IN the media feeding frenzy trying to make political gain from this story I hope the issue of deep deception, forgery, dishonesty, and illegal residence in my country will not be overlooked or played down.

Loloahi Tapui somehow gained entry to study and abused her visa by illegally overstaying.

She must have falsified her status to get married.

No matter that our immigration system is a shambles, or our law makers are incompetent, she, by lies and deception, has caused this problem.

Trial and sentence must be quickly followed by deportation and a thorough investigation carried out into her forgeries and any part played by her husband or other accomplices.

It isn’t a crime to be stupid or incompetent, so politicians cannot be held responsible.

Gerard Wild, Richmond.

THE Baroness Scotland saga has certainly ruffled a few feathers.

The Attorney General is in an invidious position — her crime being that she made a mistake.

She has paid the price for her misdemeanor.

We have, it would seem, a relentless campaign by some sections of the media, fuelled by the Conservatives, to have the Baroness sacked.

Such a call has been echoed in these columns to a point where some correspondents have gone to the extreme. Christopher Wardell (HAS, Sept 25) demands that she actually loses her peerage.

I prefer a more sober approach.

Mistakes do occur and sometimes an error of judgement can be costly, not just the loss of a job or career but in causing harm or injury to someone. This is not the case here.

It is, however, a matter of some embarassment.

Perhaps ultimately a cabinet reshuffle will bring closure to the affair, or maybe not.

What is different in this case is that, unlike some others where a search for the truth has been difficult, here there has been honest disclosure, even if continued speculation suggests deceit.

Bernie Walsh, Coxhoe.