Complaints board slams May Day Gardai

Monday November 18, 2002 18:21

by MG

The Garda Complaints Board has sharply criticised the officers involved in the breaking up of a demonstration in Dublin last May, accusing them of protecting their colleagues from the rigours of the law.

At a press conference today, the complaints board said a number of Gardai avoided the consequences of their actions on May 6th because their heads were turned away from the cameras which recorded much of the violence.

The problem of identification, it said, was further frustrated by the lack of co-operation from individual Gardai.

Not one of the 150 officers involved in policing the Reclaim the Streets demonstration would identify any of their colleagues, some of whom should have faced charges, the board said.

The chairman of the Garda Complaints Board said it appeared that the officers involved in the May Day operation were showing more loyalty to their colleagues than to the force.

These officers had refused to co-operate with the inquiry into the May Day violence and had covered up for people who broke the law.

The board said its hands were tied in relation to the matter because it does not have the legal power to compel individual Gardai to co-operate.

It added that it will be recommending that the Government’s planned independent garda inspectorate be given more powers in this regard whenever it is introduced.

More than 10 people were hospitalised after last May’s demonstration when Gardai attacked protestors who had held a street part in Dublin city centre early in the day.

The left-wing protestors were surrounded and struck with batons as they began marching down Dame Street following the free party.

Several officers were clearly seen on video footage beating unarmed civilians, including women.

A total of seven Dublin-based Gardai are facing criminal charges in connection with the incident and all have been confined to desk duty pending the outcome of their cases.

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Comments (10 of 10)

produced by rte interactive

by It was in a show called sampler

Fri Nov 22, 2002 19:33

May RTS video

by Jon

Thu Nov 21, 2002 13:45

zeez at eircom dot net

Hey just a quick message to ask does anyone remember the short program made for RTE with a good insight into what went on in may with excellent footage from there. A link would be perfect to it or information about the producers and the name of it an i go searching
Regards,
Jon..

Marion used to be head of Anti Landlord League in dublin

by It's called CRIMELINE u tvset muppet these days

Thu Nov 21, 2002 00:51

Now she's one herself - just like joe duffy and just about everyone else

labour - FF - FG - COPS - UNION Bureaucrats - John Bowman etc etc etc

as do many other ghosts.

Perhaps they should show the videos on Garda Patrol and get Mariane Finucane to appeal for anyone wi

by TV Set

Tue Nov 19, 2002 23:59

No problem, Blisset...

Tue Nov 19, 2002 16:11

I didn't really take it as criticism. I was just explaining why I didn't make any mention of the the issues that you raised. My article was a rushed job and I see that Aidan has already written a more comprehensive report further up the newswire.

I still believe that this story deserves a slot on the front page as it relates to Reclaim the Streets and highlights the culture of lawlessness and corruption that pervades within "the guardians of the peace".

Hi MG - Nothing was meant as a criticism of your report

by Blisset

Mon Nov 18, 2002 20:47

I got to hear excerpts from Press Conference on 5-7 live + talked to an IMCer who attended the press conference. Take my additions as such. Just a list of obvious questions that Journos (Who get paid) should ask rather than me again running up my out of control phone and net bills.

Another question I had was "Was the Garda Commissioner Questioned about this by the enquiry?"

More...

Mon Nov 18, 2002 20:22

Twenty-three officers were found to have failed to wear their ID numbers, but the complaints board said the reason for this was that they were quickly called out of their stations as back-up. Therefore, they won't face charges.

This still doesn't explain why they refused, on camera, to reveal their identities and numbers to journalists covering the event.

Blisset,

There were many inconsistencies in what the GCB said today, but they did admit that members of the force are covering up for colleagues who broke the law. Remember that Gardai are supposed to uphold the law. This admission, as far as I'm aware, is unprecedented.

I wrote the above article in as balanced and "objective" a manner possible because I believe this gives it more credibility. I never intended to paint the GCB as honest and I think the line about the new inspectorate shows that even the GCB itself is aware of the fact that it is ineffectual and neutered.

The above article is intended as a report (i.e. it presents the facts and lets the reader come to his/her own conclusions). The issues you mentioned could be included in a feature on the subject, but I wrote my article during a quiet period at work and wouldn't have had the time to do the research needed to write a proper feature. Also, I wasn't present at the press conference, but got the details from a colleague. Therefore, I couldn't have asked the questions you raise.

GCB Says up to 7 Gardai involved in batoning who cannot be identified

Mon Nov 18, 2002 19:49

Garda Complaints board telling lies themselves . . Omerta Omerta Omerta

Mon Nov 18, 2002 19:41

Main guy at press conference claimed that protesters were 'no angels' and that they had set a car on fire. This is the guy who supposedly looked at the videotapes over and over in the Irish Life mall. It is spin and bullshit. A car was pushed onto Burgh Quay and a flare set off inside. The car was owned by a number of the protesters.

Questions for lazy journos.

Omerta operating in the Irish Police?

Did officers in charge on Dame Street refuse to co -operate with the investigation?

Did Gardai other than rank and File refuse co-operation?

When will the Gardai release CCTV and Helicopter footage of the events?

Who decided on Gardai Tactics on the Day? Who gave the word to use batons to clear Dame Street?

Was CCTV footage from businesses on Dame street used or requisitioned by the investigation?

Could the Gardai who conspired on a widescale basis to protect those breaking the law be charged with aiding and abetting a criminal Offence? The guy said there were about 30 of them.

Should there be an Independent Public Enquiry? And I do mean Independent (No FF Pols/No PDs/No Gardai)

AaaaAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!

Front page article?

Mon Nov 18, 2002 18:24

Guys, I'm not blowing my own trumpet here, but I think this article deserves a place on the front page of the indymedia site.

It is totally original and will, I'm sure, appear in all of tomorrow's newspapers. It would do indymedia's reputation no harm to have the story before Murdoch, O'Reilly, et al...

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Complaints board slams May Day Gardai

Comments (10 of 10)