Garda Injured: IMCer Response to criticisms of Coverage of This
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Sunday May 02, 2004 16:15
by seedot
Someone above (Eyewitness Report Ashtown gate Thread) said
'If Indymedia want to show that it is a legitimate unbiased news coverage provider, perhaps it should try to get the definitive story on the Ban Garda that was injured, just a suggestion.'
OK - I rang the Garda press office at 9 a.m. to inquire after garda injuries. I was told that no statement was ready but that they could confirm that at least one Garda had been injured and brought to Blanchardstown hospital. they were released after examination. they would not confirm that it was a head injury, that it was caused by a missile or even that it was a Ban Garda.(all of which I had heard and asked them to confirm).
I was told that there may be a statement later in the day. I then went out and bought the papers where I read a lot more detail (if the Guards gave out different information to other media outlets then we can not really be blamed on this). Since what I had was out of date and didn't add much I didn't publish the
information until I saw the above quote. it may be more difficult for us to get the definitive story on garda injuries as on the couple of calls I have made to the Garda press office in the last week (always giving name, phone number and that i was ringing from indymedia) they have been friendly if surprisingly uncommicative for a press office.
Comments (16 of 16)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16The Press Office is usually like that. Most journos get their information from their contacts rather than the press office. So I wouldn't take it personally.
How's this for a suggestion: Why doesn't someone from IMC ask for an interview with a senior Garda when the heat dies down? The worst they can say is no, but you might be surprised.
D.
Learn how to spell or at least use a spell checker.
It is "uncommunicative" not uncommicative.
Don't consider a job in journalism ....
May you should think about joining us at the Indo ..... we don't have very stringent requirements about that kind of thing ...
If you don't have anything constructive to say - say nothing.
D.
The Gardai have a job to do. They don't have time to sit behind a laptop that their parents bought, uploading images and engaging in student ranting under the guide of "We're the MEdia". Not in my name, you're not.
should they give you a statement anyway? You're not a journalist or member of the press. Haven't you got exams to study for, pal?
Hopefully she was offered more than paracetomol when she was brought to hospital, unlike the protester who's leg was broken by her workmates.
evil troller above!!!!!!!!
spouting lies!!!!!!
are you really saying a hospital offered a person with a broken leg, over the counter pain killers!
obvious lie!
delete now!
this is a disgraceful attack on the decent people who work in A & E across dublin
"One female Garda officer was injured during the protests but her injuries were not serious"
Its not nice that any people should get hurt, but if the right wing trolls want to get hung up on this incident especially when the garda press office themselves are playing it down
You negative people spoiled an otherwise day of celebration and fun for me, my wife and my children. i would like to have gone into town in confidence of my family's security.
I rejoice in the successes of the past decade and am proud of the way our President and Taoiseach handled yesterday's a day of history. All the Gardai gave you was a much needed gentle wash. Next time I hope they up the water pressure.
Ireland has the highest GDP per capita in the EU after Luxemburg and you begrudgers still complain!
Rejoice and be happy. Isolate the negative people. Even Ian Paisley is copping on!
However, there are none so deaf as those who do not want to hear.
JMcG
Taxpayer and Citizen with Rights
The Grassroots protest caused harm to not a single family enjoying the day in town. We did what we said we were going to do, we enjoyed a noisy, fun day out. It was the media bullshit and extravagent security operation that troubled people's confidence, not anything that the protestors did or said.
"All the Gardai gave you was a much needed gentle wash."
So the batons blows were all imaginary then?
Despite the fact that they have been clearly documented in photos such as:
http://www.indymedia.ie/attachments/may2004/violentassault.jpg
I can only conclude you are a troll - ie someone trying to start arguments and spread confusion - rather than someone genuinely interested in getting at the truth.
Talking of trolls, there seem to be quite a few around... or am I just being paranoid? :)
No, you are not being paranoid. There are trolls around, but not that many as they each use more than one identity.
When they find that people counter their arguments effectively then they resort to abuse, usually of the more obscene kind. That is their true level, both morally and intelectually.
To the editors - keep doing what you are doing, Saturdays reporting of unfolding events was excellent.
If it wasn't for indi we would only have the corporate lies , indi do an important and worthwhile job .
i tink you bowsies in indymedia are very unfair. you did not report the serious injury i got when i got back to the baracks on saturday nite.
i caught my finger in the door and it hurt like hell, and its all your fault cause if youse reported it properly i wud be able to claim compensayshun. yur not really independent, dis was a far more serius injury than the broken bones we gav yer mates.
i wud hav bin able to take a month off if youd reported this injury.
i am not a troll... i am however a student, and yes, i come from a middle class family. if this makes me "irrelevant" or unworthy to comment then so be it. i visited this site out of a genuine desire to get an alternative view on saturday's events. i have found much that is commendable and newsworthy here and much that is just crude, paranoid gibberish. i attended the march to farmleigh, not out of any radically leftist political bent but because i did not want to be intimidated by the excessive police preparations and the paranoid media in the run up to the day and because i think the right to protest is important and should be defended. i was disgusted by all the hype, however i honestly thought the police on the day were surprisingly accomodating. my initial reaction to the water cannon was that they were unneccesary and setting a dangerous precedent for public order issues in ireland. However, on the day they saved countless batonings, missiles and martyrdom on both sides, they safely dispersed what would have been a dangerous situation and perhaps most importantly they provided an entertaining finale to a long march. something was bound to happen after such a long trek from town, there were elements in the crowd that clearly won't going to settle for standing behind a banner in the middle of a cordoned off road out in the suburbs. it is a shame that people played into the hands of the media by giving them their photo-op but i suppose that's just the nature of the beast in these situations (i.e. non-single issue/ free for all demos). the bullshit printed in the papers on sunday was an astounding misrepresentation of what happened but so is much of what i've read on here.
i have to agree with cabhog about much of the editorial decisions on this site.. to delete articles that try to give a different perspective in order to bolster the argument of one side is not just utterly unprofessional, it is not in anyone's long term interests if this site hopes to become a valid alternative to the mainstream press.
to post a photo of someone with no evidence and state categorically that they are a guard is slanderous and reprehensible. this person was causing trouble and acting suspiciously? fair enough, put a massive photo of him on the homepage and ask for information. inform people that he was acting suspiciously, explain on what grounds, ask him to come forward etc etc. i dont know who makes editorial decisions on this site and i don't envy them their job with all these maniacs running round spouting shite, but just remember that if yiz want to maintain the moral high ground yiz have to work for it. either dont delete anything and be a truly open and inclusive forum (that'll soon be run into the ground by gobshites) or draw up a clear set of editorial guidelines and stick to them (and be prepared for a lot of abuse). thats my two cents for now for what its worth...
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