What is pornography ?
Sir: Your correspondent Christopher Purcell (Letters, 12 January) does not seem to realise that individuals sometimes 'flout the law' by, for ex- ample, forcing a customs man to seize a book for the purpose of advertising it and not for the purpose of liberalising Irish law. This action could help to counteract several bad reviews.
A very important change in Irish censorship law is worthy of mention. Books which have been banned must be reconsidered periodically.
Changing mores may mean that what was once adjudged offensive may, at a later date, be tolerated.
It would take a mass-psychiatry test to deter- mine whether it is apathy or active acceptance of the law that prevents more from protesting about it. But most of the opposition in Ireland to some of Edna O'Brien's books came from parents.
In this context of personal v. state censorship it is interesting to note the question which was posed in the Wolfenden Report—Wh4 is the con- nection between crime and sin, and to what extent. if at all, should the criminal law of England con- cern itself with the enforcement of morals and punish sin or immorality as such?' The answer given was: 'The function of criminal law is to preserve public order and' decency, to protect the citizen from what is offensive or injurious and to provide sufficient safeguards against the ex- ploitation and corruption of others . .
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