Letter: Sacking Dallas was overkill

AS A non-sectarian Christian and former employment lawyer, I doubt whether the dismissal of Hugh Dallas could be justified, and I would agree with Dani Garavelli ("Religious card's a joker", 5 December).

What's particularly regrettable is that the First Minister has given his public support to the dismissal. Surely freedom to ridicule has to be permitted as part of freedom of expression? This is especially so when the issue of child abuse by religious institutions has become so serious.

I would advise all protagonists in this debate to acquire a copy of The Case Of The Pope, on Vatican accountability for human rights abuse, by the distinguished human rights lawyer Geoffrey Robertson QC. It is a pity the First Minister appears not to have read this.

Randolph Murray, Rannoch