With reference to your front page story about Kirk Edwards (Evening Press, May 31), hats off to your journalists and editor. I read the story with profound sadness. How could such a young person, with recognised learning difficulties, be sent to a young offenders institution?

Time and again, in your paper, I have read articles about the lack of appropriate treatment of people who are learning disabled. How was Kirk, who later died, expected to survive in such a place? His mental age I would guess to be approximately ten years of age if the disability he had was severe. Surely a more appropriate social services provision should have been ordered, such as a probation hostel?

Kirk's parents, Irene and David, are to be congratulated for their consideration of others in offering Kirk's organs for donation. Their charitable action after such an experience is magnificent.

I hope you continue to highlight the deficiencies in the lack of resources and services available to meet the needs of this vulnerable group.

Jo Healy,

Hull Road,

York.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.