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Yesterday.

Ashdown Park Hotel, Gorey, Co. Wexford.

The cancelled auction of 32 houses and 16 acres of land in Courtown by Nama for €850,000.

Mark Malone writes:

Footage has been spreading across social media in Ireland which show a member of the Gardai wildly lashing out with a metal baton hitting an unarmed man and appear to show it striking him to the side of the head.

Th protest was a collective organising effort from Wexford Housing Action Group (a member of the Irish Housing Network) and a range of community members and activists from Wexford, Wicklow and Dublin who successfully stopped an auction of NAMA properties.

Garda Batons Man At Nama Protest (Soundmigration)

Video by John Rooney

Meanwhile…

UPDATE: Garda Ombudsman opens public interest investigation into events in Gorey, Co. Wexford (GSOC)

Sponsored Link

263 thoughts on “Gory

  1. Mister Mister

    Did he not tell him he’s a Freeman? Every knows once you say that you’re exempt from the rule of the land, and therefore don’t have to follow the directions of gardai.

    It does flag you as a massive moron though, but that’s the trade off.

    1. Mé Féin

      Was that video cut? It seemed to jump very quickly to the Guard hitting the guy. I’m not sure if we are getting the whole story there.

  2. manolo

    Interfering with a garda doing their work should become an offence. The whole lot should be arrested for being a bunch of annoying tw@ts.

    1. MajorThrill

      If it was there wouldn’t be anyone left to make comments justifying smashing an old man in the head with a metal bar.

      1. manolo

        These guys are paid by the state to enforce the law, which is applicable to all. They should, legally, be entitled to perform their work free of interference. People were hassling the guards in purpose. They were invading their physical space and shouting non-stop to rattle them. Well, they succeeded, well done. Self defense by the guards as far as I am concerned.

        1. Nessy

          “These guys are paid by the state to enforce the law, which is applicable to all…”

          If that were the case then women shouldn’t vote, racism should be tolerated and legal, homosexuality should still be illegal, we should all be spending the Queen’s airgead in Ireland still etc etc

          One has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws.

          1. hans landa

            Agree with disobeying unjust laws but I’m struggling to see what the injustice was here? these people are career protesters…water charges thing has died down so they need something else to shout about.

          2. manolo

            Yes, by all means, but the guards are not there to decide which law is fair and which one isn’t. Want the law changed, talk to your TD, protest away, but, refrain from impede the guards from doing their work.
            People can see through this stupid tactical approach of annoying the sh!t out of the guards so you can make a victim out of yourself after they lose their temper. Grow up FFS!

          3. Nessy

            You know know the controversy surrounding NAMA don’t you?
            You know that we’re in the midst of a housing and rental crisis now with thousands of children, families and single people living in inadequate temporary housing or hotel rooms with no cooking or cleaning facilities?
            You know that despite this the government are selling off thousands of assets owned by NAMA to the highest bidder rather than helping or dealing with the thousands of people and children who are homeless?

            Grand so

          4. manolo

            Tense situations can get ugly when people are being bullied, shouted at and threatened. We all are able to spot things getting out of hand, which brings the question: what was he doing there other than hope to become the martyr of the day?

          5. Zuppy International

            Corporate Enforcer fails to make a bogus arrest because savvy, honourable men and women in Gorey deny him his false claim of jurisdiction and so prevent the unlawful detention of one of their own. Said Corporate Enforcer then takes his frustrations out on another man with the aid of his state-issued metal baton. Twice.

            Lovely stuff. Makes you proud. Are you watching now Enda Kenny?

          6. hans landa

            I do understand the housing crisis. NAMA’s primary function however is to get as much money back from the loans it bought. If they gave away the houses or whatever and didn’t get the money back that they said they would we’ll be back here at the end of next year saying what a waste of time and money NAMA was.

            Maybe the Dept. of the environment should buy these houses off NAMA?

            These people are angry and bitter that someone somewhere will eventually make a profit.

          1. Toni The Exotic Dancer

            NAMA are selling these gafs for 26K a piece. NAMA have a history of NOT getting the highest price possible. NAMA is as corrupt as the system that created it. NAMA cannot be investigated due to convenient laws. Having said that, F*pp these protesters. if you don’t pay your mortgage. You shouldn’t keep your property.

        2. Eliot Rosewater

          Whether the people are ‘career’ protesters, whether their aim is to antagonise the gardai is a moot point, really. The gardai should be better prepared for situations like this, and if their response is to lash out like they did, then there’s something wrong with either their training or their suitability for the job (or both). If I’m working in a library, and I get rattled when a group of people want to take out books, then I should probably look closely at my career choice.

        3. Bobby

          Sorry to burst your bubble, but the law isn’t applied on the basis of what one person’s concerns are. The police are supposed to use weapons as a last resort if they are in fear of their safety, they were grand there now in fairness. There are regulations, courts, laws and legislation in place for a reason. Just because you (come across as) blindly support the police, doesn’t mean they can just do whatever they want.

          The are there to enforce legislation; to uphold the constitution and to protect the state. Your petty insistence of trying to convince us to let them ‘do their job’ is hardly reply-worthy, but I will say that most people who try to grasp reality know what the police actually do day to day, what their history is and where they come from, and what their actual function is. I’ll give you a clue, it’s not going around solving mysteries and helping people..

        4. Gers

          None of what you say justify the level of violence used in that last bit. Another bunch of country gardai not able to keep their cool, I hope disciplinary action is coming to the thick one who hit the dude at the end.

          1. Bobby

            manolo thinks the threshold for police violence is chanting and annoyance. Such beautiful mild, liberal language you use there to justify they’re thuggish and brutish behavior. You could write for the GRA (although sometie they just employ wild, accusatory and reactionary language if you can handle that?)

            Do you think it would degenerate the thread if I was to point out that ACAB?

          2. AlisonT

            From that video you cannot see what the man is doing behind the Guard before he was hit – the response may well have been reasonable if the Guard was assaulted, groped or an attempt was made to take some of his property.

          3. ABM's Bloodied Underwear

            Or absolutely nothing. The guard turned and swung indiscriminately. Anyone justifying his actions is a fupping idiot.

        5. t nolan

          U know absolutly nothing about this situation mr manolo I live in gorey and hav been a victim of this same abuse by this very garda last year at gorey garda station only difference is I was struck 3 times at the back of my head at my crown from being struck from behind and after all that this gard has the cheek to bring me 2 court 4 a breach of the peace which is still on going in gorey district court but coincidentally the cctv from gorey garda station on d night in question has dissappeared I’m glad this time the people were quick enuf to start filming and catch this incident in time its about time this gard looses his badge he is way to baton happy and uses extreme force to much while he is under NO threat wat so ever he has no right to react in temper with his baton just cause he gets pissed off 99.9 of other gardai would of handled the situation completly different without any voilence just because he has a blue uniform a badge and a baton he cannot just get annoyed and seriously assault people just my opinion

    2. Punches Pilot

      “Tense situations can get ugly when people are being bullied, shouted at and threatened. We all are able to spot things getting out of hand, which brings the question: what was he doing there other than hope to become the martyr of the day?

      @Manalo. With all due respect, give me a break. So the correct response to something getting outta hand – as you call it – is to strike an old guy with a baton around his upper body. Very little respect due be that the case. I wouldn’t do the job and I don’t want to pontificate but there is no justification for what’s shown in that video. You might feel that a scenario was brewing, you might well be correct. It’s still excessive. From a person who grew up in a house were respect for An Gardaí was paramount there has certainly been a sharp decline in my trust levels of the force over my adult life time, sadly I might add.

      1. manolo

        To suggest that his answer was not “strike an old guy” is unfair. The camera may not tell the whole story. Something happened behind him. I don’t know what it was, so won’t speculate, but whatever it was, caused him to react, turn and hit. That it was an old man is a detail, not the plan.

          1. manolo

            I know, but I swear, I am not a member of the garda.

            I hate abuse of power, but I also think that emergency services deserve respect when carrying their duties. What this video shows is not a peaceful protest, and I can’t find a way to defend the behaviour of the protestors. They are completely out of order.

            The ‘old man’ who was hit appears a few times in the video, and he appears strong enough to push the guard and to physically try to stop the arrest.

            The garda’s action is excessive, but it wouldn’t have happened if the guards were allowed to do their job without being shouted at, and physically stopped from doing their work.

          2. Gers

            Tosser is putting it mildly. There’s a all bunch of that on BS daily. Aspiring upper-class (middle class really) who love nothing more than be-little the actions of any groups trying to contest genuine bad laws as if they were superior in some respect. Pitiful.

          3. manolo

            Are you really suggesting that the Garda Síochána is actively curbing political dissent? Seriously?

            I’d agree if you said that FG is trumping democracy via “party whipping” their majority, or that economic interests of a few are being unfairly looked after, or that ethics are rare in the Dail, but I see no political suppression anywhere and find your suggestion absurd.

          4. Sam

            “excessive” – or what others would call assault.
            The gardaí are entitled to arrest people for breaking applicable laws, they aren’t entitled to belt them for it. Batons are for defence, not for ‘urging compliance’, Templemore isn’t in Baluchistan. The courts are where people are punished, it’s not the job of the cops to hand out beatings.

            Trying to conflate this with scumbags throwing stones at fire engines etc doesn’t fly. That type of thing goes one because generally the feckers run away and don’t get apprehended, but in cases where they are caught, they get the book thrown at them (and rightly so).
            However, if a Garda whips out an extendible baton in North-West Mayo and belts women and children from behind in front of a dozen witnesses and a video camera, it will be described as ‘robust policing’ by the judge who dismisses the claim of assault.
            Said Garda can even use the clip as part of his job application when he moves into private sector.

          5. Bobby

            manolo, are you actually living in a fantasy world or what? One part of the police’s job is to infiltrate and dissuade ‘extreme’ (sic: read radical or alternative) groups. Get a grip man.

            Were you asleep for the ten years the police violently suppressed local resistance to Shell’s pipeline in Erris? All the injury’s, false arrests and imprisonments and vindications, the ex-Guards links with IRMS security, Irish Rangers and Right-wing paramilitary groups. I could go on and on how the Gardai were able to beat people, without any justification whatsoever, and to know there will be no consequences, the media towed the line – much like the water protests. And I’m one of those people. Yeah, I’m an evil person who supported the locals and received more than a fair share of injuries at the hands of Shell’s private security, and their publicly funded security: the Gardai. Why do I not have a criminal conviction you might ask? (if I was to tell you) I wasn’t breaking the law! Still though, I know what the cops really do, and I’ve seen in in more places than Mayo and growing up in a poor area of Dublin. They’re the same everywhere, even worse as you get further away from Ireland. You keep the comments coming though, need to sharpen my response to people who have no idea what’s going on around them.

        1. Joe cool

          “The camera may not tell the whole story”

          so a handcuffed elderly chap slipped and fell on the gards billy club did he?

        2. Sam

          Sayeth Manolo: “Are you really suggesting that the Garda Síochána is actively curbing political dissent? Seriously?”

          Do you live under a rock? The Gardaí can, and do play the man and not the ball when it comes to peaceful political dissent that makes any kind of inroads against the status quo.
          Gardaí have had words with employers and other contacts (in the complete absence of criminal activity) to undermine people’s reputations and chances of earning a decent wage, and have also arrested people on bugs grounds and confiscated valuable equipment, just to disrupt their lives by dragging them through the courts for months – the acquittal at the end doesn’t make it all okay, because the whole point was to run the person through the mill.

          They don’t bother with every protest that goes no further than placards and chanting because that would be inefficient, and also too obvious and damaging to the public image of the Garda. They are a bit more selective than the cops you’d find in a totalitarian society, but to say AGS in not political in its actions is to ignore many many cases to the contrary in this country.

          1. Sham Bob

            Curbing political dissent is part of the Garda Siochana’s job. It’s just that since the Good Friday Agreement the types of dissent has broadened to include any direct action that doesn’t involve taxi drivers, the elderly, or farmers (except Rossport farmers, you can clobber away there). Note the recent allegations by a senior Garda that he was specifically asked about how he’d deal with the threat from water protesters in an interview for an Assistant Commissioner post.

  3. Bertie Blenkinsop

    I’ve just left our daily production meeting and, if I’m honest, I’d love to be able to do that in work.

        1. Siobhan

          Derek who? If your referring to Derek Byrne he was not there, He was at home in bed after working the night shift not that it is any of your business! That guard should be sacked that is a sickening assault on a member of the public, Open your eyes to what is going on take a look at the FF & FG politican’s at this auction waiting to get their grubby hands for a knocked down price on repossessed homes are you ok with that ?

          1. Cup of tea anyone

            If the homes were repossessed because someone took out a loan and stopped paying it back then that is ok. In fact it is probably expected.

            Also is it not a public auction. surely if a politician was there to buy a load of property at a dramatically reduced rate then there would also be others who would outbid him. And if a politician is willing to pay more than everyone else, why shouldn’t they be able to buy?

            It is when deals are made behind closed doors that we need to worry.

          2. Siobhan

            @ Mister mister Derek does not drink and he travels out of Dublin all the time he recently went to Cork to show solidarity with folk out protesting down there so your pathetic comment holds no substance at all, just a stupid unfounded dig from an ignoramus, @ Cup of tea anyone these homes up for auction go for a price that does not cover the cost of building them never mind market value, You really need to look at the bigger picture concerning Landlords/Rent Hikes and TD’s who are landlords who are not in favour of sorting out the homeless crisis with social housing because they are making a tidy sum out of it from private renting. They should be barred from auctions like this on the basis of conflict of interest. And don’t think deals aren’t been made behind closed doors we only know the tip of the iceberg here but these parasites have no shame they are robbing every citizen in this country in broad day light and getting away with it.

          3. Fergus the magic postman

            @ Siobhan, Don’t waste your breath. Mr. Broken Wings toes the party line, & will try to discredit anyone on here who has an opposing view to the Government on anything, and anyone who hinders the FG Gods from having an easy time of it.

  4. joe

    that copper looked remarkably calm, until the end…it’s hard to to tell, but what caused him to do that. someone must have put their hand on him or something. put yourself in his shoes, angry mob circle you, then start to man handle ye. suppose he could have given a verbal warning first. that was some crack all the same…

      1. Mister Mister

        A broken clavicle ? You mentaler. There’s actually nothing wrong with the guy, a bump on his head is what’s being reported according to his buddies.

    1. JogOn

      Give us a break, Joe. There’s nothing in the video to suggest that he was never man handled and they were hardly circling him. It was a pretty unremarkable scene until the Garda lost his cool. I wouldn’t exactly be proud if I were one of these protesters, but nonetheless based on what we see in the video it’s very unprofessional from the Garda.

      1. hello you!

        not taking sides, but on closer inspection the Garda looked liked he had been shoved several times prior to lashing out (which on first watching I was horrified)…

  5. Owen

    I was entirely with the Garda on this one….. right till the last 15 seconds of the video. What was he thinking?! A lad touched him / his bat or whatever from behind and he belted him in the head with a metal baton! Entirely unacceptable. Force is never a resolution to an escalating situation. And certainly not that level of force. Perhaps a twack in the back of the leg.

    I don’t know how I would have reacted, or how he should have, but that was not the right solution.

    1. ReproBertie

      “Force is never a resolution to an escalating situation. And certainly not that level of force. Perhaps a twack in the back of the leg.”
      Reading your comment suggests you disagree with your opening statement and that force is in fact sometimes a resolution to an escalating situation. In this you are correct. The more intelligent self defence experts teach that a pre-emptive strike is often the best and safest resolution.

      I have not watched the video and am respondng purely to your comment.

    2. Punches Pilot

      Up. Nailed it. And with it went up in smoke the trust of a lot of ordinary folk. The biggest scumbag was at the very end.

    1. BS

      It looks to me that he just lashed out at the closest person to him,which to me looks like an elderly man with a walking stick?

      1. manolo

        Elderly man should have stayed away from very obvious tense situation. A bit like not jumping on the deep end of a pool if you can’t swim.

        1. BS

          Why should he? Should you not be allowed gather/protest/walk down the street once you reach a certain age? Back in your box you obvious fool.

          1. manolo

            Big difference between walking down the street and being part of a group intentionally harassing a guard…

          2. JogOn

            Monolo tries to put his case forward but fails miserably so hides behind the old internet classic of “not playing your silly game” – brutal stuff pal.

          3. rotide

            Elderly man has every right to do what everyone else does.

            This includes not goading gardai until they snap.

            Possible alternatives are :
            Retire about 7 or 8 feet away from the rabble trying to incite violence.
            Not take part in the obvious intent to incite.

            I agree the guard snapped and lost his temper. I’m surprised it took him that long.

        2. Praetorian.

          What…!!!! Dumbest comment ever.Just because he’s elderly he dosen’t have the right to attend a protest he has an intrest in…or maybe he was attending the auction with a vested intrest.
          You absolute. ignorant clown.

        3. meadowlark

          I’m sorry but the elderly have as much right to do whatever they wish in their spare time. Now whether the protesters should have been there is not for me to decide but one thing is clear; that garda should not have attacked that man with such force. It may have been in his line of duty but that seems to me to be excessive force. The gardaí are a well trained group and you frequently hear tales of how good they are, particularly when dealing with diffusing group situations. It is something to be proud of. The behaviour shown here is not.

        4. panga

          elderly man has the right to protest to prevent the illegal sale of State owned Nama properties at firesale prices especially in the midst of the biggest ever housing crisis
          selling good solid properties at knockdown prices that could be used to house people? doesn’t make sense when you think this government are willing to house folk in portacabins at a cost of €100,000 each
          oh wait
          Dobby has the contract…..
          Ps… local FF and Labour Councillors in the audience like vultures waiting to buy to rent…

        5. Punches Pilot

          Or maybe taunting scumbags should have stayed away from elderly man protesting. Guards job to distinguish between them and he clearly was incapable. Old man gets a lash for been there. Oh Christ! feeling safe general public? It would appear they responded incorrectly to the situation in the first place.

  6. AndrewSB49

    Woeful response by that Garda. The official response will either be desk duties or being used as a taxi driver for junior Ministers who are rushing to go on a European jaunt with their spouse. I could be wrong of course – the Garda could be prosecuted to the full extent that the law allows …Oppps! . I better go as Nursie is coming with my injection ….

      1. Charley

        Where’s the special court sitting and why hasn’t the guard been remanded in custody until a later date, has to be seen to have no special privilege for Gardaí

  7. BS

    The type of batons that the gardai carry, metal telescopic batons made by ASP should never be used to strike anywhere on a person apart from legs,arms,back. If used to strike the head there is a risk of serious head injury or worse. No police force in the world who use these type of batons would ever be allowed to use their batons in that way. Their training should kick in and it should never even enter their minds to hit someone on the head with one of these batons. Of course that’s assuming the gardai have received training on the use of their equipment.

      1. manolo

        I am looking for evidence that “No police force in the world who use these type of batons would ever be allowed to use their batons in that way”. Sounds like a BS inflammatory comment, but I could be wrong and evidence to back that comment would be welcome.

          1. manolo

            I take it that you can’t back your comment that “No police force in the world who use these type of batons would ever be allowed to use their batons in that way”. I didn’t think you could. Sure, trying to offend me will distract me from your groundless accusation.

          2. BS

            I’m thinking that you can’t back up my accusation that you are intellectually disabled. Or just very very stupid. But I’m leaning towards the former.

          3. BS

            Also. Google. It took 2.4 milliseconds for Google to find a number of training videos/demos/ articles surrounding proper use of an asp baton.

          4. BS

            I’m not looking for moral superiority, but when someone is so obviously an idiot then sometimes the only thing to do is come right out and say it.

          5. Bobby

            manolo is right, from inception to the modern day police, violence is an absolute vital staple of their dna.

          6. manolo

            Come on BS, is that the best you have? You need to up the ante if you want to wind me up. Maybe you would like to include my mother in your well thought out attacks? That might work. Shows what you have!

        1. Anne

          You want evidence that a strike of a metal baton to the head can cause a head injury? Shur go on away and bate yourself with a one and come back and tell us how you got on.

    1. Mikeyfex

      Without further comment I just want to point out that it looks to me that he was struck [high] on the shoulder. And someone mentions a broken collarbone above. There’s an important distinction for the reasons you’ve mentioned and a few people have made the claim that it was a blow to the head.

      I could be mistaken

      1. Owen

        It doesn’t make an ounce of difference. It was not on the leg. He had no clue where he intended to hit that man. It was a Garda who lost control lashing out. The lad dropped like a brick. His only intention was excessive force.

        It actually sickens me watching it…. and I would normally be 100% with the Garda, but there is no condoning that.

        1. Mikeyfex

          I fully agreed with your comment above and was actually going to make my point there in reply to that.

          I’d still maintain it does make a difference – this isn’t me pardoning the guy by the way.

    2. Kdoc

      I thought the Gardai remained remarkably calm despite the intense provocation. I doubt your assertion about the use of batons elsewhere is correct, in some countries the police might use firearms.

      1. McGarnagle

        And in some countries they might lock them up and torture them! Pointing out that even *more* excessive violence is a tool of authority in other places doesn’t mean that what this Garda did was not a sickening attack against a defenseless man.

      2. Anne

        Tis terrible provocation all right. “Quote the section, quote the section.peaceful protest. peaceful protest ”

        He couldn’t control himself and lashed out with a metal baton. Why the fupp do they even have those? They should get a few belts of them in their training so they know the pain they could inflict with them.
        Maybe someone will be having a quiet word with the guard in question to let him know what it feels like.scumbag.

  8. martco

    this is precisely why I’m very glad the regular Gardai don’t carry firearms

    the video is clear as day, that member lost his temper paused in his moment of madness to contemplate his move and decided to go for it

    had he a gun at his side he could have been on Sky News

    1. manolo

      I agree with that, firearms are not the answer to anything.

      But, on the other hand, emergency and law enforcement services need to be protected and respected in Ireland. It is wrong to attack and bully ambulance crews, fire brigades or guards when doing their duty, that’s what we pay them for.

        1. manolo

          Between 1:35 and 2:30. The guards are physically stopped from arresting the guy. There’s even a guy saying ‘arrest one, arrest all’… they knew what they were doing.

      1. scottser

        yeah, but that attack by the guard was completely unprovoked. i always enjoy someone trying to defend the indefensible, but really lad you’re just embarrassing yourself and my schadenfreud just doesn’t stretch that far.

        1. manolo

          Maybe I am the only one here that thinks that the video might not be telling the whole story.

          All I can see is the ‘old man’ from 3.25 onwards on top of the guards trying to make the arrest. He pushed the guard in at least two occasions.

          1. Brian Shaler

            Don’t be a fool Steampunk.You are clearly biased in your assessment of what happened.Garda lost his cool and unjustifiably resorted to the stick.Yours,Brian

        2. Medium Sized C

          It wasn’t unprovoked.
          They were, at that time, trying to jostle, push and obstruct him.
          The response was totally unwarranted, but to say it is unprovoked suggests that you just don’t actually understand what the word provoked means.

          1. scottser

            there’s a good half a second before the guard takes out his baton and gives the guy a proper belt. there was more than enough time for a guard to better assess the situation and the risk to himself or his colleagues. granted there might well have been a bit of pushing and shoving but for you to weigh in with you own assumption of what ‘provocation’ means is a bit much C. you don’t know if there was provocation, and if there was, whether it was deliberate or not.

      2. Bobby

        Nope, sorry manolo, fantasy takes over again. Police are not the same as fire service and health service. They are not the same jobs and have very little in common with duty and don’t deserve the same respect.

        One section upholds high international standards in care, the other enforces the state’s legislation. Good thing politics and society is getting added to the curriculum, maybe the next generation will understand society more.

        1. manolo

          I think you just got to the centre of the issue in this entire thread: whether the guards are worthy of respect or not. We obviously disagree, and that’s fine.

          I personally prefer to have a mutually respectful relationship with the guards. They have helped me out on occasions, have recovered things stolen after breakins into my home, and I would have no hesitation to call them if I needed help.

          I am sure there are ‘bad cops’ out there, but I like to believe these are the exception.

          1. Sam

            I am sure there are ‘bad cops’ out there, but I like to believe these are the exception.

            Liking to believe something is very different from actually knowing what you’re talking about.
            Most rank and file cops I’ve met aren’t interested in antagonising protestors (and vice versa) – but, when given instructions for political policing (intimidation, beatings, unlawful confiscations etc), most cops will follow the instructions from their superiors, and some of them don’t even have to be told, they know what their masters like, and they will provide it, unbidden.

            I’ve seen good cops in action, even risking their lives to get a complete stranger out of a river, but for all that bravery, you’ll find very view who would risk disobeying an instruction to ‘get’ a particular person or group, or to ‘not see’ something illegal simply because the policy is to allow it.

            One of the main reasons that there is persistent corruption from the Gardai is because they are not properly accountable, and instead it all gets reduced to an over simplified ‘with them or against them’ mentality, which is bull.

          2. Bobby

            They are not the exception. Has that cleared things up? Yes, the police, by law, have the monopoly on violence, weapons, intelligence, and communication technology. Therefore, the state has set it up so that if you need a service such as the Gardai provides, you have no other choice but to go to them.

            If there was a maniac outside with a knife I would all the police. That’s because I know I have little other choice but to call the Garda. However, more times than not it has been ordinary people that help me out. The Garda have hassled me my whole life. Granted I’m a fairly anonymous person on the Internet, but I can assure you I’m a peaceful and relaxed person, but my background, attitude and activities, my which are totally legal and more times than not fun and enjoyable, but are politically unacceptable (I’m not a Republican!). If you think the police are here to help people, if you really think that’s there job, I implore you to go read about the history of the police. Heck, why not read a bit about the history of nation-states while you’re at it.

            Noam Chomsky and Howard Zinn are good starts. Mostly clear and simple. Very enlightening stuff, but it’s mad annoying finding out you’ve been lied to your whole life.

          3. Bobby

            Not really Mikeyfex. I’m just kind of ranting ‘against’ him. I suppose I hope I can change his mind, but I think subconsciously my comments are aimed at passive observers, to balance his comments which I think are worth responding to and/or worth ridiculing, I don’t know how to internet sometimes..

          4. Mikeyfex

            Fair enough. Not for the first time I’m somewhere in the middle of one of these BS arguments so I can’t help the mediation some times…carry on.

  9. Anomanomanom

    Very smart editing, just end it after the striking of the man. Doesn’t look like it was done for nothing.

    1. ollie

      So Anom the guard hit him to stop him doing something afterwards?
      With that sort of logic you are obviously a garda, or related to a garda

      1. Anomanomanom

        Yes that’s exactly what i meant. So what happened after the video ended, was there an explanation from the garda, after the video ended. And it’s clear as day from that video it wasn’t done for nothing.

        1. Fergus the magic postman

          “And it’s clear as day from that video it wasn’t done for nothing.”

          Ok, if it’s so clear, enlighten me as to the exact reason why the Guard took out his baton and beat a man in the head.

          1. Anomanomanom

            See there you go using the words “in the head”, that didn’t happen. Listen I’m all for protest but if your attitude to garda are that they’re scum then the garda are right to threat YOU like scum.

          2. Fergus the magic postman

            Who mentioned scum? Regardless of what part of the mans body was hit, feel free to answer the seemingly simple question I asked you?

    2. soundmigration

      Yeah of course an edit *after* the baton blow would show any actions that justified the baton blow. Because that’s how time works in videos right?

      It was an action seeking to prevent the fire sale of public housing. Not a local dramatization of The Matrix.

      1. manolo

        10:08 the “handcuffed elderly man” looks very un-handcuffed and jovial. He is bald alright, but I say he is not even 50.

        1. Anomanomanom

          The heart sees what it wants. Would you like a cart to pull, with your blinker vision you’d be better than a horse.

  10. Caroline

    I really hope this is totally grand in some way because then I can put it out of my mind. Otherwise my options are caring about it (difficult and annoying, makes me a loser) or still not caring about it (will require valuable humanity-suppression strength that I frankly need for other things).

    1. Happy Molloy

      NNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!

      Please don’t tell me you guys are here now!?!? The guys who cannot accept that anyone has a different viewpoint to them and so that they must be paid shills or are trolling (though usually do not understand what trolling is).

      Seriously, I don’t mean to be having a pop at you but if you could just accept that different people have different points of view, and that others views are as valid as your own, then you might find the world to be a much more interesting place.
      Nothing worse than seeing someone trying to shut down a debate or discussion by throwing a label at someone which means to discredit anything the other person has to say. Makes you seem weak, I’m sure you’re better than that.

      1. Medium Sized C

        You HAVE to approve of people resisting arrest and pushing gardai around.
        You HAVE to openly abuse and shame the Gardaí.
        You HAVE to unilaterally blame FG for EVERYTHING.
        Or you are Dennis O’Briens Garda Blue-shirt godchild.

        Its Science

        1. Kieran NYC

          + Water Charges are equal to slavery.

          And if you’re VERY good at your Two Hours of Hate, Mercille will kiss your cheek and Uncle Gerry will let you guess where a body is buried. He’s such a kidder.

    2. Mikeyfex

      Those fg shills man. I was driving home last night and an fg shill cut me off right before braking for a roundabout, then the fg shill at the tesco checkout fg shilled my eggs into my bag. F&*ckin fg shill, right? And to make matters worse the fg shill next door barked til like 4:30 am last night, so i’m like an fg shill in the office today.

      1. FreshFish

        That’s nothing

        An fg shill not only caused that accident that shut down the m50 yesterday but then they were all over ‘social media’ as well after stirring the poo

  11. Fiddlestix

    As always, suspicious filming by the Freemen. Cut the video right after the strike. Doesn’t know what happened to make the Garda take the seconds to take out his ASP and use it. Also, shouting “PEACEFUL PROTEST” while jostling and intentionally aggravating Gardai to prevent them from assessing a situation, IS NOT A PEACEFUL PROTEST. Clowns.

    1. soundmigration

      Really.

      The action was called by a series of housing action groups. Not the Freemen.

      The video was taken by a professional journalist John Rooney. He confirmed to be that police demanded all filming stop as more arrived on the scene.

      This is all in the article.

      But yeah, sure *clowns* deserve a whack to the head because??… well…. clowns.

      1. Mayor Quimby

        He confirmed to be that police demanded all filming stop as more arrived on the scene.

        it’s amazing that the suddenly decided to start complying with Garda requests – having tried to interfere with 1) a legal auction 2) a lawful arrest..

      2. Fiddlestix

        Eh… the “article” being a partisan blog piece (your username, your blog?), and John Rooney being a famed “journalist” from what publication?

  12. Bobster

    Protesters are complete clowns, deliberately aggravating the situation. I’m amazed the Guard showed restraint for as long as he did.

    1. Disasta

      Why don’t they sell them to people looking for houses so? Instead of packaging it off for some investor to make money on?

  13. Jake38

    I also love the roaring of “peaceful protest” as the mob push, shove howl and generally seek to provoke mayhem.

  14. Cup of tea anyone

    Can you imagine if these houses were actually turned into homes for the homeless. Imagine telling a Dublin family, We found you a home, Its in Gorey.
    I think you would just end up with a lot of unused houses for the homeless.

  15. Disasta

    Well at least now if I go to a protest I’ll go with my motorcycle helmet and jacket on in case Garda are doling out random lashings.

    Spare the rod, spoil the child.

    1. manolo

      Or just don’t push the guards or try to physically stop from doing their job and try to stay away from the people who do. You should be fine without the helmet.

      1. Drogg

        What about the students who where sitting on the ground protesting last year but got the baton to the head treatment. Did they deserve it? Do you just think its wrong for people to protest?

        1. manolo

          People must protest if they disagree with laws, policies and injusticies. I think civil engagement is essential to democracy. However, right to protest does not equate to the right to bully and physically restrain people doing their work on behalf of the state.
          About the students’ case last year, it does sound bad and wrong, but I don’t know enough to comment. If it is relevant, please send me reliable info about the case and I will share my opinion after looking into it.

          1. Drogg

            Watch from 2.05 students sitting on the ground being hit with baton. https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=wDvjw5GrR88
            Please forgive who the link is from they just happened to be the ones that posted the link. It seem that these cases including the one yesterday, are not being address and are being swept under the rug. That Garda was in no immediate threat and had no reason to lash out like he did, yes those protesters are annoying morons but Garda are supposed to be trained to be above that petty abuse. What if it was someone with a mental disability who was shouting would you expect the Garda to baton them as well? Garda are not normal citizens they should be above this behaviour or should be in a different job.

          2. manolo

            OK Drogg, I checked it out. I have participated in similar protests and I actually agree with the cause. I watched while asking how would I feel if one of my kids was one of the ones dragged away, and to be honest I would tell him well done, but you knew what you were up for, right?
            It is unclear, but I am assuming that the building was completely blocked by protesters and the guards were trying to give people and staff access to enter or leave, but the protesters refused to move. While I defend the students’ right to demand free education and agree with it, to block other people’s right to enter and leave the building is not a right of the protestors.
            I see no evidence that the guards went out in purpose to beat people up.

  16. ReproBertie

    It must be great fun for the gardaí to do their job while a bunch of barrack room lawyers obstruct them telling them what they are doing wrong and how to do it correctly.

    5 people chanting “peaceful protest” while 5 other people obstruct, push and jostle gardaí does not a peaceful protest make.

    The garda appears to be in no immediate physical danger when striking with the baton so I imagine he’ll have some questions to answer.

  17. George French

    Manolo what kind of a subhuman are you that says it’s on for a guard to smash a metal baton into a handcuffed old man ??? It takes one lowlife to actually think that’s ok

      1. Bobby

        In fairness he didn’t. He is just hopelessly and blindly supporting the police no matter what is said. That’s alright, political persuasions come in many forms and manolo’s political outlook supports the violent arm of the institutions of the state.

        I myself feel sickened by the Gardai’s pathologic lies, institutionalised violence and habitual intimidation of poor people, migrants, travellers, political activists etc. But that’s their job and goddammit we live in a limited democratic system and accordingly manolo can support any position he likes!

    1. Murtles

      Disgraceful that guard using his baton when he had a perfectly good taser to hand that he could have used particularly if they were all linking arms, one shot woulda brought down the crowd. Ya can’t beat a couple of thousand volts to cut out that “peaceful protest” mumbo jumbo.

      1. Bobby

        Yeah jokes cool. I would say that he was hurt, the copper swung the bat pretty hard. That’s it. Not arrested (probably). Just another man in the world injured by a policeman. It just so happened to be captured quite clearly on video.

        It really sucks though, those wild swings hurt a lot and get right to the bone because they’re quite skinny. They leave a nasty little strip of a bruise too.

        1. manolo

          I have already agreed a few times that there may have been excessive force, but it was not unprovoked. Check the other video Gers posted above (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VI3RaVQE_0) and go to 10:08. Same ‘elderly’ guy shouting into the guard’s ear and not getting the hint after being pushed away a couple of times.
          This whole thing is designed to make people emotional, and it is working. This is not the way to protest, and guards deserve a minimum of respect, which they didn’t get from this crowd.

          1. soundmigration

            @manalo : “This whole thing is designed to make people emotional, and it is working. This is not the way to protest”

            Run that by me again? How precisely does that work?
            Hitting someone with an metal bar because someone made you emotional is an understandable reaction? In a paid job? Get of the stage lad.

            “When did you stop beating your wife?” etc

  18. cian

    We can’t see what happened behind that Garda in this video that caused him to take his baton out. Without seeing this from another perspective I can’t decide if it was warranted. There were about 10 other people videoing this. Are any of the other videos available?

    Agree with the posters above that a crowd of people chanting “Peaceful Protest” while aggravating Gardai to prevent them from doing their job is not a peaceful protest.

    1. panga

      Your Right of Defense Against Unlawful Arrest

      “An arrest made with a defective warrant, or one issued without affidavit, or one that fails to allege a crime is within jurisdiction, and one who is being arrested, may resist arrest and break away. lf the arresting officer is killed by one who is so resisting, the killing will be no more than an involuntary manslaughter.” Housh v. People, 75 111. 491; reaffirmed and quoted in State v. Leach, 7 Conn. 452; State v. Gleason, 32 Kan. 245; Ballard v. State, 43 Ohio 349; State v Rousseau, 241 P. 2d 447; State v. Spaulding, 34 Minn. 3621.

      1. manolo

        You do realise that the US is a different jurisdiction, right? You might also want to check about legal implication of suggesting that killing a guard can be justified. This is highly irresponsible.

  19. Advertising On Police Cars

    If the protestors shouted ” We are Travellers!” then the Guards would have headed for the hills….problem solved.

    1. Bobby

      Nice bit of unwarranted and adolescent input there. Shure lets break out all the other jokes and stereotypes about other minority groups, it can be a competition of how to make certain groups uncomfortable about themselves! Good to know we have the Gardai on our side, if a Roma person complains we could have their child taken away the next day.

  20. Det Insp Murtles

    Please forward me all your addresses as some of ye’re remarks about the guards are incendiary and ye need a slap of a baton to be educated about public order.

  21. Fergus the magic postman

    He was provoked is not, under any circumstances, a valid reason for a Garda member to slap somebody with a baton. Not even if somebody had said something dirty about said Garda member’s mammy, would it be good enough a reason.

    1. ReproBertie

      What if the provocation was repeated attempts to stab the garda with a screwdriver?

      Remember children, all generalisations are stupid.

      1. Fergus the magic postman

        You’re right here, of course.
        In this instance though, I don’t think anyone is suggesting, that is what happened.

        The point I was trying to make, albeit badly, is that “He/They was/were provoked” is used a lot in cases where Gardaí have used excessive force during protests against protesters. In a lot of these cases, provocation seems to consist of the Gardaí were being stopped from doing their job, whereby their job in such cases is to minimise the effect of the protest, or to stop the protest from taking place entirely.

        Protest is a right, and protest by civil disobedience has been responsible for a lot of the human rights we correctly benefit from in the world today. Some police (Gardaí in our case) see such civil disobedience as a license to get heavy handed. It’s very easy to bring screwdrivers & kidnappings into things to cloud the waters, so to speak.

        1. ReproBertie

          As far as this case goes I have said in an earlier post that the garda does not appear to be in any immediate physical danger which makes his use of the ASP questionable at best. My facetious reply to your post was more to point out that there are instances when the gardaí would be justified in the use of the ASP and that it why the state provides them.

          I don’t think anyone is arguing against or denying the right to protest. In this case the garda had cautioned a man for an alleged assault, told him what act he was cautioned under, asked for his name and address and then attempted to arrest him. All of this was in the face of numerous protestors misinforming the man of garda errors and telling him that it was an unlawful arrest. Of course that obstruction and the ensuing kerfuffle does not appear to justify the subsequent use of the ASP.

          1. martco

            lads all ye have to do is look at the guy’s face, he pauses for a couple of seconds before lashing out, the guy was in some other zone and if there was ever a “you could see the cogs turning” scenario this is it….he snapped and went for it simple as that. the man lost his temper and lashed out. I guarantee he’d have used whatever weapon he had at his disposal there in that moment including a gun.

            I’m curious about how the mainstream media bar the Examiner have yet to report on this, wtf?

          2. ReproBertie

            Mainstream media like the Irish Times (top story on their homepage) and RTÉ (5th story in the news section)?

            Clearly their continued silence is part of a government coverup.

  22. bobsyerauntie

    Very disappointing when Irish people don’t defend their own from the brutal forces of a quasi-fascist state..
    These people are standing up for Irish citizens..
    The protest got a little bit rowdy towards the end- so what?
    The protesters were no threat to public order or to the Gardai..
    People are impassioned about social justice..
    They should be supported in this, not bludgeoned..
    Does that mean they deserve to be beaten over the head with batons by the very people who are supposed to protect them? (The Gardai)
    I sincerely hope that the guy who was whacked with the baton is not brain damaged because that was a really hard blow he got to his head..
    Completely unjustified to beat up protesters who are trying to defend our democracy..

      1. bobsyerauntie

        If you don’t see that the sale of NAMA assets like these properties in these kinds of auctions is an attack on our democracy then you must be pretty ignorant… we’re having a housing crisis and these auctions are abhorrent…

        1. ReproBertie

          NAMA was set up to sell assets to help pay off the loans that are crippling the economy and forcing us to pay taxes like the USC. NAMA, for all its faults, is not responsible for housing the homeless. It takes a massive leap to see an auction as an attack on democracy but please explain how it is and help remove my ignorance.

      1. ReproBertie

        So you believe we live in a quasi-fascist state? Would you cop yourself on.

        “the parties that they have put in power are so complicit in this thuggery and abuse of the public.”

        This was one garda losing it and striking out once at one protestor in an incident which is currently under investigation. Again, cop yourself on.

          1. ReproBertie

            There is no sin but stupidity.

            Disagreeing with your histrionic fear-mongering does not make me a mouthpiece for anyone or anything Chungus.

          2. Kieran NYC

            In fact, you believe Ireland is in such quasi-fascistic peril, you… type a bit about it on the internet?

            LoL give up, will ya.

          1. bobsyerauntie

            Reprobertie..

            I know full well what quasi-fascism means, I am also educated, well read, and know full well how to use a dictionary. Quasi-fascism is a loose term and can have many definitions. You could use it to describe Franco’s regime in Spain, or Marine Le Pen’s Front National. There are varying degrees of it, just as there are other varying degrees of other political/societal/governmental states such as hard-left, far right, neo-liberal, republican etc etc. These can be loose terms but often they accurately describe the political milieu of certain countries or governments in certain times etc.

            Fine Gael are extremely right wing, Fianna Fail were right wing too, albeit more populist than Fine Gael, but right wing all the same. Ireland has been mired in a vicious class struggle since the foundation of the state (and arguably even well before then). The dispossession of the native Irish never re-balanced itself in the post-colonial era. We adopted a cruel class system and we adapted it to suit our own distinctively Irish brand of class apartheid.

            Ireland is a deeply class prejudiced and unequal society, and Fine Gael (and Labour their lapdog) do not represent the will of the people. They represnt Euopean bankers interests and the interests of international finance, property speculators, big business and the wealthy. They are forcing water charges upon a population in order to pay for bankers’ debts. They ar epresiding over a government who has implemented harsh austerity cuts upon an entire populace to pay for bankers debts. Fine Gael do not believe in sovereignty for nations, they are part of a pan-European ‘European People’s Party’ which included Merkels party. Enda Kenny is a petty dictator, you only have to watch his body language and attitude in the Dail to see that this man has no respect for the people and many of his colleagues in cabinet are extremely right wing and they often display utter contempt for the Irish people.

            Under Enda’s regime, we have had an austerity agenda, an attack on the poor, working poor, and other vulnerable groups, a privatization agenda for social housing, a hated water tax shoved down our necks despite many protests against it. Using the state apparatus of the police force in order to force an unjust Water tax upon an unwilling populace and taxing by force is fascist!…

            Hundreds have been bullied, beaten, arrested and attacked in various political policing tactics against all sizes of protests against Water charges across the country for months now..

            We have had the Gardai corruption scandals, Shatter and Callanans resignations, penalty points scandals, NAMA scandals, and the news from transparency international that the appointment of judges in this country is utterly corrupt..

            There are dozens more issues I could raise here to demonstrate to you how utterly corrupt and quasi-fascist this regime is… but to be honest of you don’t see all the social injustice around you then maybe you’re just willfully ignorant or a Fine Gael troll.. I don’t know..

          2. ReproBertie

            Thanks for the meaningless bio. You may consider yourself well read but you seem to have a memory that only spans the life of this government.

            Water charges were part of FF’s programme for government. They were cemented into the bailout with the troika, as was the property tax. Going into the last election the electorate knew that the economy was in a jocker thanks to FF’s actions and that austerity was coming. FG and Labour were elected with that knowledge and with no option, despite their grandstanding, but to implement the troika plan. That meant water charges were coming no matter who was elected. Whether it’s a fair or unfair tax is a matter of opinion but introducing an unpopular tax is not evidence of a quasi-fascist state.

            The gardaí are not forcing the water charges on anyone. They are a buffer between the protestors and the IW workers. Whether you believe their actions at protests are justified or not will depend entirely on your view of the protests and te charges but they are not evidence of a quasi-fascist state. Your claim that hundreds have been beaten and arrested is pure fancy and certainly not evidence of anything.

            The way Enda and Joan act in the Dáil is disgraceful. They ignore questions and instead insult the opposition or point out things the opposition did wrong. In this they are doing exactly what Bertie and Brian did before them. Their actions are an insult to the Dáil and the Irish people but not evidence of a quasi-fascist state.

            The resignation of the garda commissioner over whistleblower leaks about garda corruption is not evidence of a quasi-fascist state. I’d suggest it’s quite the opposite.

            Social injustice is not evidence of a quasi fascist sate, nor is corruption.

            There’s a lot wrong with Ireland and a hell of a lot wrong with this government but we do not live in a quasi-fascist state and denying that simple truth won’t make it so.

            You seem unable to deal with someone who disagrees with you. You have labelled me ignorant, a fool and now a FG troll just because I won’t buy the bull you’re selling. Does name calling make you feel big?

  23. martco

    sorry the reply button/link seems to be broken…

    @bobsyerauntie – I dunno about Reprobertie, maybe standing in today for Jonotty who knows….anyway imo WELL SAID!

    I suspect many would agree with what you wrote, the real question is however are they gonna do something about it?

    1. bobsyerauntie

      @martco

      Thanks for the support..

      People do realize that this regime is quasi-fascist and they are standing up, all of the anti-water charge protests, from small to big, local to national, are examples of people standing up and saying ‘enough is enough’. The problem is though, in quasi-fascist, authoritarian petty dictatorships, like the one we are under with Fine Gael/Labour (and similar to Maggie Thatcher’s regime and George Bush Jr’s) is they set the population up against each other in the guise of a class war. Under thatcher she set the middle class against the poor and working class, and I think Enda Kenny must have got his inspiration from her regime (she literally bludgeoned her policies into the people’s lives) because Fine Gael are using very similar tactics. The poor, unemployed, and vulnerable are scapegoated as the problem- this smearing of certain marginalized groups muddies the waters and deflects away from the fact that there are obscenely wealthy people in this country (many of them of the political class) and these are the real parasites who are sucking wealth out of our society, the poor and unemployed are victims, however these regimes scapegoat them.

      They turn the workers against the unemployed, the private sector against public, the people against the gardai etc etc. So while all these different groups quarrel and fight among themselves they can’t mobilize properly to fight the real power which is the authoritarian government implementing these oppressive policies. The video of this protester being bludgeoned by this irate cop is an example of how this authoritarian right wing administration perceives the public, and in particular those who dare to dissent: with utter contempt and violence…

    2. ReproBertie

      Hey martco, it might make you feel more secure in your fantasy to dismiss me as a troll or a shill but deep in your heart you know I’m right. If not you’d be able to show me where I’m wrong.

      1. bobsyerauntie

        @Reprobertie

        You’re clearly not getting it..
        And yes you are a fool and a troll, an you are unbelievably ignorant…
        The Irish state is quasi fascist..

        We all know that Fine Gael/Labour are implementing the troika Fianna Fail deal- so what? does that mean that the government are not acting in an authoritarian manner? If you accept this bullying, political policing, and downright treasonous behavior from our current regime of utter Gombeens as nothing more that how a democratic government works then you clearly do not understand the basic principles of democracy. What you clearly don’t see is all of the factors I have listed are fascistic, I didn’t say that Ireland was north Korea, I said it was “Quasi-fascist’ which means that the implementation of austerity taxes, attacks upon the poor, privatization of a basic human right- housing, etc – all just to pay international banking cartels debts is clearly not democratic as the debt was not the Irish people’s. Every political stunt this government has pulled (and the last Fianna fail feckers too) has been an attack on democracy. The only democratic thing I can think of under this administration was the Marriage Equality referendum, however that was always on the cards, and had nothing to do with this troika class war which is being waged upon Ireland, Portugal, Greece and Spain, in particular.

        I didn’t cause the banking collapse, I own no property, I have very basic means, however, people like me (ordinary citizens with no assets, no wealth and nothing to do with corruption, booms or busts or banking tomfoolery) are expected to just shut up, pay unjust Water taxes for odious bondholder debts which have nothing to do with me (or people like me), and if I dare to protest I can expect to get beaten over the head by the police?

        If that’s not bloody fascism then I don’t know what is! As I said we’re not in North Korea… YET. but Europe has had fascist regimes before, so they can easily head that way again, and some would argue that the EU Frankenstein is currently extremely undemocratic, autocratic, corrupt, and unaccountable therefore it is some form of dictatorship no? If un-elected technocrats are making budget decisions for other nation states, this is not democratic and this is what is happening all over Europe now.. Governments like Fine Gael and Labour are acting on mandates from EU over lords not from the people who elected them, this is not a democracy, it is quasi-fascism on a grand scale..

        Germany, the ECB and EU elite deciding the fate of Europe, Bankers and bond holders causing boom and busts in European states, and causing recessions and getting bailed out by tax payers when they gamble too far is not democratic… open your eyes..

        I don’t have to give you examples of Irish police brutality.. most Irish people have had their own experiences with Gardai to know the deal there… however, there are literally hundreds of videos of water demo’s all around the country showing over-zealous police bullying and intimidating, and arresting protesters (some of these are extremely heavy handed even in small estates with hand full of local people trying to exercise democratic rights).

        The gardai bludgeoned an entire community in Rossport into submission for Shell oil, and the student protests in Dublin in 2011 involved much brutality from the Irish police, this has been going on well before the water protests but it is unacceptable and undemocratic to treat Irish citizens in this manner and utterly reprehensible to frighten people away from protesting with political policing tactics..

        Read this article from Transparency international about Ireland’s corrupt judiciary and tell me if this is a democratic country we live in? if it’s not democratic, and not socialist, and is clearly very right wing, ant-citizen and violent and contemptuous of the citizenry then what would you call it?

        http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/europeanrights-body-warns-of-corrupt-ireland-298902.html

        There is growing concern about corruption in Ireland especially about elected politicians, Europe’s foremost human rights authority has warned.

        Various reforms recently introduced, such as the freedom of information and ethics acts are too complex and in some cases conflict with one another.

        The report, from the Council of Europe in which Ireland and 46 other governments are represented, warns that there is too much political interference in the appointment and promotion of judges and has called for changes to maintain their independence.

        They also want laws that threaten government ministers, elected politicians and others with six months jail for disclosing confidential information scrapped as it discourages whistleblowing.
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        It notes that Ireland’s reputation has been slipping with Transparency International placing it at its lowest ever ranking among the business community two years ago at 25th, behind Uruguay, Chile and the Bahamas.

        The report calls for more stringent rules for politicians on conflicts of interest and asset declarations to include liabilities and those of their closest connections. More streamlined rules and more independent way of assessing politicians’ compliance was needed.

        They say all the rules that apply to government ministers should be extended to cover all elected politicians, and to their staff, and it should not be limited to just getting money, but should be extended to cover other advantages.

        It raised a red flag over the fact that the clerk of the Dáil or Seanad can dismiss complaints against members without referring it to the relevant committee. They question why complaints are only made public if there is a negative finding.

        They are also concerned that a minister can face six months jail for disclosing confidential government information, irrespective of the reason for doing so. This could mean that people are discouraged from becoming whistleblowers.

        While the Government pointed to a range of protections, the report believes it is not sufficient and recommends that the whole issue be clarified to ensure whistleblowers are protected.

        The report took on board the complaints of the judiciary that the public campaign and referendum on cutting their salaries damaged their standing. There is now a two-tier payment for judges depending when they take up their posts and the constitutional ban on changing their salaries has been scrapped.

        A judicial council should be established to deal with such issues in the future, to be involved in appointments of judges, establish an ethical code and judicial training practices.

        The report is very critical of politicians’ role in selecting judges and says judges’ promotion “is even more susceptible to political interference” and urges a judicial council to be involved.

        The report, from the Council of Europe’s Group of States against Corruption to which Ireland has signed up, monitors anti-corruption laws and practices and focuses on the measures in place nationally to prevent corruption among elected politicians, judges and prosecutors.

        It makes 11 recommendations to the Government and has asked it to report in 18 months on the steps it has taken to implement the recommendations.

        1. ReproBertie

          Yeah, it’s not quasi-fascist. I’m pretty sure fascists don’t go around providing emergency housing for people and increasing social welfare payments (funny way to attack the poor) but you have a clear agenda and it suits your agenda to peddle your fearmongering fantasy so best of luck with that.

          1. bobsyerauntie

            @Whatever, I’m not going to respond to you anymore, you’re just trolling and I’m feeding you… I’ve better things to be doing to be honest…

            Irish water is an undemocratic entity.. it’s a bondholder tax essentially..
            The Irish banking debt is odious and the expected repayments of this reprehensible debt by Irish tax payers is undemocratic..
            The judiciary are corrupted by the government’s influence upon them..
            Even senate appointments are cynical political maneuvering.. also undemocratic..
            Enda Kenny is a megalomaniac and very dictatorial..
            Most of Fine Gael are elitist and classist..
            Political policing and violence towards protesters is undemocratic..
            austerity is a right wing ideology which creates an atmosphere of class warfare..
            There’s load more I could say..
            This country has a quasi-fascist aura about it and it’s quite disturbing to be honest..
            anyhow… good luck

          2. Kieran NYC

            If you’re that worked up and concerned, go run for something.

            Don’t spend your Friday night ranting online.

          3. ReproBertie

            Pointing out the holes in your fairy tale is not trolling but I understand that it’s easier to dismiss me than to accept the holes.

            You’ve downgraded Ireland from a quasi-fascist state to just having a quasi-fascist aura so at least you’re making progress. Good for you.

        2. ReproBertie

          When are we going to North Korea by the way? Since you say we’re not there yet.

          And just how many water protestors have been beaten over the head by the gardaí? I remember seeing tens of thousands marching in protest against the charges in Dublin. Must have cost the gardaí some overtime to beat all of them.

          1. bobsyerauntie

            @Kieran, I don’t comment here very often, and I think I made very salient points. run for what exactly? in politics? no thanks.. I can rant to my hearts content whenever I like …thanks very much though for reading my rants…

            @Reprobertie, yes the behavior of this government has an aura of quasi fascist elements about it, and yes the state is quasi fascist under this -austerity agenda driven- Fine Gael- led regime

            I don’t really care if either of you can see this, I’m just glad that many others can..

          2. ReproBertie

            Of course you care. If you didn’t care you wouldn’t feel the need to shout insults at people who don’t accept the gibberish you spout as evidence. This quasi fascist authoritarian state privatised housing! You’re so bought into your fantasy that you can’t even see how ridiculous your claims are.

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