good athlete , luckily I'm a pretty good swimmer and the weakness in my leg doesn't effect that much.

    It was a terrible act. The bone got infected , one surgeon wanted to remove half my leg but my dad freaked and got a second opinion and another surgeon rescued it


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,305 ✭✭✭nibtrix


    So irrelevant and not on the same subject

    You said “How so? Its a private letter between two adults.
    Provided it's not threatening or blackmail, I see no issue”.

    I was merely pointing out a situation where someone thought they were writing a private letter between two adults, no threats or blackmail involved, and it ended up with police involvement.

    While that letter is not about the same type of subject as this thread, the incident is relevant as a response to your statement.


  • Registered Users Posts: 715 ✭✭✭Stihl waters


    johnmck wrote: »
    Simple fact of the matter was that as a result of the injury he caused I was never able to play football confidently. I enjoy sports and think I would have been a good athlete , luckily I'm a pretty good swimmer and the weakness in my leg doesn't effect that much.

    It was a terrible act. The bone got infected , one surgeon wanted to remove half my leg but my dad freaked and got a second opinion and another surgeon rescued it

    Write the letter and get it off your chest


  • Posts: 5,369 [Deleted User]


    nibtrix wrote: »
    You said “How so? Its a private letter between two adults.
    Provided it's not threatening or blackmail, I see no issue”.

    I was merely pointing out a situation where someone thought they were writing a private letter between two adults, no threats or blackmail involved, and it ended up with police involvement.

    While that letter is not about the same type of subject as this thread, the incident is relevant as a response to your statement.

    It's a different country, different situation and between two absolute strangers. the fact that it's a letter is the only connection.

    So in regards this actual issue, there's nothing there for the Gardai to deal with.

    As for the op, I really think it would be more therapeutic to do it by name but it's your call


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,817 ✭✭✭Darc19


    nibtrix wrote: »
    Well it’s in the UK rather than Ireland, but here’s a recent example where a private letter has been recorded by the police as a hate “incident”:

    https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin//showthread.php?t=2058181815

    English police can be dreadfully stupid. You only have to have a basic GCSE pass to get into the force. Basically a junior cert level of education.
    Remember, English police handed out fines to people for having a takeaway coffee because it was a 'picnic' - that is the level of stupidity you are dealing with, so using an example of an English police case is nonsense

    As for the op, maybe write the letter in an informal way explaining why you are writing it and clearly state that it is not in anger or a way of looking for revenge, but to make the person aware that the accident that day has had both physical and psychological long-term effects on you and by passing the information on, it hopefully allows you to move on.


  • Posts: 5,369 [Deleted User]


    Darc19 wrote: »
    English police can be dreadfully stupid. You only have to have a basic GCSE pass to get into the force. Basically a junior cert level of education.
    Remember, English police handed out fines to people for having a takeaway coffee because it was a 'picnic' - that is the level of stupidity you are dealing with, so using an example of an English police case is nonsense

    As for the op, maybe write the letter in an informal way explaining why you are writing it and clearly state that it is not in anger or a way of looking for revenge, but to make the person aware that the accident that day has had both physical and psychological long-term effects on you and by passing the information on, it hopefully allows you to move on.

    Because the minimum requirement to start your training is always the standard that people have?

    Management will have the same degrees as the rest of global policing. Uk forces in fact run a lot of international training as does ags.

    Both forces are also utilized for un training and monitoring missions.

    Ags is also following the uk model of oversight and control by civilian external 'experts' that decide such things so blaming the police for following a procedure thought up by a college graduate in an office is incorrect.

    Education level does not equate intelligence or ability in a live environment


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,767 ✭✭✭endofrainbow


    If you do write and send the letter, how do you know he'll even read it and how he'll react? not worth the paper it's written on.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,817 ✭✭✭Darc19


    Because the minimum requirement to start your training is always the standard that people have?

    Management will have the same degrees as the rest of global policing. Uk forces in fact run a lot of international training as does ags.

    Both forces are also utilized for un training and monitoring missions.

    Ags is also following the uk model of oversight and control by civilian external 'experts' that decide such things so blaming the police for following a procedure thought up by a college graduate in an office is incorrect.

    Education level does not equate intelligence or ability in a live environment

    The basic English Bobby can be as thick as two planks. This is shown time and time again and one of the reasons is the low education standards to get in.

    Here you need a far higher standard.

    Doesn't mean all English cops are stupid, but they have more than their fair share of stupidity in the force.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,324 ✭✭✭JustAThought


    johnmck wrote: »
    He's an old man now, not sure I want to approach him.

    Does he have family? Do you know his name / where he lives.

    He’s had a lifetime to repent and make good on the evil he did - and he hasn’t. Some people have a monstorous capacity to ignore the evil they did or were part of or responsible for. Will it make your life better with the threat of legal repurcussions over you. Or a physical or family fued. People like that have families that are as rough and damaged as they are. He knows what he did. He is able to shrug it off. If you write to him and he shrugs it off again - or worse -denies it or calls you a liar - how damaging will that be for you?

    People like that may be able to get people to rally around them. Likeminded corrupt cronies, family who will take his side or lie for him, free legal aid who will pity and elderly man being intimidated and (he may say) coerced or intimidated for an unproved accident decades ago. If you say you don’t want anything you let him off the hook and absolve him, (why should you) and if you don’t it could be implied blackmail or coercive control or defamation. HUGE awards are made in the UK and Ireland for defamation - either written or repeated and witnessed orally - life changing eye watering sums. Do you want to give this manipulative liar and cheat that power over you? On top of what he’s done??

    By all means write your feelings and write if it will make gou feel better to him as though you were going to deliver it - but that will tempt you to send it. Councellers and therapists are very happy clappy and idealistic and I’m not saying it mihht not feel good for you - but they din’t know the law and the life changing legal dangers and legal consequences encouraging you to do this can bring. Not to mention a man who would do something like this, and then coerce the child into a lie, and cheat the child and his family with a toy, have no remorse or conscience and carry on denying / lying/ hiding/ ignoring it for the rest of his life whole living closeby.

    Even of you were to wreck his head and * with him by putting on gloves and writing a letter that said ‘everybody knows what you did in 1984’ what might it do. Worry him - maybe - but about what - social standing? - otherwise there are NO consequences . Who knew - just you - he will know where to come. Make him angry - at who - you - it gives him the power to threaten & be abusive to you or set up a dangerous war between families.

    I used think that if the people who had mistreated, cheated or wronged me knew or if I could tell them the impact of what they did and make the understand it would make me forgive or be able to set aside what they did or the impact and other consequences it had on me. But having tried it once or twice ( at therapists advice) I now see that some people are morally just from such a different place and mentality that they will never see, understand, bear responsibility or care about the devestating thing they did so callously and all the pain and trouble and domino effect of serious problems it caused. Some people are just self serving, self protecting vermin and will remain that way all their lives.

    You assume (like I did) that if he was told and if he knew he would feel remorse or admit he was wrong or see that it was a vile and horrifying series of things to do to a child, neighbour and family. How damaging will it be for you if you write it and there is no acceptance, admission or Disney ending - and things get even worse for you - and he gets to win twice and destroy you again.

    Look at Margaret Ward - no shame, no conscience, total lies, no moral compass. Recidivist criminal. Look at the coiple who repeatedly targeted elderly vulnerable women to steL their lifes savings. 60+ prior convictions. No shame, no remorse - stole e120,000 and returned e70. Look at the self serving lies trotted out in courts every day. There are many people out there who have not been caught or tried or convicted and who are just as calculating and cunning and are like that in every thing they do that benefits them. I would argue that a driver that hits a child, gets out of the car to coerce and bribe it, leaves it injured at the side of the road and drives off and them continues the lie by carrying through on the toy/bribe and coercing the child into lying to his parents and creating a bond based on deceit with his ‘abuser’ is exactly the kind of man who would bahave like this in every opportunity that would benefit him that he got.

    Leopards don’t change their spots.

    Don’t let him hurt you again or damage you further. IMO.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 415 ✭✭johnmck


    Does he have family? Do you know his name / where he lives.

    He’s had a lifetime to repent and make good on the evil he did - and he hasn’t. Some people have a monstorous capacity to ignore the evil they did or were part of or responsible for. Will it make your life better with the threat of legal repurcussions over you. Or a physical or family fued. People like that have families that are as rough and damaged as they are. He knows what he did. He is able to shrug it off. If you write to him and he shrugs it off again - or worse -denies it or calls you a liar - how damaging will that be for you?

    People like that may be able to get people to rally around them. Likeminded corrupt cronies, family who will take his side or lie for him, free legal aid who will pity and elderly man being intimidated and (he may say) coerced or intimidated for an unproved accident decades ago. If you say you don’t want anything you let him off the hook and absolve him, (why should you) and if you don’t it could be implied blackmail or coercive control or defamation. HUGE awards are made in the UK and Ireland for defamation - either written or repeated and witnessed orally - life changing eye watering sums. Do you want to give this manipulative liar and cheat that power over you? On top of what he’s done??

    By all means write your feelings and write if it will make gou feel better to him as though you were going to deliver it - but that will tempt you to send it. Councellers and therapists are very happy clappy and idealistic and I’m not saying it mihht not feel good for you - but they din’t know the law and the life changing legal dangers and legal consequences encouraging you to do this can bring. Not to mention a man who would do something like this, and then coerce the child into a lie, and cheat the child and his family with a toy, have no remorse or conscience and carry on denying / lying/ hiding/ ignoring it for the rest of his life whole living closeby.

    Even of you were to wreck his head and * with him by putting on gloves and writing a letter that said ‘everybody knows what you did in 1984’ what might it do. Worry him - maybe - but about what - social standing? - otherwise there are NO consequences . Who knew - just you - he will know where to come. Make him angry - at who - you - it gives him the power to threaten & be abusive to you or set up a dangerous war between families.

    I used think that if the people who had mistreated, cheated or wronged me knew or if I could tell them the impact of what they did and make the understand it would make me forgive or be able to set aside what they did or the impact and other consequences it had on me. But having tried it once or twice ( at therapists advice) I now see that some people are morally just from such a different place and mentality that they will never see, understand, bear responsibility or care about the devestating thing they did so callously and all the pain and trouble and domino effect of serious problems it caused. Some people are just self serving, self protecting vermin and will remain that way all their lives.

    You assume (like I did) that if he was told and if he knew he would feel remorse or admit he was wrong or see that it was a vile and horrifying series of things to do to a child, neighbour and family. How damaging will it be for you if you write it and there is no acceptance, admission or Disney ending - and things get even worse for you - and he gets to win twice and destroy you again.

    Look at Margaret Ward - no shame, no conscience, total lies, no moral compass. Recidivist criminal. Look at the coiple who repeatedly targeted elderly vulnerable women to steL their lifes savings. 60+ prior convictions. No shame, no remorse - stole e120,000 and returned e70. Look at the self serving lies trotted out in courts every day. There are many people out there who have not been caught or tried or convicted and who are just as calculating and cunning and are like that in every thing they do that benefits them. I would argue that a driver that hits a child, gets out of the car to coerce and bribe it, leaves it injured at the side of the road and drives off and them continues the lie by carrying through on the toy/bribe and coercing the child into lying to his parents and creating a bond based on deceit with his ‘abuser’ is exactly the kind of man who would bahave like this in every opportunity that would benefit him that he got.

    Leopards don’t change their spots.

    Don’t let him hurt you again or damage you further. IMO.

    No chance of him hurting me again. He has one son. They are not the dangerous kind. Upstanding citizens of society they'd be seen as. If I go ahead with this, as I said, I'll not be typing me name. It's more an exercise for me to clear my head of it.

    I done something similar last year with somebody who stole a lot of personal belongings off me and it really helped me to leave it behind and shut the door on it once and for all.

    Anyway, I'll give it some more thought


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 798 ✭✭✭FobleAsNuck


    In situations like this one, I would advise against looking for validation or reasons not to do something. The sheer fact this is so engraved in your memory you want to do it after 37 years will only have cathartic results. You don't need permission, validation and looking for reasons not to do it is only repressing those feelings. Do what you feel you need, it's your life that has been changed for worse - least you can do is get it off your heart.


  • Registered Users Posts: 1,272 ✭✭✭qwerty13


    Did your therapist ask you to think about what it would mean for you to write the letter, or to do the exercise of writing it, or to actually write and send it? I think you should clarify this. And talk through how you might feel if you get no response, or if this person badmouths you to others - I’d see both as likely outcomes.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,324 ✭✭✭JustAThought


    johnmck wrote: »
    No chance of him hurting me again. He has one son. They are not the dangerous kind. Upstanding citizens of society they'd be seen as. If I go ahead with this, as I said, I'll not be typing me name. It's more an exercise for me to clear my head of it.

    I done something similar last year with somebody who stole a lot of personal belongings off me and it really helped me to leave it behind and shut the door on it once and for all.

    Anyway, I'll give it some more thought

    Physical hurt is not the only kind.

    There is also psyscological, legal and financial kind.

    But good luck with it. I hope you find peace and some positive outcome. Thanks for reply.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 985 ✭✭✭Mjolnir


    How so? Its a private letter between two adults.

    Provided it's not threatening or blackmail, I see no issue

    Because its accusatory in nature and as far as the law is concerned is completely unfounded. (op I'm not saying your memory is right or wrong just stating a fact)
    People react poorly to accusations especially one of a criminal nature.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 985 ✭✭✭Mjolnir


    The legal angle is speeding and leaving the scene.

    "Sort of wrong"? He left s child injured on the street after hitting him!

    Not strictly true based on what the person you replied to said it seems they may be thinking in line of civil liability and:
    A. The child contributorily negligent
    B. Is the child's parents contributorily negligent.
    In which case there's case law to cover that.

    I'm terms of a criminal aspect we all know 100% how a hit and run of a child is treated.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,448 ✭✭✭✭Marcusm


    johnmck wrote: »
    My memory is solid on it, it's something he said about the toy he would give me, because he would be the only person who had access to them. I remember going to his house in my cast , knocking on the door and asking for it.

    As for the other people saying I need counselling , this is something that has come up in counselling.
    I'd feel writing the letter would get it off my chest once and for all

    Discuss it with your counsellor and follow that track if you are both in agreement. There are laws against harassment but that requires a level of persistence in the level of contact. You could speak with a solicitor but I suspect that a once off letter as part of a therapeutical regimen would not breach any laws. Did he ever give you the toy? If yes, did your parents know?


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,448 ✭✭✭✭Marcusm


    nibtrix wrote: »
    Well it’s in the UK rather than Ireland, but here’s a recent example where a private letter has been recorded by the police as a hate “incident”:

    https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin//showthread.php?t=2058181815

    Something being recorded as a "hate incident" is not a record of a crime.


  • Posts: 5,369 [Deleted User]


    Mjolnir wrote: »
    Because its accusatory in nature and as far as the law is concerned is completely unfounded. (op I'm not saying your memory is right or wrong just stating a fact)
    People react poorly to accusations especially one of a criminal nature.

    I can accuse you off whatever I want in private.

    The law has no bearing in the regard.
    Mjolnir wrote: »
    Not strictly true based on what the person you replied to said it seems they may be thinking in line of civil liability and:
    A. The child contributorily negligent
    B. Is the child's parents contributorily negligent.
    In which case there's case law to cover that.

    I'm terms of a criminal aspect we all know 100% how a hit and run of a child is treated.

    A 4 year old has contributory negligence? Balderdash.

    B, morally maybe but I doubt a judge would reduce a payment to a 4 year old because his parents showed him to play outside.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 985 ✭✭✭Mjolnir


    A 4 year old has contributory negligence? Balderdash.

    B, morally maybe but I doubt a judge would reduce a payment to a 4 year old because his parents showed him to play outside.

    Where did I say they did? I said that was what the person you were quoting may have been getting at please read the post first before jumping to conclusions.

    Morals wouldn't play a factor it would be reasonableness not morality which would be judged.

    The test is the reasonable man not moral man.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 985 ✭✭✭Mjolnir


    I can accuse you off whatever I want in private.

    The law has no bearing in the regard.



    A 4 year old has contributory negligence? Balderdash.

    B, morally maybe but I doubt a judge would reduce a payment to a 4 year old because his parents showed him to play outside.

    You can indeed and I can react in any manner at the time. That has no bearing on what I said.

    The fact that it's an accusation not backed by solid irrefutable evidence does indeed have a bearing should the recipient or their family react emotionally and lash out


  • Posts: 5,369 [Deleted User]


    Darc19 wrote: »
    The basic English Bobby can be as thick as two planks. This is shown time and time again and one of the reasons is the low education standards to get in.

    Here you need a far higher standard.

    Doesn't mean all English cops are stupid, but they have more than their fair share of stupidity in the force.

    No, they don't. They are highly regarded globally.

    Here, you need a leaving cert or equivalent. Not much higher really

    Your just throwing mud here and I don't really see why considering your evidence is a stupid decision which was as result of a procedural demand made by outsiders with college degrees.

    It's like calling rank and file Gardai stupid because they implement a system demanded by the inspectorate and minister.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 985 ✭✭✭Mjolnir


    Op you seem to want to write the anonymous letter, ultimately it can't hurt and may prove to be cathartic.

    If you feel its for the best for you, why not the likelihood of anything coming of it is miniscule.


  • Posts: 5,369 [Deleted User]


    Mjolnir wrote: »
    You can indeed and I can react in any manner at the time. That has no bearing on what I said.

    The fact that it's an accusation not backed by solid irrefutable evidence does indeed have a bearing should the recipient or their family react emotionally and lash out

    I love it when people disregard the area we are in. This is the legal forum. Not the emotional forum.

    Op is asking legality.


  • Posts: 5,369 [Deleted User]


    Mjolnir wrote: »
    Where did I say they did? I said that was what the person you were quoting may have been getting at please read the post first before jumping to conclusions.

    Morals wouldn't play a factor it would be reasonableness not morality which would be judged.

    The test is the reasonable man not moral man.

    Yes and it's balderdash. Plain and simple rubbish.

    You were the one that brought it up. To are the one that claimed I was incorrect on that basis. Not the other user, not the op. You


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 985 ✭✭✭Mjolnir


    I love it when people disregard the area we are in. This is the legal forum. Not the emotional forum.

    Op is asking legality.

    Jesus it appears you love being obtuse for the sake of provoking argument take a minute to read my answers there. Your attitude to posters who disagree with you is a tad off its a discussion of possibilities.

    I've answered mostly from a legal point of view.
    If you can't understand how someone reacting emotionally and lashing out as a result of an unfounded accusatory letter could lead to legal termoil, I honestly can't help you. Guess what the letter could be deemed to have been provocitory in nature.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 985 ✭✭✭Mjolnir


    Yes and it's balderdash. Plain and simple rubbish.

    You were the one that brought it up. To are the one that claimed I was incorrect on that basis. Not the other user, not the op. You

    Yes I did because you clearly took it from a criminal point of view not the possibility they were looking for an aspect of civil liability.

    It's not balderdash it's covered in first year tort, simply repeating balderdash will not make you correct.


  • Posts: 5,369 [Deleted User]


    Mjolnir wrote: »
    Yes I did because you clearly took it from a criminal point of view not the possibility they were looking for an aspect of civil liability.

    It's not balderdash it's covered in first year tort, simply repeating balderdash will not make you correct.

    So it was you. Well glad we cleared that up.

    Surprised civil liability of a 4 year old in a rta wasn't year one as well


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 985 ✭✭✭Mjolnir


    So it was you. Well glad we cleared that up.

    Surprised civil liability of a 4 year old in a rta wasn't year one as well

    It is, its tort, like I just said. It's a first year subject.

    Never denied it, I stated a fact, you took it as the poster was talking from only a criminal law aspect when they could have been talking about a civil law aspect which their post would hint towards. I also never claimed you were wrong, I stated not strictly true, which it wasn't.
    You then proceeded to try argue, shout balderdash and talk about morality while claiming I forgot we are in a legal discussion forum when my posts were indeed based in law.

    Not everyone understands how contributory negligence works with minors or parents of minors or how it has evolved and changed over time.

    If you'd actually care to civilly discuss the relevant legal possibilities I'm more than happy to. If you'd like to derail further or attempt to attack or question me or my knowledge rather than my post or the topic at hand feel free.

    If someone asks what are the possible legal ramifications of a typed letter with no personal details in it then the answer is zero.
    If you wish to discuss the possible ramifications of posting said letter with all your details in it (the question you asked, that when answered you took exception to) then let's.

    If not let's call it a day and prevent further derailment, from what I can gather the op doesn't want to confront the man in question rather to let him know what the consequences of the actions the op has accused him of are.
    To allow the op to get it off his chest, without consequences or further correspondence.


  • Banned (with Prison Access) Posts: 415 ✭✭johnmck


    Mjolnir wrote: »
    Not strictly true based on what the person you replied to said it seems they may be thinking in line of civil liability and:
    A. The child contributorily negligent
    B. Is the child's parents contributorily negligent.
    In which case there's case law to cover that.

    I'm terms of a criminal aspect we all know 100% how a hit and run of a child is treated.

    I was outside my parents house , in a housing estate, in a country town , on my little tricycle . My parents knew where I was , it was the 80s. In the 80s we didn't come home from dawn til dusk . We weren't watched every second of the day. Wonderful time of my life. No phones, no computers, if I was building huts in the summer , we were collecting conkers in the autumn, or wood for bonfires around Halloween.
    How dare you accuse my parents of being negligent. I had loving, caring parents and a wonderful childhood


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 10,448 ✭✭✭✭Marcusm


    No, they don't. They are highly regarded globally.

    Here, you need a leaving cert or equivalent. Not much higher really

    Your just throwing mud here and I don't really see why considering your evidence is a stupid decision which was as result of a procedural demand made by outsiders with college degrees.

    It's like calling rank and file Gardai stupid because they implement a system demanded by the inspectorate and minister.

    Jus to agree with you, the U.K. minimum educational standard is A-levels which are equivalent to leaving cert. the exceptions are for certain people who are special constables or PCSOs, police community support officers, and then only when they have demonstrated ability.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29,909 ✭✭✭✭Wanderer78


    Definitely therapy, maybe some form of ptsd or something, best of luck with it


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