COMMENT is free, facts are sacred. That's one of the iron laws of journalism.

Unfortunately, in this age of rapid technological advance where little if anything stands still for very long, comment is also becoming increasingly worthless, it seems.

If you are reading this, you may be one of the growing army of people who access information on the Daily Echo website. Then again, perhaps you use the electronic as well as the print version, as many do.

The issue I raise is not just one for us, but for every single newspaper, national or local, that has an online edition allowing reader comments on stories.

The great advantage of the internet in this regard is that it allows for instant communication and reaction; potentially a fast and valuable snapshot of local opinion.

The huge downside is that much of what is posted by what may best be described as the Usual Suspects (every online community has them and it's easy to see who they are) is potentially defamatory, ignorant rubbish, malevolent, harmful, offensive, plain drivel or a combination of any of these.

They add nothing to the sum of knowledge, in fact they devalue and stifle it by undoubtedly discouraging many sensible people from making a useful contribution.

All over the world the internet has helped democratise and mobilise public opinion for the greater good but the flipside is already all too obvious.

The Usual Suspects, wherever they are, are not just a nuisance but dangerous too. Rounding them up and cutting them off is neither practicable nor democratic.

But I fear the alternative - appealing to common sense, tolerance and reason - is a non-starter.