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Columnist
Accurately Portrayed York Prison
Published
on January 6, 2006
© The Day Publishing Co., 2006
Letters
To The Editor:
I am writing in defense of journalist, teacher and humanitarian Andy
Thibault.
In the letter titled “York correction staff serves citizens
faithfully,” published Dec. 14, 2005, Department of External Affairs
Director Brian Garnett, writes that, “In one agenda-driven, reckless and
irresponsible statement, Mr. Thibault debases the entire York Correctional
Institute and its staff.” This assertion is not, in my opinion,
supported by the facts and I feel compelled to set the record straight.
I have been Bonnie Foreshaw's lawyer and advocate for the past 15 years,
and I can attest to the veracity of Mr. Thibault's column, titled “A
call for justice for Bonnie Foreshaw,” published Dec. 11, 2005. It is an
honest accounting and heartfelt plea for justice on behalf of Bonnie
Foreshaw.
There is absolutely nothing in Mr. Thibault's article that is
“agenda-driven,” “reckless” or “irresponsible.” The Correction
Department record is such that neither it nor its spokesman has any
credibility whatsoever attacking anyone, particularly not Mr. Thibault, on
issues of substance.
I met Mr. Thibault several years ago when I was asking that DOC
Commissioner Theresa C. Lantz look into an alleged malfeasance of a
corrections officer at York against Ms. Foreshaw. Mr. Thibault was writing
an article about the alleged wrongdoing and had called me to verify the
allegations. Ever since, I have found Mr. Thibault to be one of the most
highly principled journalists — indeed, people — I have ever known.
I have never once seen Andy Thibault waiver from a moral, ethical or legal
principle for any reason. He is exceptionally self-sacrificing and
dedicated to the concept of justice, and in fact, is a genuinely noble
human being.
Mary E. Werblin
Waterbury