WHILE I agree with calls for the restoration of capital punishment after the recent tragedies involving children, it should be noted that there will always be a remote possibility of wrong convictions.

For many years the evidence of fingerprinting was considered to be foolproof, but recent cases have shown this not to be the case. DNA testing is in its infancy and there is no reason to accept it as being totally reliable.

People have to make up their minds whether the possibility of error is outweighed by the benefit of ridding society of the evil scum who contaminate it and be prepared to live with their consciences in the event of wrongful execution. - Cameron McEwan, Dumfries.

Wrong priorities

I READ with horror the article about the homeless in Glasgow, who live in fear of vigilante attacks and frostbite. Yet the Daily Record instead held an appeal for the flood victims who choose not to spend the pounds 1.50 per week needed to insure their house contents, thinking that this would never happen to them.

After seeing the pictures of the flood victims in their homes, it is clear that they are not as hard up as they claim to be. Also, how can people not pay for insurance, but can afford to subscribe to Sky TV? - Callum Gilhooly, Cumbernauld.

Money moans

ACCORDING to reader Joseph Bruce, public sector workers who moan about their wages should "try being a student". Education SHOULD be available to all and my wife, as a student in the Eighties, campaigned hard to prevent fees and diminishing grants.

But being a student and a public sector worker are not mutually exclusive and she now works in the undervalued social services. Mr Bruce's energies would be better used challenging the difficulties faced by students AND by low- paid workers, instead of displaying jealousy at nursing grants. - John Martin, Bridge of Weir.

Presumably Mr Bruce intends seeking employment after his studies are completed - but not within the public sector.

Don't target Archer

SURELY Lord Archer is not grudged a little "lifestyle". Think of the drug dealers walking our streets and poisoning our children and generations to come. What is to become of them?

Lord Archer gave something back. His books are a treat to read. At least they take your mind of some of the awful things that are happening in this world today. - Mrs Nancy McParland, Kirkintilloch.

Archer's jail sentence is perhaps not quite the kind of sentence he is used to.

Painful history

WHAT an insult to include Bravehearts William Wallace and Robert The Bruce in the BBC's poll of 100 Great Brits.

The reason Bruce and Wallace became heroes is that they fought against the idea of Scotland becoming British and losing its independence, which was sadly lost in 1707 when Scottish politicians not unlike the Scottish Labour and Tory politicians of today, sold Scotland's freedom for English gold.

Surely the act of Union of 1707 which made Scotland the first colony of the British Empire must go down as the most treacherous chapter in Scotland's great history. - Allan Lindsay, Paisley.

Sick system

WE all know that our NHS nurses are worth considerably more than they are paid at the moment and the SNP should be applauded for nailing their colours to the mast on the matter.

For Unison's Mr Devine to crib about "local agreements" must be a joke, considering that OUR nurses are being enticed south or into costly agency jobs in order to earn nearer their true worth. - Tom McCallum, Dumfries.

Shameful actions

I HAVE seen many things in football that have left me disgusted, but what has happened to Neil Lennon really takes the biscuit. Having a Catholic as captain of Northern Ireland looked like a ground- breaking decision, just like Rangers signing a Catholic in Mo Johnston. …