AFTER reading the letters to the editor and senior editor Debbie McGoldrick’s response about the Christina Walsh story in last week’s issue, I thought I would write in with my opinion.

I think what really upset the two letter writers, and what I know upset me, was not your coverage of the story, but your COVER for the story.

You are right in stating that you are a newspaper and are in the business of reporting the news. It is the manner with which papers go about that reporting which separates legitimate newspapers from the tabloid type.

As a reader of your paper for years I would put the Irish Voice in the legitimate category, but on this story I think you veered a little to far the other way.

You stated the Walsh/Charlie Sheen "incident" was painstakingly reported by every major media outlet in the country.

True, but the big difference in all their coverage and the Irish Voice’s is you chose to put a picture of the entire Walsh family on your cover. 
There were numerous pictures available and used in other papers of just Christina Walsh, but you made the decision to put her whole family on your cover.

Her sisters, who had nothing to do with her choices that night or in life, and who might not have been known to be related to her by people in their workplace, community, etc., now have to live with the looks and whispers of others thanks in great part to the Irish Voice.

Imagine a member of your family doing something wrong and a paper putting your whole family picture on the cover. How would you feel walking into the office Thursday morning and seeing the stares and hearing the whispers?
These girls and their father did nothing wrong, and responsible journalists would not have tried to use their picture for shock value and to sell papers. 

If putting them on the cover was your idea of “highlighting the Irish angle of the story," then shame on you.  There is a reason the Irish Voice chose that picture, and I hope you accomplished what you wanted. 

Just like Christina Walsh has to live with her decisions, so does the Irish Voice!  No apologies necessary.

Patrick O'Donnell, Junior
Bronx, New York