Yearly Archives: 2014

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“GSOC has investigated approximately 124 complaints against members of the force arising from the policing of the Shell to sea protest. Of these complaints, GSOC deemed 37 to be inadmissible. That left 87 admissible cases of which 85 are closed. The following is a breakdown of 57 complaints directly linked to the Shell to Sea protest. There were 33 allegations of assault; 17 cases of abuse of authority; three of discreditable conduct; two of discourtesy; and two of neglect of duty.The remaining 30 complaints do not appear to relate directly to the protest, for example, a person driving home having participated in a protest at the Corrib gas site who was stopped by a garda and who subsequently made a complaint about the manner in which he or she was dealt with. There were no adverse findings in these cases. Some seven files out of the 124 were forwarded to the DPP for consideration, and the DPP directed no prosecution in all seven. These are all GSOC investigations. Disciplinary proceedings were recommended in 16 cases under section 95 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005.”

Justice Minister Alan Shatter in the Dáil yesterday.

Read the debate in full here.

Photocall Ireland

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[Independent TD Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan]

In our edition of 3 June 2013 we published an article entitled “Flanagan has one of the worst Dáil attendance rates” which incorrectly stated that Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan had one of the worst Dáil attendance records in the first quarter of 2013.

Our information derived from the contents of the Member Sitting Days Report on the Oireachtas website.

We have learned that this website only records when TDs clock in with electronic fobs.  We accept that there were a number of sitting days when Mr. Flanagan was not officially recorded as attending the Dáil because he did not use the fob, although he was actually there.

For the first quarter of 2013, he attended 34 sitting days out of 35.  We take this opportunity to correct the record and to apologise to Mr. Flanagan.

An apology to Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan TD (Irish Independent)

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A 25x magnification photograph of Hawaii seawater taken by David Littschwager and published by National Geographic in 2007 shows the huge variety of life in what appears to be clear brine. To wit:

A dipperful of seawater can reveal a hodgepodge of tiny free-swimmers and nebulous drifters that fog the water column. Many are microscopic. Others would be visible except they’re virtually transparent. Gelatinous shape-shifters lazily ride the currents. Familiar forms in miniature—wide-eyed fish larvae, baby squid and octopuses—dart freely. Their lives are precarious. Some wear shells or exude toxins against predators; others are active only after dark. But untold numbers succumb to hungry mouths—each other’s or those of bigger foe.

Full what-the-hell-is-that guide at Dive Shield.

laughingsquid/lostateminor

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[Lucia and Jim O’Farrell hold a picture of their late son, Shane]

You may recall the case of Shane O’Farrell who was 23 when he died in a hit-and-run outside Carrickmacross, Co. Monaghan on August 2, 2011.

Yesterday Justice Minister Alan Shatter ordered the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission [GSOC] to carry out a public interest inquiry into his death.

Shane was killed by Zigimantas Gridzuiska, 39, from Lithuania. Gridzuiska, who had 40 previous convictions in three different jurisdictions and was out on bail on the night Shane died.

On Tonight With Vincent Browne, on April 3, Shane’s mother Lucia said on July 6, 2011 – three weeks before Shane’s death – that the car in which Gridzuiska was driving on the night Shane died was pulled up by members of the Drug Squad.

She said: “[Gridzuiska] was well known to them and he was found with a substance and charred tinfoil. Apparently this man snorted his heroin. He would put a lighter under the tinfoil and he snorted his heroin and instead of confiscating or seizing the car and preventing him driving, this man was allowed continue to drive and hold a driving licence.”

She also said that members of the Drugs Squad also stopped Gridzuiska just an hour before Shane was killed.

She said: “[Gridzuiska] was pulled up again an hour before he killed our son because the number was known to the Drugs Squad. He was found with two other Lithuanian heroin addicts, the driver was uninsured, they took them out and searched them, this car had no NCT certificate, it was driven by an uninsured driver and they were waved on.”

Two days after Shane’s death, Gridzuiska was brought to Dundalk Court for a special sitting. At the time he was three months into a four-month suspended sentence over a previous conviction. It’s Mrs O’Farrell’s understanding that the gardaí never informed the judge of this or asked for the judge for his suspended sentence to be activated. Mrs O’Farrell also alleges that gardaí never objected to Gridzuiska getting bail.

On Tonight with Vincent Browne, Mrs O’Farrell also alleged: “There was gross misconduct and corruption and following it to mop up, to cover up.”

Judge Pat McCartan acquitted Gridzuiska of dangerous driving causing death. He was then given the choice of eight months in prison or to leave the country within 21 days. He left.

Previously: Failure Of Duty

The Case Of Shane O’Farrell

The Thin Blue Line Updated

Blowback

Pic: Irish Independent