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Search words: michelle clarke

2006: Violence and death.

category national | crime and justice | opinion/analysis author Wednesday December 13, 2006 22:23author by Michelle Clarke - Social Inclusion; understanding and compassion Report this post to the editors

List of people murdered in Ireland. Drug Crime.

What needs to be done?

Game plan to combat crime for 2006.........

I am surprised at the shock by the Irish Nation to the murders carried out in the last few weeks.

Murders in Ireland have been going on quietly but sadly for the last 10 years. Let me remind you of those murdered this year:

January: Martin McLoughlin, aged 21. Stabbed to death at a New Years day party in Juries Croke Park Hotel.

The same month:
Kevin Durkan, in his fifties, from Sligo, died after being assaulted in Parkgate Street, in Dublin.

Again January, Jim Fitzgerald in his fifties, died after being stabbed in his home in Co. Cavan.

Lithuianian man, Roburtas Konautus, was found dead in his home in Ashbourne, Co. Meath.

Amy Farrell, a bank official, and mother of 1, was stabbed to death in Leixlip.

Rebecca Kinsella aged 19 was stabbed and beaten to death in Celbridge, Co. Kildare.

February

Dara McCormack aged 22, was shot dead near her home in Blanchardstown. It is amazing Liveline did not talk about Dara McCormack.

James Mahon, aged 62, a national boxing coach who was shot dead in Fermoy, Co. Cork.

10 year old Glen Keegan and his 6 year old brother Andrew stabbed to death by their mother (alleged) in Firhouse (very sad circumstances).

A Latvian man was stabbed to death in Artane.

Siobhan Kearney was found stabbed to death in her bed in Dublin.

March

Donna Cleary was shot dead in front of her two children in Coolock, Dublin. Again I have not heard Donna's plight on Liveline.

Shay Bradley from Derry shot dead in Cabra.

April

Cahill (Clonmel) shot dead.

Former IRA prisoner Denis Donaldson was shot dead in Donegal.

Wisely - shot dead in Tallaght.

Gerry O'Mahony, Cork, stabbed to death.

Gerard Goulding shot dead in Kilbarrack

May

Lee Kinsella age 30, shot dead in Ratoath, Co. Meath.

Aidan Kelly shot dead in Limerick

Keith Ryan found dead in Limerick

Patrick Harte found shot dead in Coolock

June

Emma McLoughlin stabbed to death in Laytown, Co. Meath

Kevin Fitzsimons shot dead in Kilbarrack

Dr Karen Guinee strangled to death in Galway

Limbo Murphy stabbed to death in Dundalk

Perdue and Barbour died in hospital, having sustained injuries on O'Connell Street

July

In July we had 4 deaths.

August

Gooch, Lynch; Charlie Wrench; Joe Clancy; Wayne Zambara all murdered in Dublin

September

We had 7 deaths as a consequence of murder.

October

Body of Meg Walsh found in the river Suir, Waterford.

Christopher Cauley stabbed in drugs row in Inchicore

Tony McGrath, Father of one, stabbed near his home in Clonsilla

November

Body of Thomas Moran shot in the head - Limerick

Ray Collins shot at Clonliffe Road

November and Swords again, Baiba Saulite, shot dead by contract killer

Paul Reay shot dead in Drogheda

December

John Malone was found dead with stab wounds

Kilkenny, Alan Cuniffe, shot dead by Asylum Seeker from China

Eddie McCabe was beaten to death in Rafters Lane, Driminagh.

That brings to a very high number the number of people slaughtered by the gun or knife in the year 2006.

There were 51 men, 10 women and 2 children.

We have attracted the financiers, wealth is sustained by tax breaks, we now have an expanded visible middle class but do people not realise that if this level of crisis continues, no money will entice people to remain on the Island of Ireland, if they live in fear of their lives......

How much do people in this country value human life, that of their children, their parents, their friends? When does it move beyond the level of apathy that pertains today.......and rebound in a collective to voice to say what motivation rests behind the violence?

The Dail today......saw stirred emotions for a change. Fine Gael, Enda Kenny mooted the Provisionals but Taoiseach Bertie Ahern firmly put aside this argument as non valid.

The issue for Ireland now rests in Gangland ....... it is rooted in a drug culture and seepage through our country that is responsible for a considerable amount of hardship and violence. Not alone are risks being taken to smuggle in illegal substances but weaponry of all makes and sorts is being forward also.

Joe Duffy summed it up well today. Let the people in D4, Foxrock, and other elitist areas and professions stand up, be accountable and stop buying these illegal drugs. Let them know that if they are 'users' they are participating in the violence that begets Gangland.

In the 1980's........ it took the people in Dublin 2 and other areas isolated by illegal drugs, addictions, to make a stand. If they did not do so, too many of their children and friends would be destined ahead of time for their plot in the graveyard.

I know it may sound boring but McDowell, Minister for Justice Equality and Law Reform, was subdued today. Probably it was the first time in many years. You see he probably knew he could not stand over his comments of two years ago - Gangland murders were according to his words the 'last sting of a dying wasp'............

One point : The Criminal Assets Bureau.
There have been several articles written on Indymedia by michelle clarke seeking a distribution of the funds gathered by the CAB from drug related sources to be invested into the field of sourcing drug contacts, providing education, and rehabilitation. We know that Government have collected substantial funds relating in the Main to Corruption .......... we are now Cash Rich.......but yet Drug crime rests at an all time high. How do we resolve this? Funds collected from drug lords can easily be earmarked and labelled Drugs Related.......

Any ideas out there for Government and Commissioner of An Garda Siochana?

How do we deal with this issue? How do we accept the island nation state and the widespread distribution factor; in a way that our Gardai are in the position to outstep the gangland dealers........with the support of the people at grassroots.......

Lets start with the geographics

.....I would say Northside Dublin; Fianna Fail stronghold...

Then social problems. Yes, the dreaded alcohol consumption problem!!!! Is too much attention being paid to catching people on the Roads by Gardai? Then think of the STI problems that abound.....Aids...a real issue......

Several times today mention was made of non Jury Trials......any views?

Good Night

Rodge and Podge with the help of Mon. Duffy Liveline are charged with impetus to step ahead of the Govt brains and the Gardai?

author by Free State Bastardpublication date Thu Dec 14, 2006 00:46author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Well first of all, its a pile of crap to blame the people of D4 for the drugs problem in Ireland. You could just as easily blame the hippies for smoking so much skunk and financing the gang lords. Also, you question whether too much attention is being paid to drunk driving. A simple check of facts would tell you that a lot more people are killed on the roads than are murdered, not to mention all the innocent people maimed for life by some some arsehole rotten drunk behind the wheel. Also you make numerous references to certain murders not appearing on liveline, as if that make a shagging difference. And as for ideas about how the crime can be stopped, well chew on this-the only way to beat the scumbags is to give unprecedented powers to the gardai to fight fire with fire, but then you get people who start throwing the fascist word around as they always do, so nothings going to happen and the killings are going to continue. Simple as that. But just don't blame it on the rich people, this really is the worst type of cop out.

author by Franpublication date Thu Dec 14, 2006 09:27author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Years ago figures of authority were respected and put the "fear of god" into unruly young men.
At home when if you misbehaved your father brought out his stick.
At school you got the leather on the hand or the cane across the arse from the schoolteacher.
If a group of kids hung around street corners causing trouble, local men, decent men who were mass goers with families, many of them non drinkers took it upon themselves to give them a clip over the ear and a kick in the arse and they never came back.
A few good digs from a broadchested garda with big farmers fists put manners on the worst troublemakers.

The old Catholic Ireland was a harsh narrow minded place and many nasty things happened then behind closed doors but in many ways times were more innocent then while people were tough and stomached no nonsense. People had a strong sense of community and generally looked out for eachother.

A man or woman who swore or drank heavily or behaved the way hordes of drunkards now do on a typical Saturday night would have been social pariahs.
Society has gone soft - a teacher who tries to put manners on a thug will go to court for assault and lose his job. Gardai who talk tough are a joke to many young men because they know they can't be touched and that the judge will just let them loose again. Ordinary Joe Soaps who take it upon themselves to put manners on young boys creating a nuisance are classed as a vigilantes and can expect no assistance from apathetic peers.

I am not advocating a return to the Church but no system of secualr morals has replaced that system.
Everybody has individual rights, thats wonderful don't get me wrong, but nobody has responsibilities.
We can blame politicians, the system and the powers that be, they have a lot to answer for, but ultimately citizens themselves have the duty to protect society, by educating their kids to obey conventions, to respect others and to live by a code of honour.

Our nation was built by volunteers who entered public life and set up many organisations, social, sporting and political to create civic pride and a sense of honour and courage, a very quaint word these days.

What Ireland needs these days is men and women with steel in their balls.

author by observerpublication date Thu Dec 14, 2006 10:11author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Well said Fran. Also, there is indeed merit in the argument that those who buy drugs are supporting all of this. They are Hyland's customers and his most valued customers were nice respectable middle class people whose recreational drug of choice is nose candy. Just think of that the next time you hand over your money to a dealer. Part of the profits will go to buying guns to kill your local dealer's competitiors or anyone else who he takes a dislike to.

author by Podge Pearse's younger brotherpublication date Thu Dec 14, 2006 10:42author address author phone Report this post to the editors

I concur Fran.

I'm not sure it's down to a fall in religious worth amongst the people of Ireland but just a general fall in morals, ethics and materialism is core to much of this. People are being shot because they threaten the source of someone's income or just because it suits.

I've no problem with them shooting each other, per se. But it starts to spill over into the rest of society and you have people like that poor young plumber being killed because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

I'd like to see the guards armed but it also begs the question whether the criminals would just arm themselves to the hilt then. Either way, it's hardly fair to expect guards to police streets where guns are becoming more prevalent. Take the case with Charlie Chawke for example. Unarmed guards took after the scumbags who shot Chawke in the leg and who clearly were ruthless enough to use it. Would you put yourself in such a situation?

Something drastoic needs to be done to halt this descent towards depravity.

author by My Two Bits.publication date Thu Dec 14, 2006 18:53author address author phone Report this post to the editors

2,000 of the gardai in this country ARE armed. Including the detective units, and the ERU etc.

For those who call for ALL gardai to be armed, bear in mind that with the 11,700 Gardai we have, there's loads of them driving squad cars without having done the advanced driving course, cos the Garda Management haven't arranged the training yet - loads of them are using a loophole, a letter of permission from a Superintendent, which is supposed to be a temporary thing, but is going on years now. And see that on average there are 2,000 accidents a year involving Garda vehicles. Imagine the figures if they do the same policy with guns?
If we can't train them all for high speed driving, do you think they'd be able to train them all in the proper use of firearms (and I don't just mean how to aim and shoot - i mean when to draw the gun, when not to draw the gun, when to fire, when not to fire etc.) - Abbeylara, and that botched respond to a bank raid where one ERU guy accidentally shot another ERU guy...

One of the problems is of course drugs, and there's the criminals, the guns, the profits, the counterproductive turf wars between Customs and the Gardai, and of course corruption inside as well.

Another problem is from the psychology of the state, bordering perhaps on brainwashing. We're told that they will look after them, that the politicians are responsible for so much (sure why else would we need them) and this leads a lot of people to believe that we can 'leave it up to the state' to deal with fires, crime etc... and general apathy sets in, along with a reduced sense of individual responsibility.

Also, people's attitude to the Gardai. Right wingers might argue that people have little respect for the Gardai, and should just unreservedle support them. Well, I support the Gardai in general, but, and this is no small point, the Gardai have to support US as well, and if they continue to tarnish their own image (it's not the media, the McBrearty's, in the end it's the fault of the Gardai) by dsigraceful behaviour, like Donegal, Mayday, Heavy Gang, and acting as Shell's army in Rossport, then they have nobody else to blame for losing the respect and co-operation of the public, especially when the Garda Complaints Board is a whitewash.

"The Garda Síochána will succeed, not by force of arms or numbers, but by their moral authority as servants of the people." Commissioner Michael Staines (1885-1955), The First Commissioner of An Garda Síochána.
That's a good principle and it can work if the Gardai, Government and public work together.

As individuals, we have learned to care less, and take less responsibility for the world around us.
Part of that is due to the psychology of 'individualism' that sprung up so fast in the 1980s under Thatcher and Reagans influence, also known as "Me Fein"...
Look out for number one, and care less about your neighbour.
We're not a country, we're not a nation, we're an economy!
That, - more than the loss of fear for Church and State authority - had an effect on the break down of the social fabric in Ireland.
We're so busy worrying about our martgages and cars and have less faith that our neighbours would help us out if we had to stand up for anything.
Also of course, businesses get a lot of priority over some of the less wealthy estates, because residents often don't have strong associations, and Business Associations always have the ear of the Chief Super. Hence, drug dealers can hide and set up camp in dead end estates, while the cops concentrate on keeping them out of the city centre where they might affect shopping, shoppers and middle class voters.

Of course, the politicians will make hay, and predictably some called for the Army to be deployed. Well, there's a reason that the Army and the Gardai are separate.
The Army is trained for deadly force, self defence, not police work.
Even the sight of soldiers with automatic weapons standing on streets while Securicor vans get loaded in the bank is a bit worrying. (imagine the crossfire, and all the shoppers ducking for cover) These guys are trained to go the Lebanon, and the Congo and stuff of that nature, not for urban shoot outs with criminals, not for arrests and certainly not for normal police work.
Others say bring back the death penalty , or increase prison sentences. For what?
These tired old arguments (from politicians in leafy suburbs) ignore one basic fact. It's not the lenght of the sentence that these guys worry about, it's the ODDs of getting CAUGHT. You can have 3 years in jail for stealing apples from an orchard if you like, but most people know they'd never be caught doing it, so it's not much of a deterrent.
If there were more police patrols, and a more positive attitude from a cleaner, more accountable force, that got along with the community rather than driving and scowling like an occupying army, then the two working together would do a lot to keep crime out of our neighbourhoods.

Tackling crime takes a combination of resources and training for law enforcement, as well as leadership by and from the communities and from the government. But when was the last time the Government risked a single vote by appealing to the public or showing real moral leadership? They appeal to our greed and our fear, and think only of jobs, interest rates, and votes. Modest neighbourhood watch schemes do have more effects than people think.

Anyway, that's my two bits for now.

author by Johnpublication date Thu Dec 14, 2006 19:35author address author phone Report this post to the editors

"It's not the lenght of the sentence that these guys worry about, it's the ODDs of getting CAUGHT. "

There is some truth in this, of course, but its simplistic. Clearly, the ODDS of getting caught is an important factor. But, its only one side of the equation. The other side is what will happen to the criminal if caught. Suppose the odds of getting caught are 1 in 10. A criminal contemplating a crime might balance that against the possibility of a 3-year jail sentence and conclude that its worth the risk. But, if the jail sentence was 30 years and the odds of getting caught were still 1 in 10, the criminal might come to a different conclusion.

author by Ray McInerney - Global Country of World Peacepublication date Thu Dec 14, 2006 20:00author email raymond.mcinerney at ul dot ieauthor address Limerickauthor phone 00353860638611Report this post to the editors

In view of recent findings that 25% of Irish prisoners are chronic recidivists and the spate of recent killings associated with drugs, the following may be of interest. If you have contacts in the media/or prison service who you think might be interested in this topic please let them know about this website:
http://enlightenedsentencing.org

An Alternative Sentencing Program utilizing the Transcendental Stress Management SM (TSMSM ) program for Rehabilitation and Criminal Justice Reform

Dear Friends and Supporters of The Enlightened Sentencing Project:

We are happy to bring you current news of our work here in St Louis with offenders and probationers sent by the courts.

Fifty-five new TESP graduates

Fifty-five offenders recently graduated from the TESP program. The men and women coming through the TESP program continue to have life-changing benefits and report these in their very inspiring course-completion essays. Our clients are as young as 19 years, right up to offenders in their 60s. Our clients are mixed, racially, with the majority being African-American males between the ages of 20 to 50. Some of our clients are homeless or illiterate. Some come to us as a last resort after going through the gamut of courses and programs traditionally used by the courts.

Address by Joe M., TESP graduate and probationer, to federal Probation Officers

Recently, Joe M. a 44 year old probationer gave a beautiful talk to a group of Federal Probation Officers. Joe described his career of crime from the time he was a juvenile and the numerous times he had been to prison. This time he was brought from prison for sentencing before the Hon. Judge Lisa Van Amburg.

Joe said: "My 76 year old mother was sitting in court crying for the umpteenth time while I was being sentenced. I expected a 20 year
sentence when to my surprise Judge Amburg showed me some mercy and placed me in the TESP program." He then told his spellbound listeners of the numerous benefits he had experienced in his health and at work since being involved in the TESP program.

"Before I started meditating I had really bad acid indigestion and acid reflux but since starting this program I haven't taken any Zantac or any of that. My family gets migraine headaches and although I wouldn't get them too bad, every once in a while I'd get them. I don't get them any more."

"I never really had any friends before. I only had associates that I dealt drugs with or did crimes with. But I never really had any true friends. Thanks to this program I am making friends and meeting business contacts. I am kidding the people at Schnucks where I work that I'am going to be store manager by the time I am 45, which is next year. So I've a lot of work to do. I worked at Schnucks for a year and then I went to prison. When I got out I got my job back. Now I've been there since December 5 of last year. I was just selected as "Associate of the Month " at my store and everyone at work says that this is one of the quickest times they've seen anyone get this nomination."

"My mother is very proud of me. I take her to ball games now. She stood by me every time I went to prison. She sent me money and she's been there for me every time and I'll always love her and appreciate her for that."

"I've written letters to the editors of newspapers about this program. I'd write to the President if I thought it would help get more people down here for this program. It's been a miracle for me. My mom thinks some aliens came and got her son and put someone else in his place!"

TESP graduates address incoming offenders about to start the TESP program

A new TESP course for offenders in St Louis starts about every six weeks. Typically, past graduates of TESP enthusiastically volunteer to talk to those newcomers who are required to attend our Orientation. These volunteers do a remarkable job telling the new offenders how their lives changed dramatically after going through TESP's Transcendental Stress Management program. Their stories are so compelling that in almost all cases the newcomer signs up for the next TESP course. Volunteers like Lawrence A. speak in the language of our grassroots clientele and convey the message like no one else can, colorfully and vividly! It is always a delight to find the skeptical newcomers make a complete turnaround in their attitude after hearing Lawrence, Joe and others talk to them. It is as if the testimony of their own "brother" had made all the difference!

TESP's distinguished Advisory Board

The TESP has an outstanding Advisory Board, led by Hon. Chief Justice Michael A. Wolff of the Supreme Court of Missouri. Under the guidance of our esteemed Advisory Board, the TESP is making strides in the field of rehabilitation. Recently, founding TESP judges, Hon. Judge Henry E. Autrey (federal level) and Hon. Judge David C. Mason, took time out of their busy schedules to address a group of federal Probation Officers on the benefits of the TESP program. In his talk, Judge Autrey described how he got involved in using the TESP program for his offenders and why the federal Probation and Parole Department should use the Transcendental Stress Management program.

Hon. Judge David C. Mason
Founding Judge of TESP
Address by Hon. Judge David C. Mason to federal Probation Officers,
November 2006 Judge Mason, in his talk to the Probation Officers, brought out the connection between stress and criminal behavior. He richly illustrated his talk with numerous examples as to how stress leads to crime. He emphasized the simplicity and the universality of the TESP program as a tool of criminal rehabilitation.

"This whole concept of helping people enhance their stress-coping skills is without a doubt the missing link of criminal rehabilitation. Now I'm not going to "over-promise" it. I never have. This isn't going to be able to get rid of all crime. But, you betcha, you guys are going to find a huge chunk of your probationers that hadn't been making it before start making it because you sent them to something that enables them to normalize their stress-coping skills. I have been staking my career on that for 10 years.

You know, I've been telling reporters, left and right, 'you show me something out there that's anywhere near as effective! You disprove me if you dare!' You know, nobody has even come close. I said 'I can tell you right now I haven't had but three guys in 10 years who went through this program and failed to complete their probation. Go ask the other judges who are using the TESP program. They will tell you the same thing. So, in my view, you guys are embarking on something very very secure, something that has been studied a whole lot better.

So, I guess that's the sum and substance as to why I, as a judge, initiated this program: the recognition of the fact that the vast majority of criminal offenders are people who need to be able to normalize their stress-coping skills and the knowledge that the TSM program will enable them to do just that. I also think it is a solution to the huge amount of domestic violence that occurs in our country."

Prediction by Judge Mason on TESP

Continuing his address to federal Probation Officers in November, Judge Mason closed his brilliant talk with this prediction: "My prediction for the next 10 years is that you guys will use it. You will see results like all the other POs have seen. Once you start seeing these results, you'll write up the reports that you guys are required to write up and somebody above you will scrutinize them and question you about this program. Eventually, it will get to the point that the policy-makers "green-light" it.

Once it is "green-lighted" it's going to become a standard part of how we do criminal rehabilitation and it's going to spread to the prison system. If we still have crime in this country to a certain degree, then it will drop significantly. This is a prediction that I make, not because I am clairvoyant or I had a dream, I am just a logical person. Seeing what we have done, I have looked at the scientific studies. Every time I've told a Probation and Parole Officer or a judge to just go ahead and take a shot at it, I think you're going to see the same results they've all seen in every case, bar none! And you guys are going to see it in your offenders!"

TESP graduates collectively thank Hon. Judge David C. Mason with a bronze plaque

Have you ever heard of an offender or a group of offenders actually thanking their judge for the "punishment" he has given to them? Well, this is precisely what happened recently with a group of TESP offenders. The last group of probationers, upon completing their course with TESP, collectively thanked Judge Mason and presented him with a beautiful bronze plaque which now adorns the wall in Judge Mason's chambers. The plaque bears the following words of appreciation:

"Presented to Hon. Judge David C. Mason, 22nd Judicial Court of Missouri, in recognition of your distinguished service, loyalty and
devotion to the ideals of The Enlightened Sentencing Project."

Below these words are the names of all the probationers who arranged and presented this thoughtful gift to Judge Mason. We are very proud that our graduates honored Judge Mason in this way.

Good news from Ohio - a young offender gets a stay in sentencing for two weeks while the presiding judge reviews the TESP materials

Earlier this week a TM teacher from Ohio, intervened on behalf of a
young offender, offering the TESP program as a last recourse to a judge. The boy, had several previous brushes with the law. The judge was at his wit's end with the offender and wondered aloud what more he should do with the boy. He was about to sentence him. The TM teacher pleaded with the judge to please review the TESP materials and to give the offender a chance (the TM teacher is not a lawyer and the boy had no legal representation whatsoever).

The judge was very skeptical at first. He looked at the name "The Enlightened Sentencing Project" and commented that people come with all types of requests for sentencing to be "enlightened", and found the name TESP to be a good one! He started reviewing the detailed brief prepared by the TM teacher from the TESP website and changed his mind about sentencing the offender after reading the endorsements from the judges and Senator Days! He gave a stay of 2 weeks to properly review our materials!! In the meantime, the offender is free, and is going to be instructed in TM and follow the
program outlined by the TESP on our website. The offender's family will also donate to TESP to sponsor one or two probationers, in gratitude for their son's freedom!

We are happy that the TESP is able to be a useful resource for any offender in need.

We continue to keep the TESP doors open for everyone, but this is only made possible because of your support. We wanted to let you know that people like the young offender above, actually gain their
freedom with the TESP program. In a concrete way, our donors make many families happy by sponsoring an enlightened rehabilitation program.

The TESP program - a powerful tool to fight addictions; quotes from recovered addicts/graduates of TESP

The best news we have to give you is the amazing success stories we continue to have with the TESP clients who come to us. Not only is the program a holistic program improving all aspects of the life of the offender, but as the following excerpts from some of the essays show, it helps the offender to fight addictions and stay away from alcohol and drugs. Since most crimes are in some way related to offenders taking drugs and alcohol the TSM program is a boon for not only the offender, but for the community as a whole. Here is what our current batch of TESP graduates have to say:

Kevin M., 19-year old male: "TSM has helped my life in several aspects. Before I started the program, I used to take codeine on a daily basis. Then I started to realize that I could use TSM instead of codeine. I believe this could be a drug treatment program as well as a stress treatment program. I have been to drug rehab programs. None of them helped me. I was in the "New Beginnings" program for 14-17 year olds. I got nothing out of it. But I then came to TESP and I could use meditation instead of drugs. I think the judges should be using this program for drug rehabilitation."

M.B., 25-year old male:
"I feel the effects from the meditation...My drug use of marijuana has stopped."

Edward J., 45-years old:
"I come from a very bad environment. It's very stressful to grow up under these circumstances. So the first way I seen (sic) out, I took it. With me it was drugs. Drugs gave me a false sense of confidence. Since starting TSM classes, I have stopped using drugs. It was an effortless thing for me to do."

Charles B., 26 years old:
"I have been in a lot of drug programs but this class has helped me more than any of them programs! Meditation has helped me quit doing drugs [cocaine]. It helped me think more clearly. I choose the
right thing to do instead of making bad choices. When I think about buying or doing drugs, I just close my eyes and begin to meditate. Then the thought is gone and I can go do something else with the
money I was going to spend on drugs.

Hollis W., 30 years old:
"I was using marijuana heavily, which was causing me problems with my Probation Officer. When I got into meditation, I found no need for the use of drugs anymore. I also found a job that I enjoy and I have been clean and working ever since."

K.G., 19-year old female:
"I used to smoke like a pack of Newports for like three years. But since I started meditating I quit "cold turkey"! I told myself that cigarettes wasn't me it was a waste of money and not even worth it. I find myself growing up, thanks to TESP."

Related Link: http://enlightenedsentencing.org
author by Michelle Clarke - Social Inclusion Justice and Ethicspublication date Thu Dec 14, 2006 22:09author address author phone Report this post to the editors



The replies. I need to print out and study the varied content. So when I do i will write back.

Nole 'Enlightened Sentencing' last posting......Sounds interesting.

Likewise it is worth looking at the Norwegian approach to prison.

Quotations
A little psychology may not go amiss
Fr. John Powell - Why am I afraid to tell you who I am? ........

Some points to ponder on

'To reveal myself openly and honestly takes the rawest kind of courage.....'

Emotions........'Remember Emotions are not moral (good or bad).......Feeling frustrated, being annoyed, or experiencing fears and anger DO NOT Make us a good or bad person'

Is this the balance applied to emotions in our daily lives?......No....Enter being ashamed of our fears (this includes our mental health or the denial we engage in regarding family or firends). Then we can find ourselves guilty of being angry or those emotional physical desires.

Learning is needed to achieve that 'Gut Level' communication.......

Michelle

author by Jack Russell - Social Inclusion and Justicepublication date Mon Dec 18, 2006 20:50author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Jack Russell here.

I have specialities my friend but they are not in Law Reform and I don't know about a pending Surpreme Court case.

My specialities are of a far more practical kind........those of scent and smell.......

It has just dawned on me as I have a Rowntree Foundation Report read out to me about Communities and Drug Dealing in the UK, why I have not been allowed to accompany my owner into certain pubs in the D4 areas - they use the excuse of food and hygiene......

It is far more sinister than that I suggest.......they think I could be an awkward inconvenience if somebody just happened to be dealing illegal substances and I don't mean alcohol......!!!!!

Quotation

Helen Kelleher (A person who persevered with disabilities)
''Although the world is full of suffering, it is also full of overcoming suffering'

P.S. The Nobel Prize was won either this year or last year. The research involved the power of scent and human memory......

To all those out there around Baggot Street, Beware of lurking Jack Russells with a sense of smell...........Santa

author by Liberatedpublication date Wed Dec 20, 2006 03:10author address author phone Report this post to the editors

All of the above points have merit in their own way. personally, I lived in north dublin for nine years and for the last five lived under a reign of terror and intimidation for me and my family. I am not a non national and integrated well at first. As the years passed, the deterioration of the estate became more obvious. Shots fired into the house opposite. Guns stashed behind hedges, Kids throwing everything at windows. Having to walk to work, as my cars had been all stolen or burnt out (6 in all over 4 years.). this is dublin and you can have it. we moved deep into the south of the country. and now have peace. and also a new shotgun. just in case.

author by Michelle Clarke - Social Justice and inclusionpublication date Thu Dec 21, 2006 17:36author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Thank you for sharing your experiences of living in a housing estate and the impact of Gun mentality on all people.

I am relieved that you had the opportunity to move to different pastures and you are free from such turmoil.

Everybody deserves this.........the question is how to go forward and deal wiith this violent crime clicque......and drug dealers and those people who make the choice to buy illicit drugs.....be they from rich or poor backgrounds. People need to be more discerning and not acceptable a culture of illegal drugs at every level........It should be embedded in the word shame.

Michelle
Quotation
Daniel Levinson - The Season's of Man's Life
'Mentoring is best understood as a form of love relationship'

author by Jack Russell - Social Justice and Ethicspublication date Wed Dec 27, 2006 16:32author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Christmas is over........but the gun had its say and more gangland have been shot dead at random. These people have parents; siblings; friends; even children.....all hurt and pain is theirs.

2007. We need to deal with the Drug dealers, drugs, social impact on our young people who become addicted.

This Christmas there was one to many sitting begging on our streets......We all have a part to play surely.

People in Fatima and other savagely affected areas in the recession torn 1860's had to take to the streets......it worked in the absence of support from no-one else. This will have to happen again..... Drug addiction at that time was one source of death but so was HIV/Aids....

Again I raise the issue in the light of watching the film on Orla Guerin and Gangland last night, about the Criminal Assets Bureau. This is a decade now inbued with powers provided to the CAB to take funds i.e. freeze them, investigate them etc to substantiate criminal charges.

I cannot locate how much has been collected related to drugs hauls by the Criminal Assets Bureau and if so what proportion goes back into the drug problem that no exists:-

Interestingly in the newpaper today, there was an article about a Forensic Accountant whose job is work for the client on the other side of the CAB and ensure that the inquiry can reduce substantially non justificable actions and costs........These people act as negotiators for the person sourced by the CAB and help him to deal in a more efficient way with the CAB strategy of investigation.........The comparison is tax paid with the Forensic Accountant's professionalsm and experitise sure is a point of intereset for all people to lend to Transaparency Accountability and Ethics in Ireland.

Where are we going?

Jack (I say there ought to be more sniffer dogs around particularly in places where people gather and use even pubs......)

Who wants people living in certain areas in the city to be afraid to leave their homes to go visit or even visit a pub.......

Quotation
St. Francis of Assisi
'Start by doing what is necessary; then what is possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible.

Good Place to start in 2007

author by Jack Russell - Social Justice and Ethicspublication date Sun Dec 31, 2006 22:28author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Two books by Professor Kearns on Dublin Oral History

Tenement Living

and Dublin's Heroines.

He records a history that is near but so far away in the now Celtic Tiger cum pussycat.

Years ago, I remember hearing about gangs that frequented certain streets in the Liberties, the Monto the North City. They referred to as the Animal Gangs........Fear pervaded.....

Anybody know about prison culture that is say intragenerational.

Jack Russell

Quotation
'Its a poor kind of memory which only works backwards,,,'
Lewiss Carroll British Mathematician and author of Alice in Wonderland

But let us not forget this other quotation
George Santayana
'Those who forget history are condemned to repeat it'

author by Jacqueline Fallonpublication date Mon Jan 01, 2007 00:27author address author phone Report this post to the editors

In my opinion, if the illegal drugs were legalised that would put a major dent in the financial reserves of those who have established and are still making a financially rewarding career buying cheaply illegal drugs abroad and selling them on here. Of course, this won't happen, because it is not the politically correct thing to do, but it is what I would do.

This afternoon when I was going to the local shop, I was approached by an out-of-his-mind young teenager and asked if I had any gear? I thought he was joking at first, until I saw his eyes and unhealthy appearance (which makes me worry about my own appearance - I was suffering from a hangover!) and I thought it very sad that on this New Years Eve, this young lad was so desperate and dependent on a drug that he'd ask just about anyone on the street! I can't for the life of me understand why anyone would pump this illegal drug-shite into their body, and fuck-up their brain, but the fact is, there are plenty of customers to be had, and while there are customers to eat shite, there will be those to sell the shite and others higher up the drug chain, who wouldn't touch the shite, to exploit and live off them.

With regard to the statement that there might be too much attention being paid to road safety? I believe road safety should be a priority, as the death toll on our roads is appalling for such a small island, with speed and young men being a deadly cocktail (young men with guns being another one); speaking of cocktails, another contributory factor is, and it's peculiar to Ireland, is the emphasis placed on drinking excessively in order to have a good time. I lived abroad for awhile and noticed that people don't drink to the excess that we do here.

author by Michelle Clarke - Social Justice and Ethicspublication date Tue Jan 02, 2007 17:47author address author phone Report this post to the editors

A form of empathy grabs hold of you when you see the 'vacancy', the pain, the addiction in a near demented starved human being' but somehow we miss the meaning of 'empathy' through a fear that our Society fails to acknwoledge.

Quotation: Nietzche - Philosopher 1800's.......
'He who knows why can deal with any how'....

Nietzche committed suicide and people are still seeking reasons. Fear alas is the driver to these absurdities.

Happy 2007

author by Michelle Clarke - Social Justice and Ethicspublication date Tue Nov 11, 2008 18:09author address author phone Report this post to the editors

Shane Geohegan, Rugby Player, a Young man Shot dead ...... Limerick at the weekend. An innocent man.

Everyone is speaking forward with a view but it is the same old drole, no englightenment as you will gather if you take time to review the postings on Violence 2006.

It appears to be the media can role out the news adding the necessary emotions according to some recorded message in their verbal stream and it becomes repetitive until if we are truthful we pay no more heed to listening to the news.

Gangland is here for years. We ought to have had our Academics in the leading universities providing real research and some reasoned motivational guidance to our Gardai, at all levels. The information ought to be available at school level and people ought to be encouraged to use the web and email. Provision can be made for say libraries or pubs. Knowledge is no load but it appears to be out of vogue in Ireland.

There have to be trends.....I know people in my area thought my partner was one of those realeased from prison recently. We need to communicate, we need to understand and we need to look at the reasons why people engage in gangland crime, when did they show the potential for a greed that stimulates the motive of desire to kill.

Legalise drugs: Jacquline Fall makes some interesting points. L:ast week's Joe Duffy show focused on the legalised drugs shops .......The Gardai investigators went out to inspect.....but unlike the Yacht off Cork and the 600,000 million cocaine find, thery found that products being sold in these shops around the country did not break the rules.

To the man who wrote in about living in a Gangland area and this is a few years ago, please note what has really changed and go further what has really changed from the 1980's in places like Sean McDermott Street......The dissension and death of young people eventually pushed the people living in these areas to take matters into their own hands. Our Society has no right to push this responsibility onto Mothers, Grandmothers, their children the men.......We have just achieved Peace the Unity of Ireland (a lot of thanks to Mr. Ahern albeit we are now making a mockery of his abilities - we could at least wait for the Mahon Tribunal report.

What can be done:

Given the inadequacy of our mental system, our unacceptable homeless situation.... maybe for a decade we could legalise drugs and charge a tax. We could encourage grow your own.......Enough to just to stop this epidemic for drugs. The impact is with vulnerable people......but vulnerable people can be young old or middle aged.

Ray Murphy provides another form of research......

Car dealers are mentioned a lot. This makes sense because a hit would mean practice and exchange of vehicles.

You speak of the small core being brought to Justice. It infers a roundup and if it was 1916 just exterminate.

The problem merits more psychology at every level (given the down turn in Church attendence). People need to take responsibility. I live in Dublin 4, it is often apparent that deal is going on ....... We see it and therefore we can be more responsible..... if there are responsible areas we can communicate with via email also.

I hope someone else adds to this.

Murder is wrong but then so is neglect is a society and there is a need to know the reason why to help us understand.

Remember do we want a Poltics of Fear. Do we want to be afraid to Hope. This is a society problem.

Michelle

Related Link: http://www.discipline
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