Law and order zealots were dancing at the crossroads this week, when news broke that a 19th century proclamation prohibiting the once-popular punishment of beating with nettles had been scrapped by the Government.

Joy turned to anger, however, when it emerged that nettle whipping would continue to be prosecuted under the more modern statutes governing common assault.

Other historic proclamations jettisoned are those dealing with agrarian unrest during British rule, such as the burning of cowsheds and outhouses and the posting of threatening notices about land – an activity which has largely moved online these days.

Interestingly, proclamations which prohibited traditional piseogary – such as the breaking of eggs on land – are also to be removed from the statute books.

The move to scrap a raft of proclamations and legal instruments dating from the 18th and 19th centuries is part of a Government drive to modernise Ireland’s archaic legal system and drag it kicking and screaming into the 20th century.

The initiative has faced strident opposition from elements within the legal profession and The Dealer’s Government sources conceded that it could take another 100 years to haul the country’s justice regime into the 21st century.