You will not be surprised to hear that it has occurred over Liverpool Council's decision to approve a new school.

OK, let's say it. It was for a school that will be attended by kids whose religion is Islam.

I wrote after the decision was made of how lucky we are in this country that we accept the umpire's ruling even if we strongly disagree with it.

Well, most of us do, it seems. There's always an exception to the rule.

A person or persons unknown decided they were so unhappy with the decision they took their anger out on the car of Liverpool Council's director of planning. And followed it we assume it was the same perpetrator with some nasty text messages.

The police are now involved, but, of course, unless someone is arrested and charged we will never know the identity of those responsible for these gutless attacks.

All the planning director did was his job. The councillors then did theirs and approved the school.

And while those opposing the school were visibly upset on the night the decision was taken, they stayed calm. Now they are considering taking the issue to ICAC, and that is their prerogative. This avenue is also part of our democratic process, so cannot be dismissed out of hand as a desperate measure. On Monday night a compromise offered to councillors via a rescission motion was defeated and it was after that that residents canvassed the ICAC option.

And the people behind the application for the school, meanwhile, are offering to sit down with residents and work with them when planning and construction get under way.

That is the right way. The wrong way is for people to step over the line, to break the law through acts of violence.

Let's hope the police can find who is behind this terrible act.

But, more importantly, let's have some calm over this issue by putting it in perspective: a new school will built, nothing less, nothing more.

There will be some planning issues to sort out, but that's where the focus of everyone should be.