In support of Corkery

Dear Editor,

In response to the public frenzy regarding Richard Corkery, and specifically the interminable house arrest that he has been subject to for almost three full years, I say that you and the residents of Coaldale do not know Richard Corkery. If you did know him, you would advocate for a speedy resolution to his difficulties.

There are countless young men who would testify to the fact that Corkery influenced them to grow into productive, fine adults. He did this through establishing sports teams, finding employment for them, assisting many of their families and mostly by his excellent example. He challenged so many boys to rise above their life circumstances and showed them how to become contributing members of society. Through his personal friendship with former Phillies pitcher Robin Roberts and other notable people, he provided them with examples of responsible adulthood and the possibility of personal achievement. The boxes of photographs removed from his house were, for the most part, teams he had formed and coached through the years. These teams were lifesavers for many boys growing up in the rough streets of the Kensington section of Philadelphia.

In this social climate, it is easy to assume the worst, but he is really the best. I have known him for a lifetime and know who he is. He is a fine, moral man. The stories of his achievements are legion, and all of these young men are better people for having had him walk among them.

Let's look beyond this sensationalism and end this house arrest, this tremendous miscarriage of justice, as quickly as possible, and give Richard Corkery his life back.

Cecile Knies

Malvern