Jobstown Acquittals, Jury Trials Under Strain Cont

Jobstown acquittals, jury
trials under strain

Social media was used to criticise and impugn the motives
of witnesses
June 30, 17
Paul Murphy TD outside court following the vertdict in the Jobstown trial.
Photograph: David Dunne
The acquittal of six men accused of falsely imprisoning
Joan Burton and her assistant brings to an end one of
the most surreal legal spectacles of recent years. Surreal
not because the trial took place. That decision was taken
by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, a
scrupulously independent and respected institution, and
the claim by supporters of the defendants that the
charges were a politically-motivated attempt to stifle
protest should be treated with the derision it deserves.
What made the trial surreal, not to say disturbing, was
how so many of the conventions that have developed
around jury trials were flagrantly ignored.
These ground rules are there for a reason:
to ensure the integrity of the jury trial, a
centrepiece of our justice system
Public commentary on ongoing trials is heavily
circumscribed. The media reports only what the jury can
see and hear. Until a trial concludes, a veil is drawn over
legal argument that takes place in the jurors absence,
and care is taken not to comment in a way that would
influence the jury. These ground rules are there for a
reason: to ensure the integrity of the jury trial, a
centrepiece of our justice system. Those who breach
them can find themselves in contempt of court.
Jobstown trial a sledgehammer to crack this particular nut
Jobstown protest: What happened on the day
DPP warned TD about his tweets during Jobstown trial
Activists systematically used social media
to criticise and impugn the motives of
those who gave evidence
In the so-called Jobstown trial, in which Solidarity TD
Paul Murphy and five others were found not guilty of
charges arising from an incident in Tallaght in 2014, the
normal rules apparently no longer applied. Campaigners
produced partisan running commentary on the trial.
Activists systematically used social media to criticise and
impugn the motives of those who gave evidence.
Advances in technology have long put strain on the jury
trial. We were always asking a lot of jurors by expecting
that they cloister themselves away for the duration of
their service. In the age of Google, Facebook and Twitter,
when everyone is a publisher and information is more
accessible than ever, that expectation has become
increasingly untenable. But the Jobstown trial
highlighted the challenge more sharply.
By harnessing social media on such a scale,

systematically chipping away at one of the pillars of our
jury system, those campaigners have done themselves
and their cause a great disservice.
The IT's 'unbiased' view of the Jobstown trial (and msm complain about fake news), excerpt:
"The acquittal of six men accused of falsely imprisoning Joan Burton and her assistant brings
to an end one of the most surreal legal spectacles of recent years. Surreal not because the
trial took place. That decision was taken by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions,
a scrupulously independent and respected institution, and the claim by supporters of the
defendants that the charges were a politically-motivated attempt to stifle protest should be
treated with the derision it deserves."
Shocking article from the IT.
https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/editorial/jobstown-acquittals-jury-trials-under-strain-
1.3138118
The dpp Liz Howlin is very close friends with the times editor, they are neighbours in Blackrock, the times is
the only media allowed to the dpp
SS Fascist Capitalist DPP Serous Need For Change And Countability
Look everyone: these people are but the tip of a very large pyramid of corruption that stinks to high Heaven
and this same Pyramid is in existence since the foundation of this State. Believe me, there is nothing new
regarding jobbery and corruption in the highest places in Ireland: in fact, the higher up one goes, the more
offensive the stench of corruption.
The Jobstown trial and the

social (media) justice
warriors
Its against the law, but we felt there is a political nature to
this trial so wed do it anyway
about 9 hours ago
Colm Keena
A video was introduced by Solidarity reporter Dave Murphy.

At 8.38am on Friday, April 28th last, Solidarity TD Paul
Murphy shared a link to a video on Facebook.

WARNING from April 2017
In light of recent events this must Never happen!
Garda want ban on people

photographing and recording them
on duty
AGSI conference kicks off
Calls for ban on photographing and recording garda on duty
Motion for training on dealing with media during duty
Three out of five farmers accuse Government of under-investing in
rural policing
Public opinion split on whether sufficient money is set aside for
policing of nation's roads
Antoinette Cunningham, of the Association of Garda Sergeant

Whisteblowers & Jobstown have highlighted the NEED for Video Evidence
Tom Brady and Cathal McMahon
April 10 2017

AGSI members will call for it to be made illegal to photograph or video a garda
member in the course of their duty without that member's consent and then
post this image on any media.
The issue has been raised in the past regarding the policing of water protests
and other demonstrations.
Images videos of garda have been posted to social media, identifying those
members. The motion has been proposed by garda in West Dubin and is set
to be discussed at the annual AGSI conference.
The 39th AGSI Annual Delegate Conference begins in Killarney this

afternoon. In a break with tradition Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald will
not be attending.
A spokesman said: "The Tanaiste very much regrets that, because the pressure
of Dail business this week relating, in particular, to Garda matters, she will not
be in a postion to attend the AGSI conference, which she had very much
hoped to attend."
Speaking to RTE Radio One's Morning Ireland, Association president

Antoinette Cunningham said members of the AGSI have found photos or
video of themselves "placed on some social media sites".
"Their private domestic lives, home addresses and members of family have
been referred to in a way not connected to the duty of which that member was
carrying out.
"There is a risk attached to that. They want to fully protect their private life
doing their duty. They feel it is justifiable.
"It can bring significant risk and stress," she added.
Separately delegates from Sligo/Leitrim are calling for the Justice Minister to
introduce legislation making it obligatory for all pedestrians and cyclists to be
forced to wear hi-visibility clothing.
AGSI members from Dublin's south inner city say that while they do not want
pedestrians to be forced to wear hi-vis clothing they do think bicycle helmets
should become obligatory for cyclists.

Another motion that may cause debate is one introduced by members for
Laois/Offaly. Sergeants and Inspectors from that division are calling on the
Garda Commissioner to "provide suitable training" to "assist the member" in
their dealings with local and national media in the course of their duty.
Meanwhile, three out of five farmers have accused the Government of under-
investing in rural policing, according to a poll.
But public opinion is split on whether sufficient money is being set aside for
policing of the nation's roads.
The survey was carried out among a sample of a thousand people by Red C on
behalf of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI).
The results of the poll will be officially announced this evening in Killarney at
the opening of the association's annual conference.
According to the association, 55pc of those surveyed believe the Garda should
have the right to strike, while there was 81pc support for allowing garda to
negotiate their own pay and conditions.
The survey was carried out between March 20 and 23, before the latest
controversies erupted over false breath test figures and wrongful prosecutions
in court for road traffic offences.
The results of the survey show that 77pc took the view that the planned
withdrawal of labour last November had either a positive impact or no impact
at all on public opinion of the force.
Association president Antoinette Cunningham said this finding was

encouraging.
"Association members are very cognisant of, and value, the views of the
citizens of this State," Ms Cunningham said.
"We felt we had anecdotal evidence of how the public felt towards us, but we
wanted to get independent and expert research undertaken to establish the
facts."

http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/garda-want-ban-on-people-
photographing-and-recording-them-on-duty-35609002.html
Widespread abuse' of
Garda phone powers,
claims whistleblower
Mr Justice Peter Charleton.
Niall O'Connor
June 30 2017
A second Garda whistleblower has made serious allegations of widespread
abuse by Garda intelligence of the powers surrounding the accessing of phone
records, the Irish Independent can reveal.
The officer has claimed that tens of thousands of phone records were
"unlawfully obtained" and that over a period of years retired garda routinely
accessed people's records without proper authorisation.
According to correspondence seen by this newspaper, the whistleblower

claims that she repeatedly raised her concerns about the processes
surrounding the accessing of phone records but was ignored.
The whistleblower was attached to a highly sensitive section known as the

Telephone Liaison Unit (TLU).
The TLU is tasked with approving applications for phone calls and text
messages to be traced as part of Garda investigations.
There are allegations:
That tens of thousands of phone records have been "unlawfully obtained" over
a period of years.
A serving garda was arrested based on false information being submitted as

part of an application.
Retired members of the force would routinely obtain phone records without
authorisation.
Widespread concern was raised as to why clerical officers and clerks were
submitting applications in the name of superintendents.
For years, there was no written procedure in place despite the sensitivity of
the work carried out by the TLU.
The whistleblower is a serving middle ranking officer who is currently on
suspension from the force for unrelated matters.
The officer in question has now written to the Garda Ombudsman and the
Charleton Tribunal seeking that her allegations of her unlawful phone traces
are investigated.
The officer also told Judge Peter Charleton that repeated confidential reports
were sent to the force's Confidential Recipient but were ignored.
The whistleblower has also come out in support of a retired officer who said he
was put under major pressure to routinely bypass strict protocols to listen in
on private conversations for almost a decade.
Court documents reveal how the first officer, who was based in the monitoring
section in Garda Headquarters, was "bullied" and "vilified" after repeatedly
raising his concerns that some of the practice was illegal.
In February, he agreed an out-of-court settlement with An Garda Sochna

and the Justice Minister.
A Garda spokesman last night said the allegations will be examined by a

sitting judge.
"The original allegations referred to have been referred to the designated

judge under the relevant legislation and who is independent in her functions
in this regard. The outcome of that process is awaited," the spokesman said.
"An Garda Sochna is committed to co-operating fully with the Disclosures

Tribunal. It would appear matters you make reference to are before both the
Tribunal and GSOC and on that basis we would not be in a position to
comment further at this time."
http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/widespread-abuse-of-garda-phone-
powers-claims-whistleblower-35880363.html
On June 29th 2017, the verdict was delivered in the Jobstown
Trial: Not Guilty.
Much has been written about the case, and a key element has
been the role of social media.
On Twitter, over the past year, over 89,000 tweets have been
published featuring the official campaign hashtag:
#JobstownNotGuilty.Hhttp://olytico.com/jobstownnotguilty-
analysis-89000-tweets/
On June 29th 2017, the verdict was delivered in the Jobstown

Trial: Not Guilty.
Much has been written about the case, and a key element has
been the role of social media.
On Twitter, over the past year, over 89,000 tweets have been
published featuring the official campaign hashtag:
#JobstownNotGuilty.
At Olytico, we have analysed this data in an effort to answer
some key questions:
Was this a lot of tweets from a very

small number of accounts?
There were over 7,700 unique accounts that used the
#JobstownNotGuilty hashtag in the last year giving an
average of 11 tweets per account.
What were the key dates?
Across the last 12 months, there were four days on which
#JobstownNotGuilty tweets spiked significantly: the first two
relate to the trial of a 17 year old and the second two relate to
the start and end of the trial of six others.
#JobstownNotGuilty Key Daily Spikes in
Volume of Tweets
0
1,000
2,000
3,000
4,000
5,000
6,000
7,000
8,000
9,000
10,000
11,000
12,000
13,000
Aug 16
Oct 16
Dec 16
Feb 17
Apr 17
Jun 17
Joan Burton testifies at trial of 17 year old
Verdict announced in trial of 17 year old
First day of trial
Verdict announced
Jan 171
Jan 171
An excellent video by the people of jobs town, proud to support you all last week as I grew up in Tallaght.what
you all did to show our democratic right to protest is supported by a large swathe of the population. By
ignoring the will of the people on water charges this week they have just hastened their own demise as a
mass movement is about to end civil war politics.
Shocking. 19 people on trial for potential lengthy sentences for peaceful protests. 2 & 1/2 hour delay for Joan
= months/years in prison for the people who upset her schedule!
https://www.facebook.com/4108422
95955573/videos/410878139285322/
What did people talk about?
This word cloud represents the Top 100 words used in the
89,000 tweets analysed.
What did people share? What were

the most popular links in tweets?
The two most shared links were both videos:
A documentary on Facebook (Jobstown A Protest on Trial)
Who were the most influential
accounts?
The answer depends on how you define influence. For the
purpose of this analysis, Olytico has looked at two factors:
volume of tweets sent, and the follower number of the
accounts.
Volume of tweets sent:
Two accounts sent more than 1,000 #JobstownNotGuilty
tweets during the time period: AndreaMurray67 (1,789)
and IzzyKamikaze (1,145).
While these were the most active accounts in terms of tweets
sent, they were not alone over 160 accounts sent more than
100 tweets each.
Impressions generated:
A number of accounts combined high follower numbers with
high frequency tweeting to generate the highest levels of
impressions:
Paul Murphy TD: 828 tweets sent to 14,400 followers,
generating potential impression of 14.4 million.
Joe Higgins: 170 tweets sent to 20,700 followers, generating
potential impressions of 3.5 million.
Is their any other measure of

influence? Celebrities or the
media?
89 of the accounts who used the #JobstownNotGuilty hashtag
were verified (you can check out Twitters definition of a
verified account here).
These included:
Media outlets
Follow
Newstalk Drive
@NewstalkDrive
Coming up on @NewstalkFM: #JobstownNotGuilty verdict;
@paulmurphy_TD speaks to us and @bridsmith on
abortion rights
4:33 PM - 29 Jun 2017
5 5 Retweets2 2 likes
Twitter Ads info and privacy
National politicians
Follow
Cllr. Enda Fanning
@EFFanning
As the #JobstownNotGuilty verdicts sink in please
remember a few years ago, without any Smartphones,
they would all be in prison tonight.
9:48 PM - 29 Jun 2017
Sports stars
View image on Twitter
Follow
Paddy Holohan
@PaddyHolohanMMA
Stand behind these guys Everyone has the right
to protest @Jobienotguilty #jobstownnotguilty #RT
12:16 AM - 30 Mar 2017
Musicians
Follow
JamesVincentMcMorrow
@jamesvmcmorrow
how much did this trial cost Ireland? what a shit show.
Spend our money on the helpless, not on vindictive
nonsense #JobstownNotGuilty
2:32 PM - 29 Jun 2017 Dublin City, Ireland
Comedians
Follow
Rubber Bandits
@Rubberbandits
#JobstownNotGuilty it's official. Now piss off Labour.
You've dissapointed Connolly and Larkin. Sort yere shit
out
12:38 PM - 29 Jun 2017
527 527 Retweets1,341 1,341 likes
and International political figures
Follow
Yanis Varoufakis
@yanisvaroufakis
A documentary on the #JobstownNotGuilty defendants is
now available here. Plus a primer into what the stakes are:
https://
tinyurl.com/m46hwl9
5:54 AM - 14 Apr 2017

What does this mean for social

media use in future trials?
As Colm Kenna reported in the Irish Times, the judge regularly
warned the jury not to be reading about the case in
newspapers or online. Traditional media have covered court
cases for centuries. But there have always been gate keepers
editors, journalist, publishers who ultimately decided what
was covered and which voices were heard. Social media
removes these barriers, as was evidenced with the
#JobstownNotGuilty campaign. While our analysis focused on
Twitter, the conversations and content featured on Facebook,
YouTube and countless other social media platforms. These
networks arent replacing traditional media but theyre giving
campaigners alternative options to have their voices heard.
For further information, email info@olytico.com

http://olytico.com/jobstownnotguilty-analysis-89000-tweets-across-365-days/

Jobstown: Six cleared

after lengthy trial that
cost the taxpayer 2.5m
Defendants in the Jobstown trial Paul Murphy TD (left) and Cllr

Michael Murphy celebrate as they leave the Dublin Circuit Criminal
Court after they were all found not guilty.

Andrew Phelan and Isabel Hayes
June 30 2017
There were scenes of jubilation in Dublin Circuit Criminal
Court as Paul Murphy TD and five co-accused in the
Jobstown trial were found not guilty.
Cheers and applause rose up from gathered supporters as
the six were cleared of falsely imprisoning former Tnaiste
Joan Burton and her adviser at an anti-water charges
protest.
Each defendant stood in turn to hear identical unanimous
verdicts read out by the court registrar and confirmed by
the forewoman of the jury.
Finally, after a 40-day trial, Judge Melanie Greally told
them: "You have been found not guilty. You are free to go."
Afterwards, Mr Murphy said millions of euro had been
spent in an attempt to criminalise sit-down protests.
According to legal sources, the marathon trial has cost the
State up to 2.5m.
Mr Murphy (34), a Solidarity TD, along with South Dublin
councillors Michael Murphy (53) and Kieran Mahon (39)
as well as three other men - Michael Banks (46), Frank
Donaghy (71) and Scott Masterson (34) - had all denied
falsely imprisoning Ms Burton and her adviser Karen
O'Connell.
The prosecution had maintained the women were trapped
inside two Garda vehicles for around three hours as they
tried to leave Fortunestown Road, Jobstown in Tallaght,
following an adult education graduation ceremony on
November 15, 2014.
The jury of seven men and four women had deliberated for
three hours and 10 minutes when they returned with
verdicts on all counts, shortly after noon yesterday. The
court registrar asked the forewoman if the jury had
reached verdicts.
"We have," she replied. "You say that the accused, Paul
Murphy is not guilty on Count 1," the registrar said.
The packed court then erupted in cheers. Mr Murphy, and
each co-accused, smiled as the verdicts were handed
down.
Michael Murphy and Scott Masterson both gave a thumbs
up before sitting back down in the dock. Judge Greally
thanked the jury members for their "exemplary" work and
exempted them from further service for life.
Supporters in the public gallery clapped, hugged, sobbed
and chanted "no way, we won't pay" before they, and the
six accused filed out of the courtroom.
The trial, which started on April 26, heard the two women
were attending a graduation ceremony at An Cosn further
education centre in Jobstown when anti-water charge
demonstrations broke out. The jury heard they were first
detained in an unmarked Garda Avensis, then a jeep as
they tried to leave.
During the protest, eggs, bottles and other items were
pelted at the Avensis and the windscreen was "shattered".
Garda formed "a human cordon" and Ms Burton and Ms
O'Connell were guided toward the jeep, which was also
surrounded.
Ms Burton said she felt like she was running for her life as
they eventually ran to waiting cars. "He looked pretty
happy with himself, I have to say," she said of Mr Murphy
during the protest. "He was smiling very broadly. He was
the man with the megaphone."
The prosecution alleged the accused men engaged in a
joint enterprise to "trap" the women and totally restrain
their personal liberty.
Although the State accepted the defendants did not engage
in any acts of violence, it was alleged the protest was not
peaceful.
However, defence lawyers argued there was never any
false imprisonment and that the defendants were
exercising their constitutional right to peaceful assembly
and freedom of expression, and the obstruction of the cars
amounted to no more than "inconvenience, delay and
nuisance".
Paul Murphy said outside the court the trial had been an
attempt to try "to criminalise the anti-water charges
movement, to try to criminalise Jobstown".
"We estimate that millions of euro have already been spent
in... an attempt to criminalise sit-down protests," he said.
He thanked the jury and his supporters for their
involvement in the campaign and "trying to defend the
right to protest".
"The attempt by the establishment to make an example of
us through a conviction in order then to introduce a
generalised chilling effect among all activists and working
class people in general when it comes to effective protest
has fallen flat on its face," Kieran Mahon said.
http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/jobstown-six-cleared-after-
lengthy-trial-that-cost-the-taxpayer-25m-35880350.html
Fitzgerald denies that

Government had any
'political agenda' in the
trial
Tnaiste Frances Fitzgerald.
John Downing
June 30 2017

Tnaiste Frances Fitzgerald has rejected as "quite simply untrue" claims by
Solidarity TD Mick Barry that the Government had "a political agenda" in the
Jobstown trial.
As news came through of the court verdict, Mr Barry congratulated the six
defendants who were all acquitted of the false imprisonment of former Labour
leader and then-Tnaiste Joan Burton and her adviser, Karen O'Connell,
during anti-water charges protests in Tallaght in November 2014.
Mr Barry, a TD for Cork North-Central, said the verdict was "a stunning defeat
for the political establishment".
He said the political elite wanted "to create a powerful chill factor" to stop
protests, as he warmly praised his party colleagues.
Mr Barry went on to describe Ms Burton as the "star witness for the State". He
also castigated the Labour Party, claiming it had engaged in "a shabby attempt
to frame socialists for standing up for their communities".
The Solidarity TD called upon Ms Fitzgerald, who was replying to Dil

questions for the Government, to explain the role of An Garda Sochna in the
case. He alleged that it was based on 180 statements by garda, many of whom
were senior officers, which the jury rejected.
Mr Barry also told the Dil more than 10m was to be spent on trying to prove
that the Jobstown group was guilty. "Let's save money here. Let's be prudent.
Let's drop all remaining charges," he said.
Fine Gael TD Bernard Durkan intervened to say "the House cannot instruct
the courts".
The Ceann Comhairle Sen Fearghal supported this view, saying "there's
nobody instructing anyone here".
Ms Fitzgerald insisted it was not the practice of parliament, and the Dil
should not rerun the evidence. "We respect the court decision of course. This
was a jury trial. The jury makes it decision and justice takes it course," she
said.
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The Tnaiste added that an appeal could not be ruled out so it was not
appropriate for the Government to make comments on the case at this point.
Mr Barry alleged that the Government used the Jobstown case in an "attempt
to gain revenge against those of us on the left who have defeated you on the
issue of water charges".
"The left is on the front foot now," Mr Barry told the Dil.
The Labour Party said the investigation and prosecution of any criminal
matter was decided by An Garda Sochna and the law officers of the State
who operate independently
http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/fitzgerald-denies-that-
government-had-any-political-agenda-in-the-trial-35880325.html
it was a political agenda and gardai who lied should be brought to account. minister burton
was free to move from garda car to garda car so was never actually stopped from moving
about . the gardai present were totally incompetent and gave in to their own ineptitude. no
gardai were physically assaulted to any extent and they could have cleared a peaceful
demonstration earlier by keeping burton under lock and key until crowd dispersed.
the govt have tried to use this case as traction to put fear into the people but it failed . watch
out for refuse protests now , another cosy cartel that expect the punters to pay for govt failure
to stop the incinerator ( which is totally unviable ) going ahead .
we are paying upwards of 15% of paye income to shore up inefficient water , electric
windmill companies , bord gais etc .
is there anyone outside the jobstown crew fighting for joe public as regulators / govt
parties of fianna fail and finegael ( real coalition) are grossly inept or in corporate pockets
Capitalism irish style though was to hand over tax payers monies to private banking /
developer institutions and sell the assets of the country at rock bottom value to vulture funds
... bankers / capitalusts never run out of loosing others people's money.
Water protest case: Action ill-advised

Hindsight is a wonderful thing, especially in politics it might save
many blushes had we the facility to change the past. Ask Theresa
May or Hillary Clinton. Or Joan Burton.
Friday, June 30, 2017
Irish Examiner Editorial
Had those behind the prosecution of six people charged with the
false imprisonment of former Labour Party leader and tnaiste Joan
Burton at an anti-water charges protest in Dublin three years ago
anticipated yesterdays verdict, that prosecution might never have
gone ahead.
It seemed ill-advised and politically motivated from the beginning,
though that charge would inevitably be rejected by Ms Burton and
her team.
Despite that rejection, her credibility has been damaged, as has that
of the garda whose evidence in support of the prosecution was
rejected by the jury.
As the action seemed politically motivated, it is only fair to suggest
that the result the acquital of all six men will inevitably be used
to fuel the political campaign against water charges.
Be that as it may, that deeply divisive project has yet to explain in a
way that makes sense, how we are to pay for the kind of water
supply this country so badly needs.
http://www.irishexaminer.com/viewpoints/ourview/water-protest-case-
action-ill-advised-453712.html
Jobstown trial: Convictions not a shoe in for
terrified Joan Burton
Isabel Hayes
As six men were found not guilty of falsely imprisoning former

tnaiste Joan Burton and her adviser at a water charges protest,
Isabel Hayes looks at how the arguments played out.
Nine weeks after the Jobstown protest trial opened in Dublin Circuit
Criminal Court it took a jury just three hours and 10 minutes to
return unanimous verdicts of not guilty.
Six men, including Solidarity TD Paul Murphy, had been on trial since
April 26, charged with falsely imprisoning the then tnaiste Joan
Burton and her adviser for three hours during a water charges
protest in Jobstown.
Paul Murphy, South Dublin County Councillors Michael Murphy and
Kieran Mahon, Scott Masterson, Frank Donaghy, and Michael Banks,
had all pleaded not guilty to falsely imprisoning Ms Burton and
Karen OConnell by restricting their personal liberty without their
consent at Fortunestown Road, Jobstown, Tallaght on November 15,
2014. The charge comes with a maximum sentence of life
imprisonment.
The charges against a seventh accused, Ken Purcell, were dropped at
the conclusion of the prosecution case after Judge Melanie Greally
ruled that the extension of his garda detention in February 2015 was
unlawful.
During the trial, the prosecution argued the men were plainly
involved in the restriction of liberty of the two women, who were
trapped in Garda cars for three hours after they left a graduation
ceremony at Jobstown.
Follow
jonathan @Earl1995Lfc
Garda helicopter video from the Jobstown protest
9:33 PM - 3 May 2017
The trial heard that when Ms Burton attended the church ceremony
that day, eggs and water balloons where thrown at her. She was
advised by garda to leave in an unmarked Garda car in order to
avoid the crowd.
However, their car was immediately surrounded by protesters,
including the accused men, and they were unable to leave the
church yard.
At one point garda moved in and unsuccessfully tried to remove the
accused men, pulling off Paul Murphys top in the process. Ms Burton
and Ms OConnell remained in that car for about an hour before a
decision was made to move them to a Garda jeep.
The trial was told that a police cordon set up to protect the women
as they made their way to the jeep was immediately broken up by
protesters, many of whom were screaming abuse.
The jeep was also then surrounded and moved inch by inch along
Fortunestown Road over the next two hours before the women ran
to waiting Garda cars and left the area.
The Public Order Unit was called in and several garda described
how they feared for the safety of the tnaiste and their colleagues
during the protest. They said the crowd was abusive and hurling
missiles including sticks and lighters.
The prosecution submitted that by surrounding the cars containing
Ms Burton and Ms OConnell, the six men worked together with a
shared intention to totally restrict their liberty.
Joan Burton and Karen OConnell were trapped, Sean Gillane SC,
prosecuting, told the jury in his closing address last week.
Their liberty was not just restrained, it was totally restrained. Their
liberty was never in truth restored until they were running down that
road coming up to 4 oclock that afternoon.
The jury was told 11 people have yet to stand trial in relation to
alleged violent incidents at the protest that day.
Defence case
Defence counsel argued that it was this fear of violence that led to
the women being kept in the vehicle by garda, not the peaceful acts
carried out by the accused men. Some defence counsel were highly
critical of garda, who they said were unprepared for the protest and
made unwise tactical decisions.
They submitted there was something rotten at the core of this
investigation because evidence given by garda was proved
demonstrably wrong in court by video footage.
Extensive video footage of the protest was repeatedly played
throughout the trial. They came from sources including videos
uploaded by protesters present on the day, RT footage and clips
from the Garda air support unit.
In her closing charge to the jury, Judge Melanie Greally said that on
a number of instances, there was garda testimony describing events
that were not borne out by the footage.
As a result, she said they should regard the video footage from that
day as the primary and most reliable evidence, as it was not subject
to the frailties of human memory.
The defence argued that at worst, their clients were involved in
obstructing a vehicle, or delaying and inconveniencing the women
a legitimate feature of peaceful protest as recognised by the
European courts.
They argued the DPP had a range of charges open to her under the
Public Order Act and that she had not chosen a charge that could be
proved.
The defence asserted the case was politically motivated and that it
was an attempt on the part of the political establishment to assert
itself in the face of the successful campaign against water charges.
Follow
Mick Caul @caulmick

Chant ringing around the CCJ "Jobstown innocent -
Labour Guilty" #JobstownNotGuilty #not1pipe #right2water
2:18 PM - 29 Jun 2017
The vote on Fortunestown Road

A key part of the case was video footage of a vote that Paul Murphy
held on Fortunestown Road over two hours into the protest. During
the clip, which was played several times throughout the trial, Paul
Murphy called on the crowd to vote on whether to march her (Joan
Burton) out of here or keep her here.
Paul Murphy and Michael Murphy voted for Ms Burton to be slow-
marched to the bypass within the next half hour, although Paul
Murphy also told the crowd he didnt care either way and would go
along with what was decided.
The crowd voted to keep the women there, but the jeep ultimately
made it to the bypass within the next half hour and the women left
the area.
The prosecution argued that this vote indicated that Ms Burton and
Ms OConnell were not free to go.
Its crystal clear from the mans own mouth, Mr Gillane said of Paul
Murphy. The suggested option of a slow march is no more than a
suggested alteration or changing the form of confinement selected
by these detainers.
However, the defence was highly critical of a failure on the part of
garda to locate the Fortunestown Rd vote footage, which they
argued showed Paul Murphy was seeking to bring the protest to an
end.
Sean Guerin SC, representing Paul Murphy, said he carried out the
vote on Fortunestown Road at the request of the senior garda at the
scene in an effort to bring it to an end.
Mr Guerin said garda at trial had given inaccurate, incomplete or
misleading accounts of the vote and he expressed astonishment
that a woman who called for Ms Burton to be kept there for the night
was not charged with any offence.
The prosecution also relied on an interview that Paul Murphy gave to
RT later that day in which he said Ms Burton was detained for a
number of hours by us.
Joan Burtons evidence

Ms Burton, who gave evidence over four days, told the trial she was
quite frankly terrified throughout the protest, describing the crowd
surging around her as very, very wild, and enraged.
They were wishing all kinds of stuff on me, illness and death;
shouting and roaring names like c**t and bitch, she said.
Ms Burton became upset as she told the court that her shoe began to
come off as she tried to make her way to the garda jeep while
surrounded by the cordon of garda.
I kept thinking if the crowd got us, where would we run to, and how
would I run without my shoe, she said.
During lengthy cross-examination, Ms Burton denied she was relaxed
while in the car. The court was played some of the 42 videos taken
from her phone that day, including one in which she could be heard
telling Ms OConnell that she should put a message on social media
describing the number of children who were roaming the area.
In another clip, Ms OConnell could be heard saying: This always
happens at the end of protests. The fucking dregs decide not to
finish it.
Ms Burton agreed with defence counsel that this was completely
unacceptable but said they had been in the car for three hours at
that stage and they were stressed out.
Ms OConnell gave evidence that she was petrified, crying and very,
very fearful and that Ms Burton was trying to calm her down and
reassure her.
Argument in the absence of jury
During lengthy submissions in the absence of the jury at the end of
the prosecution case, defence counsel submitted that the case
should not go before the jury for deliberation.
They submitted the charge of false imprisonment could not possibly
apply to their clients, who they said were engaged in a peaceful
protest.
They argued that if the case went to the jury for deliberations, it
would undermine the fundamental right of assembly, as set out in
the Constitution.
Judge Greally was told it would be a travesty to expose the accused
men to the possibility of being convicted of a crime that carries a
maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
Judge Greally denied the application, saying she believed the jury
was capable of deciding whether the prosecution case of false
imprisonment had been met.
In her ruling in the absence of the jury that ultimately led to the
charges against Ken Purcell being dropped, Judge Greally said that
the extension of Mr Purcells garda detention in February 2015 was
unlawful.
Putting it mildly, the first three hours of his detention were not put
to good use, the judge said.
She noted the superintendent who made the decision to extend his
detention was given a misleading impression as to how the
investigation was progressing that day.
The casual and languid approach of the interviews is inexplicable
on the face of an arrest that was pre-planned and carried out at
7.30am with great precision, she said.
The trial heard that some of the defendants were arrested by groups
of garda during dawn house raids in February 2015, despite most of
them telling garda they would make themselves available for
interview at any time. Some of the mens children witnessed their
arrests, which the defence described as over the top and heavy-
handed.
Several other accused persons are still before the courts facing
various charges from the protest, including violent disorder and
criminal damage. In October 2016, a 17-year-old boy was found
guilty of false imprisonment of the two women.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/viewpoints/analysis/jobstown-
trial-convictions-not-a-shoe-in-for-terrified-joan-burton-
453717.html
Garda corruption again, and again, and again, when is it going to stop.
Bruton and An Garda should face charges of false imprisonment, defamation of character and perjury for
lying in order to force the sentencing of innocent people.
The Irish Times
16th September 2015
Dear Sir,
The GRA reject the idea that the arrests and charging of Paul Murphy TD and other Anit Austerity Alliance members
who protested the Labour leader at Jobstown. According to P J Stone, large numbers of Gardai were necessary for the
early morning arrests since although Paul Murphy is a TD , he might own a dog capable of biting. (September 11th)
Anybody who believes that the arrests and potential show trial is anything but a Labour party/Fine Gael initiative is
ignoring the reality of political policing over the past decades. Whatever, claims are made for the neutrality of the Gardai,
the DPP and AG cannot be sustained in the light of the one law for the rich and one law for the rest history of this state.
The Beef Tribunal revealed massive tax evasion, the defrauding of the EU subsidy regime and abuse of export credit
insurance. Former Minister for Justice, Michael Mc Dowell asked in the Dail debate in 1994: Will any of the top brass
in the Goodman organisation darken the District Court door ?. Will any of them spend a night in jail and hang their
Armani suits on the back of the cell door in Mountjoy. They will not. Not a single person will be brought to account for
the most substantial and highly organised tax evasion in this country.
No Garda investigation. Larry Goodman must have a dog capable of biting .
No Garda investigation of the facts revealed by the Moriarty Tribunal. Denis O Brien, identified by Judge Moriarty
following his lengthy investigation as making corrupt payments must have two dogs.
No Garda investigation of the politicians who stated that their unaccounted for funds were won on the horses, no early
morning arrests of the Ansbacher gang. No one arrested for non payment of due taxes prior to three tax amnesties
provided to the guilty by Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and Labour.
It is clear to any PAYE taxpayer that no action was taken in the case of the Beef Tribunal because Fianna Fail in
government would not allow it, that no action is taken following the Moriarty Tribunal; by this government because Fine
Gael will not allow it.
It should be clear that the arrests and charges of the Jobstown protestors could not have happened if the Labour Party in
government were opposed to these decisions. The decision to arrest and charge the Jobstown protestors with a view to a
show trial is precisely because Labour are in government.
Its as simple as that.
Yours sincerely
Emmett Farrell, 97 New Ireland Road, Dublin 8 (087) 4174124. Member of the Socialist Party
Come to our rally to demand the drop of the rest of the charges this Saturday!
The jury has asked to rewatch the helicopter video evidence.

June 29th 2017
Nine weeks after the Jobstown protest trial opened in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court it took a
jury just three hours and 10 minutes to return unanimous verdicts of not guilty.
They submitted there was something rotten at the core of this investigation because
evidence given by garda was proved demonstrably wrong in court by video footage.
This wont be reported in the media - so everyone needs to share this.
This is footage taken from a Garda helicopter the day of the protest. Here it quite definitively contradicts the
mainstream narrative of the Jobstown protest. The Public Order Unit escalated issues. The protest was peaceful - there
was, in the words of this Garda pilot, "no hassle".
Don't hold your breath waiting for this to appear on the Six One News.
https://www.facebook.com/pg/J
obstownNotGuilty/posts/
Here is the statement that was read
out by Mick Banks on the steps of
the court after the Not Guilty
June 29th 2017 on Thursday
https://www.facebook.com/pg/JobstownNotGuilty/posts/
Minister Zappone caught out in her lies


Jobstown Not guilty
Now drop ALL the charges


20th June) at 10:30am, the closing arguments will be heard in
the Jobstown Not Guilty case. It's EXTREMELY important that
people come down in numbers at this critical point to show
their solidarity with the Jobstown defendants - to defend our
right to protest!
We are expecting the jury to be back for the closing
arguments, and the judge's charge from Wednesday of this
week. We want to have the courtroom packed out for then. So
if you can, please do what you can to get down to court on
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday (or all four!).
It's the Criminal Courts of Justice beside Phoenix Park and it's
in Court 13. You don't need anything special to get in - it's a
public court!

JOBSTOWN TRIALS VERDICT EXPECTED TOMORROW.
Who's blocking the doors of the Toyota Avensis ? Definitely not the people who are in the
dock tomorrow waiting for the verdict on trumped up charges of false imprisonment. crime
with a possible sentence of life imprisonment.
Frank Donaghy's barrister gives closing statement;
There's a lot of talk about power in this trial. Political power, people power, legal power. But
the most important power today is your power to go back into a room and come out and
deliver your verdict - guilty or not guilty. You answer to no one, you walk away. This is
cherished. You represent the people. It's your decision to say - "Do the facts fit in the law?".
This is the first time criminal law has been applied to a political protest. Most of the time, Mr
Frank Donaghy is carrying a banner. The vital peace of evidence put forward is him holding a banner.
This case, if any case against him should have been raised, should have been dealt with in an hour in
the District court. The first time Frank Donaghy knew that he was being accused of doing anything
wrong was 3 months later when they came to arrest him.
The case against him includes walking down the road holding a We Wont Pay banner. The prosecution
are not stupid - this is calculated. The prosecution and their case is presenting a continuum of false
imprisonment, they consciously want you to include slow marching as false imprisonment.
They could have left the slow march out of the false imprisonment. It's a scary decision you have to
make - they are asking you to constitute holding a banner as false imprisonment. It's an affront to
democracy to equate this to false imprisonment, as it is the essence of peaceful protest. It is ludicrous to
call it false imprisonment. The evidence that Frank banged the back of the car has been blown out of
the water by the video evidence. We could see from footage he drummed "No way, we wont pay".
This was political. This was a nuisance to the people in the car. The camera in the car shows their state
of mind, and what they were saying about the protesters. A layer of arrogance and double standards by
the witnesses. Karen O'Connell thought her protests were legitimate but that others weren't. Miss
Burton showed disconnect. Part of the elite, she said she was "Privileged to represent the people", but
doesn't want to hear the anger. She didn't want to hear the anger of the women shouting. She said she
only heard the bad language, not the anger. That is the disconnect and arrogance.
Do we really want to be known as the country in Europe that equates sit down protest, slow marching,
or holding a banner to false imprisonment, which carries a life sentence? You can end that now by
delivering a not guilty. Guilty would be contrary to democracy and liberty. This is a disgrace that he
has been dragged through this system. He is entitled to enjoy his retirement and - if he wants - to join a
protest freely without risk of life imprisonment.
Scott Masterson was handcuffed. Why? What was he going to do - stab himself with the
butter knife? Or grab kids' lunch boxes and live off the cheese strings while on the run?
Frank Donaghy's barrister closing statements next.
Closing statement from Scott Masterson's barrister continued;
The criticism of Garda Sochana is a little bit more sinister in the way Scott was treated. It
was not necessary. It was frightening for Scott and his children. Scott Masterson was making
lunch for his 4 and 9 year olds, then.
The Garda in cross examination took a long time to admit there was other ways to get Scott
Masterson to engage and help with inquiry. He admitted it is often done that people will get a
phone call and come voluntarily. There is a big difference between this and an arrest. With the arrest it
maybe very difficult to locate your solicitor and have a calm discussion. But the discrimination didn't
end there. He was handcuffed in front of his 4 year old. The Garda had only admitted that 5 men were
there, and no female Garda.
You could think Scott was lying, as Garda Rooney had stuck to the mantra "No female Garda". He had
to be recalled to the stand, and in second cross examination - low and behold! - there was female Garda
there, and Scott was hancuffed. Why? It was heavy handed. It was an abuse of power. Mr Masterson
was threatened unjustifiably as a violent criminal. Is it a pattern, is it all over the top, all heavy handed,
is it why we are all here today. Is it cracking a nut with a sledge hammer?
More updates as they come
from Scott Masterson's barrister;
Says there is so much video footage she would nearly be tempted to just sit down and say
there you have it, just watch the video.
Says there are 2 issues she will take issue with - the idea that Scott struck the car with his
open palm, and a Garda officer's conduct at the time of arrest.
The main question that the jury have to deal with is - what was his intention when he went to Jobstown
- was it to commit crime of false imprisonment? Clearly not
He didn't turn up in Jobstown with anything looking to cause trouble. He turned up fr a protest.But the
prosecution want you to believe that he turned up intending to commit a crime, and then organised with
others to commit this crime.
Scott Masterson did have an intention when he went to Jobstown that was to take part in a peaceful
sitdown protest, which is legitimate as his right.
Barrister for Scott Masterson says that the claim made by Sergeant Phelan that Scott hit the car is not
backed up by one garda witness or one piece of video evidence because it didn't happen.
The only facts is the actual video footage showing scott and the co accused having a peaceful sitdown protest
then him and the rest being aggresivly man handled by the bullying heavy handed police, which left alot of
bruising...
Counsel for Kieran Mahon speaking now:
The core part of the jury's oath is that they promise to return a true verdict according to the
evidence.
The truth about Kieran is that he's not a criminal, he's a political activist. Certainly, a political
protester, but not a criminal. I want to show you what the prosecution is attempting to do and
how far removed from normal legal practice it is. Unprecedented.
No jury has ever been asked to convict someone of false imprisonment when they engaged in peaceful
protest, with no violence and encouraging no violence. If he's to be convicted, it should be obvious to
you from looking at the TV that his behaviour is very extreme.
False imprisonment is used to put on trial the likes of tiger kidnappers, to prosecute people who abduct
children, tie people up in their home and abuse them over many hours and days. The less serious end of
scale would be on a robbery of a shop where the shopkeeper is tied up in the back.
It's technically possible for false imprisonment to be committed without force, bit that's not what's
alleged to have happened here. I'm not saying whether anyone else is guilty, but others are charged
with both false imprisonment and violent disorder, which means that at least three people are alleged to
have used or threatened to use unlawful violence in a manner that caused someone fear.
Kieran isn't being charged with violent disorder and it isn't suggested by anyone that he's guilty of, or
had any hand, act or part in violence or the promotion of violence by anyone else!
The essential point is that if convicted, the judiciary imposes the view that peaceful protest and civil disobedience carries
the same penalties as violent protest in spite of the constitutional right to peaceful protest. If this happens, the next round
of protest will be violent - a bad development. This to my mind at least is the importance of this trial. There have already
been Whiteboy type protest against Irish Water if you recall the arson attacks, and this may well be the future of political
protest if these are convicted. I await the conclusion of the trial with trepidation.
Garda Whelan gave the impression that Mick's sanctuary comment was a "direct threat" to
the Tnaiste - could anything be further from the truth?!
Mick was saying she'd be safe in the church, not threatening her but this was portrayed as in
some way blackening his character and his intent on the day - if they didn't have YouTube
with sound evidence of what he really said where, would we be?
Not only was Mick not encouraging violence be actually took steps to restrain people - he
pulled people back from the guards at the jeep.
Yet all this is portrayed as evidence of intent of false imprisonment on his part, and he is portrayed as
an organiser of it, that's an inversion of the English language that holds no logical sense whatsoever.
Maguire recognised Paul Murphy when arrived, why did he not engage with him at that stage? Sgt
Boland said that the Garda police by consent, and that dialogue is crucially important, and this is
drummed into you when you're in training. Why on earth didn't Inspector Maguire engage with Paul
Murphy when things were quiet? The only time he did was when things flared up again, in an attempt
to defuse it.
Temperatures flared rapidly after the Garda tried to forcibly move protesters from the car. Wasn't that
the foundation event for what happened after? That was the root cause of what happened that day, and
that has to be laid at the door of the Garda.
It's alleged that Mick Murphy together with others was engaged in a joint enterprise to imprison
Burton, it stretches credulity to say that when he was doing everything he could to calm things down.
There is something that leaves one with a very uneasy, a very distasteful feeling about evidence that
was demonstrably incorrect and wrong.
Mick Murphy is entitled to fairness like every citizen, and that can be vindicated in this court by a
verdict of not guilty!
Final words from Paul Murphy's defence;
Why have you spent six weeks hearing this case against Paul Murphy? Paul Murphy is not
being prosecuted for what he did or what he said on the day, but for who he is, what he
believes and what he represents. A public representative elected by the people to campaign
on issues.
What distinguished him from everyone else who was there that day? His words and actions
on the day? Or is the only thing which truly distinguished him the fact that he's a public
representative elected to oppose water charges, and this is being used to discredit him, the campaign he
leads and the people he represents?
At stake is our freedom to hold our elected representatives to account, our right as a people to expect
that promises will be honoured, this is a case in which you are being asked to fix a limit to our political
rights. I ask you to defend the right to peaceful protest and say he is Not Guilty of the offence charged.
Absolute circus jokeshop purposely set up to demonise and discredit the People Of Irelands democratic right
to Peaceful Protest #LabourGuilty #JobstownInnocent
Defence closing statements continued. This is Paul Murphy's barrister;
Garda Cooke's statement was that Paul Murphy was directing people where to stand using
the megaphone, and he testified this under oath in District Court in a separate case. Here, he
didn't say that, and instead said Paul was "doing different things".
The defence goes on, saying that what Garda Cooke said we KNOW from the footage shown
in court to be untrue - so what does that tell us about the whole Garda evidence in this case?
The Garda wanted to push aside the protest and impose their will on the situation - the right to protest
is protected by the constitution and European human right law, did the guards recognise people had a
right to protest, a right which they had a duty to protect? Instead of being seen as engaged in peaceful
political protest, the people of Jobstown were seen as an obstacle to be pushed aside.
There has been repeated emphasis on the fact that Joan Burton and Karen O'Connell spent so long in
the car. Could the real explanation be that the Garda had inadequate resources to police the event and
that, realising they hadn't the numbers, they hastily launched into an unwise course of action and left
the women in the car?
Inspector Maguire says he kept Burton and O'Connell in the car out of fear for their personal safety,
which can't have anything to do with what Paul Murphy did or said on the day. Sit down protests are a
disruptive form of protest, not an act of imprisonment.
The Garda eventually tried to achieve by force what they couldn't through negotiation, and they used
that force in an inept way - stripping Paul Murphy of his clothes, leaving him sitting there on a cold
November day. It was Paul Murphy's response that was restrained, appropriate and peaceful - he does
not respond in any other way and that characterised his whole behaviour on that day.
What prosecution doesn't tell you is that within minutes of Burton getting into the jeep, Paul Murphy is
advocating a slow march. It's inconvenient, it's obstruction, it's delay - but it is NOT imprisonment. He
wanted a slow, dignified political protest to take place.
More to come.
Another update, this time the closing statement from the Defence!
Burton said repeatedly that "we live in a democracy", Zappone said she drew a distinction
between the self-satisfied language in Leinster House and the suffering of ordinary people.
"It's up to you decide if Burton invoking democracy was part of that self satisfied discourse or
if it has any meaning". The context of the Jobstown protest was a loss of confidence in
"democracy", the same as has happened internationally since austerity and the crash, where
people all around the world are rejecting established politicians and the political system itself.
The economists' language of austerity gives impression that what we have endured is just a "tightening
of our belts" but what the poor and the working poor including in Jobstown have suffered is more
properly described as a biblical form of "affliction".
The defence then reminds the jury about the Labour Party's election manifesto and its promise not to
introduce water charges, the infamous 'every little hurts' Tesco ad and Gilmore's promise of "Labour's
way, not Frankfurt's way". Eamonn Gilmore described the Tesco ad as "a decisive communications
intervention", but those who wrote it didn't pay any attention to the specific promises in it, they literally
didn't know or care and failed to prevent any of those measures from being implemented, they
abandoned them all during the negotiations for the Programme for Government in which Burton was a
leading member. This speaks of "a deep pool of corrosive cynicism".
The defence then goes on to say that the Jobtown protest was a spontaneous protest, which means no
one was directing it. There's been an attempt by the Garda to impose on a spontaneous event a
particular legal perspective that isn't justified. That's why Garda Cooke tried to say Paul was directing
people when it was seen on video that he wasn't. What's clear is that there's also a "very obvious want
of any evidence" that Paul Murphy was detaining anyone, as opposed to obstructing a vehicle.
It's also important, the defence says, to distinguish between an unruly and disorganised protest and a
violent protest... it was only the Garda's fear of violence that kept Burton in the car/jeep and it's only
violence, which defendants were not involved in, that could be the basis of any charge of false
imprisonment.
It's also wrong to say that Joan Burton's visit wasn't political, Zappone was being considered as a
Labour Party candidate - Burton avoided admitting this on stand, but Zappone when asked said straight
away that Burton had asked her to be an election candidate. Joan Burton was there partly to ingratiate
herself with someone they wanted to run as a candidate in the general election, says the defence.
Court goes to break. More when things continue!
the Prosecution's closing arguments!
Firstly, the prosecution is claiming that the essential question the jury is being asked to
decide is "not political" - they then go on to praise Joan Burton as having "lived an adult life
committed to public service"!
Paul Murphy is then described by the prosecution as "relatively dramatically sitting down" in
front of the Garda jeep - how does one dramatically sit down, and relative to what? They then
go on to describe the democratic vote held by the Jobstown protesters as not "a meeting like that in
a literary society in Trinity College", but "a betrayal of democracy". It's telling that the prosecution
views democracy as something to be enjoyed by scholars in Trinity but not by ordinary people making
decisions based on popular vote!
Continuing on from that, part of prosecution's case against Scott Masterson is that he chanted "no way,
we won't pay"(So, participation in peaceful protest). They then went on to say that the slow march of
Burton's Garda jeep out of Tallaght portrayed by the prosecution as "just another form of
confinement". Keep in mind that this was agreed with the Garda, and according to Garda witnesses
they would not agree to anything that was "unlawful"!
The prosecution describes Garda in Jobstown - who stripped the clothes off Paul Murphy - as
"characterised by an impressive restraint".
The prosecution then goes on to say that "if the judge said I'm locking you up today because I don't
agree with your politics", or if the Garda did it, "we don't allow that - so why would we allow Paul
Murphy to do it?" - what would they call this court case except an attempt to do exactly that?!
This is the sort of stuff we have to deal with on a daily basis in
this trial. Thankfully we are starting to see a light at the end
and this should all be wrapped up regardless of outcome
within the next two weeks.
Please try to get in to lend your support if you can. 10.30am
each day in CCJ. Court 13.
Remember, the outcome of this trial doesn't just affect us six
or this generation but it will have future implications on your
children and grandchildren.
#jobstownnotguilty
Closing statement ends.
Garda denies conspiracy to

pervert course of Jobstown
trial
Defence claims superintendent provided false statement
and gave misleading evidence
Then tanaiste Joan Burton sits in a Garda vehicle during a water charges
protest in Jobstown on November 15th, 2014.
Jessica Magee
Updated: Fri, May 19, 2017, 19:02
A Garda superintendent has denied being part of a

conspiracy to pervert the course of justice at a trial
relating to events at an anti-water charges protest in
Tallaght.
Solidarity TD Paul Murphy and six other men are charged
with falsely imprisoning former tnaiste Joan Burton and
her advisor Karen OConnell by restricting their personal
liberty without their consent on the Fortunestown Road in
Jobstown on November 15th, 2014.
The men deny the charges at Dublin Circuit Criminal
Court.
The two woman were allegedly trapped in a Garda car and
subsequently a garda 4x4 for up to three hours by a crowd
of water protesters after they had attended a graduation
ceremony.
Superintendent Daniel Flavin rejected suggestions by the
defence that he had made a false or inaccurate
statement to garda - after the protest, or that his evidence
in court had been incomplete or misleading.
Sean Guerin SC, representing Paul Murphy, suggested the
superintendent was part of a conspiracy to pervert the
course of justice, a suggestion the witnessdenied.
Stones and eggs thrown
The superintendent was also asked by Mr Guerin whether
he was trying to get a charge preferred against Mr
Murphy by the DPP.
Absolutely not, replied Supt Flavin.
After giving his evidence, the superintendent was asked to
read his original statement over lunch and reflect whether
he had left anything from it out in his evidence to the jury.
Following the lunch break, Supt Flavin read an extract
from his statement to the court, as follows: I saw Mr Paul
Murphy addressing the crowd of protestors, now
numbering several hundred, through a megaphone. He
was chanting and as a consequence of what he was saying,
the protestors became more animated and aggressive.
Missiles began to be thrown at garda-; I observed sticks,
stones and eggs being thrown, missing the jeep and hitting
garda.
Supt Flavin denied that this statement was in effect

blaming Paul Murphy for the violence, saying rather that
Mr Murphy had played a significant part in the events.
Was all the violence attributable to him? Absolutely not,
to be fair to him, added Supt Flavin.
But he told the court he believed Mr Murphy had control
of the crowd and they were responding to his actions.
When questioned as to why he had omitted this part of his
statement in his evidence, Supt Flavin said it was just one
part of it and there was a lot more happening.
Everybody at risk
The superintendent said his priority on the day was
getting the two victims, the two women in the car out of
the area, and ensuring the safety of everyone present.
Everybody there was at risk, he said.
He said he felt he had made a fair statement and an
account of all the facts as he recollected them.
A video was played to the jury showing Paul Murphy
addressing the crowd through a loudhailer and saying that
there were two options, either to let them go in half an
hour () or we just keep her here.
A woman is then seen taking the megaphone, introducing
herself as a resident of Killinarden, and saying, to loud
cheers from the crowd: I vote that we keep Joan here all
night. Shes on our turf now and shes staying.
South Dublin County Councillor Michael Murphy is then
seen taking the megaphone and telling the crowd, I dont
think staying here is an option.
Cllr Murphy also told the crowd, Weve done what we
came to do, and proposed allowing the 4x4 passage to the
Tallaght bypass.
Let her go
Supt Flavin insisted that he had heard Paul Murphy say in
one of his addresses to the crowd, Will we let her go, or
will we keep her here all night?
However, he accepted that there was a lot more said in

the video footage of the incident.
He agreed the video showed Paul Murphy and Michael
Murphy raising their hands when the councillor put a
second vote to the crowd proposing that they slow march
the then-tnaistes car to the bypass.
He further agreed that what Cllr Murphy told the crowd
was the assistance you (the Garda) needed to clear the
area, and that this ultimately is what happened.
Mr Guerin said that if there was no video footage, the
unfortunate Mr Paul Murphy would have a hard time
persuading the jury that the garda - werent telling the
truth.
He also said it was not the first time that a Garda witness
had come to court and failed to give evidence that was in
their statement.
Separate footage was also played to the court showing Cllr
Murphy pushing a garda in the chest with both hands and
hitting the bonnet of the Garda 4x4 with the flat of his
hand repeatedly.
Frank Donaghy, another of the accused, was also seen in a
YouTube still, with the flat of his hand above the bonnet.
Garda Laura Loughley identified both men and said they
were banging on the patrol car.
Very dangerous
She said that at one point she was caught between the
pillar of a gateway and the 4x4 and that a member of the
public pulled her out of that crush, adding that the
crushes were very dangerous.
Mr Murphy (34), together with South Dublin Councillors
Kieran Mahon (39) and Michael Murphy (53) and four
other men, are charged with falsely imprisoning Ms
Burton and her adviser Karen OConnell.
Paul Murphy of Kingswood Heights, Tallaght; Kieran
Mahon of Bolbrook Grove, Tallaght; Michael Murphy of
Whitechurch Way, Ballyboden, Dublin; Frank Donaghy
(71) of Alpine Rise, Tallaght; Ken Purcell (50) of Kiltalown
Green; Michael Banks (46) of Brookview Green, Tallaght
and Scott Masterson (34) of Carrigmore Drive, Tallaght
have all denied the charges.
The trial continues before Judge Melanie Greally and a
jury of seven men and five women.
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-
law/courts/criminal-court/garda-denies-conspiracy-to-
pervert-course-of-jobstown-trial-1.3089658?mode=amp
THIS IS LOOKING VERRY BAD FOR OUR JUSTICE

SYSTEM IN IRELAND TODAY . REGARDING THE RIGHTS
TO PROTEST . AND THE RIGHTS TO FREEDOM OF
SPEECH . FIRST OF ALL I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT
ALL THESE MEN HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO PROTEST AND
ALSO HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF SPEACH .
IN OUR COUNTRY IN THE IRISH REPUBLICK . NO
MATTER WATH THE SUBJECT IS ABOUT .SUCH AS
WATER CHARGES PROTEST . ETC. THIS IRELAND OF
OURS IS TURNING INTO A POLICE . STATE . YOU HAVE
SIX MEN IN COURT TODAY WHO ARE STANDING UP
FOR THOUSINGS OF PEOPLE . FIGHTING FOR A GOOD
CAUSE . AND FIGHTING TO KEEP THERE FAMILY'S
TOGHTER . ALL BECAUSE THEY EXPEESSED THERE
RIGHTS . TO FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND.THE RIGHTS
TO PROTEST ON OUR BEHALF . THEY. THESE SIX MEN
HAVE GIVING UP EVERY THING ON OUR BEHALF . AND
COULD END UP IN PRISON . ALL BECAUSE JONE
BURTON . TURND UP ON THE SAME DAY . SHE NEW
THERE WAS A PROTEST THERE BECAUSE THE GARDA
WOULD HAVE TOLD HER BUT STILL SHE INSISTED ON
GOING TO THIS IRISH SCHOOL . IF I WAS THE GARDA
IN CHARGE I WOULD HAVE TOLD THINGS COULD
GET.OUT OF HAND AND ADVICE HER TO COME
ANOTHER DAY BUT THE GARDA IN CHARGE OF
SECURITY DID NOT PUT THIS POINT TO MISS BURTON .
OR DID THEY YOU WOULD THINK SHE WOULD BE
WORRIED ABOUT HER ONE SAFTY FIRST AS A
MINISTER . ALL THESE MEN THAT ARE IN COURT
TODAY ARE INNISENT . THEY ARE INTITLED TO
EXPRESS THERE FREEDOM OF SPEECH . AND THEY
HAVE EVERY RIGHTS TO PROTEST . THIS COUNTRY OF
OURS IS TURNING INTO A REAGIEEM FOR THE POLICE .
WE ARE NOT IN CHINA AND NOT IN JAPAN AND OTHER
COYNTRYS WHO DON'T ALLOW THE FREEDOM OF
SPEECH AND THE RIGHT TO PROTEST . THE GARDA
HERE SHOULD EASE OFF AND LET THE PEOPLE SPEEK .
WATER IS FOR LIFE AND NOT FOR THE FAT CATS IN
THE E U . AND SEARTNELY NOT FOR THE FAT CATS
HERE . ALL THESE 6. MEN ARE INNICENT . FULL STOP .
Charges against
Jobstown defendant
Ken Purcell dropped
Updated / Monday, 12 Jun 2017
Ken Purcell leaves the court with his wife

Charges against one of seven men accused of the
false imprisonment of former tnaiste Joan Burton
and her adviser during a water charges protest in
2014 have been dropped.
The decision followed legal argument by lawyers for
50-year-old Ken Purcell from Kiltalown Green in
Tallaght.
Prosecuting Counsel Sean Gillane told Judge
Melanie Greally the Director of Public
Prosecutions was not proceeding with the
prosecution of Mr Purcell.
Judge Greally told the jury there had been a
development in the trial following a ruling earlier
today.
She discharged him from the indictment and said he
was free to go.
There was clapping in court and Mr Purcell shook
hands with the remaining defendants before leaving
court with his wife.
The remaining six defendants have pleaded not guilty

to falsely imprisoning Ms Burton and Karen O'Connell
in Jobstown in Dublin on 15 November 2014.
The defendants are Solidarity TD, Paul Murphy, 34,

from Kingswood Heights in Tallaght, Councillor
Michael Murphy, 53, from Whitechurch Way in
Ballyboden in Dublin, Councillor Kieran Mahon,
39, from Bolbrook Grove in Tallaght, 34-year-old
Scott Masterson, from Carrigmore Drive in Tallaght,
71-year-old Frank Donaghy from Alpine Rise in
Tallaght and 46-year-old Michael Banks from
Brookview Green in Tallaght.
The trial is now in its seventh week.
The jury was told the prosecution evidence is now
complete and the trial will be in legal argument for a
number of days.
https://www.rte.ie/news/courts/2017/0612/882131-jobstown/
Joan Burton had a damn cheek to go anywhere near Tallaght on

that day after the brutal austerity she and her right wing Labour
Party had forced on working class communities. Nobody has
made the point that she brought this on herself through stupidity
and/or arrogance. But that's how thick she was - casually strolling
out to Jobstown where she was not wanted and was absolutely
hated by most people. Burton, Howlin and the rest of the Austerity
Party live in cloud-cuckoo land. They are in politics ONLY for the
money, that's why they are now trying desperately to re-invent
themselves as "socialists" to stay on the gravy train
Judiciary are under siege again at the behest of a

shameless populist

A row has been simmering between the executive and judicial
branches of government for some time, writes Alison OConnor.

Alison OConnor

I was in Wexford district court last Monday i issued a notice of motion to An Garda but all i
heard from the judge [John F Brennan] was do not speak Mr Rochford until i give you
permission, or you will be sent to jail for sevens days for being in contempt. He never looked
me in the face he kept the back of head towards me, but he allowed the guard speak all he
wanted, and he gave the guards everything they wanted but nothing for me only threats of
jail.
This is our courts at the present time, we have gone back in time it is more like the 18 hundreds in the
district courts right now. And the guards are looking for trouble in the courts, it is disgraceful how the
guards are behaving and the district court judges allow the guards to lie through the teeth. And you will
hear the judges saying i have to take the guards word, this is absolutely crazy the the liars are the
guards.
I wish i could say different who would want their sons and daughters to join an organisation that trains
them to lie at all cost.
The Government is to press ahead with controversial reforms of the

judicial appointments system despite an unprecedented warning
from the countrys top judges that the move will have serious
implications for the administration of justice.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkars Government now risks a major rift with the
most powerful judges after their objection to a proposed new lay-
majority body deciding on promotions to the bench.
A row over the Judicial Appointments Commission has also widened
among politicians, with Transport Minister Shane Ross now accused
of having a personal agenda in driving the reforms.
Under the plans, the judiciary appointments advisory board will be
replaced by an 11-member commission, including a lay majority and
a lay chairperson.
Legislation for the commission will be debated for up to eight hours
over three days in the Dil this week.
In an extraordinary development yesterday, the five heads of the top
courts sent a letter to Mr Varadkar, with a stern warning about
reforming the system.
The letter was signed by the Chief Justice, the president of the Court
of Appeal, the President of the High Court, the President of the
Circuit Court, and the President of the District Court.
It is expected to be discussed at the weekly Cabinet meeting today
but a spokesman for the Department of Justice insisted last night the
reforms would proceed.
The challenge followed an earlier statement by the Association of
Judges of Ireland, who warned the legislation was seriously flawed.
The association said the changes would not serve to depoliticise
the process. Rationale for a lay majority had not been explained, it
said, and changes would damage the judiciary and State as a
whole.
However, the Government will proceed with the reforms, which are
being fast-tracked before the Dil summer recess.
The commitment was made by Mr Varadkar with Government
partners, the Independent Alliance, in an effort to defuse the row
over the promotion of Attorney General Mire Whelan to the Court of
Appeal.
However, senator Michael McDowell a former attorney general
and justice minister claimed that Mr Ross had a personal agenda,
wanting to overhaul the system, based on a book he had written, as
well as an unfortunate experience in the courts. Mr Ross did not
return calls about this claim, but he said he understood the
resistance to the reforms from the legal lobby.
The spat among politicians, however, is set to widen after additional
criticism from Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan. It emerged last
night that he texted Fine Gael TDs over the weekend, saying he was
disappointed by some of Mr Rosss remarks about judges.
His spokesman confirmed Mr Flanagan had made contact with Fine
Gael TDs but refused to discuss claims about texts.
The Government is expected to be supported by Sinn Fin, which
will likely bring to 80 the numbers it can depend on to pass the
judicial bill.
However, Fianna Fil will oppose it.
Justice spokesman Jim OCallaghan told the Irish Examiner he
believed the new judicial commission would encourage interest
groups to apply to be members and make the appointments more
political.
You will have pro-life or pro-choice groups applying or groups who
are harder or softer on criminals, said Mr OCallaghan, who is a
barrister.
He claimed that senior members of Fine Gael were in fact opposed to
the reforms and that the Fine Gael-led Government had only caved
into Mr Rosss demands to get back into power.
They would have promised to drain the Shannon if they had been
asked, claimed Mr OCallaghan.
IN a landmark case in 1982, the Supreme Court Judge Seamus
Henchy spoke about The bitter Irish race-memory of politically
appointed and Executive-oriented judges.
Perhaps it is that race-memory that lends historical weight to the
new system of appointing judges about to be introduced by the
Oireachtas at the behest of Shane Ross.
While Mr Justice Henchy was speaking in the context of the
constitutional guarantee of trial by jury, it is hardly too much of a
stretch to argue that the appointment of judges would also benefit
from significant lay input.
Our common law tradition is a broad church where the laity ie, the
jury often takes centre stage. It has survived violence, politicial
upheavel, revolution and constitutional change. Its endurance is
testament to the fact that, in certain circumstances, the amateur
trumps the professional.
In that context, there is logic in the reasoning that judicial
appointments are too important to be left to the experts. However,
the insistence by the Government that there should not only be a lay
majority but also a lay chair of the commission may be a mistake.
The purpose of a chairman is to put things in context in an impartial
and neutral manner. It is not a skill that everyone has but judges
exercise it every day in charges to a jury.
In that respect, it would make far more sense if the commission
chairman was a judge rather than a lay person.
Putting this out as a message to our Garda the guardian's of the peace once again this week proved the
garda are more than happy to perjure themselves in the courts and bare face lie on the stand to get convictions
against citizens for exercising there constitutional rights to peacefully assemble
One hundred plus guards gave evidence and everyone of them lied on the stand to try get people convicted
Now we hope there are some good gaurds left or is it like the priests as people say there couldn't be because if there was
they wouldn't stay quiet on all the wrongs the rest are doing
The garda are covering for murderers rapists and child molesters all because they run in political circles and have links
with the likes of ff.fg senior gardi judges and barristers
The guards should remember they swear an oath to protect the people not only the ones with political influence
If someone told yes to put your hands in the fire would yes no why cause your fingers be burnt
Have ye no brains to think for yourselves or yes all just chasing that promotion or is it yes just don't care
Can yes not just do what is right
Remember this and do a bit of research
How many of your colleagues are struggling with bills mortgage rent childcare do you think they care about use
From the nurses .teachers. public transport services workers. army .guards yes only have to look at the pattern the
government's run the services into the ground and eventually privatize the lot
Even use guards yes how would you like to be working for g4s security because that's were yes are heading don't believe
us try reading a bit on C.E.T.A and T.T.I.P which they talk about privatize all public services it's happening across the
water in England already or is it use just don't care
Garda garda honour your oath or have yes still got one #WAKETHEFUCKUP
Putting this out as a message to our Garda the guardian's of the peace once again this week proved the
garda are more than happy to perjure themselves in the courts and bare face lie on the stand to get convictions
against citizens for exercising there constitutional rights to peacefully assemble
One hundred plus guards gave evidence and everyone of them lied on the stand to try get people convicted
Now we hope there are some good gaurds left or is it like the priests as people say there couldn't be because if there was
they wouldn't stay quiet on all the wrongs the rest are doing
The garda are covering for murderers rapists and child molesters all because they run in political circles and have links
with the likes of ff.fg senior gardi judges and barristers
The guards should remember they swear an oath to protect the people not only the ones with political influence
If someone told yes to put your hands in the fire would yes no why cause your fingers be burnt
Have ye no brains to think for yourselves or yes all just chasing that promotion or is it yes just don't care
Can yes not just do what is right
Remember this and do a bit of research
How many of your colleagues are struggling with bills mortgage rent childcare do you think they care about use
From the nurses .teachers. public transport services workers. army .guards yes only have to look at the pattern the
government's run the services into the ground and eventually privatize the lot
Even use guards yes how would you like to be working for g4s security because that's were yes are heading don't believe
us try reading a bit on C.E.T.A and T.T.I.P which they talk about privatize all public services it's happening across the
water in England already or is it use just don't care
Garda garda honour your oath or have yes still got one #WAKETHEFUCKUP
Millions of your money has been wasted bringing water protesters to our courts.
Whether they be the Jobstown protesters or the various activists around the country who blocked meter
installations.
This money could have been used to build houses , fund hospitals , invest in infrastructure creating jobs but no Fine Gael
and Labour conspired with the Gardai and the Judiciary to exact revenge on those who stood against water charges.
People have had their lives torn apart and all the grubby fuckers who run this country were interested in was seeking
revenge.
What a pack of Cunts!

SOLIDARITY TD PAUL Murphy and five other men have been found not
guilty of falsely imprisoning former Tnaiste Joan Burton and her adviser
during a 2014 water charges protest.
The jury of seven men and four women returned the unanimous verdicts
today after just over three hours of deliberations.
The court room, which was packed to capacity, erupted in cheers as the
verdicts were handed down shortly after midday. There were cheers of No
way, we wont pay and several supporters broke down in tears.
Water charges movement a deeply divisive project as if that is something sinister. All
movements are deeply divisive projects. The suffrages was a deeply divisive project between
those who wanted votes for women and those who didn't, the civil rights movement was a
deeply divisive project between those who wanted votes for black people and those who
didn't, the abolition movement was a deeply divisive project between those who wanted to
keep slavery and those who wanted to get rid of it. What those who cry about divisiveness
really lament is that they have lost the argument, but they can't see that their argument was
wrong so they put it down to the ignorant masses who don't know what is in their best
interests. They cry about social media and fake news. Why stop there though? Surely the
printing press is a greater evil? What about literacy? Isn't it terrible that people can read at all!
They could be reading dangerous false ideas that don't come from the elites. What happens
then. Next they will be voting for the wrong parties and thinking the wrong things and doing
the wrong things. The horror!

CORRECTION... CORRECTION - PERJURY CAN BE PROSECUTED. See
Perjury Act, as amended.
https://www.academia.edu/.../PERJURY_IS_PROSECUTABLE_IN...
PERJURY IS PROSECUTABLE IN IRELAND

'LABOUR REBUILD'?!
Brendan Howlin, the patron saint of impossible causes .
Jobstown Verdict: Six defendants found not guilty;
Paul Murphy demands full inquiry
Solidarity TD Paul Murphy is demanding a full independent inquiry
into the Garda investigation of the Jobstown protest after his
acquittal yesterday.
By Daniel McConnell
Political Editor
Photo: From left, Jobstown defendant Ken Purcell, against whom charges
were dropped, Scott Masterson, Anti-Austerity Alliance TD Paul Murphy,
councillors Michael Murphy and Kieran Mahon, Frank Donaghy and
Michael Banks celebrate after being found not guilty of the false
imprisonment of then-tnaiste Joan Burton. Picture: Courtpix
The six defendants were cleared of all charges by the jury at the
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, nine weeks after the Jobstown protest
trial opened.
It took a jury just three hours and 10 minutes to return unanimous
verdicts of not guilty.
The court room, which was packed to capacity, erupted in cheers as
the verdicts were handed down shortly after midday. There were
cheers of No way, we wont pay, and several supporters broke down
in tears.
Judge Melanie Greally told the men once the crowd calmed down:
You have been found not guilty. You are free to go.
Speaking to the Irish Examiner, Mr Murphy said the decision of the
jury meant that an inquiry into how garda handled the investigation
is required.
The Director of [Public] Prosecutions can only decide to prosecute
based on the file given to them by garda and certainly it is our view
a lot in that file was not true. They amount to lies, so of course, there
has to be an investigation, he said.
Mr Murphy also called for the charges against 11 other persons
present on the day to be dropped because he said the entire
investigation is tainted.
The six men had been on trial since April 26, charged with falsely
imprisoning former tnaiste Joan Burton and her adviser Karen
OConnell for three hours during a water charges protest in Jobstown.
All six defendants had pleaded not guilty to falsely imprisoning Ms
Burton and Ms OConnell by restricting their personal liberty without
their consent at Fortunestown Road, Jobstown, Tallaght on
November 15, 2014.
the conclusion of the prosecution case after Judge Greally ruled the
extension of his garda detention in February 2015 was unlawful.
The accused were: Mr Murphy, 34, from Kingswood Heights in
Tallaght; Councillor Michael Murphy, 53, from Whitechurch Way in
Ballyboden in Dublin; Councillor Kieran Mahon, 39, from Bolbrook
Grove in Tallaght; 34-year-old Scott Masterson, from Carrigmore
Drive in Tallaght; 71-year-old Frank Donaghy from Alpine Rise in
Tallaght, and 46-year-old Michael Banks from Brookview Green in
Tallaght.
Ahead of delivering their verdict, the jury asked to watch garda air
support video footage taken on the day of the Jobstown protest.
In her initial charge to the jury on Monday, Judge Melanie Greally
outlined the definition of the charge of false imprisonment, which
she said must involve total restraint. She said if there was a means
of escape, or egress, than the restraint could not be total.
Ms Burton, when contacted last night, offered no comment to the
verdict other than to say she will make comment in the coming days.
In the Dil, Solidarity TD Mick Barry described the outcome of the
case as a stunning defeat for the political establishment who
wanted to create a powerful chill factor to stop protests. He
described Ms Burton as the star witness for the State in the case
and accused the Labour Party of a shabby attempt to frame
socialists for standing up for their communities.
Mr Barry said the Government used the Jobstown incident in an
attempt to gain revenge against those of us on the Left who have
defeated you on the issue of water charges.
The Government is wasting a fortune in taxpayers money on these
cases. The Left are on the front foot now, he said.
Tnaiste Frances Fitzgerald said the Dil should not rerun the
evidence: We respect the court decision of course. This was a jury
trial. The jury makes it decision and justice takes it course.
While a court case is under way, in this House we have always
followed the precedent of not commenting on it in detail. We follow
that very carefully, as in many court cases there is always the
possibility of appeal, and I intend to continue to do that today.
http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/jobstown-verdict-six-defendants-
found-not-guilty-paul-murphy-demands-full-inquiry-453768.html
Bar Councils unconstitutional attempt

to reduce its own transparency
obligations
19th March 2017
At the 2016 A.G.M. the Bar Council proposed significant changes to the
Constitution of the Bar of Ireland and to the Disciplinary Code in two catch-all
motions. The proposals included the removal of Rule 22(d) which obliges the
Bar Council to report the business of Bar Council meetings to the general bar
within one week. The first proposal was made despite Rule 53 of the
Constitution which requires motions to amend the Constitution be put to an
Extraordinary Meeting and not the A.G.M. The second proposal suffers the same
constitutional infirmities. Furthermore both proposals contravened the notice
requirements of Rule 13.
WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?
Rule 22(d) has proved awkward for the Bar Council in recent years: inter alia it did not report its
nominations to the Barristers Professional Conduct Tribunal, and it did report its nomination to the
new Legal Services Regulatory Authority. While the Bar Council is entitled to propose its amendment,
the manner in which it attempted to remove this check and balance on its own activities violated the
very constitutional provision designed to subject such proposals to proper scrutiny.
The Disciplinary Code affects all barristers, who are entitled to notice of any proposed changes in
accordance with the constitution.
LATEST NEWS
Correspondence with the current Chairman of the Bar Council has proved futile so far. The current
Chairman Paul McGarry proposed the motions under the previous Chairman David
Barniville. Besides the motion to amend the Constitution being inadmissible at an A.G.M., attendance
at the A.G.M. did not in any event reach quorum. This puts a question over the validity of all other
motions at the A.G.M. The Chairman wrote that he deemed matters to be in order, but that seems
inadequate as it implies the Chairman of the Bar Council has the power to deem himself above the
Constitution. Progress seems unlikely before the 2017 A.G.M., unless the Chairman adopts a more
informed position before then.
Bar Council of Ireland topic. Bar ... Modern The Belgian Council of State is a judicial and advisory
body that assists the ... The monarch's role and duties under
http://parapet.ie/campaigns/bar-councils-unconstitutional-attempt-to-reduce-
its-own-transparency-obligations/
The 'haphazard state' of perjury law

Sat, Apr 26, 2003, 01:00
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It is difficult to prosecute for perjury in Ireland because there is no prohibition on perjury on the statute
books, writes Carol Coulter, Legal Affairs Correspondent.
It is not unusual in court cases, both in the civil and the criminal courts, for the judge in summing up, to
dismiss a person's evidence as lacking credibility. In some cases they go so far as to state that the
witness, including sometimes a Garda witness, lied on oath. They have even added a recommendation
that the matter be referred to the DPP. But that is usually the last heard of the matter.
This is not because of a unique tolerance of swearing false evidence among the Irish authorities, but
because it is a very difficult offence to prosecute. There is no prohibition on perjury on the Irish statute
books.
The 1911 Perjury Act, passed by the British parliament, made it an offence for a person to make a
statement before a judicial tribunal "which he knows to be false or does not believe to be true". If
convicted, the person making the statement faces prison for up to seven years.
However, this Act never became law in Ireland, although it would be another decade before the state
became independent and made its own laws. It was therefore not among the laws translated into Irish
law on independence and no equivalent law was ever enacted.
In his seminal book on criminal law, Mr Peter Charleton SC commented this left "the law here in its
usual haphazard state".
Yet there are references to perjury in some 40 pieces of Irish legislation, as varied as the Companies
Act, the Cork Harbour Act, the Defence Forces (Temporary Provisions) Act and the Mental Health
Act. These all state the circumstances, under the specific legislation, in which a person would be open
to prosecution for perjury.
There is a common law offence of perjury, created by judicial statement and tradition, and codified in
the Garda Sochna guide. This requires two witnesses to corroborate the falsehood of the statement
made on oath or one witness with additional substantial corroborative evidence, as well as "corrupt
intention".
The mere fact that two witnesses contradict each other does not provide a basis for such a charge,
according to the guide. The statement must be proved to have been wilfully and deliberately false.
Therefore there have been few prosecutions for perjury (though there have been a few), and judicial
references to a witness lying in the witness box rarely go anywhere.
The Bar Council has called for a new law on perjury to bring the law up to date, codify it and simplify
prosecutions. It also wants such legislation to deal with the problem of fraudulent insurance claims,
making it an offence under a new Perjury Act to exaggerate an injury or losses sustained in an accident,
for example.
Mr Hugh Mohan SC, who has worked on this subject for the Bar Council, told The Irish Times: "We
would like there to be, in every case where a claim for damages is made, a verifying affidavit from the
plaintiff. This would be sworn to be 'true and accurate to the best of my ability'. The defendant would
have to do the same. If the Perjury Act included an offence of deliberately exaggerating injuries or
losses, it would be a deterrent to the making of false claims."
He said that at the moment it was virtually impossible to mount a prosecution for perjury where there
was any degree of complexity in the claim. "It is very difficult in the absence of an Act setting out what
the offence it," he said.
This contrasts with the situation in Britain, where perjury is defined and there have been a number of
high profile prosecutions. Jonathan Aitken was a minister in a British government. Jeffrey Archer was
chairman of the Conservative Party, yet their elevated status did not protect either of them from being
charged with perjury, convicted, serving long sentences and enduring political ruin. Archer is still in
jail.
He, at least, would, however, have been likely to have been convicted in Ireland as well, according to
Mr Mohan. He gave false evidence in a libel trial in which he was awarded a lot of money. The person
who corroborated the false evidence later came forward and said it had been false and his testimony
was accepted by the court.
There has been no comparable case here and there have not been anything like the number of
prosecutions that would seem to be warranted by courtroom references to evidence that was not
credible. Even more conspicuously, claimants who have failed to convince a court of their claims and
were left paying their legal costs as a result, have not, so far, had to face any criminal prosecutions for
false claims.
Until a clear law exists under which to prosecute them, they are unlikely to do so.
https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/the-
haphazard-state-of-perjury-law-
1.357008
Perjury Act 1911 1911 CHAPTER 6. An
Act ... This Act shall not extend to
Scotland or Ireland
http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/Ge
o5/1-2/6/enacted/data.pdf
THE year 1649 was a climacteric watershed - Oliver Cromwell
Cromwell was in Ireland from 15 August 1649 to 26 May 1650. In that ... THE year 1649 was a
climacteric watershed ...
http://olivercromwell.org/cromwell_in_i
reland.pdf
THE IMMIGRATION PROCESS IN

IRELAND ... You may, of course, come
to Ireland l egally, including for the
purpose of seeking employment,
provided
http://www.inis.gov.ie/en/INIS/THE%2
0IMMIGRATION%20PROCESS%20I
N%20IRELAND%20050509.pdf/Files/T
HE%20IMMIGRATION%20PROCES
S%20IN%20IRELAND%20050509.pdf
PENAL CODE CHAPTER 37. PERJURY AND OTHER FALSIFICATION

PENAL CODE. TITLE 8. OFFENSES ... OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION.

CHAPTER 37. PERJURY AND OTHER ... judgment, order, subpoena, warrant, minutes, or other ..
http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Doc
s/PE/htm/PE.37.htm
FRAUD FACTS Issue 17March 2014 ... documents and to
require a person to answer ... Ireland.
https://www.fraudadvisorypanel.org/wp-
content/uploads/2015/04/Fraud-Facts-17B-Fraud-in-
Scotland-Revised-March14.pdf
PERJURY IS PROSECUTABLE IN IRELAND

Perjury has the potential to destroy entire families and
Perjury is the criminal offense of lying under oath. A perjury charge may be brought when someone
makes a false statement after being sworn in or promising to tell the truth in a legal situation. For
instance, a person giving testimony on the stand during a court case who tells a lie may be charged with
perjury. Someone who lies during a deposition, or who lies on a signed declaration or affidavit can also
be charged with this offense.
Perjury Laws
Both individual states and the federal government have laws making perjury a criminal offense. While
the basic definition of perjury is the same at both the federal and the state level, the penalties may be
different. For instance, the federal law against perjury in the U.S. Code classifies perjury as a felony.
This means that someone who lies under oath in federal court, or who lies under oath to a person acting
on behalf of the federal government may be sentenced to up to five years in jail.
Some states classify perjury as a felony as well. Penalties for a felony are always more serious than a
misdemeanor and can include large fines, and a year or more of jail or prison time. In other states,
however, perjury may be a misdemeanor. In New York, for instance, whether perjury is a felony or a
misdemeanor depends upon the lie that was told and the impact of that lie. Under New York law,
simply telling a lie under oath is a class A misdemeanor, but telling a material lie under oath, or an
important lie, is a felony.
Elements of Perjury
In order for a defendant to be found guilty of perjury, the prosecutor must prove all elements of the
crime beyond a reasonable doubt.
Although the elements of perjury vary between individual states and federal law, the elements of
perjury are similar. In order for a person to be charged with perjury, he or she generally must have 1)
been sworn in or made a solemn legal promise to tell the truth; and 2) made a false statement or told a
lie on purpose. Prosecutors can sometimes prove that a defendant lied by showing inconsistency in
prior statements made by the defendant. For instance, if a person testifies one way in a deposition and
another way in court, and the statements conflict with one another, this is solid evidence of
perjury even if the prosecutor cannot prove which of the statements was untrue.
Most states and the federal government have an additional requirement, that the misstatement was
material or important to the proceedings in which it was made. If a witness was testifying in case about
a robbery of a diner, for example, lying about whether he saw the defendant at the diner would be
material since seeing the defendant at the scene of the crime would be relevant to the defendant's guilt
or innocence. Lying about what he ate for breakfast, on the other hand, usually wouldn't be a material
misstatement that would result in a charge of perjury.
Defenses to Perjury Charges
Perjury charges are usually very difficult for prosecutors to prove because perjury is a crime of intent.
This means that a defendant charged with perjury can only be found guilty if the prosecutor shows
beyond a reasonable doubt that he or she intended to make the false statement under oath, or, that the
witness told the lie on purpose. As such, criminal attorneys often defend their clients by arguing that
the defendant did not intend to lie, or that the party believed the statement to be the truth at the time
they made it.
Making a mistake or remembering facts inaccurately is not an intentional misstatement, so if a

defendant successfully argues that he simply made an error he cannot be found guilty of perjury. It
tends to be difficult for a prosecutor to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the misstatement wasn't
just a mistake, so this defense is often successful.
Lawyers defending clients accused of perjury also typically make the arguement that the misstatement
was not material or relevant to the proceedings. However, this defense requires attorneys to show
that the statement was actually irrelevant; it is not enough to show that the defendant believed his lie
was not relevant. Courts have consistently held that a person's belief about whether his statement was
material or not isn't the important factor. Instead, the important factor is whether the statement
pertained to an issue viewed as objectively material by the court.
Another good defense to perjury charges is proving that the false statement was corrected before it had
an impact. For instance, if a party said something untrue under oath but recanted before the statement
had any legal effect, such as before the jury considered its truth during the trial, then the defendant
could not be found guilty of perjury.
Criminal Law II Theme : Public Law Credit Points : ... - Perjury - Contempt of
Court ... Criminal Justice in Ireland, (2002,
http://www.keiabroad.org/ireland/syllabus/law/Criminal%20Law%20II.pdf
Country Review Report of Ireland ... Ireland signed the United Nations ... Art. 25
UNCAC is implemented through the common law crime of subornation of perjury
https://www.unodc.org/documents/treaties/UNCAC/CountryVisitFinalReports/2015_10
_28_Ireland_Final_Country_Report_English.pdf
TD questions Bar Councils role in

Judicial Appointments Commission Bill
Many barristers made representations to their TDs to the effect that the Bars
nominee to the Judicial Appointments Commission might be better made by the
Bar as a whole rather than the Bar Council. This theme was clearly presented by
Clare Daly TD to the Joint Committee on Justice & Equality in January this
year. The relevant section of the Bill is 7 (3) (a).
TD questions Bar Councils role in

Judicial Appointments Commission Bill

https://www.oireachtas.ie/documents/bills28/bills/2016/8216/b8216d.pdf
The unconstitutional practices of the Judicial Service ... Service Commission is
bound by the Bill of ... Bar Council v Judicial Service Commission .
The unconstitutional practices of the Judicial Service
Commission under the guise of judicial
transformation: Cape Bar Council v Judicial Service
Commission [2012] 2 ALL 143 (WCC)
MK Radebe
LLB LLM by coursework (University of Pretoria). Lecturer in Law, School of Law,

University of Pretoria. Email: keneilwe.radebe@up.ac.za
SUMMARY
This contribution aims to point out valuable lessons from the shortcomings of the
Judicial Service Commission as highlighted in the case of The Cape Bar Council v
The Judicial Service Commission. The case involved the failure by the Judicial
Service Commission to fill vacancies at the Western Cape High Court despite
there being highly eligible candidates available for appointment. The judgment
serves as a reminder to the Judicial Service Commission that as a public
functionary it is subject to the rule of law and to the constitutional principles of
accountability and transparency. Public functionaries are further reminded that
they are subject to constitutional control. Such control is essential in ensuring
that any abuse of power does not take place.
Keywords: Judicial recommendations, rule of law, accountability, transparency,

public functionaries, rationality, legality, just administrative action, arbitrariness.
1 Introduction
In early 2011 the Judicial Service Commission was attacked by the Cape Bar
Council for its alleged unconstitutional practices in a matter that was heard by the
Western Cape High Court. The case involved the failure by the Judicial Service
Commission to fill vacancies at the Western Cape High Court despite there being
highly eligible candidates available for appointment. To make matters
complicated the Judicial Service Commission failed to provide reasons for its
failure to make judicial recommendations, arguing that they were not legally
required to give reasons. Despite the successful turnout of the judgment which
highlighted the constitutional duty of the Judicial Service Commission to uphold
the rule of law principle, there are still many media reports relating to the
improper functioning of the Judicial Service Commission when making judicial
recommendations.
The Cape Bar is argued to be the least "transformed" in South Africa and a result
concerns have been raised in the media that the Judicial Service Commission's
decision could have been based on affirmative action criteria. However since the
Judicial Service Commission did not expressly state section 174(2) of the
Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 19961 as the reason for its failure to
fill the remaining vacancies, the Court did not deem affirmative action as central
to its judgment. Koen J also argued that any comments concerning section
174(2) would be obiter. Therefore emphasis will not be placed on affirmative
action in this note but on the importance of the Judicial Service Commission as a
public functionary being bound by the requirements of the rule of law and the
duty to give effect to principles of accountability and transparency.
This note aims to point out some valuable lessons that could be learned from the
shortcomings of the Judicial Service Commission as highlighted in the Cape Bar
Council Case. The Court strongly emphasised the duty of the Judicial Service
Commission as an organ of state to observe and respect the principles of the rule
of law, accountability and transparency, and also their constitutional obligation to
perform public functions in a rational and non-arbitrary manner. The judgment of
the case should serve as a reminder to the Judicial Service Commission that as a
public functionary it is subject to the rule of law and to the constitutional
principles of accountability and transparency.
2 The facts of the case
During April 2011, the Judicial Service Commission (the respondent) advertised
three vacancies for judicial appointment in respect of the Western Cape High
Court and invited persons to apply. Seven candidates were shortlisted by a sub-
committee of the respondent from the list of the candidates who applied. Of the
shortlisted candidates, Mr Henney was black, six other candidates were white and
one was female. The shortlisted candidates were then interviewed and the
respondent took a decision to recommend only one candidate, namely Henney J.2
The Cape Bar Council (the applicant) alleged that the failure of the respondent to
fill the two remaining judicial vacancies was irrational, unfairly discriminatory and
unreasonable, and therefore unconstitutional. The respondent offered two
reasons for the failure to fill the vacancies. The first was that the unsuccessful
candidates failed to obtain a majority of votes from members of the respondent.
The second reason was that the respondent was not legally required to provide
reasons for the failure to fill the remaining vacancies.3
The unsuccessful candidates who were supported by the applicant were

acknowledged by the respondent's spokesman as "excellent in terms of technical
experience". The answering affidavit records that "there is no dispute that the
candidates represented by the applicant are fit and proper and appropriately
qualified persons".4
The applicant alleged that there are suggestions in the respondent's papers
referring to press releases and statements of a "balance" which needed to be
struck between potential candidates. That, according to the applicants, suggests
that section 174(2) of the Constitution5 could have influenced the respondents'
recommendation criteria.6 In terms of the abovementioned section, the Judicial
Service Commission has to take into account the need for the judiciary to reflect
broadly the racial and gender composition of South Africa when judicial officers
are appointed.
The Court held that the failure of the respondents to fill the two remaining
vacancies was unconstitutional and unlawful and fell to be set aside. Court further
held that there was no reason why the respondent could not provide reasons for
its failure to fill the remaining two vacancies. The matter went on appeal to the
Supreme Court of Appeal, which also held that the failure to fill the remaining two
vacancies was irrational and unlawful.
3 Analysis of the Supreme Court of Appeal's judgment
In it's the reasoning the Court made emphasis on the fact that in recommending
candidates for judicial appointment the Judicial Service Commission is acting in
terms of the Constitution and therefore exercising a public function. The exercise
of a public function in this case is regulated by sections 1(c), 8 (1), 195, 33(1)
and 33(2) of the Constitution, which are discussed below:
Section 1 (c) of the Constitution provides that the South African State is founded
on the values of the supremacy of the Constitution and the principle of the rule of
law. This encompasses the legality principle, which is applicable in cases dealing
with the exercise of public functions.
According to section 8(1) of the Constitution the Judicial Service Commission is

bound by the Bill of Rights.
Section 195 of the Constitution requires that public administration be governed

by the democratic values and principles enshrined in the Constitution, including
principles that it must be "accountable" and that "transparency must be
fostered".
Section 33(1) of the Constitution provides for the right to just administrative
action that is lawful and procedurally fair. Section 33(2) states that everyone
whose rights have been affected by administrative action has the right to be
given written reasons for the action.
It can be identified from the Supreme Court of Appeal's arguments that when
exercising public functions, organs of state must at all times comply with the
values and principles of the Constitution. The Court identified that the exercise of
public functions can be restricted in the following ways:
(a) Applicability of the rule of law principle
One of the aspects of the rule of law is the principle of legality, which expresses
the fundamental idea that the exercise of public power is legitimate only when
lawful.7 In this context the Court first stated that the body exercising the public
power must not exercise any power that is beyond that conferred upon it by the
law.8 Secondly, the Court held that the exercise of public power must not be
arbitrary, but rational. The authority found in the case of Pharmaceutical
Manufacturers Association9 was relied on where it was held that it is a
requirement of the rule of law that the exercise of public power by public
functionaries should not be arbitrary. A decision is rational if it is rationally
related to the purpose for which power was given.10 In testing whether a decision
is rational or not, the reasons for taking such a decision should be submitted in
order for affected parties to establish if their matter can be reviewed.11 Such
prevention by the principle of the rule of law of the arbitrary and irrational
exercise of public power goes hand in hand with transparency, which contributes
towards a culture of justification.12 The case of the President of the Republic of
South African v SA Rugby Union13 emphasised the need for the rational and non-
arbitrary exercise of public power by showing that the principle of legality
requires holders of public power to act in good faith.
(b) Transparency and accountability as requirements for just administrative

action
In order to assess whether a public functionary has exercised public functions in a

rational and non-arbitrary manner, it is required of such a functionary to exercise
such functions in an open and accountable manner.
The Court stated that section 195 of the Constitution requires that public
administration be governed inter alia by "the democratic values and principles
enshrined in the Constitution," including the principles that public functionaries
must be "accountable" and that "transparency must be fostered".14
It was stressed that the Judicial Service Commission as a public body created to
serve the public's interest must perform its functions openly and transparently.
Such a requirement is consistent with a culture of justification which signals a
decided rejection of past odious laws, policies and practices.15
The transparent exercise of public functions goes hand in hand with the
constitutional right of access to information. In terms of section 23 of the
Constitution everyone has the right of access to all of the information held by the
state or any of its organs at any level of government in so far as such information
is required for the exercise or protection of any of his or her rights.16 The purpose
of section 23 according to the case of Phato v Attorney General17 is to create a
system which holds government accountable and therefore creates public
confidence in the administration of public affairs.
The Court also relied on the case of Rail Commuters Action Group,18 wherein it
was stated that the giving of reasons satisfies the individual that his or her
matter has been considered and also promotes good administrative functioning
because the decision makers know that they can be called upon to explain their
decisions and thus are forced to evaluate all the relevant considerations correctly
and carefully.19
4 Consequences and criticism of the Judicial Service

Commission's conduct
The failure of the Judicial Service Commission to provide reasons damages the
culture of justification, accountability and transparency, which culture is essential
for accountability in governance. The continuous failure to perform public
functions lawfully could eventually lead us back to the odious laws, policies and
practices of the past. The Judicial Service Commission's failure to fill the
remaining vacancies affects the right of members of the community to access the
courts, as it depletes the capacity of the courts, which are already inundated with
matters to be allocated trial dates, resulting inevitably in long delays. The
continuous failure to fill the vacancies and appoint qualified short-listed
candidates amounts to the public being denied the best judicial resources at the
country's disposal. The lack of transparency in the Judicial Service Commission's
recommendation criteria leads to the creation of speculation that perhaps only
executive-minded candidates will be recommended for judicial appointment.20
5 Lessons to be learned
No public functionary is immune to the Constitution and most importantly to the

principle of the rule of law. Every organ of state exercises its powers in terms of
the Constitution, and is therefore automatically bound by the Bill of Rights and in
this case, the duty to render just administrative action. The applicant's right to
administrative justice was infringed in this case as it were not provided with
reasons. Such reasons would have enabled the applicant to evaluate whether or
not its application had been carefully considered by the Judicial Service
Commission.
Openness is an essential element that is required when state organs render public
functions. In this case the Judicial Service Commission had to clearly indicate the
criteria that it had followed when making its recommendations.
The Judicial Service Commission's main function is to make recommendations of

appropriate and qualified candidates for judicial appointment. That is the power
that it has been granted in terms of the Constitution. Its failure to make further
recommendations when qualified candidates were available raises the question as
to whether their decision was rational. What was the Judicial Service Commission
seeking to achieve when it failed to make the recommendations? The failure of
the Judicial Service Commission to provide reasons for its conduct created a
reasonable impression that their decision not to make any judicial
recommendations was indeed irrational. The important lesson to be learned is
that applicants will have the right to have the Judicial Service Commission's
conduct reviewed if such conduct is thought to be irrational and thus against
constitutional principles.
6 Conclusions
The ruling of the Cape Bar Council case serves as a good example that illustrates
how any public functionary is subject to constitutional control when rendering
public services. Such control is essential in order to ensure that the abuse of
power does not take place and that the community benefits from public services.
The Judicial Service Commission should take into account that its conduct when
performing its constitutionally mandated tasks should at all times comply with the
principle of the rule of law, as well as the principles of openness and
accountability.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Literature
Hoexter C Administrative Law in South Africa (Juta Cape Town 2007) [ Links ]
Wesson M and Du Plessis M "Fifteen years on: central issues relating to the
transformation of the South African judiciary" 2008 SAJHR 187-213 [ Links ]
Case law
Cape Bar Council v Judicial Service Commission 2012 2 All SA 143 (WCC)
Fedsure Life Assurance Ltd v Greater Johannesburg Transnational Metropolitan

Council 1999 1 SA 374 (CC)
Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association of SA: In re Ex parte President of the

Republic of South Africa 2000 2 SA 674 (CC)
Phato vAttorney-General, Eastern Cape 1995 1 SA 799 (E)

President of RSA v M & G Media Limited 2011 4 BCLR 363 (SCA)
President of the Republic of South Africa v South African Rugby Football Union
2000 1 SA 1 (CC)
Rail Commuters Action Group v Transnet Limited t/a Metrorail 2005 4 BCLR 301
(CC)
Legislation
Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996
Internet sources
Rabkin F 2013 No 'reverse racism' in appointing udges

http://www.bdlive.co.za/national/law/2013/04/16/no-reverse-racism-in-
appointing-judges-says-mogoeng
accessed 10 May 2013]
Smuts I 2013 The Judiciary: Do White Males Not Need Apply?

http://www.politicsweb.co.za/politicsweb/view/
politicsweb/en/page716197oid=368104&sn=Marketingweb+detail
accessed 10 May 2013
LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS
SAJHR South African Journal on Human Rights
Introduction Constitutional law is the ... the burden of proof rests on those who argue that the Bill is
unconstitutional ... established the Council of Ireland
https://lawinireland.wordpress.com/constitutional-law/
1
In terms of s 174(2) of the Constitution of the Repubiic of South Africa, 1996;
"the need for the Judiciary to reflect broadly the racial and gender composition of
South Africa must be considered when judicial officers are appointed".
2 Cape Bar Council v Judicial Service Commission 2012 2 All SA 143 (WCC) para
4 (hereafter referred to as Cape Bar Council case).
3 Cape Bar Council case para 8.
5 S 174(2) of the Constitution of the Repubicc of South Africa, 1996.
7 Hoexter Administrative Law 117.
8 Cape Bar Council case para 25; Fedsure Life Assurance Ltd v Greater
Johannesburg TransnationalMetropoittan Council 1999 1 SA 374 (CC) para 58.
9 Cape Bar Council case para 26; Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association of
SA: In re Ex parte President of the Republcc of South Africa 2000 2 SA 674 (CC)
para 33.
13 Cape Bar Council case para 49; President of the Republic of South Africa v
South African Rugby Football Union 2000 1 SA 1 (CC) para 17.
14 Cape Bar Council case para 20,57.
15 Cape Bar Council case para 29; President of RSA v M & G Media Limited 2011
4 BCLR 363 (SCA) para 9.
16 Hoexter Admnnstrative Law 92.
17
Phato vAttorney-General, Eastern Cape 1995 1 SA 199 (E) para 1.
18 Cape Bar Council (note 2 above) para 29; Rail Commuters Action Group v
Transnet Limited t/a Metrorail 2005 4 BCLR 301 (CC) para 16.
19 Wesson and Du Plessis 2008 SAJHR 181.
The composition of the Judicial and Bar Council ... This bill seeks to ban
reappointments to the JBC in order to avoid the possibility ... 22
unconstitutional,
http://www.senate.gov.ph/lisdata/1633613575!.pdf
The Committees deliberations on the Judicial Matters Amendment Bill ... the
Judicial Services Commission (JSC) was unconstitutional .
INDEPENDENCE AND IMPARTIALITY OF JUDGES ...

http://www.ohchr.org/Documents/Publications/training9chapter4en.pdf

IBAHRI and the Council of Bar and Law

Societies of Europe 2002 , Ireland is
Unconstitutional.
Uploaded by Rita Cahill on Jun 30, 2017
https://www.scribd.com/document/352623877/ibahri-and-the-council-of-bar-
and-law-societies-of-europe-2002-ireland-is-unconstitutional
People have risen and won't be put back in
their box': Jobstown supporters hail a political
victory
Dozens of supporters celebrated with Paul Murphy and others, assured
that their right to protest has been protected.
June 30, 17
DOZENS OF PASSING cars beeped their horns. A large
crowd chanted in unison, waving signs proudly on a grey,
wet day beside Dublins Phoenix Park.
Alongside the crowd, a media scrum waited on the steps of
the Criminal Courts of Justice. After nine weeks of evidence,
a jury took just over three hours to find Solidarity-PBP TD
Paul Murphy and five others not guilty of falsely
imprisoning former Tnaiste Joan Burton and her advisor in
their car on 15 November 2014.
The trial lasted two months but the result felt like it was
years in the making for the defendants.
For supporters of Murphy and the other men involved, it
dates back to the beginning of the movement against water
charges in Ireland years before a movement that has seen
Irish Water bills all but eliminated from the country.
For the crowds gathered this was about the working class
telling the establishment that it had the right to protest.
They said it was all about saying, No, were not going to
take it and, You cant stop us from protesting about it.
As a jubilant Paul Murphy, Councillor Mick Murphy,
Councillor Kieran Mahon, Frank Donaghy, Scott Masterson
and Michael Banks exited the court to rapturous applause,
the overwhelming sentiment from these men and their
supporters was that the establishment had tried to take on
and silence a working class protest, and failed.
Jobstown protest
Even in a climate of people protesting forcefully against
austerity and water charges, the events of 15 November 2014
particularly garnered a lot of attention.
As TheJournal.ies report at the time outlined, the then-
Social Protection Minister Joan Burton, and her advisor
Karen OConnell, were confined in a car for several hours.
Anti-water charge protesters focussed their attention on the
Labour leader at around 1pm as she attempted to leave a
graduation ceremony at An Cosn a higher education
college in Jobstown.
During the trial, the prosecution argued that the men were
plainly involved in the restriction of liberty of the two
women who were trapped in garda cars for three hours after
they left the event.
The trial heard that when Burton attended the church
ceremony that day, eggs and water balloons were thrown at
her. She was advised by garda to leave in an unmarked
garda car in order to avoid the crowd.
However, their car was immediately surrounded by
protesters, including the accused men, and they were unable
to leave the church yard.
Follow
Paul Murphy @paulmurphy_TD
Joan Burton blocked in by peaceful protesters in
Jobstown. #nowatercharges #wewontpay
1:01 PM - 15 Nov 2014
Source: Paul Murphy/Twitter
At one point garda moved in and unsuccessfully tried to

remove the accused men, pulling off Paul Murphys top in
the process. Burton and OConnell remained in that car for
about an hour before a decision was made to move them to a
garda jeep.
The trial was told that a police cordon set up to protect the
women as they made their way to the jeep was immediately
broken up by protesters, many of whom were screaming
abuse.
The jeep was also then surrounded and moved inch by
inch along Fortunestown Road over the next two hours
before the women ran to waiting garda cars and left the area.
The prosecution submitted that by surrounding the cars
containing Burton and OConnell, the six men worked
together with a shared intention to totally restrict their
liberty.
Joan Burton and Karen OConnell were trapped, Sean
Gillane SC, prosecuting, told the jury in his closing address
last week.
Their liberty was not just restrained, it was totally
restrained. Their liberty was never in truth restored until
they were running down that road coming up to 4
oclock that afternoon.
Defence counsel argued that it was this fear of violence
that led to the women being kept in the vehicle by garda,
not the peaceful acts carried out by the accused men. Some
defence counsel were highly critical of garda, who they said
were unprepared for the protest and made unwise tactical
decisions.
They submitted there was something rotten at the core of
this investigation because evidence given by garda was
proved demonstrably wrong in court by video footage.
Judge Melanie Greally echoed that sentiment in her final
instructions to the jury earlier this week, when she told its
members that they must weigh up the evidence given by
garda as being inconsistent with the video footage, and
make their own judgement on why that would be the case.
Judge Greally also stressed upon the jury that this case is
not about the right to protest, and added your verdict is
not about sending messages.
Right to protest
Despite the judges comments, however, supporters of the
Jobstown protesters were unequivocal that the right to
protest was what this case was primarily about and that the
not guilty verdicts sends an incredibly strong message to the
political establishment.
Source: TheJournal.ie
Although traditionally seen as a party of the working class,
there was clear disdain for Labour among the supporters of
the protestors who viewed the party as firmly entrenched
within the establishment.
This was evidenced in court this week with the jeering and
mild heckling of Judge Greally as she reiterated the evidence
given to the court by Joan Burton.
In a statement following the verdict, the Labour Party said:
We note the verdict of the jury announced earlier today.
The investigation of any criminal matter, and the conduct
of any associated prosecution, is decided by An Garda
Sochna and the law officers of the state who operate with
complete independence from the political system.
As we have been all along, the Labour Party remains
resolutely focussed on our central tasks of holding the
Government to account, and campaigning for decency,
justice and equality in society.
Before the verdict was reached, TheJournal.ie spoke to some
supporters of the accused men, some of whom were actually
at the protest on the day. Their take was that bringing
criminal charges against Paul Murphy, in particular, was an
overt political act.
http://www.thejournal.ie/jobstown-verdicts-reactions-
3470436-Jun2017/?utm_source=facebook_short
One man said: It is essential that they are found not guilty.
Otherwise, the parameters for everything changes for any
form of protest, right down to strikes. Everyone would have
been affected by a guilty verdict here.
Whatever about thinking that Paul Murphy might be a
leader in all of this, some of the people on trial just went out
and protested. They were vociferous, maybe, but definitely
not violent. This is definitely all political and about trying to
quell the movement that was the water charges.
When asked why she was there supporting the protesters,
one woman said: Well theres a lot of people here that were
there on the day. I was there on the day.
A lot of people are looking at the accused. They think this is
a farce. I think this is to get Paul Murphy out of the Dil.
They feel threatened. Theyre saying its not political it is
political.
After the verdicts were reached, TDs and politicians doubled
down on this stance outside the court.
Solidarity-PBP TD Mick Barry got the news just before
Leaders Questions started in the Dil. He told
TheJournal.ie that he had the great pleasure of informing
Tnaiste Frances Fitzgerald and Labour leader Brendan
Howlin of the verdict.
I legged it out of there, and I came down to celebrate, he said. This is great for
the six men, but this is great for the working class. The jury has defended the
right to protest.
Im choking back tears to be honest.
Outside the court, Paul Murphy was quick to praise his legal team, but also looked
to the support the accused had received from their #JobstownNotGuilty
campaigns that had become ubiquitous on social media.
He said that their efforts inside and outside the courtroom had contributed
heavily to yesterdays result.
As Barry and Murphy embraced, with the chants of Jobstown, innocent ringing
in the air, there was the sense that this was a major political victory.
Party colleague Brid Smith told TheJournal.ie: Its a great result for the Left, the
water movement and, in particular, its a great result for the people of Jobstown
and their representatives.
It sounds out a strong message that the people have risen and will not be put back in their
box So Leo Varadkars attempts to shut down the Left in the Dil will not be tolerated.
And, with that, the chanting slowly began to die down and signs were folded and
put back away.
To the pub, one of the accused shouted, as the water charge protesters went
home to celebrate as victorious, free men.
Solidarity-PBP TD Mick Barry speaking in the Dil just after
the Jobstown verdict
Jun 29, 2017
Solidarity-PBP TD Mick Barry speaks in the Dil following the not guilty verdict in the trial of
six men accused of falsely imprisoning Joan Burton and her adviser during a 2014 Jobstown
protest.
http://jrnl.ie/3469912
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lGNnqbwSyOU
The Labour Party's statement on the Jobstown Show Trial not
guilty verdicts is laughable. " ... Their statement reads The
investigation of any criminal matter, and the conduct of any
associated prosecution, is decided by An Garda Sochna and the
law officers of the State who operate with complete independence
from the political system, Howlin and Burton know that's a
complete lie. After Austerity Joan's Jobstown humiliation there
was a meeting between them, Kenny, Fitzgerald and senior garda
and they decided to go after and destroy the Jobstown
protesters. They hoped to make an example of them and to make
it impossible for citizens of this state to take part in peaceful
protests. At the time (November 2014) Fine Gael's main sponsor
Denis O'Brien was in financial difficulties and he needed anti-
water protesters cleared off the streets so that he could install
water meters and rake in a few million Euro to pay his banks. The
Gang of Four (Kenny, Noonan, Howlin, Burton) also needed the
meters installed so that they could sell off Irish Water. That is why
the full weight of the forces of the state was deployed, no
expense was spared, THEIR media were alerted to dawn raids by
armed garda, the object being to demonize the anti-water
campaigners. Frances Fitzgerald was a key link between the
politicians and the DPP/Garda.
They NEARLY got away with it, but they failed because were let
down by liars and perjurers - those people that Fitzgerald & Nirn
O'Sullivan are so keen to protect. How much longer can these two
tainted failures remain in office?
Pre-recorded an interview for Drivetime. Will be used this evening but will
almost certainly be edited. Still asking do we not accept Joan B was frightened
etc. Told Mary Wilson june 29th 2017
https://video-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t42.1790-
2/19571094_109997742960176_6901764839807385600_n.mp4?efg=eyJybHIi
OjMwMCwicmxhIjo1MTIsInZlbmNvZGVfdGFnIjoic3ZlX3NkIn0%3D&rl=300&vab
r=59&oh=8edb7c3a04d492c093ffd3133359d8a9&oe=5956EDF3

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar
warned by Fianna Fail
that more controversies
could spark General
Election
Fine Gael Leader Leo Varadka
Michael McGrath said trust between the two parties had been damaged and
is threatening the confidence and supply agreement that underpins
Government

JAMES WARD
06:00, 26 JUN 2

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has been warned by Fianna Fail that any more controversies
like the Maire Whelan scandal will spark a General Election.
The Oppositions finance spokesman Michael McGrath said trust between the two
parties had been damaged and is threatening the confidence and supply agreement
that underpins Government.
He issued a frank warning to Mr Varadkar that any more clashes between the parties
will bring the country to the polls.
The threat came as it emerged two Cabinet ministers threatened to walk out over
Attorney General Mrs Whelans appointment to the Court of Appeal.
Appearing on RTEs The Week in

Politics, Mr McGrath said: The trust is definitely damaged.
At the core of it is the fact the Government proceeded with a judicial appointment
that breached the established practice of 22 years.
They then compounded that in my view by rushing through the formal appointment
of Maire Whelan to the Court of Appeal, with the Taoiseach making it known he was
available the following morning, the Monday morning, for the formal appointment.
We cant afford for any more examples like this to emerge or else inevitably we will
be moving towards a General Election if that were to take place. We dont believe its
necessary.
Meanwhile, Junior Minister John Halligan has appeared to confirm that Transport
Minister Shane Ross
threatened to quit Cabinet over the appointment and said he would have followed
him out. He told Newstalk: I did speak to Shane Ross on Sunday afternoon.
He rang me to say he had been informed that there was an appointment to be made in
the Aras the next
morning and the seal of approval would be given.
He found this unacceptable because he had called for a review which was to be
discussed at Cabinet on Tuesday.
http://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/taoiseach-leo-varadkar-warned-
fianna-10688346

Jobstown Acquittals, Jury Trials Under Strain

https://www.scribd.com/document/352634601/Jobstown-Acquittals-Jury-
Trials-Under-Strain

This was a message to
working-class communities
Call for inquiry into Jobstown
investigation
At a press conference today, Murphy and Solidarity colleagues were
heavily critical of the garda.
Jun 30th 2017
Image: Leah Farrell/Rollingnews.ie

PAUL MURPHY HAS made a call for a public inquiry into
how the Jobstown protest investigation was conducted.
Yesterday, Murphy and five other men were found not guilty
of falsely imprisoning Joan Burton and her adviser Karen
OConnell at the water charges protest in 2014.
Speaking at a press conference in Dublin today, Murphy and
other Solidarity party members went on the attack,
criticising the garda for evidence given in the trial and
calling for a public inquiry into the investigation.
This was a politically-driven investigation, Murphy
claimed, designed to send a message to working class
communities.
Follow
Sean Murray @SeanMJourno

Paul Murphy: "This was a politically driven investigation"
2:22 PM - 30 Jun 2017
Source: Sean Murray/Twitter
He said that it was not clear to him where the impetus for
the investigation had come from, and it was important now
to answer that question.
Its clear now that we need a public inquiry to find out why it
happened.
Judge Melanie Greally drew attention to the Garda
testimony as being inconsistent with what was seen in the
video footage of the event in her final remarks to the jury
earlier this week. She said that on a number of instances,
there was Garda testimony describing events that were not
borne out by the footage.
Murphy rejected the claim that the contradictions in Garda
testimony and what was seen in the video footage were as a
result of the frailties of human memory.
He wasnt as critical of the Director of Public Prosecutions,
but claimed that the investigation was flawed.
When asked about his use of social media during the trial,
he said that he tweeted mostly innocuous stuff that he
didnt feel prejudiced the case. Murphy also said that staff in
his office retweeted some messages of support, but deleted
them when the prosecution requested that he did so.
I dont think this is the story here, he said. It is a
distraction. The story here is that people were found not
guilty.
In a statement yesterday, the garda said: An Garda
Siochana do not comment on matters which are or have
been before the courts.
Ireland is ripe for the Left
Paul Murphy on left-wing movements gaining

momentum
<div class="player-unavailable"><h1 class="message">An error occurred.</h1><div
class="submessage"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOrQRcM8UAk"
target="_blank">Try watching this video on www.youtube.com</a>, or enable
JavaScript if it is disabled in your browser.</div></div>
Source: TheJournal.ie/YouTube
His party colleague, Ruth Coppinger TD, said an important

question to ask would be why charges of false imprisonment
were laid against the men.
Mick Barry TD said that the verdicts in the Jobstown trial
may be seen as having a significant impact in the future, and
said that the appeal of left-wing ideas was growing in the
country.
In the next few months, well be stepping up the Lefts
opposition to Leo Varadkars government, he said.
Murphy said that he and other Solidarity representatives
would stand together to present a challenge at the next
election based on the anti-austerity principles the party
stands for.
Ireland is absolutely ripe for it, he said.
Barry added: The French have a saying: what the
parliament does, the street can undo.
People power is becoming a significant factor in the politics
of this country.
Fine Gael TD calls for change of law after social
media comments during Jobstown trial
Sunday, July 02, 2017

A Fine Gael TD is to table a bill to make contempt of court a
statutory offence in the wake of the Jobstown trial.
At the moment, contempt of court is a common law offence in

Ireland.
Dublin Rathdown TD Josepha Madigan - a qualified solicitor -

believes our laws need to be updated to cover the increased use of
social media.
In an interview with the Sunday Times, she said she believed that
some comments made by Solidarity TDs during the Jobstown trial
were "menacing".
On Thursday, jurors cleared TD Paul Murphy and five other men of

the false imprisonment of former Tnaiste Joan Burton and her
advisor during an anti water charge demonstration in Jobstown in
2014.
Well, I found it very difficult during the Jobstown trial, and indeed I
would say the same if it was any trial, the fact that there was a lot of
activity on social media, on Facebook and on Twitter, about the trial
itself, said Ms Madigan.
The media, the main media, are not allowed make comments like
that during criminal trials, and I dont think it should be allowed on
social media either.
Ms Madigan admitted we do not know if social media had an

influence on the jurors, but she said we needed legislation to protect
juries from outside influences.
The TD is now going to attempt and bring a Bill to the Dil making it
a statutory offence to comment on ongoing criminal cases.
http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/fine-gael-td-calls-for-
change-of-law-after-social-media-comments-during-jobstown-trial-795979.html
Time for these bastards to go.
"The media, the main media, are not allowed make comments like that during criminal trials," I think she
needs to review the MAIN media coverage again.. to me this is an "untrue statement". here is a sample of just
the independent coverage and there are a lot more.
Ms Madigan admitted we do not know if social media had an influence on the jurors, but she
said we needed legislation to protect juries from outside influences.
The TD is now going to attempt and bring a Bill to the Dil making it a statutory offence to
comment on ongoing criminal cases.
People are angry cos their own government is.lieing to them.and framing innocent people so the public is very rightly
angry and unfortunately sometimes people do say.some. silly things.and be abusive ... its an.normal.human reaction to
being beat down over a.long time but I do agree that making threats of violence is not on and is counter productive. But
even.when dealing with fb pages like.fianna failure they don't like any dissent and have started.to delete and block
people.for legitimate questions .... then we have the irish times rte and the dob media.lieig to us on a.daily basis so people
are getting very angry ..
STILL UNABLE TO FIND ANY PROFESSIONAL LEGAL
REPRESENTATION
"The High Court has cleared the way for a Dublin man to sue the
State over alleged malicious prosecution."
From Irish Times at:
https://www.irishtimes.com//man-can-sue-state-over-alleged
=== === ===
I wish I could get such help.
The big difference between my case and that of James Walsh is
that I am the target of a malicious prosecution for attempting to
expose and challenge the whole sickening, and ongoing, array of
"Government corruption, crime, cover ups, bullying, and impunity"
in the Republic of Ireland.
More, of a general nature, on this sickening subject at can be
viewed via following www link:
https://www.google.ie/:
=== === ===
UPDATE ON MY PRESENT SITUATION (JULY 2nd 2017):
REQUEST FOR REVIEW OF DISCRETIONARY SUPPORT
APPLICATION
===
' 4) Correctly or otherwise, I have long believed that the main
reason for the creation and sustenance of the extant warrant for
my arrest in the Republic of Ireland referred to at 2) above, and
the main reason I am finding it literally impossible (so far) to find
legal representation which fully supports the "Article 18 / Article
47" principles referred to above -- either in the Republic of Ireland
jurisdiction, or in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland jurisdiction -- are in very large part a function of
the judicial corruption I have referred to in my email to Northern
Ireland First Minister Arlene Foster LL.B., MLA dated June 16th
2017, which I copied to your office. In case that for any reason
you might not be aware of the email in question, please note that
there is an unedited Gmail PDF copy of it at the following www
location:
http://www.humanrightsireland.com/FirstMinister//Gmail.pdf '
===
The text in the section just above formed part of an email, and a
registered letter, both sent last Thursday (June 29th 2017) to the
Discretionary Support Commissioner, in Antrim, Northern Ireland.
The email was copied to all (or almost all) of Northern Ireland's
MLAs (Members of the Legislative Assembly of Northern Ireland),
and to all (or almost all) of Northern Ireland's MPs. It was also
copied to, among others, several senior public officials in the
Republic of Ireland.
A slightly edited version of the full email can be viewed at the
following www location:
http://www.humanrightsireland.com/AntrimJobsAn//Gmail.ht
ml
Also, an unedited "Gmail PDF" copy of the email can be viewed
at:
http://www.humanrightsireland.com/AntrimJobsAnd//Gmail.p
df
=== === === === === ===
To:
The Discretionary Support Commissioner,
Discretionary Support Service Centre,
Antrim Jobs & Benefits Centre,
20 Castle Street,
Antrim,
BT41 4JE.
Thursday, June 29th 2017.
Dear Commissioner,
RE: REVIEW OF YOUR CLAIM ID REF: 37202, DECISION ID:
45713, AND WILLIAM FINNERTY, NATIONAL INSURANCE
NUMBER YH615974D:
I would be grateful if you could please look at the decision relating
to my claim which is set out in the text of the unsigned letter I
have received from your office dated June 9th 2017.
A scanned copy the June 9th 2017 letter in question can be
viewed at the following www location:
http://www.humanrightsireland.com/AntrimJobsAn//Letter.ht
m
In connection with the above request, I would appreciate it if you
could please take account of the comments of mine set out under
1 to 6 below, which all relate to the letter dated June 9th 2017 at
the www address directly above.
===
1) As the June 9th 2017 unsigned letter to me contains no definite
mention of the letter I sent to your office through the registered
post on June 7th 2017, I have no way of knowing if the person in
your office who sent me the June 9th 2017 letter was aware of the
full contents of my June 7th 2017 letter, or not. That being so,
please know that I have placed a scanned copy of my June 7th
2017 to your office, together with scanned copies of the
associated Royal Mail receipt, and the Royal Mail "Proof of
Delivery" note, at the following www location:
http://www.humanrightsireland.com//7/RegisteredLetter.htm
2) When I decided to come to Northern Ireland in July 2015, I

came with thoughts of Article 18 ("Right to asylum") of the THE
CHARTER OF THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF THE EUROPEAN
UNION in mind; and, the hope that I would only need asylum (as
in "a safe harbour") in Northern Ireland for a period of a few
weeks, or a few months at most. It was not my intention to stay in
Northern Ireland for any longer than that, and it is still my
intention, as it has been throughout the whole period of the past
two years almost of my "forced exile" (as I see it) in Northern
Ireland, to return to the Republic of Ireland as soon as it seems
safe for me to do so.
However, the warrant for my arrest which I understand was issued
on July 8th 2015, remains extant as far as I know, as it has been (I
believe) throughout the entire period from July 8th 2015 up to the
present time.
The extant warrant for my arrest in the Republic of Ireland relates
to completely false allegations that I had committed crime in the
Republic of Ireland; and, I fled to Northern Ireland, in haste, in
early July 2015, for the purposes of a) trying to avoid being
corruptly criminalised, fined, and possibly imprisoned in the
Republic of Ireland, through the use of a "Trial by Judge (i.e. NON
JURY)", or, "Kangaroo Court" arrangement as I see it, and, b)
finding legal representation in Northern Ireland of the kind which
supports the set of principles stated in the text of Article 47 of
THE CHARTER OF THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF THE
EUROPEAN UNION, which reads as follows:.
"Right to an effective remedy and to a fair trial
"Everyone whose rights and freedoms guaranteed by the law of
the Union are violated has the right to an effective remedy before
a tribunal in compliance with the conditions laid down in this
Article.
"Everyone is entitled to a fair and public hearing within a
reasonable time by an independent and impartial tribunal
previously established by law. Everyone shall have the possibility
of being advised, defended and represented.
"Legal aid shall be made available to those who lack sufficient
resources in so far as such aid is necessary to ensure effective
access to justice."
The full text (of the English language version) of THE CHARTER
OF THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
can be viewed at the following www location:
http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/
3) To date, and despite my very best efforts to find legal
representation in Northern Ireland, of the kind which supports
Article 18 and Article 47 of THE CHARTER OF THE
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, I still have
not managed to locate any; and, consequently I still feel I cannot
sensibly return to the Republic of Ireland: for fear of being
corruptly criminalised, fined, and possibly imprisoned. However,
my efforts to find the kind of legal representation I am seeking,
which I, as a full citizen of the European Union continue to believe
I have a right to in law, are ongoing. When and if I manage to find
such legal representation, it continues to be my intention, as it has
been throughout the entire duration of my present stay in
Northern Ireland, to then straight away set about making
arrangements to return to the Republic of Ireland. It is for this
reason I have made no attempt to sell my home in the Republic of
Ireland, which seems to be one of the two main reasons my
application for Discretionary Support has been turned down: as
stated on Page three of the letter from your office dated June 9th
2017, which I have highlighted on the scanned copy of it that I
have placed at the following www location:
http://www.humanrightsireland.com/AntrimJobsA//Letter.htm
4) Correctly or otherwise, I have long believed that the main

location:
http://www.humanrightsireland.com/FirstMinister//Gmail.pdf
Please find some samples of evidence, of the kinds of wide-
ranging forms of Republic of Ireland "judicial corruption" (as I see
it) in question, in addition to evidence of my long-standing, and
ongoing, personal efforts for trying to remedy the "judicial
corruption problem" in the Republic of Ireland, in the following set
of Google listings:
#1) Chief Justice Susan Denham, Violations of the Republic of
Ireland's Constitution, William Finnerty:
#2) Chief Justice Susan Denham, Violations of Article 47 of The
European Union Charter of Fundamental Rights, William Finnerty:
#3) Chief Justice Susan Denham, Violations of United Nations
International "Aarhus Convention" Treaty, William Finnerty:
#4) Chief Justice Susan Denham, Bank Bailouts, William Finnerty:
#5) Chief Justice Susan Denham, The Republic of Ireland's Great
Oil and Gas Giveaway, William Finnerty:
#6) Chief Justice Susan Denham, Irish Water (Republic Of Ireland),
William Finnerty:
#7) Chief Justice Susan Denham, Fracking, William Finnerty:
#8) Chief Justice Susan Denham, Violations of Article 6.1 of
Republic of Ireland's Constitution, William Finnerty:
#9) Chief Justice Susan Denham, Fractional Reserve Lending
Fraud, William Finnerty:
https://www.google.ie/:&*
#10) Chief Justice Susan Denham, Derivatives Gambling Debt
#11) Chief Justice Susan Denham, NATO WARMONGERING,
Shannon Airport, William Finnerty:
#12) Chief Justice Susan Denham, Judicial Corruption, William
Finnerty:
===
5) As as I have truthfully stated in Section 7 of the registered letter
I sent to your office on May 27th 2017, I owe a total of Euros
80,000 to my brother (Gerald Finnerty), and my half-sister
(Marjorie Dolan), who are both domiciled in the Republic of
Ireland. However, it is stated on Page 3 of the letter dated June
9th 2017 from your office, referred to under 3) above, that "the
customer's debt at the time of review is confirmed as being
0.00". For me, this statement that I have zero debt, which seems
to be the second of the two main reasons for the turning down of
my application for Discretionary Support, represents a huge error
on the part of the person who is responsible for making this
statement..
In case that for some reason you might not be aware of my May
27th 2017 registered letter to your office, please know that there
is a scanned copy of it, together with scanned copies of the
Delivery" note at the following www location:
6) With reference to the "As such I do not consider the customer
to be in an extreme, exceptional, crisis situation which presents a
significant risk to his health and safety" statement at the bottom
of Page 3 of the letter dated June 9th 2017 from your office,
which I have also highlighted in the scanned copy referred to at 3)
above, I would be grateful if you would please consider the
contents of the two letters at the following www page address:
http://www.humanrightsireland.com//14February2/Letter.htm
One of the letters at the www address just above was sent by me
on February 14th 2017, and the second letter is a reply to my
February 14th 2017 letter, dated February 20th 2017, from
Craigavon Hospital Consultant Mr AJ Glacken (Urologist), dated
February 20th 2017, which contains the statement that "The level
of PSA (Prostate cancer indicator) found in January 2016 is most
concerning and requires further investigation". I feel I should point
out, for the purpose of enabling you to consider the matter, that
the www address for this "letter information" appears at the very
top of Page 4 of the letter I sent to your office through the
registered post on June 7th 2017, just under the heading "PTSD"
RELATED" LETTER FROM CRAIGAVON HOSPITAL
CONSULTANT MR ANTHONY CLACKIN MD FRCSI. Scanned
copies of my June 7th 2017 letter, together with scanned copies
of the associated Royal receipt, and the associated Royal Mail
"Proof of Delivery" note, can be viewed at the following www
page address:
===
I look forward to hearing from after you have considered the
matters referred to above.
Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to make it clear to all
concerned that I feel very grateful for the help I have received,
from a wide variety of sources, since coming to Northern Ireland
in July 2015; which I think of -- and consistently view -- as a very
considerable and worthwhile amount of help.
Yours faithfully,
William Finnerty.
Web Site: http://www.humanrightsireland.com
=== === ===
ATTACHMENT:

The Fascists Gaels are moving fast to censor social media.
All they need is an excuse.
I told you this would happen and it will if you allow it.
Taoiseach: 'Just because somebody wasn't convicted

doesn't mean their behaviour was acceptable'
The Taoiseach says the Jobstown verdict must be respected.
Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan has rejected calls for a
public inquiry after the Solidarity Party insisted it's members
were the subject of a 'stitch up'.
But today Solidarity addressed a #JobstownNotGuilty
campaign rally in Dublin and repeated its calls for the
remaining charges to be dropped.
Leo Varadkar was asked for his opinion while attending a

festival in Galway.
"I think it's important that we respect that outcome because it

was a trial by jury and it's a jury who spent nine weeks
considering all the evidence.
"They made the decision they did.
"Just because somebody wasn't convicted of false
imprisonment doesn't mean that their behaviour, or the way
the treated Joan Burton and Karen OConnell, was in any way
acceptable and I don't think it was acceptable," he said.
Follow
David Lynch @gribers

#JobstownNotGuilty protest Dame Street. #jobstown
3:26 PM - 1 Jul 2017
Follow
Ciaran Tierney @ciarantierney

Paddy Hill, of the Birmingham 6.
A reminder of the grim consequences of demonising a

community.
Any community.#JobstownNotGuilty
5:20 PM - 1 Jul 2017
1 1 Retweet3 3 likes
Meanwhile, Solidarity TD Paul Murphy has insisted the
Government set up a public inquiry into the Jobstown trial.
He was acquitted along with five others this week for the false
imprisonment of former Tnaiste Joan Burton and her
assistant at a water charges protest in November 2014.
Despite the Justice Minister rejecting calls for an inquiry,
Deputy Murphy told a campaign rally in Dublin today that he
still thinks it is possible.
"The Government ruled out abolishing water charges.
"Governments always start out by ruling out the things they
don't want to give, but if enough people raise their voices
together and clearly demand it and are able to expose what
happened in court, well then hopefully the Government can be
forced to change their mind," he said.
Typical bullshit from a bullshit artist...
""I think it's important that we respect that outcome because it was a trial by jury and it's a jury
who spent nine weeks considering all the evidence.
"Just because somebody wasn't convicted of false imprisonment doesn't mean that their behaviour, or
the way the treated Joan Burton and Karen OConnell, was in any way acceptable and I don't think it
was acceptable," he said."
He couldn't even accept the result. He had to add a massive but at the end and we all know what that
means...
Jury selected for trial of men

accused of falsely imprisoning
Joan Burton
Over 100 potential jurors were called in a random ballot and a jury of
five women and seven men were selected.
Apr 24th 2017
A JURY HAS been selected for the trial of Solidarity TD Paul

Murphy and six other men on charges of falsely imprisoning
Joan Burton in Tallaght in 2014.
Paul Murphy (34), together with South Dublin councillors
Kieran Mahon (39), Michael Murphy (53) and four other
men have entered not guilty pleas on charges of falsely
imprisoning of then Tnaiste and Karen OConnell by
restricting their personal liberty without their consent at
Fortunestown Road, Jobstown, Tallaght on 15 November,
2014.
Judge Melanie Greally has told the jurors the case is
expected to last six weeks and the trial is expected to begin
at 2pm tomorrow.
Following a jury selection process that took three-and-a-half
hours and in which over 100 potential jurors were called in a
random ballot, a jury of five women and seven men were
selected.
Murphy of Kingswood Heights, Tallaght, Mahon of Bolbrook
Grove, Tallaght, Michael Murphy of Whitechurch Way,
Ballyboden, Dublin, Frank Donaghy (71) of Alpine Rise,
Tallaght, Ken Purcell (50) of Kiltalown Green, Michael
Banks (46) of Brookview Green, Tallaght, and Scott
Masterson (34) of Carrigmore Drive, Tallaght have all been
arraigned and entered not guilty pleas.
During the selection process some potential jurors were
excused after speaking privately with the judge. Further
members of the panel were excused following challenges
from the defence and prosecution legal teams which is
provided for as part of the jury selection process.
One person was excused after she indicated that she had
holiday booked in seven weeks time.
Judge Greally told the jury they must be satisfied they can
stay with the case for at least six weeks. She outlined that
they could not serve if they knew any or had any connection
to any of the parties involved in the case or their families.
She said they should not serve if they had any substantial
knowledge of the events over and above what was in the
public domain and which would affect their impartiality.
Greally told the jury panel that people from the

Fortunestown Road and surrounding roads should not
serve. She said people from the wider Tallaght area should
be cautious and carefully consider if they had any
connection to parties or events in the case.
She said the fact a person was from Tallaght or Jobstown did
not preclude them from serving if they were satisfied they
could be impartial.
Irish Water
Greally said people employed by Irish Water or
subcontractors, as well as their immediate families, or
people who had engaged in installation of water meters
should not serve. She said people working for An Cosn,
outside where the alleged incident took place, or the
Department of Environment should not serve.
She said people active in campaigns for or against water
charges on a formal or informal basis should consult their
conscience and not serve if their views on water charges,
water protests or water protesters was so strong that they
could not be impartial.
Greally said people who shared the political views of the
defence or prosecution witnesses should ask themselves if
they could approach the case with the necessary
impartiality.
She said if anyone had expressed themselves on the internet,
in print or broadcast media or on social media or online
comment pages and made statement about events or
witnesses in this case they should bring it to the courts
attention and be ready to describe the comments.
The judge had earlier given details of certain categories of
people who were disqualified from serving such as
practising barristers or solicitors, garda, prison officers,
members of the defence forces and court service employees.
The jury panel were told Paul Murphy was a full time public
representative and member of Dil ireann. Kieran Mahon
and Michael Murphy are county councillors with South
Dublin County Council. Masterson is a self-employed
courier, Donaghy is a retired construction worker and
Purcell works in a factory.
Judge Greally told the panel that Banks is not in any
occupation that would bring him into contact with the
general public.
http://www.thejournal.ie/jobstown-trial-2-3356535-
Apr2017/
WARNING Article from 24th April ""2017""

EXTRACT
""She said people active in campaigns for or against water charges on a formal or informal
basis should consult their conscience and not serve if their views on water charges, water
protests or water protesters was so strong that they could not be impartial.
Greally said people who shared the political views of the defence or prosecution witnesses should ask
themselves if they could approach the case with the necessary impartiality.
She said if anyone had expressed themselves on the internet, in print or broadcast media or on social
media or online comment pages and made statement about events or witnesses in this case they should
bring it to the courts attention and be ready to describe the comments.""
Apart from the Numerous Restrictions in the "selection process"....
Wasn't the Jury also told NOT to go on Social Media during the trial?
Howlin: Public order offences

should have been brought
against Jobstown Six
The Labour leader says what happened at the water protest
was "vile"
NEWS
Labour leader Brendan Howlin on the plinth in Leinster

The Labour Party leader Brendan Howlin says 'it was a
mistake' in not pursuing public order offences against the
Jobstown Six, instead of false imprisonment.
Solidarity TD Paul Murphy and five other men were all cleared
this week of falsely imprisoning the former Tnaiste Joan
Burton during an anti-water protest charge demonstration in
2014.
Mr Howlin says the party had "no hand, act or part" in the
prosecution.
In an interview with Yates on Sunday, Mr Howlin asked if the
Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) made a mistake with
charging the men with false imprisonment instead of public
order offences.
"I can say no honestly, yes.
"I deliberately said nothing from the beginning to the end of
this I stayed quiet on this because I thought 'let judicial
process take its course'.
"But what happened was vile: the language used against two
women.
"I'm trekking around the country right now, doing my best to
get women to involve themselves in politics.
"And if I can even persuade women to do that - looking at
what happened in Jobstown - and having people say: 'that's
alright - you can call people the most vile and vicious, sexist
terms' that you wouldn't use obviously against a man. You can
throw things at them".
"We will not get people with passion and vision involved in
politics if it is acceptable now to have that sort of bullying,
vileness, spitting at them".
Mr Howlin says he has been involved in political protest
himself, "but never targeting individuals with vileness like
that".
The neck of this prick his party are the biggest gangsters they sold the working class people
out while in power with Fine Gael and said the language used against two woman was
disgraceful what about the language these two horrible woman used against the ordinary
people who the Labour Party described as dregs hope they never get back in
http://www.newstalk.com/Howlin:-Public-order-offences-should-have-been-
brought-against-Jobstown-Six
Latest: Sinn Fein and Solidarity call for

independent inquiry into Jobstown trial
Update 4.42pm: There are calls this evening for an independent

inquiry into the prosecution of the Jobstown Trial.
Sinn Fein Justice Spokesperson Deputy Jonathan OBrien said the
nature of the trial will raise serious questions for the public.
The Cork North Central TD said it was blatantly obvious that these
very serious charges should never have been brought forward by the
DPP.
While we obviously recognise the independence of the courts, the

DPP, and the policing structures of the state, we also recognise that
there is now huge public outrage following the vindication of the
Jobstown protest.
We believe there is a need for an inquiry that would examine how

this trial came about and why these charges were brought in the first
instance.
The Solidarity Party has also suggested there was a conspiracy to

stitch up its members who were yesterday acquitted of false
imprisonment.
It denies that yesterdays acquittal was "a watershed moment" - it

says that would only have been true if the Jobstown Six were
convicted for their part in a protest.
The party claims that former Labour Party leader Joan Burton - who
did not make a criminal complaint - went straight to the Phoenix
Park Garda Station after the protest.
It also claims that in the days after the protest, Garda dropped plans
to go door-to-door in Jobstown seeking evidence.
The Department of Justice has yet to respond to the demands.
Earlier:
One of the men cleared in the Jobstown trial says he has no faith in
the judicial process.
Yesterday, a jury acquitted six people of falsely imprisoning the

former Tnaiste Joan Burton and her adviser Karen OConnell at a
water charge protest in Tallaght in November 2014.
Solidarity Councillor Kieran Mahon was asked if his acquittal makes

him trust the courts system.
He said: "I dont respect that process, how could you respect that
process?
"Look at the evidence, look at the contradictory evidence by the

guards, the video evidence. Look at the scandals the Garda have
been involved in.
"How could you put your faith in an organisation of that nature?"
The trial at Dublins Circuit Criminal Court attracted huge attention

on social media with the hashtag #Jobstownnotguilty in frequent
use.
Asked about the use of social media during the trial, Councillor
Mahon replied: "I think as long as facts are reported correctly, youre
free to give opinion."
"Weve had a sustained campaign by the media where the media has
basically had a free run in what it said about Jobstown, in what it
said about Solidarity, what it said about the AAA, Paul Murphy TD
and the defendants."
He also told Newstalk Breakfast the State broadcaster RT, and the
Dil, was used against them.
"All you have to do is look at the media campaign thats been run
over the last two and a half years against the community in Jobstown
and against the defendants themselves.
"If you look at it from the very off from the Saturday of the protest,
the first reporting of that in mainstream media by the State
broadcaster RT was by RTs crime correspondent.
"Even that in itself shows a certain framing of an issue in a certain

light".
"People were looking at the story as it was presented to them by the

national media".
"A lot of people would have to ask the question: why does a
community come out and protest in that way?
"People were angry, people were annoyed - but generally over the
course of the protest, people expressed themselves in a very, very
disciplined way".
Asked how this was a defeat for the political establishment, as

claimed by some of Councillor Mahons colleagues, he said: "All the
information weve received about our charges has been received
through the State broadcaster".
"The other aspect of the political establishment... is the Dil - the use
of the Dil by TDs, and the use of national media by TDs to criticise
and frame the Jobstown protest in a certain way".
http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/latest-sinn-fein-and-
solidarity-call-for-independent-inquiry-into-jobstown-trial-795768.html
Theres Quare [and Sinister] Things in

Dublin by Catherine Kelly
by Jude Collins on July 2, 2017
In her own words, Catherine Kelly details the events after being questioned about her Twitter
acount by Gardai during the week.
'I was asked if I use social media, which I confirmed. I was asked if I use Twitter, which I also
confirmed. I was shown a small notebook in which the words Sane Politico were written. I
was asked if I used the name Sane Politico, which I again confirmed. I was asked if I had
written an article about Minister Regina Doherty and that too was affirmed. This is the article
in question:
The not guilty verdict in the Jobstown water protest trial in Dublin has raised
various questions about political policing and the political use of law
enforcement for corrupt intent. It has exposed a police force whose sworn
testimony was so suspect that it prompted the judge to instruct the jury to
disregard it and unmasked politicians and their wellpaid advisors who will tell
very tall tales directly contradicting video evidence. What was confirmed
throughout the trial, and indeed in the aftermath with media attacks on the
power of social media, is that political power is being wielded through the
instruments of the state to suppress dissent and protest and to cause
widespread fear among the citizenry lest they raise their heads above the
parapet.
In view of these matters raised by the Jobstown show trial, I had my own
experience very recently with law enforcement and the political establishment.
Leaving Ireland on June 27, 2017 to return to New York, I was approached by
two men in plain clothes who presented themselves as officers from Pearse
Street Garda Station. They asked, Is your name Catherine Kelly? When I
confirmed my name they stated they needed to speak with me.
I was quickly shown one Garda badge though I did not have time to note any
identification number or name. One of the men did all the talking while the other
looked on.
I was asked if I use social media, which I confirmed. I was asked if I use Twitter,
which I also confirmed. I was shown a small notebook in which the words Sane
Politico were written. I was asked if I used the name Sane Politico, which I
again confirmed. I was asked if I had written an article about Minister Regina
Doherty and that too was affirmed. This is the article in
question: http://www.judecollins.com/2017/04/solve-problem-like-regina-
catherine-kelly/
I was then informed that a complaint had been made against me at Pearse
Street Garda Station. There was no information offered about who filed the
complaint. I was informed that I was being cautioned, and that I was not to
tweet Regina Doherty, or any material relevant to her again. I was informed She
does not like it. As the Regina Doherty and Sane Politico accounts have utilized
mutual blocks for at least two years, I explained how I cannot and do not tweet
Minister Doherty directly. This explanation was not understood by the man
posing the questions.
I then informed the interrogator that I am a Professor of Political Science at an

American University and that I teach about the use of social media in political
contexts. The man responded Sure half of these ones do not even understand
what social media is.
The man who questioned me then reintroduced a small notebook and I saw a
page of notes that I did not attempt to read. I was asked to sign the page of
notes at the bottom. I did as requested as I was informed I was required to do
so before I could proceed to my gate. I signed the page, Catherine Kelly. As I
had an urgent personal matter to attend to in New York, it seemed like the
wisest action to take.
In a country such as Ireland, where much of the media has become just another
branch of what can fairly be characterized as a corrupted government, the
power of social media cannot be overstated. I have used Twitter and other social
media outlets to challenge the powers that be on their activities to do the job
that a fair and balanced media would undertake if they were truly independent.
I have raised issues about Minster Regina Doherty frequently on social media.
The content of my commentary is based on material in the public domain or fair
comment based on that material.
http://www.judecollins.com/2017/07/theres-quare-sinister-things-dublin-
catherine-kelly/

A woman in transit through Dublin this week was cautioned by

Garda in relation to tweeting/blogging about an Irish govt minister's
finances.
Her name is Catherine Kelly. She has dual citizenship of Ireland & the
USA.
She is a Professor of Political Science at a U.S. university...
...she tweets as @sanepolitico.
On 27 June she was in transit through Dublin Airport & was approached by
two men. One showed Garda ID.
Her identity was established & she was asked if she was @sanepolitico,
which she confirmed...
She was instructed to make no further mention online of Regina Doherty,

Minister for Social Protection.
She was told the Minister "did not like it" & that she should not post
anything relating to the Minister again.
In order to continue on her way, she had to sign a document. She was not
given a copy & does not know what it said.
She was required to sign "a page of notes" including her Twitter handle
@sanepolitico. She could not go to her flight until she did so.
She has taken legal advice & is exploring various possible courses of action
here & in the U.S.
She has written a full account of the incident, which I will post a link to as
soon as she makes it public.
Apparently she was not told she had broken any law, just that the Minister
"didn't like it."
Catherine has tweeted on many occasions about Minister Doherty, mainly

public record information about her finances taken from newspapers
She has also questioned whether there is evidence for the Minister's frequent
claims of "online death threats."
(Minister Doherty is one of a number of politicians who make such claims
when discussing "online abuse" aka criticism.)

Jude collins site crashed....but im sure you have heard about it, wonder will history call this
period "the unmasking of fascism in Ireland"

Here is a screen grab of Catherine Kelly's (aka @sanepolitico) statement on being detained and questioned
about her Twitter account by Gardai in Dublin Airport last week, taken before the website mysteriously went
down..

Teenager found guilty of false

imprisonment of Joan Burton
during water charges protest
He was 15 at the time of the incident at Jobstown.
Oct 21st 2016,
A STUDENT HAS been found guilty of false imprisonment

of Joan Burton during the Jobstown protest.
The youth (17) denied falsely imprisoning the former
Tnaiste and her advisor Karen OConnell who were
allegedly trapped in two garda cars for three hours during
the demonstration at the Fortunestown Road in Jobstown in
Tallaght, on 15 November 2014.
He was aged 15 at the time of the protest.
The judge in his case said he would impose a conditional
discharge on both charges with a term that he must not re-
offend within next nine months. He will also be spared
a criminal record in this case.
His trial at the Dublin Childrens Court resumed this

morning for Judge John King to decide if he was going to
throw out the case. The 17-year-olds legal team contended
that it is not accordance with Irish or European human
rights laws and that the State has not made out a case to
answer.
Burton had been at a graduation ceremony at An Cosan
education centre when a water protest took place outside.
She told the court earlier that she was frightened and did not
think she had the alternative of being able to get out of garda
cars surrounded by people shouting abuse and banging on
windows.
The teenager had also walked in front of her holding a phone
filming her and blocked her while saying talk to us Joan,
she said.
Last month, the State closed its case and on Tuesday, the
boys legal team asked Judge John King to dismiss the
charges. The boys barrister Giollaoisa O Lideadha SC told
Judge King that the the case is unprecedented and is a
recipe for totalitarianism.
However, Judge King held that the liberty of the then
Tnaiste and her advisor were restricted at numerous stages
and the teenager was guilty based on the evidence given to
the court.

http://www.thejournal.ie/teenager-guilty-false-imprisonment-3038549-
Oct2016/

Protests can and do take many different forms.Small or large Demonstrations, Rallies, Individual statement.
The purpose of a Protest is to influence Government Policy, Employers or Public Opinion.To do this Protests
should be effective.
Where Protest are part of Direct Action Campaign using Pressure and Persuasion, can be best described as
Civil Resistance, Civil Disobedience, Non-violent Resistance.
Protests are some times Organised, supported or reaction to a situation.
Protests, Civil Disobedience should be LAWFUL in Democracy Society.
Civil Disobedience, Protests or Protesters should NOT be Criminalized

Paul Murphy: Water charge

protesters 'on the verge of a
big victory'
LISTEN: Irish Water says over 500,000 households have yet to
register
NEWS
Socialist TD Paul Murphy talks to media outside Terenure garda

station in
Anti-Austerity Alliance TD Paul Murphy says water charge
protesters are on the verge of a 'big victory', amid estimates
that 30% of households are yet to register.
Irish Water is refusing to release full details on how many
people have paid the charge so far, with just six days left until
applications for the conservation grant close.
Those who do not register will not receive the 100 grant from
the Department of Social Protection.
Irish Water has admitted that more than 500,000 households
have yet to register with the utility.
It says 1.32 million households have registered their details,
but it believes that is only around seven out of every 10
households.
Head of communications with Irish Water, Elizabeth Arnett,
said yesterday: "All households across the country are entitled
to the government 100 Water Conservation grant even
those who are part of a group water scheme or have a well
and a septic tank and are therefore not customers of Irish
Water."
"We are urging all households to register with us so that they
will not miss out on this 100 government grant in
September", she added.
Deputy Murphy told Newstalk Breakfast the campaign against
the water charge has been a success.
http://www.newstalk.com/Irish-Water-payment-registration-figures-Paul-Murphy-
conservation-grant
I was with these people right from the start, even before the first protest took place. I
supported them through their trial.
Why you might ask,well i believed that if the government got their way on the water charges
there would be nothing they would not do to the poor of this country. And you might ask what
have that to do with an old man, well i was poor very poor actually hungry cold poor, and i
know what it was like going to bed hungry and waking up hungry. Now what kind of human
being would i be if i was not to put up a fight to protect our future generations, well i would not be able
to live with myself, i would be so ashamed to say i done nothing.
Now i say to the people who done nothing, well you are nothing you are just selfish greedy people,you
don't care about your own families let alone about others.You see life never stands still it keeps on
changing and to live for today and yourself is not human or christian tomorrow may and probably will
throw you up a heap of problems that you will need help with. I will say nothing about who you turn to
for help, well i don't know
Jobstown Not Guilty, None of us Guilty.only the government and the guards are GUILTY.
Jobstown trial a huge

propaganda victory for
radical left
Radical lefts moment has passed despite attention-
seeking populism
Sat, Jul 1, 2017, 03:00 Updated: Sat, Jul 1, 2017, 15:50
Pat Leahy
Locals from the Jobstown area react to the verdict after six people were found
not guilty of the false imprisonment of former Labour party leader Joan Burton
and her assistant in 2014.
If the Jobstown trial was, as Paul Murphy and his
comrades insist, a political conspiracy, it must have been
one of the most inept conspiracies ever.
If this is what the establishment and its media lackeys do
when theyre trying to nobble a rising political
movement, Id hate to see what they would do when
theyre trying to promote it.
On Friday, Solidarity TDs Paul Murphy, Ruth Coppinger
and Mick Barry called for a public inquiry into supposed
political influence on the decision to prosecute party
members. This is absurd. If the slightest amount of
political intelligence had been brought to bear, these
prosecutions would never have been taken.
The policing on the day was generally useless but the
decision to charge the protesters with false
imprisonment was idiotic. The Director of Public
Prosecutions should be taking a long, hard look at her
decisions on this. If charges were warranted at all, surely
public-order offences would have made more sense, and
been more proportionate?
The trial has given the Solidarity campaigners a huge
propaganda victory, though I suspect conviction might
have been even better for political purposes.
The political model of the radical left parties requires
these radicalising moments water charges, bin
charges, anti-austerity campaigns to give them a
foothold in politics. They have demonstrated
considerable application and political skill in doing so,
translating public antipathy to austerity, especially in
working class areas, into their largest Dil
representation ever.
Social media
Partly because some of their TDs are very able but also
because of the distinctiveness of their political message,
they command a disproportionate share of political
debate. They have harnessed the political and
campaigning power of social media better than any other
party.
Taoiseach says treatment of Burton at Jobstown protest
not acceptable
McGrath says false imprisonment charges went too far
Government rules out inquiry into Jobstown prosecutions
Yet for all that, their moment of true political
opportunity may have passed. The economic crisis is
over. Public finances will remain semi-tight for the
foreseeable future, but the era of austerity is over.
The policies of the radical left parties nationalisation of
industry, higher taxes, a dramatic reorganisation of the
state and the market are not ones for which a wide
audience is discernible. Their views on the structure of
politics that the street politics of protest is just as
important and legitimate as parliamentary politics are
minority pursuits, to say the least.
The radical left has coherent political and economic
ideas, for sure; they are just not very popular.
Sinn Fins brand of leftism has proved more successful,
and its presence in the mainly working-class
communities where the radical left parties and
Independents base themselves has been a big brake on
their growth.
At Fridays press conference, Ruth Coppinger was asked
if Sinn Fin could be a part of the new left platform
Solidarity says it wants to build in advance of the next
election. Her reply was delivered with a moue of distaste.
She didnt see how Sinn Fin would qualify for a left
alliance too interested in coalition, insufficiently pro-
choice; not committed to higher corporate taxation.
Never mind that its hard to see a broad left alliance
being very broad without Sinn Fin. Despite the fact they
may be rhetorically on the same side, Sinn Fin and the
radical left parties are each others deadliest political
rivals.
Minority viewpoint
Politics has changed since the crash; of course it has.
Fianna Fil, Fine Gael and Labour used to clock 90 per
cent of the votes; now its not much above 50 per cent.
Where previously only a small minority of the voters
believed that the State and its institutions acted
deliberately against their interests, that view is more
widespread now. But going on rough electoral
arithmetic, its hardly 20 per cent of voters. The idea that
government is a conspiracy against the ordinary people
is still very much a minority viewpoint. Its not
insignificant, but its nothing like the popular and
transformative anti-establishment movements that have
been evident elsewhere.
Radical left TDs such as Paul Murphy, Richard Boyd
Barrett and Ruth Coppinger have dug in and
consolidated their votes in their own constituencies in
recent years; they are now a part of our politics.
But there is little sign that their political appeal has
broadened. Partly thats because their political ideas are
not accepted by very many people, and partly because
Sinn Fins parallel growth has limited them. There are
only so many left-wing votes, after all.
But theres another reason why, and it relates to the
Jobstown trial. Its also because not many people
appreciate the political and campaigning tactics that
some far-left activists employ.
Other people in the water charges campaign say
privately that they were horrified by the aggressive edge
that some radical left activists brought to the
organisation. People began to ask whether it was safe to
bring their children to protests, says one prominent
campaigner.
I suspect that many peoples reaction to the trial is not so
much that it was a political set-up but that what
happened to Joan Burton was disgraceful. It wasnt false
imprisonment, but that doesnt make it acceptable.
Politics can be a rambunctious game sometimes, and it
demands a thick skin of all involved. Thats fair enough.
But some radical left campaigners have engaged in bad
behaviour too often, directed personally against their
political opponents. Thats not right, and most people
recognise that. Following someone around with a camera
phone and calling them a f***ing traitor to post it on
Facebook is not political activism; its just following
someone around and calling them names.
Pat Leahy author of this article in the irish times.. is not on the
same field as most of us are. read the full article and see if you
agree with me. :)
the following is just one of his sentences that i disagree with,
"The economic crisis is over. Public finances will remain semi-
tight for the foreseeable future, but the era of austerity is over."
Really??? would ya ever tell the GOVERMENT then because they
seem to have missed that part.
https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/jobstown-trial-a-huge-propaganda-
victory-for-radical-left-1.3139432
Gardai have now proven that they are Irelands biggest enemy and are a major criminal
organisation .Jobstown lies , breathalyser lies, driving offence lies, embezzlement and theft of
your money . Allowing child abusers walk free , selling heroin, framing the innocent ,
protectors of white collar criminals , rape , claims fraud and so much more . Hope your
families and neighbours are proud of you . You are very sick individual s who need
immediate treatment . We in A.C.T will make you accountable .Its only a question of time
Theres Quare and Sinister Things in
in question:
parapet.
looked on.
catherine-kelly/

catherine-kelly/

https://www.scribd.com/document/352742895/There-s-Quare-and-Sinister-
Things-in-Dublin-by-Catherine-Kelly
The not guilty verdict in the Jobstown water protest trial in Dublin has raised various questions about political policing
and the political use of law enforcement for corrupt intent. It has exposed a police force whose sworn testimony was so
suspect that it prompted the judge to instruct the jury to disregard it and unmasked politicians and their wellpaid
advisors who will tell very tall tales directly contradicting video evidence. What was confirmed throughout the trial, and
indeed in the aftermath with media attacks on the power of social media, is that political power is being wielded through
the instruments of the state to suppress dissent and protest and to cause widespread fear among the citizenry lest they
raise their heads above the parapet.
In view of these matters raised by the Jobstown show trial, I had my own experience very recently with law enforcement
and the political establishment. Leaving Ireland on June 27, 2017 to return to New York, I was approached by two men
in plain clothes who presented themselves as officers from Pearse Street Garda Station. They asked, Is your name
Catherine Kelly? When I confirmed my name they stated they needed to speak with me.
I was quickly shown one Garda badge though I did not have time to note any identification number or name. One of the
men did all the talking while the other looked on.
I was asked if I use social media, which I confirmed. I was asked if I use Twitter, which I also confirmed. I was shown a
small notebook in which the words Sane Politico were written. I was asked if I used the name Sane Politico, which
I again confirmed. I was asked if I had written an article about Minister Regina Doherty and that too was affirmed. This is
the article in question: http://www.judecollins.com/.../solve-problem-like-regina.../
I was then informed that a complaint had been made against me at Pearse Street Garda Station. There was no information
offered about who filed the complaint. I was informed that I was being cautioned, and that I was not to tweet Regina
Doherty, or any material relevant to her again. I was informed She does not like it. As the Regina Doherty and Sane
Politico accounts have utilized mutual blocks for at least two years, I explained how I cannot and do not tweet Minister
Doherty directly. This explanation was not understood by the man posing the questions.
I then informed the interrogator that I am a Professor of Political Science at an American University and that I teach
about the use of social media in political contexts. The man responded Sure half of these ones do not even understand
The man who questioned me then reintroduced a small notebook and I saw a page of notes that I did not attempt to
read. I was asked to sign the page of notes at the bottom. I did as requested as I was informed I was required to do so
before I could proceed to my gate. I signed the page, Catherine Kelly. As I had an urgent personal matter to attend to in
New York, it seemed like the wisest action to take.
In a country such as Ireland, where much of the media has become just another branch of what can fairly be characterized
as a corrupted government, the power of social media cannot be overstated. I have used Twitter and other social media
outlets to challenge the powers that be on their activities to do the job that a fair and balanced media would undertake if
they were truly independent.
I have raised issues about Minster Regina Doherty frequently on social media. The content of my commentary is based
on material in the public domain or fair comment based on that material.
http://www.judecollins.com/.../theres-quare-sinister.../
If this story about Catherine is true, its a gross double standard of her to complain about being silenced since
she herself supports the silencing of other people she disagrees with ( see screensave ), I say to Catherine
that free speech cuts both ways for people you agree with + people you disagree with .

She was supporting people who protested against a university paying a fascist speaker. No one was silenced
or denied free speech, no one was detained by the cops for their speech. You're comparing denying
someone a public platform to preach hate to threatening someone's liberty over a twitter post, get a clue.
They just can't get over the jury seen the tds & the Garda force lie thru there teeth it wasn't social media that done it but
them selves and there all frightened of been found out it's just to protect them selves not the people who elected them
News papers express opinions all the time many a person has been tried by media in Ireland . Corrupt media
law and government. I've absolutely no doubt that if it was a non jury trial all of the accused would have gone
to prison.
Maybe they want to do away with jury trials. After all the 15 year old was convicted on the same garda
evidence that was dismissed in the jury trial
A woman in transit through Dublin this week was cautioned by Garda in relation to tweeting/blogging about
an Irish govt minister's finances.
Her name is Catherine Kelly. She has dual citizenship of Ireland & the USA.
On 27 June she was in transit through Dublin Airport & was approached by two men. One showed Garda ID.
Her identity was established & she was asked if she was @sanepolitico, which she confirmed...
She was instructed to make no further mention online of Regina Doherty, Minister for Social Protection.
She was told the Minister "did not like it" & that she should not post anything relating to the Minister again.
In order to continue on her way, she had to sign a document. She was not given a copy & does not know what it said.
She was required to sign "a page of notes" including her Twitter handle @sanepolitico. She could not go to her flight
until she did so.
She has taken legal advice & is exploring various possible courses of action here & in the U.S.
She has written a full account of the incident, which I will post a link to as soon as she makes it public.
Apparently she was not told she had broken any law, just that the Minister "didn't like it."
Catherine has tweeted on many occasions about Minister Doherty, mainly public record information about her finances
taken from newspapers
She has also questioned whether there is evidence for the Minister's frequent claims of "online death threats."
(Minister Doherty is one of a number of politicians who make such claims when discussing "online abuse" aka criticism.)
While this opinion piece is a kind of refreshing read for the IT the most scary part and perhaps part of the problem with
this country and many others like it is some of the sentiments in the comments of the actual article on the IT page....
These are the biggest problem of any change that needs to come about when I read them the first thing that came to mind
was the poem by Martin Niemller First they came ........ And to be honest they sound like they came from the Joan
Burton School of Entitlement so perhaps it shouldn't be so surprising .....
Joan Burton the Minister for social protection, A Leader of a party who's roots where based on democratic
rights, suddenly after a taste of power forgot about the people who elected her, tried to make a political stand
in the benefit of right wing politics which ended up biting her in the Ass, I just hope people see now what the
Labour party actually stand for in Ireland.

A cynical RTE reporter sat in his expensive car hating the dumb do-gooders that had lately hogged his headlines. The
streets were empty. Minister for Housing, Simon Coveney sat across from us. Frustration on both sides. Trying to break a
deadlock. We were Home Sweet Home and Coveney and his cohorts were the government.
We were in lengthy negotiations to secure basic rights for some of societys most vulnerable. They were complex and
difficult but Coveney reiterated the brilliantly bold statement that he would have every family out of emergency hotels by
July 1st 2017. He gave his word on it. He was staking his reputation on it. This was going to happen. This was irrefutable.
This was fact.
Our side of the long negotiating table was a motley crew. Brendan Ogle and Dave Gibney were the main negotiators.
Brilliant men both. Union leaders. Fighters. Then there was Jim Sheridan, the multiple Oscar nominated genius in fiction
and in life; Glen Hansard, the Oscar winning giant with a heart as big as his magnificent voice; the relentlessly brave
saints of The Irish Housing Network, Aisling Hedderman and Oisin Fagan; and Dean Scurry, the visionary working class
hero who started the whole damn thing. And me, the dumb fuck hack-whore whod never be normally let in the building.
On the governments side there were men and women who led us to believe they wanted to do the right thing. And we
believed them. We had to.
I wont speak for the others. They have their own tale to tell. Most of them much better than mine. Every one of them,
without exception, handled themselves beautifully. Erudite, passionate and humane, they put everything on the line. I
only opened my mouth three times. There were several recesses during the lengthy negotiations where wed break for
fifteen minutes to regroup. I hadnt spoken yet. Listening was more important. And watching. Lies arent just told with
the mouth.
We had reached another bullshit impasse and broke for the obligatory recess. Downstairs in our allocated room someone
asked if the room was bugged. We were told no. The collective decision was made that someone would have to shake up
the negotiations. Pull the pin on a grenade. The decision was made that it should be me. Nobody asked how it should be
done. It just had to be done. Effectively. But politely.
We went back upstairs and the mood in the room from the government folks was jovial. Confident. They had us on the
run. Everyone took their seats and the Minister looked at Brendan Ogle waiting for him to recommence. Brendan said
nothing. Best poker player I ever saw. The Minister raised his eyebrows behind those ill-fitting glasses of his and waited.
Simon? It was the first time hed heard my voice. And he didnt like it. Everybody in the room had shown respect to
the office by addressing him at all times as, Minister" and here was I calling him Simon.
He looked over at me. Him and the rest of his team. No attempt to hide their disdain. Coveney wiped his lower lip to hide
a tiny quiver and peered over his glasses. I didnt know what was going to come out of my mouth but I watched his eyes
to get a read of the man. In truth, all I saw was a kind of shallow vanity. Pointing to the large windows behind us, my
voice became low, almost shy, and I said, Everyone out there thinks youre a bunch of lying scumfuck bastards.
For a man accustomed to negotiations it was bizarre how the skin on Coveneys face blanched. How the purple blood
rushing behind the epidermis betrayed his entire facade. His disgust was palpable. Visceral. He wanted me dead. I didnt
blink. Fuck him. What can you give me to prove to those people youre not a fucking hustler?
Coveney had never been spoken to this way. Not by anybody. Particularly not by some piece of shit commoner off the
street. The rest of his staff were paralysed. Coveney looked to Brendan Ogle and stammered a demand for some kind of
decorum. But Brendan remained silent. The pin had been pulled. Coveney stared at me and spat the words out, Im no
hustler. I stared right back at him and quietly said, Prove it.
Today is July 1st 2017 and, more than six months after the occupation of Apollo House, homelessness is worse than any
time in recorded history. In a Machiavellian deal with his new boss - Leo Vardakar - two weeks before he was due to
deliver on his promise, Minister Simon Coveney dumped his Housing portfolio to become Minister For Foreign Affairs
and Trade with Responsibility for Brexit.
Children are being raised in emergency hotel rooms with their families. The hotel rules and regulations they have to abide
by would make convicted felons balk. These kids are not allowed go out to the grounds. Not allowed to enter and exit
through the front door. Not allowed eat in the restaurant. These children are ghosts. Walking through corridors in the
early morning. Permission given only because they have to go to school. Uniform on. Head down. Passing noisy business
types on their way to slice and dice some deal. Slice and dice some dream. Slice and dice some corpse. Masters of the
Universe. Too busy to see these children. Too important to do a double take. Too indifferent to give a damn. Everyone
understands the contract. The perfect division. Shame does that to you. Trains you how to be silent. Teaches you how to
become invisible. Prepares you for rage.
The second time I spoke was just after a break in negotiations. It wasnt intended to be provocative. If anything it was an
attempt to connect. We appeared to have made real progress. In between recesses, as everybody was taking their seats,
Coveney threw away a comment about having to get on the road. He wanted to kiss his kids goodnight before they went
to bed. Despite all the bullshit, I found that touching. Plus, Im a father of four. Empathy. What ages are your kids?
Thats all I said. Across the room. Open. Warm. No hustle. He looked at me. That same purple rising up his face. How
fucking dare I discuss his life. He stammered through an answer he hated having to give.
Turns out the Minister has three kids. Girls. They too have schoolbags on their backs. Uniform on. Head up. But there's
no need for silent bowing in their world. They dont live in an emergency hotel room. In fact, now that Daddy is Minister
for Foreign Affairs and Trade with Responsibility for Brexit these girls will be in many hotel rooms. Plush rooms in
plush cities with plush expense accounts. The folks theyll pass in hotel hallways will be Daddys mates. And those mates
won't be deaf, dumb and blind to these kids. Because these kids are ministers daughters. Theyre not the silent ghosts in
cheap emergency hotel corridors. The ungrateful ones with the chips on the shoulders. The ones with the lazy parents.
The future dole fraudsters. These might get up early but its usually because they have to get three busses to school. The
slovenly bastards probably sleep in class anyway. You know the type. Professional magpies. Scroungers. The cheats who
cheat us all.
The third time I spoke I gave the game away. I was effusive. Emotional. Needy. When I was seventeen I got my first
bedsit. I had been homeless. Lost. A ghost. Like those kids in the corridors. But when I closed that bedsit door behind me
those keys were more precious than it is possible to explain. During the negotiations I had become obsessed with the
symbolism of 'Own Key Accommodation.' True autonomy. I was stupidly nodding in agreement to anything to secure
Own Key Accommodation for the three new buildings that we had been promised. Thankfully Brendan Ogle and Dave
Gibney interceded and kept us on track. Brendan and Dave smelled a rat but I was willing to sell my soul for the thought
of those people feeling that same thing I had at seventeen. Own Key Accommodation. Coveney agreed to include it in the
document. I could have kissed him. Him and his face that turns purple. Him and his instinct to kiss his daughters
goodnight. Him and his, Im no hustler.
Brendan and Daves instinct was right. They fucked us. They fucked everyone. Worst of all they fucked the most
vulnerable. Thats the thing about being a Master of the Universe. Once you slice and dice one human being it gets easier.
Becomes a numbers game. Statistics. Few things dehumanize faster than numbers. One hundred homeless is a scary
figure. One thousand is terrifying. Seven thousand is just a number. Deal done. An entire subclass of people to use as a
weapon to threaten folks who cant pay the mortgage. The ultimate whipping boy. The homeless. Not even people any
more. No even numbers. Just, the homeless.
Simon Coveney is now the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade with Responsibility for Brexit. The same Simon
Coveney who attended the Bilderberg meetings. The same Simon Coveney whos willing to let countless children be
ghosts in their own lives. When it comes to slicing and dicing this country for Brexit who do you think this professional
hustler will listen to? The countless children he lets haunt hotel corridors or his beautiful Bilderberg buddies?
Today is July 1st, 2017. The lies are exposed. And nobody gives a fuck. Just like the lies told about Jobstown. There will
be no accountability. No media outcry. No consequence. These sociopaths lie to get what they want. And lie some more
to keep it. And to keep their fictions alive some people have to die. Some die slowly. Some fast. Some dont even see it
coming. Some deny its existence. But the one thing that connects us all is the fact that austerity is premeditated, cold-
blooded murder. And its champions are serial killers.
Kids in fancy hotel rooms dont die. Kids in emergency hotel rooms do. One day at a time. Unless we fight for their
future.
Wise words, no one will do youre work for you. so don't expect these good people too do it for you, only in numbers, can
change happen, and change can only happen, when we look in the mirror. because that's were the real problem lay's, with
ourselves. We shut up, and put up, from our so called ruling masters, they kick the self esteem, out of you, from the
moment you start school, they teach you too, obey. like an elephant when its a baby, you tie a heavy tractor tyre around
its leg, and no matter how hard it tries, it will never break free, so when that elephant grows up, you can tie it, too a twig.
and it wont even try, too break free. and thats how they do it. they tell you, dont try, dont try, we are the brains, we will
make sure, too keep you alive,for as long as we can use youre name as a bond, so we can get a loan in youre name. a wise
man once said, when running up a mountain. its the pebble in the shoe that stops you getting too the top. all you have too
do it take the pebbles out. one at a time. one thing i find with these politicians, is when they say something serious, laugh
youre head off at them there lying. and when they tell a joke, take it very serious. there telling the truth, you see them do
it with the put downs and jokes they say in the Dail.
"Just because somebody wasn't convicted of false imprisonment doesn't mean that their
behaviour, or the way the treated Joan Burton and Karen OConnell, was in any way
acceptable and I don't think it was acceptable," he said."
means.
Here it comes. The start of the clampdown on social media.
Amazing how they never define exactly what they consider "hate speech".
I suppose under this new fascist censorship, once pages like ours and others start to
disappear, then you will know...
Will you miss us when we're gone?
this is a violation of right to speak....as it is google/Facebook are censoring articles that THEY deem unsuitable....and as
for Germany who imprison up to 2,000 people a year for just ASKING for information on the holocaust, one of these
was an 80 year old lady who just asked for information and was brought to court and given a prison sentence. ....these are
the stories the world and more importantly EU citizens never get to hear.
Solidarity Councillor Kieran Mahon hit back at the deliberate smear and fear campaign
orchestrated by the establishment with the goal of criminalising protest...
"We've had a sustained campaign by the media where the media has basically had a free run
in what it said about Jobstown, in what it said about Solidarity, what it said about the AAA,
Paul Murphy TD and the defendants."
He also told Newstalk Breakfast the State broadcaster RT, and the Dil, was used against
them.
"All you have to do is look at the media campaign that's been run over the last two and a half years
against the community in Jobstown and against the defendants themselves.
"If you look at it from the very off from the Saturday of the protest, the first reporting of that in
mainstream media by the State broadcaster RT was by RT's crime correspondent.
"Even that in itself show's a certain framing of an issue in a certain light".
"People were looking at the story as it was presented to them by the national media".
That kind of propaganda is deliberate and they are not going to stop. In fact it will ramp up because
they didn't get the result they wanted and the reason is Social Media...
They have a new target now.
The target will be you. Your Social Media will be under attack after this. I guarantee it...
Sinn Fein and Solidarity call for independent inquiry into
Jobstown trial
July 2nd 17
There are calls this evening for an independent inquiry into the
prosecution of the Jobstown Trial.
Sinn Fein Justice Spokesperson Deputy Jonathan OBrien
said the nature of the trial will raise serious questions for the
public.
The Cork North Central TD said it was blatantly obvious that

these very serious charges should never have been brought
forward by the DPP.
While we obviously recognise the independence of the
courts, the DPP, and the policing structures of the state, we
also recognise that there is now huge public outrage following
the vindication of the Jobstown protest.
We believe there is a need for an inquiry that would examine

how this trial came about and why these charges were
brought in the first instance.
The Solidarity Party has also suggested there was a

conspiracy to stitch up its members who were yesterday
acquitted of false imprisonment.
It denies that yesterdays acquittal was "a watershed moment"
- it says that would only have been true if the Jobstown Six
were convicted for their part in a protest.
The party claims that former Labour Party leader Joan Burton
- who did not make a criminal complaint - went straight to the
Phoenix Park Garda Station after the protest.
It also claims that in the days after the protest, Garda dropped
plans to go door-to-door in Jobstown seeking evidence.
Earlier:
One of the men cleared in the Jobstown trial says he has no
faith in the judicial process.
Yesterday, a jury acquitted six people of falsely imprisoning
the former Tnaiste Joan Burton and her adviser Karen
OConnell at a water charge protest in Tallaght in November
2014.
Solidarity Councillor Kieran Mahon was asked if his acquittal
makes him trust the courts system.
He said: "I dont respect that process, how could you respect
that process?
"Look at the evidence, look at the contradictory evidence by
the guards, the video evidence. Look at the scandals the
Garda have been involved in.
"How could you put your faith in an organisation of that
nature?"
The trial at Dublins Circuit Criminal Court attracted huge
attention on social media with the hashtag #Jobstownnotguilty
in frequent use.
Mahon replied: "I think as long as facts are reported correctly,
youre free to give opinion."
"Weve had a sustained campaign by the media where the
media has basically had a free run in what it said about
Jobstown, in what it said about Solidarity, what it said about
the AAA, Paul Murphy TD and the defendants."
He also told Newstalk Breakfast the State broadcaster RT,
and the Dil, was used against them.
"All you have to do is look at the media campaign thats been
run over the last two and a half years against the community
in Jobstown and against the defendants themselves.
"If you look at it from the very off from the Saturday of the
protest, the first reporting of that in mainstream media by the
State broadcaster RT was by RTs crime correspondent.
"Even that in itself shows a certain framing of an issue in a
certain light".
"People were looking at the story as it was presented to them
by the national media".
"People were angry, people were annoyed - but generally over
the course of the protest, people expressed themselves in a
very, very disciplined way".
claimed by some of Councillor Mahons colleagues, he said:
"All the information weve received about our charges has
been received through the State broadcaster".
"The other aspect of the political establishment... is the Dil -
the use of the Dil by TDs, and the use of national media by
TDs to criticise and frame the Jobstown protest in a certain
way".
http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/latest-sinn-fein-and-
solidarity-call-for-independent-inquiry-into-jobstown-trial-
795768.html
The truth is plain. Corruption, lies and collusion together with abuse of political clout are to blame.
This country is going to break very soon and god help them corrupt dictators when it does.
We have a police force that nobody has any confidence in which is hanging together by a thread.
We have the 2 main parties colluding between each other FF/FG and both corrupt and rotten to the core.
This can't last much longer something will give and it's not going to end well.
Jurors wouldn't have heard anything on social media that
wasn't said in court, says Murphy
Paul Murphy has defended his party's use of Twitter and
Facebook during the Jobstown trial.
It comes after Fine Gael's Josepha Madigan said she had
issues with some of the comments made online during the
trial.
She is bringing a bill to the Dil to try make it an offence to
comment on social media while criminal cases are ongoing.
However, the Solidarity TD said they did nothing wrong.
Mr Murphy said: "The jurors were also directed not to pay
attention to the media that's dealing with it, not to pay attention
to social media, not to do any research and we trust that we
have robust juries.
"The second thing is that if the jurors went online to look at

what we were saying about the trial, they wouldn't have heard
about anything that they didn't hear inside court."
Update 1.18pm: Labour Party leader Brendan Howlin has
said it was a mistake not to pursue public order offences
rather than false imprisonment charges in the case of the
Jobstown Six.
this week of falsely imprisoning the former Labour Party leader
Joan Burton during an anti-water-charge demonstration in
2014.
Speaking immediately after being cleared, Mr Murphy said
files sent by the garda to the Director of Public Prosecutions
in the case were "rubbish".
Joan Burton hit by water balloon in Jobstown Tallaght

Published on Nov 15, 2014
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzKz69VkYJE
>
Deputy Howlin says the party had no hand, act or part in the
prosecution.
When asked asked if the DPP made a mistake with charging
the men with false imprisonment, he said: I can say now,
honestly - yes.
I deliberately said nothing - from the beginning to the end of
this I stayed quiet on this, because I thought let judicial
process take its course.
But what happened was vile - the language used against two
women.
Fuck off you treacherous bollix your face in the Dal told your story
and your hopes. your former leader was untruthful in her evidence.
You and your corrupt gang are finished.
Earlier:
Ireland.
believes our laws need to be updated to cover the increased
use of social media.
In an interview with the Sunday Times, she said she believed
that some comments made by Solidarity TDs during the
Jobstown trial were "menacing".
On Thursday, jurors cleared TD Paul Murphy and five other
men of the false imprisonment of former Tnaiste Joan Burton
and her advisor during an anti water charge demonstration in
Jobstown in 2014.
Well, I found it very difficult during the Jobstown trial, and
indeed I would say the same if it was any trial, the fact that
there was a lot of activity on social media, on Facebook and
on Twitter, about the trial itself, said Ms Madigan.
The media, the main media, are not allowed make comments
like that during criminal trials, and I dont think it should be
allowed on social media either.
influence on the jurors, but she said we needed legislation to
protect juries from outside influences.
The TD is now going to attempt and bring a Bill to the Dil
making it a statutory offence to comment on ongoing criminal
cases.

http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/latest-jurors-wouldnt-have-heard-
anything-on-social-media-that-wasnt-said-in-court-says-murphy-795979.html
I believe the jury followed the judges instructions diligently and with honour
including Garda evidence contradicted by video evidence(FG&L had
nothing to say about this, I find this worrying,is this acceptable?!)
These men found innocent by a jury of the most serious charges of false
imprisonment (with potential maximum life sentence) that protesters been
charged with (&silence from FG,FF,L on the severity of a charges)and yet
again the trial continues it seems.I must say I find this very disturbing and
worrying.
The ordinary people and families and communities in this country won't be
silenced when they faced austerity for several years with devastating
impacts on their lives and again and again more and more pushed on their
shoulders regardless of affordability or consequences.
Also people want a referendum to ensure our water services and
infrastructure stays in public ownership but Joan Collins bill re same has
been stalled for 7/8 months as Coveney hasn't got AG advice so bill can be
progressed yet could get immediate AG advice when FG lost votes on
Committee on Future Funding of Water!
Worryingly the next River Basin Management Plan is due to be furnished to
EU by end of year and no Referendum before that and where is other
legislation also re water services.Plus IW should be put under jurisdiction of
PAC &C&AG as it's funded by public money plus 11B of state assets
transferred to it.Why was this not done??
The voters who gave a majority democratic mandate to the Dail last year
that wasnt honoured haven't gone away.....the people from all walks of life
who marched in massive marches haven't gone away!
The only thing that's ''menacing'' Mrs Blueshirt is Murdoch giving you
and your cronies a platform to intimidate future juries.
What was 'VILE' was bring those charges in the first place, what was 'VILE'
the way some of the Guards lied under oath, what was 'VILE' the biased
commentary by the mainstream media, what is 'VILE' is the push to censor
the Social Media, ask the CHINESE about that.... what is 'VILE', is your
support for a member of your Party calling the people 'Dregs' - and is it
'VILE' for Joan to want to put her video on Social Media?
No Gene Kerrigan in the Sunday Independent this week, instead his usual spot was given to Eilis
O'Hanlon, a right wing commentator with a massive chip on her shoulder over the Jobstown not guilty
verdict. I have a feeling that Kerrigan's article was censored by the Denis O'Brien controlled Blueshirt
organ and that O'Hanlon was rolled out to spew as much vitriol and hatred against Jobstown as could
be squeezed into a half page of the broadsheet. From her "soapbox" O'Hanlon articulates the
disappointment and the shock and anger of the establishment at this verdict. She attacks Left politicians
and she attacks the Jobstown area in a raving, ranting piece that seemed to have been written when she
had a few glasses of wine too many. Of course Eilis's rose-tinted glasses prevent her from seeing
anything but the martyr Saint Joan, but about the lies and perjury of scores and scores of garda - not a
word. The early morning raids on family homes by armed police, the use of handcuffs, the relentless
campaign of vilification by right wing media, led by Denis O'Brien's monopoly, the reason why Burton
was hated and despised because of her brutal austerity measures .... not a word from O'Hanlon on her
Denis O'Brien soapbox.
The media in Ireland is rotten to the core and the stench is most putrid around O'Brien's print media.
But social media has allowed more and more people to read and share the truth. And the political
establishment and their wealthy backers do not like it. That is why Blueshirt TD Josepha Madigan is
talking about introducing a bill in the Dil to censor social media. This must be resisted at all costs
Wouldn't you just hate been Ellis O Hanlon what a bitter twisted human being all that hatred inside of her
Should social media posts be

held in contempt of court?
Theres a debate over the role social media plays in court cases after
the Jobstown trial verdict last week.
July 2, 17
DO YOU THINK Ireland should legislate to include social

media posts that comment on ongoing trials in contempt of
court?
Fine Gael TD Josepha Madigan is to table a bill to make
contempt of court a statutory offence, and believes
commenting ongoing trials on social media sites like Twitter
and Facebook should be made illegal (as it is for media
organisations).
In an interview with The Sunday Times, Madigan said that

she believed the law needed to be updated after the
Jobstown Not Guilty social media campaign.
But there are concerns about how this would be policed, and
that it could infringe on freedom of speech rights if it was
over-enforced.
So. do you think social media posts should be held in
contempt of court?
Poll Results:
http://www.thejournal.ie/donald-trump-tweet-2-3474752-Jul2017/
Lying gardai should be held in contempt of court
From the very start of this Jobstown court case with a 15 year lad along with
the others accused,Getting a visit from the Gardai at 7am stunk of political
interference. Were these people highly strung and dangerous to the public
that the guards arrived in their numbers? What about the people who drove
this country off the cliff when it came to them being questioned they made a
time to be interviewed at the station. This seems like another politician
wanting to cut out social media like that unelectable one from Labour.
Two trials on the same incident using the same evidence.
The one without a jury returns a guilty verdict, the one with a jury returns a
no9t guilty verdict.
The difference? Once the decision making moved outside the circle of the
DPP, judiciary and Gardai to ordinary citizens, the stitch up was rightly
rejected.
thus could be the start of a slippery slope and I would not be in favour of
gagging people.
Established Ireland running scared after what they have got away with over
the decades it is about time.
FG, can you run a poll on whether or not perjury charges should be brought
against the officers of the law whose evidence the judge directed the jury to
disregard
They all need to get over themselves .. Not guilty was the verdict by jury
whats social media to do with it
Instead of inventing new unworkable laws, could we see some enforcement
of the ones that currently exist? Corruption laws would be a good place to
start, Whats in it for me and a multi million euro report called Moriarty.
Then Perjury, theres a good law, any idea when the last time someone was
convicted under that?
First the Garda wanted to make it a criminal offence if someone filmed them
during the course of their duties
This is a backdoor to get that restrict social media in a court case and
everything will fall into that bracket
This is unacceptable censorship by a fascist right wing neo-liberal
government which is antisocial and undemocratic and unnecessary as there
are already adequate contempt of court laws in existence. The purpose of
this members bill is to demean and undermine the jury who were
independent of any outside influence and to accuse them otherwise is
insulting and just sour grapes as the governments contrived stitch up failed
and was based on a tissue of lies. The only contempt of court in this case
were the trumped up charges and conspiracy to falsify evidence by the
Gardai, government and the office of the DPP. I await a full investigation and
prosecution of those in the gardai who lied in court.
Stupid poll . To narrow a question . Depends on what the post says or
inferred as to if it is in contempt or not
curtailing freedom of speech is never, ever acceptable.
Fg FF, labour, are trying to close down free speech.they see people
withdrawing support for their partys as SM reveals their corruption etc.MSM
does not hold them to account.
Crikey I didnt know there were that many Liebourites left!
All out for the poll on Noddys orders,
Lying gardai should be held in contempt of court.
Some question of previous guilty verdicts based on Corrupt Lying Garda

misleading evidence provided by the same officers apparently.
Filthy little state. Social media has nothing got to do with it.
We're being watched .
By Retreated politicians Social Media Dreg
defendants were denied presumption of innocence by state & media. They still are now, even after being
cleared!
Newly elected TD Josepha

Madigan released an erotic
novel back in 2011 -
following in Alan Shatter's
footsteps
Fine Gael's Josepha Madigan has written a raunchy erotic novel
BYKATHY ARMSTRONG
14:03, 28 FEB 2016

Josepha Madigan
Newly-elected Josepha Madigan has penned a raunchy novel.
Josepha followed in the footsteps of her fellow Fine Gael politician Alan
Shatter by writing an erotic book.
Negligent Behaviour was released in 2011 and tells the tale of Helene
McBain, a Dublin-based solicitor in Celtic Tiger Ireland.
The novel features Helenas sexual exploits with the rich and powerful.
The fictional novel also follows the seedy and immoral dealing of Dublins elite
at that time.
Josephas main passion these days is politics and she beat former Justice
Minister Shatter to clinch a seat in the Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown constituency
on Saturday.
Josepha - who formerly worked as a solicitor- landed

herself in hot water in 2014 when she branded traveller
accommodation in south Dublin a waste of valuable
resources.
She was today forced to defend her position once again.
Josepha said: Of course every sector of society must be
accommodated and we must look after all of our
constituents, particularly the most vulnerable.
The argument that I had is that we do not necessarily
have to use the most expensive site in the country in order
to do that.
Negligent Behaviour (Photo: Amazon)

It was purely an economic issue..
She also said: I dont intend to elaborate any further on
it...
I cant look into the minds f the electorate, i think that the
electorate knows that I will work hard, that I have been a
committed counsellor and local representative over the
last year-and-a-half.
I intend to work hard as a TD and Im conscientious.
Speaking on RTE Radio 1 with Claire Byrne, Josepha claimed that the
controversy never cropped up while she was canvassing over the last few
weeks.
She said: no, it never came up, it was hardly mentioned at all.
The leaflet was from May 2014, it was before the local elections, it wasnt the
leaflet that I sent out in the general election, so it really wasnt relevant.
Josepha also addressed comparisons between herself and Iron

Lady Margaret Thatcher.
She said: I think the Iron Lady characterisation is probably in relation to me
as a person, in that I will be robust in championing issues for my constituents
going into the future.
If I can help somebody improve their issue or help the country then I will do
that.
So I will take that as a compliment.
Speaking after his defeat, Shatter blamed Fine Gael for him not winning a
seat.
He said: Unfortunately there was some interference in the electoral process
by Fine Gael headquarters.
"I objected to when it took place. To a minimal extent I attempted to

counteract it, but I substantially didnt.
Varadkar: Although no one was
found guilty of the Jobstown
fiasco those responsible should
not be proud of their actions as
they were completely
unacceptable
July 1, 2017 19:45 Michael McKeowen
Although no one was convicted during the recent Jobstown

trial the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has condemned those
involved for their actions.
In the wake of the recent trial that seen a number of people
charged with the false imprisonment of the former Tnaiste
Joan Burton and Karen ODonnell over the water charges
fiasco in 2015, Mr Varadkar said those involved should not but
proud as their behaviour at the time was completely
unacceptable.
Speaking at an event in Galway on Saturday the Taoiseach

said: I think its important that we respect that outcome
because it was a trial by jury and its a jury who spent nine
weeks considering all the evidence.
They made the decision they did.
Just because somebody wasnt convicted of false
imprisonment doesnt mean that their behaviour, or the way
they treated both women, was in any way acceptable and I
dont think it was acceptable.
The Taoiseachs comments will surely recieve a backlash from
the public as those involved in the fiasco that seen Ms Burton
and Ms ODonnell trapped inside a car for a number of hours
in November 2015 were found not guilty earlier this week.
http://theliberal.ie/varadkar-although-no-one-was-found-guilty-of-the-jobstown-fiasco-those-
responsible-should-not-be-proud-of-their-actions-as-they-were-completely-unacceptable/
Scandalous: Errors in Gardais

ancient Pulse computer system
eschew official number of deaths
reported across the State
June 29, 2017 Fernando Sanchez Irish News
According to shocking revelations, 89 deaths appear to be

missing from officially reported CSO figures due to errors in
the way the data was entered into the Pulse system.
Gardai say that the missing figures mostly correspond to
cases of dangerous driving causing death and homicides.
Some cases were quoted where three people were killed in an
homicide event, but only one victim was recorded.
This latest revelation in Garda incompetence is likely to erode
public confidence in the Force to even lower levels.
http://theliberal.ie/scandalous-errors-in-gardais-ancient-pulse-computer-
system-eschew-official-number-of-deaths-reported-across-the-state/

So NO Gene Kerrigan Article today?
What are THEY Afraid of?
Its those corrupt embezelling fkrs against us.

who is breaking the law here, Garda on double line for brunch tea break

Armed Garda outside the Rally for a Left Alternative

freedom of speech is in danger

I see Howlin is doubling down...
Ah I get it. If it were public order offences then there wouldn't
have been a jury...
Face it ye tried to criminalize these people, it didn't work. They are

innocent. The only people who committed a crime here were the
people who gave false evidence. And yes they should be brought
before the court for prudery
For what exactly ... try charging Joan Burton with false allegations
and wasting courts time and money is she paying for her expensive
lies in court hope they are all going suing her

A Fine Gael TD is to table a bill to make contempt of court a statutory offence
in the wake of the Jobstown trial.
They just can't get over the jury seen the tds & the Garda force lie thru there teeth it wasn't social media that
done it but them selves and there all frightened of been found out it's just to protect them selves not the
people who elected them
Newly elected TD Josepha Madigan released an erotic novel back in 2011 - following in Alan Shatter's
footsteps
Whistleblower John
Wilson blasts garda
evidence from Jobstown
trial and says force 'cannot
be trusted'
Mr Wilson also claimed that comments made by ex-Taoiseach Enda
Kenny had 'focused the minds' of senior gardai
BYJAMES WARD
1 JUL 2017
Garda whistleblower John Wilson has said the force cannot be trusted to
take statements that are not audio-visually recorded following the Jobstown
trial.
Mr Wilson, who served as a guard for over 30 years, criticised the evidence
given by gardai in the case.
Six men, including Solidarity Party leader Paul Murphy, were acquitted on
charges of false imprisonment against former Tanaiste Joan Burton after the
ten week trial concluded on Thursday.
Mr Wilson also claimed that comments made by ex-Taoiseach Enda Kenny

describing the events of the protest as kidnapping had focused the minds
of senior gardai.
He told the Irish Sunday Mirror: The quality of some of the garda evidence
was truly shocking and I was a guard for over 30 years.
I can say that safeguards will have to be introduced into

the future.
Im proposing that all statements made by members of An
Garda Siochana, and taken by An Garda Siochana,
should from now on be audio-visually recorded.
It gives me no great joy or pleasure to say that. I was truly
concerned about what transpired during that trial.
He added: I know from experience that if you phoned up
the garda station where I was working with an inquiry
about something, you might be brushed off and ignored.
Defendants in the Jobstown trial (LtoR) Ken Purcell, Scott

Masterson, Paul Murphy TD, Michael Murphy, Kieran Mahon,
Frank Donaghy and Michael Banks leave the Dublin Circuit
Criminal Court after they were all found not guilty on charges
of the false imprisonment of then Tanaiste Joan Burton at a
water protest in Jobstown in 2014 (Photo: Collins Courts)
But if the local TD phoned up, they would jump, they would click their heels,
they would run off and they would answer their questions. Thats the way it
operates.
I have no doubt that when Enda Kenny used the word kidnapping to
describe the events that transpired in Jobstown in November 2014, I have no
doubt that that comment by our Taoiseach focused the minds of the senior
gardai.
It focused the minds of the senior ranks in An Garda Siochana, I can tell you.
Mr Wilson stopped short of calling for a public inquiry into the matter, but said
a review of the investigation process was needed at the very least.
Minister of State Finian McGrath told RTEs Claire Byrne Show he had
concerns about how sections of the arms of the State were used in relation to
early morning visits, raids.
Deputy McGrath said the court had reached the correct verdict and that the
false imprisonment charges went too far.
Today, the Solidarity Party held a rally at Central Bank in Dublin calling for
charges against 11 remaining individuals involved in the protest to be
dropped.
Paddy Hill of the Birmingham Six addressed the 100 strong crowd telling them
to keep the protest going.
He said: I thought the Brits were bad, Ill tell you what, this lot over here is
worse.
What the people forget in the Dail is that the gardai belong to you, the public
because its your money that pays their wages.
Defendants in the Jobstown trial led by Paul Murphy TD leave
the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after they were all found not
guilty on charges of the false imprisonment of then Tanaiste
Joan Burton at a water protest in Jobstown in 2014
Solidarity TD Paul Murphy has branded the evidence against him as "rubbish"
after he was cleared of falsely imprisoning former Tanaiste Joan Burton
during a water charge protest.
Deputy Murphy and five others were found by a jury not guilty of restricting the
personal liberty of ex-Tanaiste Joan Burton and her then assistant Karen
O'Connell on November 15 2014, at Fortunestown Road in Jobstown, Dublin.
The trial at Dublin's Circuit Criminal Court lasted for eight weeks.
Speaking immediately after being cleared, Mr Murphy said files sent by gardai
to the Director of Public Prosecutions in the case were "rubbish".
You saw Garda witness after Garda witness have their testimony shredded by
our defence counsel," he said.
Mr Murphy added: "In the course of the next 24 hours we will have more to
say about the implications of this trial for the political establishment and for the
development of a left challenge as well as the role of the Gardai in this
process."
until she did so.
It's refreshing to read a piece from the Irish Slimes that isn't a left bashing fest...
"Surrounded by scores of Gardai, Joan Burton made a desperate cry for wolf, and in doing so
exposed the ever increasing distance between herself, her party and the working class
communities to which she so eagerly claims heritage - a wolf in sheeps clothing."
While this opinion piece is a kind of refreshing read for the IT the
most scary part and perhaps part of the problem with this country
and many others like it is some of the sentiments in the comments
of the actual article on the IT page.... These are the biggest
problem of any change that needs to come about when I read them
the first thing that came to mind was the poem by Martin
Niemller First they came ........ And to be honest they sound like
they came from the Joan Burton School of Entitlement so perhaps
it shouldn't be so surprising .....
Joan Burton the Minister for social protection, A Leader of a
party who's roots where based on democratic rights,
suddenly after a taste of power forgot about the people who
elected her, tried to make a political stand in the benefit of
right wing politics which ended up biting her in the Ass, I just
hope people see now what the Labour party actually stand
for in Ireland.
I think it's important that we respect that outcome because it
the treated Joan Burton and Karen OConnell, was in any
way acceptable and I don't think it was acceptable," he
said."
He couldn't even accept the result. He had to add a massive but at
the end and we all know what that means...
This is the DELUSION that emanates from the pages of the
Irish Slimes...
""Yet for all that, their moment of true political opportunity
may have passed. The economic crisis is over. Public
finances will remain semi-tight for the foreseeable future, but
the era of austerity is over.""
Fuck me, I am shocked. Time to stop protesting. Shut our
pages down. We are all rich again lads!
Always remember that the higher echelons of the Judiciary, the
Government, the Banking system, the Church, the Garda , the
Trade Union movement and the Media are all part of the same
hypocrisy. Truth is always independent of the source that
stimulates it and is always independent of the conditions that
guides it's expression. Truth stands alone and does not need
qualification but sometimes needs amplification. Whether you
accept it, reject it, distort it, ignore it or deny it Truth remains.
This is what is considered "justice" in Ireland today.
"A perverse situation currently exists where the only

person convicted of false imprisonment is someone
who was 15 years old on the day. He was convicted
on the same Garda evidence that was ultimately
rejected by the jury. Unfortunately, his was a judge-
only court. He is appealing and if there is any justice,
I believe his conviction should be overturned."
Imagine if it were you in the dock and it was your
word against a member of law enforcement?
This kid lost because of the perception that those in blue
are infallible.
A misguided and dangerous view as we now can see..
TD wants to make
commenting on criminal trials
an offence
It follows the use of social media in the Jobstown trial
NEWS
A Fine Gael TD wants to make it an offence to comment
on ongoing criminal trials.
It follows the use of social media during the Jobstown trial.
Josepha Madigan - a Fine Gael TD and solicitor - believes our
laws need to be updated to cover the increased use of social
media.
In an interview with the Sunday Times, she said she found
some comments made by Solidarity TDs during the Jobstown
trial as very menacing - and she believed there had been an
attempt to influence the jury.
On Thursday, a jury cleared TD Paul Murphy and five other
and her advisor during an anti-water charge demonstration in
Jobstown in 2014.
Ms Madigan admits we do not know if social media had an
influence on the jurors, but she said we need legislation to
The TD is now going to try and bring a bill to the Dil making it
Ah I get it. If it were public order offences then there wouldn't have been a jury...
http://www.newstalk.com/TD-wants-to-make-commenting-on-criminal-trials-
an-offence
Expert says no need to

change contempt laws
following Jobstown trial
The use of social media by Solidarity TD Paul Murphy has
come under scrutiny following the trial
NEWS
Pictured is (LtoR) Michael Banks, Paul Murphy TD, Scott

Masterson outside the Central Criminal Court in Dublin following
their acquittal yesterday
A legal expert has said there is no need for changes to
the law following controversy over online commentary
during the Jobstown trial.
All six people accused of falsely imprisoning former Tnaiste
Joan Burton and her advisor during a Jobstown water protest
in 2014 were found not guilty in Dublin Circuity Criminal Court
yesterday.
However, the use of social media by groups associated with
the accused as the trial was ongoing has come under scrutiny
following the result.
Legal advice
Trinity College law professor, Eoin O'Dell said Ireland's
current contempt laws are capable of dealing with social as
well as traditional media - but warned authorities may need to
offer greater advice to the public about what comments are
acceptable online.
He said the law is always a bit slow to understand
technology but added that once it catches up, the basic rules
usually continue to apply.
Under contempt of court laws, it is an offense to publish any
material that might influence a jury in the run-up to and
especially during a trial.
Professor ODell said he wouldnt be surprised to see the
DPP follow the lead of the Attorney General in the UK and
begin publishing guidelines in relation to upcoming cases:
Professor Eoin ODell
In the UK for example, the Attorney General issues what he
calls advisories relating to high profile trials to remind people
that social media for example is subject to contempt laws and
there are usually links to these advisories on Facebook and
Twitter and so-on, he said.
So I wouldnt be surprised to see the DPP here doing
something similar.
Social media
One of the six accused in the trial, Solidarity TD Paul Murphy,
published a succession of tweets relating to the case while it
was ongoing.
Some of Mr Murphys tweets were sent from inside the
courtroom itself while the majority were associated with the
hashtag #JobstownNotGuilty.
A number of the politicians tweets were sent while Judge
Melanie Greally was charging the Jury.
Mr Murphy also retweeted commentary from a range of others
about the ongoing case as well as videos posted by
Solidarity press officer Dave Murphy.
The Solidarity press officer posted video reports on the trial
which included commentary slamming the veracity of
evidence provided by former Tnaiste Joan Burton and calling
on the public to support the #JobstownNotGuilty campaign.
Contempt of court
Professor ODell said Irelands contempt laws are designed to
protect the administration of justice and the fairness of the
trial adding that they apply not just in ordinary media but also
on social media.
He suggested that there are potentially two problems with
Deputy Murphys use of social media during the trial.
Not only is there the prospect of his tweets having an impact
on the trial but also he was tweeting from within the
courtroom, he said.
So there were two problems there and, as a law graduate, I
think he was probably well aware of that.
He warned that there is still some scope for refinement
regarding the laws, adding that there remains uncertainty over
the extent to which it can be said you intend to impact, to
have the prejudice or pre-judgement on the trial.
He said a well-instructed jury should be capable of avoiding
both social and ordinary media something Judge Greally
regularly warned the jury about.
Biased media coverage
On Newstalk Breakfast, one of the accused, Solidarity
councillor Kieran Mahon said both the Dil and state
broadcaster RT were used against the defendants.
"All you have to do is look at the media campaign that's been
in Jobstown and against the defendants themselves, he said.
"All the information we've received about our charges has
been received through the State broadcaster."
way".
Asked about the use of social media during the trial he said I
think as long as facts are reported correctly, you're free to give
opinion."
"We've had a sustained campaign by the media where the
Campaigners for the Jobstown Six are holding a press

conference this afternoon to raise concerns about the Garda
role in their attempted prosecution.
http://www.newstalk.com/Expert-says-no-need-to-change-contempt-laws-
following-Jobstown-trial-

On June 29th 2017, the verdict was delivered in the Jobstown Trial: Not Guilty.
Much has been written about the case, and a key element has been the role of
social media.
On Twitter, over the past year, over 89,000 tweets have been published featuring
the official campaign hashtag: #JobstownNotGuilty.
At Olytico, we have analysed this data in an effort to answer some key questions:
Protesters outside court

where Joan Burton is giving
evidence
17-year-old accused of false imprisonment at Childrens
Court
Mon, Sep 19, 2016, 14:57 Updated: Mon, Sep 19, 2016, 14:59
Ciarn D'Arcy
Protesters during the trial of a 17-year-old for false imprisonment at the

Childrens Court in Smithfield. Photograph: Gareth Chaney/Collins
Labour Party TD Joan Burton arrived at the Childrens
Court via a side entrance on Monday morning before
giving evidence in the trial of a 17-year-old accused of
false imprisonment.
Dozens of protesters gathered outside the courthouse to
show solidarity with the accused, including Anti-
Austerity Alliance TD Paul Murphy, who was also
charged with false imprisonment for his involvement in
a protest which allegedly detained the then Tnaiste in a
car for two hours in November, 2014.
Ms Burton arrived by car shortly before 11am on Monday
and made her way into the court complex in Dublins
Smithfield to give evidence.
Demonstrators held signs reading Drop the charges and
No Justice, No Peace, and there was a minimal Garda
presence.
Among those holding placards outside the venue was
Aisling Butler, who said she knows many of the 20
individuals who face trial in relation to the disturbances
in Jobstown in 2014.
I am totally disgusted that the case has come forward,
and also that she is giving evidence against a minor, her
being a mother, she said. My main objection is that it
was a protest that people were on, there were over 700
people at the protest and a handful were singled out.
Independent TD Joan Collins also turned up to voice her
support for the teenage defendant after she herself was
recently cleared of committing public order offences
arising from a separate water charges protest in 2015.
Im here in solidarity with the Jobstown group, its
absolutely horrendous that a young 17-year-old is in
there. Well show our solidarity for as long as necessary.
The Childrens Court trial is ongoing and is expected to
last a number of days.
law/protesters-outside-court-where-joan-burton-is-
giving-evidence-1.2796912
Was this a lot of tweets from a very small
number of accounts?
There were over 7,700 unique accounts that used the #JobstownNotGuilty
hashtag in the last year giving an average of 11 tweets per account.

Across the last 12 months, there were four days on which #JobstownNotGuilty
tweets spiked significantly: the first two relate to the trial of a 17 year old and the
second two relate to the start and end of the trial of six others.

Jobstown protest: TD Paul

Murphy and 5 others found not
guilty
The six men were accused of falsely imprisoning former Tnaiste Joan
Burton and her adviser Karen OConnell in 2014.
SOLIDARITY TD PAUL Murphy and five other men have

been found not guilty of falsely imprisoning former Tnaiste
Joan Burton and her adviser during a 2014 water charges
protest.
The jury of seven men and four women returned the
unanimous verdicts today after just over three hours of
deliberations.
The court room, which was packed to capacity, erupted in
cheers as the verdicts were handed down shortly after
midday. There were cheers of No way, we wont pay and
several supporters broke down in tears.
Paul Murphy, South Dublin County Councillors Michael
Murphy and Kieran Mahon, Scott Masterson, Frank
Donaghy and Michael Banks were on trial in Dublin Circuit
Criminal Court for over two months. They nodded and
smiled as the not guilty verdicts were handed down.
They had pleaded not guilty to falsely imprisoning Ms
Burton and her adviser Karen OConnell by restricting their
personal liberty without their consent at Fortunestown
Road, Jobstown, Tallaght on November 15, 2014.
It is a charge that carries a maximum sentence of life
imprisonment.
The charges against a seventh accused, Purcell (50), of

Kiltalown Green, Tallaght, were dropped towards the end of
the prosecution case after Judge Greally ruled that the
extension of his garda detention in February 2015 was
unlawful.
Judge Greally thanked the jury for their exemplary service
and told them they had shown extreme bravery and courage
in taking on the case. A juror was discharged halfway
through the trial for personal reasons.
She exempted them from jury service for life. There were
further cheers in court as she told the six men they were free
to go.
The 40 day trial, which started on April 26, heard the two
women were attending a graduation ceremony at An Cosn
adult education centre in Jobstown when demonstrations
broke out around them.
The jury heard they were detained in vehicles for three
hours as they attempted to leave the area.
The prosecution case was that by surrounding the cars, the
accused men engaged in a joint enterprise to trap the
women and totally restrain their liberty.
The defence argued that their clients engaged in a peaceful
protest and this could not amount to false imprisonment.
They submitted that at worst, their clients were engaged in
obstructing a vehicle or delaying and inconveniencing the
women.
Paul Murphy (34) of Kingswood Heights, Tallaght; Kieran
Mahon (39) of Bolbrook Grove, Tallaght; Michael Murphy
(53) of Whitechurch Way, Ballyboden, Dublin; Michael
Banks (46) of Brookview Green; Scott Masterson (34) of
Carrigmore Drive, Tallaght and Frank Donaghy (71) of
Alpine Rise, Tallaght had all denied the charges.
When asked for a comment, a garda spokesperson said:
An Garda Siochana do not comment on matters which are or
have been before the courts.

Tnaiste denies any
"government agenda" after
Jobstown protesters found
not guilty
Joan Burton in 2014 have been found not guilty
NEWS
Pictured are Paul Murphy TD and five others outside the Central
Criminal Court today, 29-06-2017
The Tnaiste has denied there was any "government
agenda" in regards to the Jobstown trial after all six
accused were found not guilty.
Solidarity TD Paul Murphy and five others were alleged to
have falsely imprisoned former Tnaiste Joan Burton and her
adviser Karen OConnell during a water charges protest in
Jobstown, Dublin in 2014.
The prosecution had alleged that the women were trapped
inside two garda vehicles when protesters surrounded them
as they tried to leave.
Earlier today the jury in the trial had asked the court to replay
some video footage of the demonstrations.
This afternoon, following three hours of deliberation, jury
members cleared all six accused.
They returned to a packed court room just after 12:15pm this
afternoon.
Mr Murphy was the first of the six accused to learn he had
been found not guilty on both counts.
The unanimous verdict was met with loud cheers and
applause.
The huge crowd descended into silence as his five co-
accused were also cleared of the charges - but the room
erupted again when the foreperson was finished delivering the
verdicts.
Paul Murhpy TD outside Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, 29-06-2017.

Image: Sam Boal / RollingNews
Speaking outside the court following the verdict, Mr Murphy
gave this reaction: Solidarity TD Paul Murphy
We would very much deeply like to thank all of our legal
teams who, from all of our solicitors, our junior council our
senior council played a really exception role from the very
start of the trial of exposing the hypocrisy, the lies, the empty
promise of Joan Burton to the Guards, who were exposed in
terms of the lies that they told, he said.
I would also like to thank all of the trade unions, trade union
branches, trade unionists who supported us.
All the different TDs, senators, MEPs who came down to
support us, councillors etc., and everybody here in particular I
would say.
29 Jun
Gavan Reilly
@gavreilly
"The continued existence in public life of @joanburton and Minister
@KZapponeTD must also come under severe scrutiny" -
@joancollinstd
Follow
Gavan Reilly
@gavreilly
Statement from the @Labour party
pic.twitter.com/zXUzYWNBJx
1:05 PM - 29 Jun 2017
Speaking in the Dil following the verdict, the Tnaiste
Frances Fitzgerald said it was "quite simply untrue" to suggest
any vested interest in the running or outcome of the trial.
However Solidarity TD Mick Barry called for all outstanding
charges relating to the Jobstown protest to be dropped.
He said the acquittal of the Jobstown Six was a "stunning
defeat" for the TDs on the government benches:
Mick Barry, Solidarity
The political establishment in this country wanted to create a
powerful chill factor - a powerful warning - against anyone who
would engage in serious protest against government, against
austerity and against the anti-working class agenda, he said.
You have failed.
29 Jun
Gavan Reilly
@gavreilly
Barry says there is "an appalling vista" that 180 Garda statements
are being dismissed, including claims contradicted by video
evidence
Follow
Gavan Reilly
@gavreilly
Barry wants to know if the Tanaiste can deny a criminal
conspiracy to convict the Jobstown Six. She says "justice
takes its course"
12:25 PM - 29 Jun 2017
A large media presence gathered outside the Dublin Circuit

Criminal Court as the six accused left the court as free men.
Additional reporting from Frank Greaney and Gavan Reilly
http://www.newstalk.com/Jobstown-protesters-found-not-guilty

This word cloud represents the Top 100 words used in the 89,000 tweets
analysed.

What did people share? What were the most

popular links in tweets?

Who were the most influential accounts?

The answer depends on how you define influence. For the purpose of this
analysis, Olytico has looked at two factors: volume of tweets sent, and the
follower number of the accounts.
Two accounts sent more than 1,000 #JobstownNotGuilty tweets during the time
period: AndreaMurray67 (1,789) and IzzyKamikaze (1,145).
While these were the most active accounts in terms of tweets sent, they were not
alone over 160 accounts sent more than 100 tweets each.
A number of accounts combined high follower numbers with high frequency

tweeting to generate the highest levels of impressions:
Paul Murphy TD: 828 tweets sent to 14,400 followers, generating potential
impression of 14.4 million.
Joe Higgins: 170 tweets sent to 20,700 followers, generating potential

impressions of 3.5 million.
Cllr. Enda Fanning
@EFFanning
9:48 PM - 29 Jun 2017
Follow
Paddy Holohan
@PaddyHolohanMMA
Stand behind these guys Everyone has the right to protest
@Jobienotguilty #jobstownnotguilty #RT
12:16 AM - 30 Mar 2017
Is their any other measure of influence?

Celebrities or the media?
89 of the accounts who used the #JobstownNotGuilty hashtag were verified (you
can check out Twitters definition of a verified account here).
@jamesvmcmorrow
Rubber Bandits
#JobstownNotGuilty it's official. Now piss off Labour. You've dissapointed
Connolly and Larkin. Sort yere shit out
12:38 PM - 29 Jun 2017
Yanis Varoufakis
@yanisvaroufakis
https://
tinyurl.com/m46hwl9
5:54 AM - 14 Apr 2017
What does this mean for social media use in

future trials?
As Colm Kenna reported in the Irish Times, the judge regularly warned the jury
not to be reading about the case in newspapers or online. Traditional media have
covered court cases for centuries. But there have always been gate keepers
editors, journalist, publishers who ultimately decided what was covered and
which voices were heard. Social media removes these barriers, as was
evidenced with the #JobstownNotGuilty campaign. While our analysis focused on
Twitter, the conversations and content featured on Facebook, YouTube and
countless other social media platforms. These networks arent replacing
traditional media but theyre giving campaigners alternative options to have
their voices heard.
http://olytico.com/jobstownnotguilty-analysis-89000-tweets-
across-365-days/
Jobstown acquittals: jury

trials under strain
of witnesses
Fri, Jun 30, 2017, 00:06

Joan Burton and her assistant brings to an end one of the
most surreal legal spectacles of recent years. Surreal not
because the trial took place. That decision was taken by
the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, a
the claim by supporters of the defendants that the charges
were a politically-motivated attempt to stifle protest
should be treated with the derision it deserves. What made
the trial surreal, not to say disturbing, was how so many of
the conventions that have developed around jury trials
were flagrantly ignored.
These ground rules are there for a
reason: to ensure the integrity of the
jury trial, a centrepiece of our justice
system
legal argument that takes place in the jurors absence, and
care is taken not to comment in a way that would influence
the jury. These ground rules are there for a reason: to
ensure the integrity of the jury trial, a centrepiece of our
justice system. Those who breach them can find
themselves in contempt of court.
Related
Paul Murphy: 'Sections of the media are trying to redo the
trial'
Confessions, defiance and Labour-bashing as the left comes
together
Taoiseach says treatment of Burton at Jobstown protest not
acceptable
Activists systematically used social
media to criticise and impugn the
motives of those who gave evidence
that they cloister themselves away for the duration of their
service. In the age of Google, Facebook and Twitter, when
everyone is a publisher and information is more accessible
than ever, that expectation has become increasingly
untenable. But the Jobstown trial highlighted the
challenge more sharply.

trials under strain
of witnesses
Fri, Jun 30, 2017

system
By harnessing social media on such a scale, systematically
chipping away at one of the pillars of our jury system,
those campaigners have done themselves and their cause a
great disservice.
great disservice.
https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/editorial/jobstown-acquittals-jury-
trials-under-strain-1.3138118?mode=amp
The final closing speech has been heard in the Jobstown trial.
Solidarity TD Paul Murphy, two Dublin councillors, and three other men all deny
falsely imprisoning the former Tanaiste Joan Burton during a water charge
demonstration in November 2014.
The judge will begin her charge to the jurors on Monday and they will then begin
their deliberations.
The final closing speech delivered to the jurors this morning was on behalf of 46-
year-old Michael Banks of Brookview Green in Tallaght in Dublin.
His barrister, Ciaran OLoughlain, admitted there is footage of his client engaging
in a rude gesture at the back of a car at one stage during the anti-water charge
demonstration in Jobstown.
But he said although it was vulgar and might not make Michael Banks the jurys
favourite man it is not a crime.
There was also an allegation that Mr Banks had called a Garda a wife beater
during the protest.
The barrister said the ins and outs of this arent clear, but even if he did giving lip
to a guard is not an offence either.
Mr OLoughlin said Michael Banks was peaceful protesting that day and perhaps
the reason it was hard to move was because of the sheer volume of people
present.
Nobody is to blame unless everybody is to blame, he said.
Now that all the closing speeches in the two month trial have been heard, Judge
Melanie Greally told the jurors she will give them directions in relation to the law
on Monday.
They will then be in a position to begin their deliberations.
ustice Minister Charlie Flanagan is rejecting calls from

both Solidarity and Sinn Fein for a public inquiry into the
handling of the Jobstown trial.
Six men, including Solidarity TD Paul Murphy, were acquitted
yesterday of falsely imprisoning the former Tnaiste Joan
Burton and her adviser Karen OConnell at a water charge
protest in 2014.
He later called for an 'independent and public' inquiry into the
way the investigation was handled, alleging there was a
conspiracy to 'stitch people up' for participating in protests.
This evening, the Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan rejected
calls for an inquiry, stating: "This case has now concluded and
a verdict reached by the court. Both the Courts and the DPP
are independent in the exercise of their functions.
"I do not see any grounds for a public inquiry."
Deputy Murphy's party today held a press conference
demanding an independent investigation into Garda handling
of the case.
Follow
Gavan Reilly
@gavreilly
Solidarity TDs and Cllrs alleging a Garda conspiracy in
prosecution of #Jobstown case, and calling for
investigation
2:12 PM - 30 Jun 2017
Solidarity claims there are a series of irregularities in how the
case was taken and evidence brought.
In a statement, the party said: "The Jobstown trial was an
attempt by the establishment to instil fear into the minds of
working class people. It was a warning that if you protest and
oppose their anti-working class policies you could end up in
jail.
"The jury's decision to reject a case built on Garda evidence is
a major new addition to the mounting litany of Garda
scandals," it added.
Solidarity denies that yesterday's acquittal was "a watershed
moment" - it says that would only have been true if the
'Jobstown Six' were convicted for their part in a protest.
Deputy Murphy, however, added: "I think there isn't much
question that there was an attempt to stitch us up for false
imprisonment. The question I'd like to know is at what level
was that decided on."
Sinn Fin's justice spokesperson Jonathan O'Brien,
meanwhile, also called for an inquiry, claiming the charges
should never have been brought forward in the first place.
He argued: While we obviously recognise the independence
of the courts, the DPP, and the policing structures of the state,
we also recognise that there is now huge public outrage
following the vindication of the Jobstown protest.
Additional reporting by Gavan Reilly
First there was Jobstown, A New Hope, with the complete and unambiguous acquittals of all
after two and a half years of negative and downright slanderous narratives from the
establishment.
Now The Establishment Strikes Back, with their bitter invective to try and delegitimise the
outcome of the trial.
What started on RTE and TV3 yesterday has now moved to the printed media.
The game has been stepped up. They will not accept your right to protest nor will they accept the
outcome of the trial and it is clear as day that the lines have been drawn...
Solidarity TD Paul Murphy is calling for independent and public inquiry into
the way the 'Jobstown Six' investigation was carried out.
He was among six men acquitted today of falsely imprisoning the former Tnaiste
Joan Burton and her adviser Karen OConnell at a water charge protest in 2014.
Deputy Murphy was the first of the six accused to learn he had been found not
guilty on both counts.
The unanimous verdict was met with loud cheers and applause.
The huge crowd descended into silence as his five co-accused were also cleared
of the charges - but the room erupted again when the foreperson was finished
delivering the verdicts.
Outside court, Deputy Murphy accused Garda of lying to try to secure criminal
convictions against him and other protesters.
Speaking on Newstalk Drive this evening, Deputy Murphy argued: "I don't think
it's really in question that there was a conspiracy. Exactly how high up it goes we
don't know - but a conspiracy to fit people up and to stitch them up for false
imprisonment because of participating in sit-down protests and slow marches."
He said that the jury was "able to see through that" and find himself and his fellow
defendants not guilty.
A demonstration is set to be held in Dublin on Saturday calling for an
independent investigation into the handling of the case.
On the subject of an inquiry, Deputy Murphy observed: "I wouldn't trust the
guards to investigate it. Perhaps GSOC are the people to do it, although
obviously they're badly under-resourced and they get no cooperation from the
Garda.
"I think the point is it needs to be independent and it needs to be public, so I
would say someone from outside An Garda Sochana should be appointed to do
it."
Additional reporting by Frank Greaney
Jobstown jury ask to re-watch protest
footage
Jurors resumed their deliberations this morning
29 Jun 2017
The jury in the trial of six men accused of falsely imprisoning Joan Burton
and her adviser have asked the court to replay some video footage.
Solidarity TD Paul Murphy and five others are alleged to have committed the
offences during a water charge protest in Jobstown in Dublin in 2014.
It is the prosecution's case that the women were trapped inside two garda
vehicles when protesters surrounded them as they tried to leave.
Before the jurors resumed their deliberations this morning, they asked for footage
taken above the protest by a garda helicopter to be replayed.
The jury foreperson said they wanted to see if one of the vehicles they were in
could have reversed away from the area.
The newspaper article is just the opinion of an individual/entity that ultimately does not have the power to change
anything on its own. The mainstream often fear change or challenge because ultimately, they know their kingdoms are
built on sand and depend on the apathy and lazy ignorance of large parts of the public. If everybody voted in elections or
at least took the time to go to a poll booth to spoil their vote, society would be very different.
After the Maurice Mc Cabe saga and now the jobstown trial,how can anybody respect or trust the Garda force
.There seems to be an element of criminality and corruption deeply rooted in the organisation flagged by the
Department of justice and Minister
newstalk just now did similar piece, all i can say as an auld luddite,TG for social media and phones that can
be used to film & record what actually happened,I'm sure Maurice McCabe recording his meeting feels the
same,btw the most damming article I read was the judges 1st direction to the jury and I read that in an Irish
Times article
Paul is still being grilled even on Vincent's show. Particularly by the ex-copper..
i respect Vincent in the majority of what he does...even though i don't always agree, however the dog in the
street knows that we are living in a seriously corrupt state....why cant anyone say it outright in the media?
whats all the pussyfooting and "allegedly" crap?
John O' Brien posed the question to Paul on Vincent Browne live. 'Why did you have a loud speaker at the protest?' What
a stupid question for him to ask. Has he ever been at a GAA match? A loud speaker is a means to rally support for
whatever cause people are involved in. Even the Garda use loud speakers. John we know what side you are on. And
Vincent let himself down tonight in trying to stop Paul from mentioning names. Paul did not mention any Garda names,
only their titles. The video proved Garda conflicted evidence, and also Joan did not appear to be a lady in terror insid eher
car. Not one of the panellists congratulated Paul on the show. He has been through hell as have the others accused and
their families by Joan Burton. Well done Paul. March on for the rights of all citizens to protest without the hand of the
political establishment attempting to criminalise their rights to peaceful protest.
Yep watching it ,unbelievable , the media (vinnie is an exception to the rule along with Gene Kerrigan ) are
now taking the piss with people whom have been found innocent ! If i was one of the accused (i was brought
up and i hate the "claim culture") i'd be gearing up to sue the Ass off the Gards and the DPP
Every time John O Brien spoke last night you could feel the culture of the force in the form denial,lies and corruption
embedded in his thinking.Garda force needs to be disbanded and cleaned out for once and for all.A total disgrace to the
Country
The arrogant bastard ! Paul didn't speak up enough ! Between the copper barrister and the smirker they are
three of a click all in it together! I would throw vinnie in there as well !
RTE never ever let up do they?
The trial has ended. The man has been acquitted of any and all charges yet this robot who
sucks the lifeblood out of your tv licence tax is regurgitating spurious claims of violence and
trying to get Paul to confess.
What the fuck is this? Confession in a Church with Sharon neeeeeee Bheolain as the feckin
priest?
It is obscene how the so called main stream establishment

media can willfully ignore this...
Just goes to show the lengths they will go to keep a lid on

this.
Wrongful Arrest of falsely accused protesters. Guards who
lied under Oath, Perjury. Labour Party member involved,
Abuse of her position. Bar from standing in all future
Elections. Still her of state income. Remove her from state
pension Entitlement.
Should be automatically Deported as an Enemy of the Irish
People. Will any of what I said, No. She has immunity from
any counter Case against her.
Can someone clarify this for me, as I had a debate about
this at home last night. What were the EXACT words of the
judge on the issue of the garda perjury?
Everyone seems to have forgotten that Joan Burtons
special advisor Karen OConnell called the water protesters
f*****g dregs,
Usually the guards lies are swallowed hook line and sinker
by the judge, the lads were very lucky. Well done to the jury.
If a Witness lied under oath, and if found out what would be
the penalty?
What we saw in there was Guard after Guard taking the stand to lie. To tell lies that they
knew were lies in order to try and criminalise protest"
That about sums it up...
2/19587108_1535394109853031_840674422955180032_n.mp4?efg=eyJybHIiOjY4Nywicm
xhIjoxMzY4LCJ2ZW5jb2RlX3RhZyI6InN2ZV9zZCJ9&rl=687&vabr=382&oh=9fff115f48fedf
8d8c45f8bc84a61ac0&oe=59599898
The campaign stills goes on for the second jobstown trial with a visit by paddy hill one of the
Birmingham six who served sixteen years in prison on a trumped up charge paid a visit to
jobstown today to show his his support . #jobstownnotguilty
Paddy Hill always standing with the oppressed, a true gentleman.
The Irish Times HATES water protesters.
So much so that when the #JobstownNotGuilty verdict was
arrived at by a jury of their peers, the Irish Times couldn't handle it
and scrambled to find a reason they were acquitted...because
they simply couldn't be innocent! So it's the fault of social media,
apparently.
It's not like the mainstream media (including the Irish Times) or
establishment politicians had tarnished water protesters in the run
up to the trial by referring to them as 'dissidents', 'a sinister
fringe', 'thugs', 'the equivalent of ISIS' or anything. How dare
ordinary people express the opposite opinion to their elitist
nonsense.
We can thank our lucky stars that juries are selected from our
peers, and not from well-to-do politicians, journalists, editors,
judges or former journalists, judging by the reaction on Twitter
and in the Irish Times today.
Congratulations to all of the defendants for the courage, patience
and dignity shown over the last two and a half years when the full
force of the state was thrown at them. Dawn raids, constant trial
delays, attacks by the media and politicians, millions spent on a
ridiculous prosecution claim...the effect on their mental and
physical health must've been enormous.
While the #JobstownInnocent verdict does give some level of
satisfaction, justice has not been done. This trial and the
intimidation that went with it should never have taken place. We
need all other charges dropped immediately and stop wasting
vital taxpayers' money on this show trial and we need an
investigation into the biased and deeply worrying synchronised
claims made by Gardai against the accused which were
contradicted by actual evidence.
Lesson of the day: when in a difficult situation or at a peaceful
protest, keep your phone and video camera handy. It just might
protect you from facing a life sentence in prison.
Labours Statement
We note the verdict of the jury announced earlier today. The
from the political system, a party statement said.
As we have been all along, the Labour Party remains resolutely
focussed on our central tasks of holding the Government to
account, and campaigning for decency, justice and equality in
society.
"DECENCY,JUSTICE & EQUALITY""?

protect juries from outside influences."
How sad that they just can't accept the not guilty verdict!
Excellent piece from Paul Murphy nailing today's media bullshit
about the Jobstown verdict, and particularly the disgraceful half-
made suggestion in the Irish Times editorial that campaigners
broke court rules about reporting legal arguments made when the
jury was absent.
Jobstown Not Guilty: The Irish Establishment in the dock |
Shortly after midday on 29th June, an eleven person jury delivered
6 unanimous verdicts of not guilty to spontaneous cheers in the
courtroom at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The verdict brings to
its conclusion a trial by means of which the Irish ruling class
sought to bring an end to the fundamental democratic right to
peaceful protest.
https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=jobstown%20not%20guilty
I was on Claire Byrne's radio programme this afternoon about
Jobstown. The media are still baying for blood after the verdict.
Some clips here, shortened in many instances cos we get enough
Jobstown-bashing. Interesting to hear how far the self-described
'left of centre' Finian McGrath has come. Earning your stripes as a
right-winger now Finian! Jobstown Not Guilty
"I'm choking back tears to be honest... This verdict is great for the six men, but it's also great
for the working class."
"This was a politically driven investigation vindictively designed to punish those who fought
against water charges."
JUDGES AND THE LEGAL ELITE a topic of discussion on Vincent Browne the other
evening. In light of the JOBSTOWN TRIAL in particular, the issue has real relevance. Thank
God for juries!
https://www.facebook.com/
search/top/?q=jobstown%2
0not%20guilty
warriors
Fri, Jun 30, 2017, 05:00
Colm Keena

Mr Murphy was one of a number of accused before the
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court charged with the false
imprisonment of Joan Burton and Karen OConnell at
Jobstown, Dublin, in November 2014, and the video he
shared was a report on the first day of evidence to the
trial.
The video was introduced by Solidarity reporter Dave
Murphy, who is press officer for Solidarity, working out
of the Dil, and on the public payroll.
Ms Burton had showed all the class prejudice of the
political establishment during her first day in the
witness box, Dave Murphy said. The former Labour
Party leader went over the top as she described how
terrified she had been during the events at Jobstown.
He introduced Solidarity activist Diana ODwyer and
asked her for her view of Ms Burtons evidence.
It just seemed very unreal to me, to be honest, Ms
ODwyer said on the video. It completely didnt coincide
with anything I have seen of the protest or heard about
the protest in all of the videos and everything that Ive
seen of it.
She completely refused to recognise that this was a
political protest, she said, referring to Ms Burton. She
was trying to portray people there as having been a type
of rabble.
The video ended with Dave Murphy saying it wasnt the
Jobstown not guilty defendants who had been on trial,
but rather the Labour Partys betrayal of the working
class people was put in the dock.
He signed off by asking people to keep on tweeting to
maintain the #JobstownNotGuilty social media
presence.
Over the following weeks of the trial, the Solidarity press
officer produced a succession of videos which were
posted on the JobstownNotGuilty Facebook page and
promoted on Twitter.
No one in authority contacted him to object to his
activities, he told The Irish Times.
Jury influence
In the run-up to criminal trials, and even more especially
when they are actually under way, journalists are careful
not to publish material that might influence a jury, lest it
interfere with its assessment of the evidence.
Publishing material that might influence a jury can be an
offence. An obvious reason for the offence, which is the
offence of contempt, is to protect an accused person.
Material urging a conviction, or depicting the accused in
ways that might make a juror more likely to convict,
creates obvious dangers.
trial'
Confessions, defiance and Labour-bashing as the left
comes together
not acceptable
However, material urging an acquittal is also a problem,
as society generally has an interest in the fairness of the
criminal justice system. Biased coverage one way or
another is bad for society and it is for this reason that the
offence of contempt exists.
Dave Murphy said he was aware of the law governing
comment about jury trials when they were in progress.
Obviously, its against the law, but we felt there is a
political nature to this trial so that wed do it anyway.
There was an appetite to find out what was going on
during the trial among people who already supported the
#JobstownNotGuilty campaign, he said. Also the judge
regularly warned the jury not to be reading about the
case in newspapers or online.
A notable aspect of the Jobstown trial was not just the
extent of the social media commentary while it was still
under way, but also that this material included social
media commentary by Paul Murphy, who was not just a
parliamentarian but one of the defendants.
Planned rally
In the run-up to the trial, the judge Melanie Greally was
told the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) was
concerned that the constitutional process of trial by jury
might be interfered with by a planned rally scheduled to
take place that month (March). As a result, Mr Murphy
and the other defendants gave an undertaking not to
speak about the trial at the rally.
All through the trial Mr Murphy had a pinned tweet on
his Twitter account referring to an attempt by the DPP to
gag the defendants and there being a threat to the
right to protest.
Mr Murphys tweets on the matter were associated with
the #JobstownNotGuilty hashtag, which could in itself
be viewed as prejudicial commentary. The deputy, who
has 14,300 followers, was tweeting from the courtroom
during the trial, including during the judges charge to
the jury on Monday, June 26th.
#JobstownNotGuilty now trending at number 6 in
Ireland. Thanks everybody, keep it up, he tweeted just
after 2pm while the judge was addressing the jury and he
was sitting in the area reserved for the accused.
He retweeted a succession of tweets by others about the
case. At 2.45pm, he retweeted a tweet that referred to
the judge telling the jury that some of the Garda
evidence was directly contradicted by the video evidence,
and questioned some of the evidence given by garda.
The judge, meanwhile, was continuing to address the
jury.
The Irish Times does not want to suggest, and is not
suggesting that any witness to the trial gave false
evidence.
Trial evidence
On Wednesday, June 28th, while the jury was out of the
courtroom, Sen Gillane SC, for the prosecution, told
Judge Greally it had been brought to their attention that
Mr Murphy had been tweeting and publishing retweets
that included pointed references to evidence heard in
the trial.
He said steps were being taken to delete relevant
material and that he just wanted to bring the matter to
the judges attention. The judge said that if Mr Murphy
had been advised of the potential consequences of
engaging in these sort of tweets at this point in the trial,
she would say no more.
By that Wednesday, tweets that Mr Murphy had
published relevant to the trial were already being deleted
from his account. The deletions included the pinned
tweet referred to above.
Mr Murphys Dil colleagues, Mick Barry and Ruth
Coppinger, also tweeted about the trial while it was in
progress, using the same not guilty hashtag.
On May 19th, Mr Barry apparently tweeted from the Dil
about a vote being taken but the seat beside me is
empty because my colleague Paul Murphy has to be in
court to defend the right to protest. Mr Murphy
retweeted the tweet.
The same day, Ms Coppinger tweeted about RT giving
another very one-sided unrepresentative account of
evidence at #JobstownNotGuilty trial today.
The social media commentary on the trial included
numerous accusations that the coverage in the media
was biased. Paul Murphy issued tweets accusing the
media, including The Irish Times, of bias in its coverage.
Former Socialist Party TD Joe Higgins, who was at the
trial most days, also repeatedly complained of the media
coverage, saying it was biased.
Early in the trial, Michael OHiggins SC, for defendant
Ken Purcell, complained about a tweet put up by Peter
Murtagh, a journalist with The Irish Times, in which Mr
Murtagh, referring to the cross-examination of Joan
Burton, asked who was on trial. The tweet was removed.
(The charges against Mr Purcell were later struck out for
unrelated reasons.)
Running commentary
The #JobstownNotGuilty account on Twitter kept up a
running commentary on the trial, regularly including
abuse at not just Joan Burton, who gave sworn evidence
of having been terrified by her experience at Jobstown,
but also against the Garda witnesses. There were
references to a show trail and a sham trial.
An account of the same name operated on Facebook.
While some of the material was straight reporting of the
evidence, other material was clearly prejudicial.
Videos that included commentary about the trial were
posted in the run-up to and during the trial, with some
of the videos receiving tens of thousands of viewers. A
video on one aspect of the evidence was viewed 297,000
times while another about the coverage of the trial in the
mainstream media received 44,000 views. A video that
included Garda helicopter footage had 732,000 views.
(Many of these views probably occurred before the trial
began.)
One video, which had 1,200 viewers, explained that the
purpose of the campaign was so everyone can see for
themselves the stitch-up the establishment is engaged
in.
The unidentified woman who spoke on the video
appealed for funds from the public to continue the
campaign.
We are under no illusion that to win justice and the
freedom of the accused in this case, we have to continue
our campaign on the streets and in the courtroom, she
said.
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/circuit-court/the-
jobstown-trial-and-the-social-media-justice-warriors-1.3138089
McGrath says false
imprisonment charges went
too far
Minister of State is concerned cost of case and early
morning raids by arms of the State
Jack Power
Minister of State for Disabilities Finian McGrath: I didnt buy the original
debate around the false imprisonment argument. Photograph: Gareth Chaney
Collins
A Minister has expressed concern at the bringing of false
imprisonment charges against the so-called Jobstown six
and said these charges went too far
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/mcgrath-says-false-
imprisonment-charges-went-too-far-1.3140672?mode=sample&auth-
failed=1&pw-
origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.irishtimes.com%2Fnews%2Fireland%2Firish-
news%2Fmcgrath-says-false-imprisonment-charges-went-too-far-1.3140672

#JobstownNotGuilty
"The right to protest is a democratic and hard-won right. It cannot be brushed aside or diluted
to suit a political agenda."

Main stream media screaming about Jobstown Not Guilty but
have virtually ignored this.
'How Do You Solve A Problem Like Regina?' by

Catherine Kelly - Jude Collins
Fine Gael TD Regina Dohertys recent call for prayer in the Dail reminded me
of a pet peeve I have:
JUDECOLLINS.COM
How Do You Solve A Problem Like Regina? by Catherine Kelly

April 14, 2017
Fine Gael TD Regina Dohertys recent call for prayer in the Dail reminded me of a pet peeve I have:
kissing the altar rails on a Sunday while misbehaving for the remainder of the week.
Another pet peeve I want to confess to is political corruption. More specifically, I get truly rattled by the
deliberate and ill intentioned skirting of the rules that we see politicians indulge in so often. The acts
that I speak of are usually highly immoral in even the most neutral observers book but are defended
and excused away by the I did nothing illegal announcement. Legality and morality become skewed
and conflated in an effort to obfuscate from the carry on that politicians indulge in.
According to a report in the Irish Independent, it is alleged Ms. Doherty finally liquidated a poorly run
company in 2013: Enhanced Solutions folded with losses of 280,000, including almost 60,000 owed
to the Revenue Commissioners, 50,000 owed to state owned bank AIB and various debts owed to
suppliers. The same story claims the company was not run properly, with serious accounting failures
reported in violation of Section 202 of the Companies Act. It was also reported that a loan taken from
the company by Ms. Doherty violated the same act. (Fine Gael TD's firm folds with debts of).
Ms. Doherty was elected to the Dail as a Fine Gael TD in 2011 in the backlash against Fianna Fail. In
her election disclosure of 2011, the Meath TD would appear to have broken the law by failing to reveal
the Enhanced Solutions bankruptcy. Records seem to show she did not disclose her bankruptcy in 2011,
she disclosed the bankruptcy in 2012, 2013 but it then seems to have disappeared off her disclosures
again in the run up to the election of 2016. Is it too cynical to suggest that Ms. Doherty might have
been picking and choosing when to disclose her bankruptcy according to the election cycles?
Fine Gael TD's firm folds

with debts of 280,000
Donal O'Donovan and Fiach Kelly

January 23 2013
A Fine Gael TD regarded as a rising star in the party could face prosecution
after a company she owns went into liquidation with questions over how the
firm was run.
Meath East TD Regina Doherty could face prosecution by the Director of

Corporate Enforcement following the liquidation of her Enhanced Solutions
Ltd company last week.
A creditors meeting to put the business into liquidation was held last week.
Losses are understood to be 280,000, including almost 60,000 owed to the
Revenue Commissioners and 50,000 owed to state owned bank AIB.
Business failure is not an offence but accounts filed before the liquidation
reveal damning evidence that the company was not being properly run.
In a special report dated August 2012 the company's own independent

auditors said it had failed to keep proper books of accounts in 2010, the last
period covered by filed financial accounts.
Auditors BCC Accountants issued the special report to the directors of

Enhanced Solutions, saying they had "not obtained all the information and
explanations" necessary for the purposes of auditing the company.
"We determined that proper books of accounts had not been kept by the
company," the report said. "The directors have since taken the necessary steps
to ensure proper books of account are being kept by the company (going
forward)," BCC said.
Failing to keep proper books of accounts is a specific offence under Section

202 of the Companies Act.
As a director of the IT consultancy, the Meath TD could potentially faces

serious penalties, including in the extreme case up to five years in jail, and
10,000 in fines.
The book-keeping breaches become a serious offence if a company later goes

into liquidation as Regina Doherty's Enhanced Solutions Ltd did earlier this
month and the accounting failure is regarded as part of the reason why the
company went under.
Jail sentences and heavy fines specifically come into play if the failures to keep
the books led to some creditors being left out of pocket, more than they would
have been in a normal liquidation or if the failures made it harder to shut the
business down in an orderly fashion.
Even if that draconian action is not taken, the Dohertys could be restricted
from being directors of any other companies.
Under the Act, the main defence against prosecution is if no harm was caused
by the directors' failures, and if the breaches of the Act were not wilful.
That will all be considered in a report that liquidator Edward Walsh must
send to the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement, the watchdog for
company law offences.
First-time TD Ms Doherty has previously admitted taking loans totalling

37,360 from Enhanced Solutions Ltd when the size of the loans relative to
the business was also in contravention of the company law, but the debt has
been paid back and Ms Doherty has said she had informed the Director of
Corporate Enforcement of the breach herself.
Ms Doherty has said previously that Enhanced Solutions Ltd had ceased
trading in 2009. She didn't declare her directorship of the company in the
annual declaration of TDs' interests after becoming a TD in the 2011 General
Election.
She later admitted her error and asked that her records be corrected.
Enhanced Solutions Ltd was struck off by the Companies Office in 2011 for not
filing its accounts, but was later reinstated on the register.
Ms Doherty did not return calls last night.
http://www.independent.ie/business/small-business/fine-gael-tds-firm-folds-
with-debts-of-280000-29021682.html

A woman in transit through Dublin this week was
cautioned by Garda in relation to tweeting/blogging about
Her name is Catherine Kelly. She has dual citizenship of
Ireland & the USA.
She is a Professor of Political Science at a U.S.
university...
On 27 June she was in transit through Dublin Airport &

was approached by two men. One showed Garda ID.
Her identity was established & she was asked if she was
@sanepolitico, which she confirmed...
She was instructed to make no further mention online of

Regina Doherty, Minister for Social Protection.
She was told the Minister "did not like it" & that she
should not post anything relating to the Minister again.
In order to continue on her way, she had to sign a
document. She was not given a copy & does not know
what it said.
She was required to sign "a page of notes" including her
Twitter handle @sanepolitico. She could not go to her
flight until she did so.
She has taken legal advice & is exploring various possible

courses of action here & in the U.S.
She has written a full account of the incident, which I will
post a link to as soon as she makes it public.
Apparently she was not told she had broken any law, just
that the Minister "didn't like it."
Catherine has tweeted on many occasions about Minister

Doherty, mainly public record information about her
finances taken from newspapers
She has also questioned whether there is evidence for the
Minister's frequent claims of "online death threats."
(Minister Doherty is one of a number of politicians who
make such claims when discussing "online abuse" aka
criticism.)

Shame Of Ireland @ShameOfIreland
Follow
Shame Of Ireland Retweeted Social Media Dreg
#Ireland and the #Garda #PoliceState

Shame Of Ireland added,
Social Media Dreg @IzzyKamikaze
Replying to @IzzyKamikaze @sanepolitico
Tweeting about a government minister is not a crime & should not result in a caution or
a detention.
3:56 AM - 2 Jul 2017

https://www.facebook.com/ClaireNiFhearghail/posts/1021209285
7951022



festival in Galway.

3:26 PM - 1 Jul 2017
Follow


community.
5:20 PM - 1 Jul 2017

http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/taoiseach-just-because-
somebody-wasnt-convicted-doesnt-mean-their-behaviour-was-
acceptable-795943.html

The Real Ireland @Real__Ireland 15h
15 hours ago
More
'Just because somebody wasn't convicted doesn't mean their
behaviour was acceptable'
http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/taoiseach-just-because-somebody-
wasnt-convicted-doesnt-mean-their-behaviour-was-acceptable-
795943.html
Indeed @campaignforleo!
Catherine Vallely, David Scott, Jonathan Sugarman and 2 others

Gardai investigate 'slit
your throat' death threat
made against Fine Gael
TD all based on lies, no
evidence of this story
Fabricated Story, Media false news

Niall O'Connor
February 23 2016
Gardai are investigating a death threat made against Fine Gael TD Regina
Doherty which was issued after she became embroiled in a heated radio row
with Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams.
Following the debate on LMFM radio, Ms Doherty received a series of abusive

messages via text message and social media from anonymous individuals.
One message warned that Ms Doherty's throat would be "slit" as a result of her
comments made during the debate.
The prominent backbencher has spoken with her local superintendent and an
investigation has been launched.
It's also understood she has been told to take precautions in relation to her
personal safety.
Contacted today, Ms Doherty confirmed the threat and said she has been in
touch with gardai.
A Sinn Fein spokesman said: "Sinn Fin condemns all threats to politicians.
There can never be any justification for this type of behaviour."
Lucinda Creighton, leader of RENUA Ireland said: "There is growing tendency

amongst the media, and even in the larger political parties to shy away from
reminding people of Sinn Fin's past, instead focussing solely on their tax or
economic policies."
"The reality is that that there is no other attack against a political party leader
except Sinn Fin which could result in death threats being made against that
person, and that's why it is so important that Gerry Adams and Sinn Fin lead
from the front in condemning this threat."
http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/election-
2016/news/gardai-investigate-slit-your-throat-
death-threat-made-against-fine-gael-td-
34477972.html
Fine Gael TD Regina Doherty

Regina Doherty insults Paul Murphy
Dec 11, 2014
Fine Gael TD Regina Doherty suggests that Paul Murphy "Thinks
he was elected to break the law" on Primetime
Doherty made up stories about non-existent threats after
she lost a debate with Adams.
finances.
Her name is Catherine Kelly. She has dual citizenship of Ireland &
the USA.
On 27 June she was in transit through Dublin Airport & was
approached by two men. One showed Garda ID.
She was instructed to make no further mention online of Regina
Doherty, Minister for Social Protection.
In order to continue on her way, she had to sign a document. She
was not given a copy & does not know what it said.
She was required to sign "a page of notes" including her Twitter
handle @sanepolitico. She could not go to her flight until she did so.
She has taken legal advice & is exploring various possible courses of
action here & in the U.S.
She has written a full account of the incident, which I will post a link
to as soon as she makes it public.
Apparently she was not told she had broken any law, just that the
Minister "didn't like it."
Catherine has tweeted on many occasions about Minister Doherty,
mainly public record information about her finances taken from
newspapers
She has also questioned whether there is evidence for the Minister's
frequent claims of "online death threats."
(Minister Doherty is one of a number of politicians who make such
claims when discussing "online abuse" aka criticism.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjhPl6ai1yM

Paul Murphy TD speaking on the jailing of water meter
protesters
Mar 8, 2015
What a horrible interview! Its like two lads fighting over a carton of
milk in the school yard. Instead of getting into a heated tit-for-tat
conversation. Why didn't they use all that empty space behind
there heads, to display the facts. Like, the financial pro's and con's
of this water arrangement. Are there examples of other
governments around Europe imposing the same amount of
financial levies? Have they been successful? Are there other more
successful government structures in Europe? We can't be the only
country with, Water, infrastructure, Health and education to juggle,
can we? Why don't we use those pre-existing models that work. Or
just take some advice from the more established systems. Oh, we
still have a massive amount of debt? And by asking these simple
questions, we have highlighted something more sinister. Lets
spend a little bit of time, investigating that further maybe. And stop
back-tracking. We can't stop talking ourselves in circles? Ah, yes,
Irish. Lets get a mediator. Obama maybe? haha. Maybe. Who's
opinion do we all respect. Thats the question. Or a group of
people. To give an unbiased opinion on the matter. If it exists.
Clearly not that many close to home, they are being bullied too
easily. As this interview shows, its part of the culture to stubbornly
argue your point. Also, I'm sure it would have looked and sounded
less messy in text. And be blatantly obvious whats right and
wrong, without needing to have a heated debate on national
television. Thats the issue with the news I believe, it just looks, and
sounds so tense. Nobody wants to see a nice man like this get
bullied. There must be a graphic designer out there that doesn't
agree with water tax. Make us a big colourful picture of these
events please! So it can be put on t-shirts! +Russell Brand
Shut your trap Dobo Stopo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSg7-aOp3rI

Ms Doherty is a Meath East TD and a Minister of State in her Chief Whip role.
Doherty said she will support farmers and landowners if they engage in "civil disobedience" to hamper
the decision by An Bord Pleanla to give the green light to EirGrid's plans to build a new North-South
electricity interconnector.
I'm surprised she's so anxious to support her constituents in this civil disobedience, after her remarks
about Paul Murphy during the water charges debate. And her insistence that water charges should be
paid.
Both our energy and water infrastructure are in need of great investment and action, why has she
chosen to support this civil disobedience for energy and not for water?

Gardai arrest four people as 'Operation

Retail' continues in Tallaght
Latest
July 01, 2017
As part of Operation Thor, a large number of Gardai are

assisting in what is being called Retail Operation in
Tallaght today.
The focus of the operation is to target retail theft, engage
positively with members of the public, execute warrants
and carry out checkpoints in and around the Square
shopping centre in Tallaght.
An Garda Siochana
Garda members assisting in the Retail Day of Action are
uniform officers, DDU and traffic officers from units across
the DMR South, supplemented by Community Units.
In a statement released this afternoon, a Garda
spokesperson said: Up to 12pm today, the following
incidents had been detected: 4 Arrested on Warrant. 2
cars seized. Checkpoints carried out.
The people arrested are due before the courts.
Members have also been engaging positively with
members of the public and retail staff providing crime
prevention advice in support of Operation Thor.
John Hearne was a barrister that we do know. And we also know that he was very involved in the drafting of
the constitution. It just shows that civil servants do run this country not politicians. The civil service got the
constitution written just the way they wanted it.
Reid More widely known as the biggest scam that was pulled on the Irish people
Retweeted Social Media Dreg (@IzzyKamikaze):
8. Sane Politico was illegally stopped & "cautioned" at Dublin Airport for tweeting about a govt Minister.
THAT'S the story. Focus on that.
RTE won't show you this footage of the Jobstown protest, taken from a Garda helicopter on the day,. In it a
Garda can clearly be heard reporting there is 'no hassle really'.
Watch it and make up your own mind about what really happened that day, and what this trial is all about.
https://www.facebook.com/JobstownNotGuilty/

Garda monitoring a number of people using Facebook who are attempting to radicalise people
A number of pages have been removed in the last two weeks.
July 1, 17
Image: Shutterstock/Alexey Boldin

GARDAI ARE INVESTIGATING a number of people who are using social media platforms in a bid to radicalise
vulnerable people here, TheJournal.ie has learned.
A number of profiles, many of which are now under garda investigation, have targeted young people in areas where there
are large Muslim populations, including Limerick, Galway and certain parts of west and south inner city Dublin.
The Facebook profiles are attempting to argue that the concept of democracy is flawed and should be shunned by the
Muslim community here.
They are also trying to promote the idea that non-Muslims and Muslims should not associate with each other something
which the pages call to be banned.
This small number of individuals have come to the attention of a number of mosques in Ireland leading to at least one
Imam to publicly state their revulsion at the ideas.
A handful of the pages have since been shut down and TheJournal.ie understands that garda are being briefed by the
social media platform when complaints regarding these pages are made.
One of the pages which has been shut down.

Source: Facebook
Outcry
One particular page, which had amassed over 1,000 likes, was shut down two weeks ago. While Facebook could not
confirm the exact reason it was closed, it is believed it is because the page was attempting to radicalise people.
A number of Facebook pages have been closed in recent weeks which had been glorifying jihad and were in violation of
the networks terms and conditions.
The Imam of Blanchardstown Islamic Centre Shaykh Dr Umar Al-Qadri has said that the internet is just one of a number
of ways that young people are being turned towards a life of violence.
Shaykh Muhammad Umar Al-Qadri

Source: Mark Stedman/RollingNews.ie
Speaking about the threat of radicalisation, Al-Qadri said: We have a big problem in this country dealing with
radicalisation in the name of Islam.
There are many people in Ireland who hold these beliefs. They are spreading their lies on social media, on Facebook
especially. Of course, its a very large problem here. There needs to be ways to persuade people not to go down this
route.
Their age is a big factor. They are very young and they are being brought down the wrong path. Many of them have
never spoken with someone who know what our religion is about.
Violence
The extremists are here. There is no question about that. It is what we do to react that is the most important.
Dr Al-Qadri said more resources are needed to tackle potential radicalisation at its roots. He believes there needs to be
more education about what his faith entails and described the wave of extremism as a cancer.
He also spoke about a number of specific social media profiles which he says were reported to Facebook and garda.
In response to a number of questions, Facebook confirmed that it does work extensively with An Garda Sochna and has
urged anyone who has concerns about the behaviour of people on its site to use its reporting tools.
A spokeswoman for Facebook said: We work with the authorities around the world, including An Garda Sochna, on a
variety of criminal activity (per our Government Request Report) of which terrorism could be included. We have
standard practices for disclosing data as highlighted in our Law Enforcement guidelines. If we see evidence of a threat of
imminent harm or a terror attack, we reach out to law enforcement.
An Garda Sochna declined to comment on the matter.
http://www.thejournal.ie/terrorism-facebook-gardai-islam.../
Government Requests Report
https://govtrequests.facebook.com/country/Ireland/2016-H2/
Verdict in: NOT GUILTY.

Now we must demand they drop the charge againt the remaining 11 defendent, and overturn
the sentance againt the 17 year old.
Take the government, burton, the garda, to courts, fir what they caused u guys, and SERIOUSLY labour and
that zappone to quit as from.now
Who's blocking the doors of the Toyota Avensis ? Definitely not
the people who are in the dock tomorrow waiting for the verdict
on trumped up charges of false imprisonment. crime with a
possible sentence of life imprisonment.
#jobstownnotguilty

This is the sort of stuff we have to deal with on a daily basis in this
trial. Thankfully we are starting to see a light at the end and this
should all be wrapped up regardless of outcome within the next
two weeks.
Please try to get in to lend your support if you can. 10.30am each
day in CCJ. Court 13.
Remember, the outcome of this trial doesn't just affect us six or
this generation but it will have future implications on your children
and grandchildren.
#jobstownnotguilty
Garda denies conspiracy to pervert course of

Jobstown trial
Defence claims superintendent provided false statement and gave
misleading evidence

20 June 2017
on issues.
More to come.
imprisonment.
Update on the Prosecution's closing arguments!
This was the worst possible result for this poor man. He was called a dreg and other nasty names which will stick to him
for the rest of his life in open court and the position now is that he is the same as Sean Fitzpatrick which is as we all know
, . He would have been better off had he been found guilty because then he could appeal the decision and clear his good
name. This poor man should have been given the opportunity to defend his good name on the stand in open court where
he could have explained to the jury why he was protesting, that he was a father, a husband, a respected member of the
community etc etc , instead of been a dreg and a thug.

This is the same corrupt police who have been swearing lies in the
witness box for the past six weeks against the jobstown water
protesters #jobstownnotguilty
Pat Flanagan: 'Ireland is

the most corrupt country
in the Western world'
There are and will always be crooked cops but to have a crooked
police force, thats some thing else
BYPAT FLANAGAN
31 MAR 2017
Former Garda Commisioner Martin Callinan and acting Garda
Garda Commisioner Noirin O' Sullivan
UP to 50 secret bank accounts, money laundering, fraud
on a massive scale... and this is just the police force...
welcome to the most corrupt country in the Western world.
While we might not be able to compete with Nigeria and
Zimbabwe but after the latest Garda revelations we are
getting there.
Name another country anywhere in the world that can
boast a police force that used an actual laundry to launder
money that should have gone to the State.
Garda Commissioner, Noirin O'Sullivan during the launch of
the new 24 hour Phoneline for Victims of Child Sex Abuse
Find me another nation where law officers could falsify up
to one million breath tests and still keep their chief in her
job.
Did I mention the 14,700 wrongful convictions and the
smear campaigns against gardai who tried to highlight
wrongdoing?
Each one of those wrongly convicted can now sue the
State for damaging their good name in combined claims
that could run to tens if not hundreds of millions of euro.
There are and will always be crooked cops but to have a
crooked police force, thats something else
Its not that the public are not concerned about the never-ending Garda
scandals, its just that they are finding it hard to keep up to speed with the new
ones.
Still the disclosure that the laundry at the Garda Training College was being
used to launder money is straight out of the Police Academy movies.
Think about it, the institution charged with training cops to uphold the law
collecting rent of 124,903 for land belonging to the taxpayer and keeping the
cash that should have gone to the State at a time when the country was on its
knees.
And it gets better for there was another account held for laundry and services,
where 37% of the funds were spent on meals, entertainment, contributions to
charity or to parish clergy, and the golf society.
It has now been revealed there was as much as 5million sloshing around in
up to 50 bank accounts.
This week an internal audit into Templemore Garda training college

recommended a host of changes. Why not a host of charges?
Templemore Garda Training College

Sinn Fein TD David Cullinane claimed the college accounts were effectively
used as a slush fund.
Had these goings-on taken place in a private company the Garda would be
investigating and not a team of accountants.
But this is Ireland where corruption is so endemic that it is almost impossible

to find the line between lawmakers and lawbreakers... if indeed there is one.
What is even more worrying is the auditors couldnt give an assurance the
financial controls at the Garda College were compliant with public procedures
or the Garda Financial Code. So we cant even be sure anything has
changed.
The Garda Commissioner yesterday accepted gardai may have acted

dishonestly by inputting false breath test figures into the forces Pulse
computer system.
Noirin OSullivan told the Oireachtas Justice Committee it has not been
established why almost a million false breath tests were recorded.
Could this systemic falsification of figures have anything to do with the fact
that bonuses were paid for increased numbers?
The Commissioner sincerely apologised for the grave mistakes and

wrongdoing.
This being corruption central, no one says words like fraud, crime, or criminal
activity.
Such descriptions are only applied to the guys in tracksuit bottoms who sell
drugs and steal cars.
For years we wondered why there were so few convictions for white-collar
crime; the latest revelations provide all the answers we need.
Is it any wonder the public have lost confidence in gardai when there are 17
separate inquiries, investigations, reviews and reports being carried out into a
police force that is one-third the size of Londons Met.
There are also Garda internal section audit reports and disciplinary reviews, GSOC reports,
Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee and Independent Policing Authority hearings. Ireland
is by the day becoming less a republic than a series of tribunals,
investigations and inquiries.
To think the breath test scandal came about because of an anonymous tip-off
from a reserve who didnt like what was going on when it didnt seem to
bother the regular force.
But if people are expecting change they shouldnt hold their breath. In the
meantime we cant confirm the forces website has been changed to garda.lie.
Solidarity TD Paul Murphy and five other men have been found not guilty of
falsely imprisoning former Tnaiste Joan Burton and her adviser during a
2014 water charges protest.
The jury of seven men and four women returned the unanimous verdicts today
after just over three hours of deliberations.
verdicts were handed down shortly after midday.
There were cheers of no way, we won't pay and several supporters broke
down in tears.
Paul Murphy, South Dublin County Councillors Michael Murphy and Kieran
Mahon, Scott Masterson, Frank Donaghy and Michael Banks were on trial in
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for over two months. They nodded and smiled as
the not guilty verdicts were handed down.
Michael Murphy (53) from Whitechurch Way in Ballyboden,

Kieran Mahon (37) of Bolbrook Grove, Michael Banks (46) of
Brookview Green Tallaght, Frank Donaghy (71) of Alpine Rise,
Scott Masterson (34) of Carrigmore Drive, Paul Murphy (33) of
Kingswood Heights
Road, Jobstown, Tallaght on November 15, 2014. It is a
charge that carries a maximum sentence of life
imprisonment.
The charges against a seventh accused, Mr Purcell (50),
of Kiltalown Green, Tallaght, were dropped towards the
end of the prosecution case after Judge Greally ruled that
the extension of his garda detention in February 2015 was
unlawful.
Judge Greally thanked the jury for their exemplary
service and told them they had shown extreme bravery
and courage in taking on the case. A juror was discharged
halfway through the trial for personal reasons.
further cheers in court as she told the six men they were
free to go.
http://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/pat-flanagan-ireland-most-corrupt-
10132233

Barristers in FitzPatrick case

paid record-breaking rate
Senior counsel paid 3,000 a day during 126-day trial,
and received 40,000 brief fee
Conor Gallagher
July 3, 17
The daily fee paid to barristers in the trial of former Anglo
Irish Bank chairman Sean FitzPatrick were the highest
ever paid to counsel in a criminal case.
Senior counsel for the prosecution and defence were paid
3,000 each a day by the State for the 126-day trial which
was the longest in Irish legal history. This is more than
three times more than the standard rate of 858 a day for
senior counsel in Circuit Court criminal trials.
The senior barristers were also paid a 40,000 initial
brief fee to take the case, vastly more than the normal
brief fee of 1,716. The two senior counsel earned a total of
over 400,000 each including VAT for the trial.
The prosecutions two junior counsel were paid brief fees
of 26,400 and 16,000 respectively.
Correspondence released to the Irish Mail on Sunday
newspaper following a Freedom of Information request
shows the Director of Public Prosecutions office wrote to
the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
requesting that the barristers on the State side be paid a
higher than normal rate due to the complexity and
importance of the trial.
Related
ODCE investigation into Anglo Irish completely
unacceptable
No order from DPP to resume inquiry into Anglo auditors
Sen FitzPatrick trial: a trail of blunders
Sanctioned the increase
The departments then minister Paschal Donohoe
sanctioned the increased payments on condition they
came from the DPPs existing budget, the newspaper
reported.
Because of parity rules, Mr FitzPatricks barristers were
paid corresponding amounts. Mr FitzPatrick was on legal-
aid for the trial.
The prosecution had alleged that Mr FitzPatrick (68) of
Whitshed Road, Greystones, Co Wicklow, had failed to
disclose to the banks auditor Ernst and Young the details
of directors loans he received from Anglo between
November 2002 and February 2008. He pleaded not
guilty to 27 offences under the 1990 Companies Act.
These include 22 charges of making a misleading, false or
deceptive statement to auditors and five charges of
furnishing false information in the years 2002 to 2007.
Mr FitzPatrick was tried twice. The first trial collapsed

after several weeks in 2015 while the second trial was
stopped earlier this year by Judge John Aylmer before it
could go to the jury. Judge Aylmer ordered that Mr
FitzPatrick be found not guilty due to serious deficiencies
in the investigation by the Office of the Director of
Corporate Enforcement (ODCE).
Lead investigator
It emerged during the trial that the ODCEs lead
investigator had shredded evidence during the first trial. It
also emerged the ODCE had coached witnesses while
taking their statements.
A source in the DPPs office has confirmed the figures paid
to the legal teams and told The Irish Times that they are
unprecedented and record-breaking.
There is provision for barristers to be paid above the
standard rates for complex or lengthy trials but it rarely
happens. For example, barristers in the high-profile trial
of Graham Dwyer for the murder of Elaine OHara were
paid the standard rate.
It can happen in exceptional circumstances but never
before at that level, the source said.
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/barristers-in-fitzpatrick-
case-paid-record-breaking-rate-1.3141237?mode=amp

CONTROL THE MEDIA & YOU CONTROL THE NARRATIVE! THE GOVERNMENT OF
THE DAY "GIFTS" RTE, THE NATIONAL BROADCASTER 35 MILLION PER ANNUM VIA
SOCIAL WELFARE! IS THAT WHY THEY ARE SO HAPPY TO TOW THE GOVERNMENT
LINE?
EVERY TIME THEY DON'T GET THEIR OWN WAY, THEY (THE ESTABLISHMENT
PARTIES) TROT OUT THE USUAL TIRADE OF DEATH THREATS ETC ON SOCIAL
MEDIA.....THINK ALAN KELLY, JOSHEPHA MADIGAN & THE REST! THEY KNOW THEY
CAN'T PEDDLE THEIR
LIES IN THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA AND EXPECT TO GO UNCHALLANGED ANYMORE.
WE WILL HAVE A SUMMER FULL OF ATTACKS ON THE "DREGS" AND "KEYBOARD
WARRIORS" OVER THE SUMMER RECESS WHILE THEY HOBBLE TOGETHER SOME
FLAWED LEGISLATION
FOR THE AUTUMN. ONE THING IS FOR SURE......WE MUST REALLY HAVE THEM
RATTLED!

as regards the state broadcasters...

parapet.
looked on.
catherine-kelly/

catherine-kelly/

Traveller families complain

over invasion of site by
armed garda
Actor John Connors who lives at Dublin halting site says
residents are traumatised
Thu, Jun 29, 2017, 20:30 Updated: Thu, Jun 29, 2017, 20:31
Kitty Holland
Actor and documentary-maker John Connors Traveller site in Coolock was

raided by armed and unarmed Garda. Residents claim that the search
warrant was for a neighbouring site not their one.
A 16-year-old mother has claimed that armed garda
pointed an assault rifle at her and her two-month-old
daughter when they invaded a Traveller site in north
Dublin this week.
Kathleen Joyce says two men wearing balaclavas came
into her mobile home where she was changing her babys
nappy, pointing real guns.
I was screaming, saying, I have my baby. They didnt
believe me because she was on the bed so I had to pick
her up. She was crying and screaming. She was very
scared.
The incident is among several that three extended
families at the Belcamp Lane halting site in Darndale
claim occurred over a two-hour period, that they want
investigated.
They say armed and unarmed garda with dogs arrived at
the site at about noon. They say assault rifles were
pointed at several of them, including a 13-year-old girl,
and others were held face down on the ground, with
rifles directed at them, for up to 15 minutes.
They did not initially know the armed men in balaclavas
were garda. These men were followed, they say, by
uniformed garda, one of whom produced a search
warrant as they left, despite repeated requests as to their
purpose on the site.
The warrant indicated the garda were searching for fire-
arms, but that referred not to their site, but a
neighbouring one.
Among the about 40 people living there are five young
children, and actor and documentary-maker, John
Connors.
Traumatised
Mr Connors, who was filming elsewhere during the
incident, says he found his family traumatised when he
got home.
His mother, Kathleen Connors, tells how she was in her
trailer at about noon when she saw a load of men with
guns and balaclavas coming in over the fence. They were
telling everyone to get down to the ground.
She says she went out and was told: Get down or well
shoot. Ms Connors, her son Joe, her nephew James and
his wife Charlene were held down, lying in puddles with
their feet on our backs, she says. I really was afraid for
our lives.
They had their faces covered and they would not tell us
anything. They just kept telling us not to move.
Joe Connors, who works in construction, said garda at
the adjoining site called the armed officers away before
coming in themselves.
We were told to get up and stand at that end of the site
while they searched the place with dogs. I asked them for
a search warrant and got nothing. I asked their names,
their badge numbers, what they were looking for, they
just ignored me, Joe Connors says.
They saw my tools and asked if they were stolen,
because Im a Traveller I suppose. Theyre my tools. I
bought them. All they took away in the end was a
Playstation, bank cards and four curtain poles.
Among those on-site on Thursday was Sr Lumay Thomas
from the Franciscan Sisters of Mary who had just heard
about the events. Its very bad to treat people like that,
and the way they spoke to the families, with children
here, is really bad.
John Connors said the families would be making a
complaint to the Garda Sochna Ombudsman
Commission. This isnt going to just blow over.
Asked about the claims, a Garda spokesman said:
Garda from Coolock, assisted by the Armed Support
Unit searched the site.
During the course of the search garda seized drug
paraphernalia, mobile phones and offensive weapons.
One man was arrested on foot of a warrant and one was
arrested for possession of a small quantity of suspected
cannabis.
A write up in the Irish times about the invasion in the camp where
my family were terrorised by the ERU and Garda Siochona. The
man who they arrested was not a member of the family or a
Traveller but a friend of a resident. Please share the shit out of
this.
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/traveller-families-complain-
over-invasion-of-site-by-armed-garda%C3%AD-
1.3138235#.WVVgUIUTHy8.facebook
Man can sue State over

alleged malicious
prosecution
Jury acquitted James Walsh on charges he threatened to
kill or harm journalist Paul Williams
Fri, Apr 17, 2015, 19:04
Aodhan O'Faolain
The High Court has cleared the way for a Dublin man to sue the State over
alleged malicious prosecution. James Walsh claims he was the victim of a
malicious prosecution for allegedly threatening to kill and cause serious harm
to journalist Paul Williams. Photograph: Aidan Crawley/The Irish Times.
The High Court has cleared the way for a Dublin man to
sue the State over alleged malicious prosecution.
James Walsh claims he was the victim of a malicious
prosecution for allegedly threatening to kill and cause
serious harm to journalist Paul Williams. Mr Walsh was
acquitted, following two trials, of the charges by a jury in
2007.
Mr Justice Paul Gilligan on Friday (yesterday) refused
an application by the State and Garda Commissioner
have Mr walshs proceedings struck out over want of
prosecution and inordinate delay.
While there was delay in advancing the case, no
prejudice to the defendants had been demonstrated and
the action should be allowed to proceed to hearing
before a judge and jury, Mr Justice Gilligan ruled.
In his action, Mr Walsh, Dunmore Park, Kingswood
Heights, Dublin 24, claims he was prosecuted for
offences that never occurred, which the State authorities
knew from the beginning had not occurred and which
were impossible for him to commit.
In proceedings against the Garda Commissioner, Ireland
and Attorney General, he is seeking punitive and
exemplary damages over the alleged malicious and
wholly corrupt actions of the defendants. The claims are
denied.
The defendants also argued the claim was speculative in
nature and that Mr Walsh was making unsubstantiated
allegations against gardai. It was the DPP, not garda,
who decided to prosecute Mr Walsh, the defendants add.
In a pretrial motion, the defendants argued inordinate
delay justified an order striking out Mr Walshs action.
The State parties argued Mr Walsh failed to progress his
civil action with expedition. He had served a statement
of claim in October 2009, two years after his acquittal
and a defence was filed in July 2010.
On two occasions since then, Mr Walsh had failed to
attend court resulting in his notice of trial being struck
out, the defendants argued.
Mr Walsh had argued the reasons for the delay included
that he had not secured legal representation until 2014
and health problems. The defendants disputed that
those reasons justified the delay.
Mr Walsh, represented by solicitor Anne Fitzgibbon,
argued that even if there had been a delay, the balance of
justice favoured allowing the case go to trial and the
defendants had not shown they suffered any prejudice to
them as a result of any alleged delay.
Mr Justice Gilligan said the delay in this case was
inordinate and inexcusable and no allowance could be
made for the period of time Mr Walsh did not have a
solicitor. No valid reason had been given for the delay in
the prosecution of the claim, he said.
However, he was not satisfied the defendants capacity to
meet the claim and advance their defence had been
compromised by the delay to the extent that a fair trial
was in peril, he added.
Looking at the conduct of both sides, the defendants
had delayed in delivering their defence to the claim until
after a motion for judgment in default of defence was
issued by Mr Walsh, he said. The defence could have
sought to have the case struck out much earlier, he
added.
The court had to consider the actions of both parties in
the litigation, he said. In the absence of any indication of
any prejudice in the particular circumstances and having
regard to the issue of fairness between the parties, it
seemed appropriate to refuse the strike out orders. The
proceedings should be brought on for hearing at the
earliest possible opportunity, he added.
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/high-court/man-can-
sue-state-over-alleged-malicious-prosecution-1.2180131#ssf
STILL UNABLE TO FIND ANY PROFESSIONAL LEGAL REPRESENTATION
"The High Court has cleared the way for a Dublin man to sue the State over alleged malicious
prosecution."
The big difference between my case and that of James Walsh is that I am the target of a malicious
prosecution for attempting to expose and challenge the whole sickening, and ongoing, array of
"Government corruption, crime, cover ups, bullying, and impunity" in the Republic of Ireland.
More, of a general nature, on this sickening subject at can be viewed via following www link:
=== === ===
REQUEST FOR REVIEW OF DISCRETIONARY SUPPORT APPLICATION
===
' 4) Correctly or otherwise, I have long believed that the main reason for the creation and sustenance of
the extant warrant for my arrest in the Republic of Ireland referred to at 2) above, and the main reason I
am finding it literally impossible (so far) to find legal representation which fully supports the "Article
18 / Article 47" principles referred to above -- either in the Republic of Ireland jurisdiction, or in the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland jurisdiction -- are in very large part a function
of the judicial corruption I have referred to in my email to Northern Ireland First Minister Arlene
Foster LL.B., MLA dated June 16th 2017, which I copied to your office. In case that for any reason
you might not be aware of the email in question, please note that there is an unedited Gmail PDF copy
of it at the following www location:
===
The text in the section just above formed part of an email, and a registered letter, both sent last
Thursday (June 29th 2017) to the Discretionary Support Commissioner, in Antrim, Northern Ireland.
The email was copied to all (or almost all) of Northern Ireland's MLAs (Members of the Legislative
Assembly of Northern Ireland), and to all (or almost all) of Northern Ireland's MPs. It was also copied
to, among others, several senior public officials in the Republic of Ireland.
A slightly edited version of the full email can be viewed at the following www location:
http://www.humanrightsireland.com/AntrimJobsAn//Gmail.html
Also, an unedited "Gmail PDF" copy of the email can be viewed at:
http://www.humanrightsireland.com/AntrimJobsAnd//Gmail.pdf
=== === === === === ===
To:
20 Castle Street,
Antrim,
BT41 4JE.
Dear Commissioner,
RE: REVIEW OF YOUR CLAIM ID REF: 37202, DECISION ID: 45713, AND WILLIAM
FINNERTY, NATIONAL INSURANCE NUMBER YH615974D:
I would be grateful if you could please look at the decision relating to my claim which is set out in the
text of the unsigned letter I have received from your office dated June 9th 2017.
A scanned copy the June 9th 2017 letter in question can be viewed at the following www location:
http://www.humanrightsireland.com/AntrimJobsAn//Letter.htm
In connection with the above request, I would appreciate it if you could please take account of the
comments of mine set out under 1 to 6 below, which all relate to the letter dated June 9th 2017 at the
www address directly above.
===
1) As the June 9th 2017 unsigned letter to me contains no definite mention of the letter I sent to your
office through the registered post on June 7th 2017, I have no way of knowing if the person in your
office who sent me the June 9th 2017 letter was aware of the full contents of my June 7th 2017 letter,
or not. That being so, please know that I have placed a scanned copy of my June 7th 2017 to your
office, together with scanned copies of the associated Royal Mail receipt, and the Royal Mail "Proof of
2) When I decided to come to Northern Ireland in July 2015, I came with thoughts of Article 18
("Right to asylum") of the THE CHARTER OF THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF THE
EUROPEAN UNION in mind; and, the hope that I would only need asylum (as in "a safe harbour") in
Northern Ireland for a period of a few weeks, or a few months at most. It was not my intention to stay
in Northern Ireland for any longer than that, and it is still my intention, as it has been throughout the
whole period of the past two years almost of my "forced exile" (as I see it) in Northern Ireland, to
return to the Republic of Ireland as soon as it seems safe for me to do so.
However, the warrant for my arrest which I understand was issued on July 8th 2015, remains extant as
far as I know, as it has been (I believe) throughout the entire period from July 8th 2015 up to the
present time.
The extant warrant for my arrest in the Republic of Ireland relates to completely false allegations that I
had committed crime in the Republic of Ireland; and, I fled to Northern Ireland, in haste, in early July
2015, for the purposes of a) trying to avoid being corruptly criminalised, fined, and possibly
imprisoned in the Republic of Ireland, through the use of a "Trial by Judge (i.e. NON JURY)", or,
"Kangaroo Court" arrangement as I see it, and, b) finding legal representation in Northern Ireland of
the kind which supports the set of principles stated in the text of Article 47 of THE CHARTER OF
THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, which reads as follows:.
"Everyone whose rights and freedoms guaranteed by the law of the Union are violated has the right to
an effective remedy before a tribunal in compliance with the conditions laid down in this Article.
"Everyone is entitled to a fair and public hearing within a reasonable time by an independent and
impartial tribunal previously established by law. Everyone shall have the possibility of being advised,
defended and represented.
"Legal aid shall be made available to those who lack sufficient resources in so far as such aid is
necessary to ensure effective access to justice."
The full text (of the English language version) of THE CHARTER OF THE FUNDAMENTAL
RIGHTS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION can be viewed at the following www location:
3) To date, and despite my very best efforts to find legal representation in Northern Ireland, of the kind
which supports Article 18 and Article 47 of THE CHARTER OF THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS
OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, I still have not managed to locate any; and, consequently I still feel I
cannot sensibly return to the Republic of Ireland: for fear of being corruptly criminalised, fined, and
possibly imprisoned. However, my efforts to find the kind of legal representation I am seeking, which
I, as a full citizen of the European Union continue to believe I have a right to in law, are ongoing.
When and if I manage to find such legal representation, it continues to be my intention, as it has been
throughout the entire duration of my present stay in Northern Ireland, to then straight away set about
making arrangements to return to the Republic of Ireland. It is for this reason I have made no attempt to
sell my home in the Republic of Ireland, which seems to be one of the two main reasons my
application for Discretionary Support has been turned down: as stated on Page three of the letter from
your office dated June 9th 2017, which I have highlighted on the scanned copy of it that I have placed
at the following www location:
4) Correctly or otherwise, I have long believed that the main reason for the creation and sustenance of
Please find some samples of evidence, of the kinds of wide-ranging forms of Republic of Ireland
"judicial corruption" (as I see it) in question, in addition to evidence of my long-standing, and ongoing,
personal efforts for trying to remedy the "judicial corruption problem" in the Republic of Ireland, in the
following set of Google listings:
#1) Chief Justice Susan Denham, Violations of the Republic of Ireland's Constitution, William
Finnerty:
#2) Chief Justice Susan Denham, Violations of Article 47 of The European Union Charter of
Fundamental Rights, William Finnerty:
#3) Chief Justice Susan Denham, Violations of United Nations International "Aarhus Convention"
Treaty, William Finnerty:
#5) Chief Justice Susan Denham, The Republic of Ireland's Great Oil and Gas Giveaway, William
Finnerty:
#6) Chief Justice Susan Denham, Irish Water (Republic Of Ireland), William Finnerty:
#8) Chief Justice Susan Denham, Violations of Article 6.1 of Republic of Ireland's Constitution,
William Finnerty:
#9) Chief Justice Susan Denham, Fractional Reserve Lending Fraud, William Finnerty:
#10) Chief Justice Susan Denham, Derivatives Gambling Debt Fraud, William Finnerty:
#11) Chief Justice Susan Denham, NATO WARMONGERING, Shannon Airport, William Finnerty:
#12) Chief Justice Susan Denham, Judicial Corruption, William Finnerty:
===
5) As as I have truthfully stated in Section 7 of the registered letter I sent to your office on May 27th
2017, I owe a total of Euros 80,000 to my brother (Gerald Finnerty), and my half-sister (Marjorie
Dolan), who are both domiciled in the Republic of Ireland. However, it is stated on Page 3 of the letter
dated June 9th 2017 from your office, referred to under 3) above, that "the customer's debt at the time
of review is confirmed as being 0.00". For me, this statement that I have zero debt, which seems to be
the second of the two main reasons for the turning down of my application for Discretionary Support,
represents a huge error on the part of the person who is responsible for making this statement..
In case that for some reason you might not be aware of my May 27th 2017 registered letter to your
office, please know that there is a scanned copy of it, together with scanned copies of the associated
Royal Mail receipt, and the Royal Mail "Proof of Delivery" note at the following www location:
6) With reference to the "As such I do not consider the customer to be in an extreme, exceptional, crisis
situation which presents a significant risk to his health and safety" statement at the bottom of Page 3 of
the letter dated June 9th 2017 from your office, which I have also highlighted in the scanned copy
referred to at 3) above, I would be grateful if you would please consider the contents of the two letters
at the following www page address:
One of the letters at the www address just above was sent by me on February 14th 2017, and the
second letter is a reply to my February 14th 2017 letter, dated February 20th 2017, from Craigavon
Hospital Consultant Mr AJ Glacken (Urologist), dated February 20th 2017, which contains the
statement that "The level of PSA (Prostate cancer indicator) found in January 2016 is most concerning
and requires further investigation". I feel I should point out, for the purpose of enabling you to consider
the matter, that the www address for this "letter information" appears at the very top of Page 4 of the
letter I sent to your office through the registered post on June 7th 2017, just under the heading "PTSD"
RELATED" LETTER FROM CRAIGAVON HOSPITAL CONSULTANT MR ANTHONY
CLACKIN MD FRCSI. Scanned copies of my June 7th 2017 letter, together with scanned copies of
the associated Royal receipt, and the associated Royal Mail "Proof of Delivery" note, can be viewed at
the following www page address:
===
I look forward to hearing from after you have considered the matters referred to above.
Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to make it clear to all concerned that I feel very grateful
for the help I have received, from a wide variety of sources, since coming to Northern Ireland in July
2015; which I think of -- and consistently view -- as a very considerable and worthwhile amount of
help.
Yours faithfully,
William Finnerty.
=== === ===
ATTACHMENT:
Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Email App Share to LinkedIn Share to Pinterest Share to
Reddit Share to Google+ Share to WhatsApp The High Court has cleared the way for a Dublin man to

JUDICIAL CORRUPTION:
Unless judicial corruption is stopped, or significantly reduced at least, we, the members of the general public, have no
rights in reality?
The corruption-ridden judges, and the government crime-supporting legal professions headed by the corrupt judges, can
easily continue to see to that: as things are at the present time, at least?
More on this subject at:

http://www.humanrightsireland.com/index.htm#14June2017

THE LONG AND IMPORTANT HISTORY OF TRIAL BY JURY
"Whoever controls the courts controls the state."

(Aristotle 384322 BC)
Most exactly correct, I'd say. And still true to this day.
===
Ancient Greece (Circa 600 BC):
"The law courts in ancient Athens (4th and 5th centuries BC) were a fundamental organ of
democratic governance. According to Aristotle, whoever controls the courts controls the state.
"These courts were jury courts and very large ones: the smallest possible had 200 members
(+1 to avoid ties) and sometimes 501, 1000 or 1500. The annual pool of jurors, whose official
name was Heliaia, comprised 6000 members. At least on one known occasion the whole six
thousand sat together to judge a single case (a plenary session of the Heliaia). This was very
different from Rome's laws, as in Rome, jury representatives were elected. The Athenian
jurors were chosen randomly by lot, which meant that juries would consist, in theory, of a
wide range of members from different social classes. Jurors were chosen on an annual
basis, as were all other offices within the state (with the exception of the generals, known as
strategoi). After the reforms of Solon in 594/3 BC, anyone from each of the four classes (the
pentacosiomedimni, hippeis, zeugites and thetes) could become a juror. This was meant to
make the system much fairer to the poorer members of society, who had previously been
excluded in favour of the elitist aristocrats."
From: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_court_(ancient_Athens)
===
Trial by jury, Human Rights Ireland, William Finnerty:

https://www.google.ie/?gws_rd=ssl#q=Trial+by+jury,+Human+Rights+Ireland,+William+Finnerty:
===
Remembering The JOBSTOWN Trial By Jury Court Case, June 2017:

===
Former United States President Thomas Jefferson

JURY NULLIFICATION" & THE "JOBSTOWN TRIAL"
(Dublin, Republic of Ireland, June 2017)
===
JURY NULLIFICATION
"This may occur when members of the jury disagree with the law
the defendant has been charged with breaking, or believe that the
law should not be applied in that particular case."
"In a criminal trial, a jury nullifies by acquitting a defendant, even
though the members of the jury may believe that the defendant
did the illegal act, but they do not believe he/she should be
punished for it."
"A jury verdict that is contrary to the letter of the law pertains only
to the particular case before it. If a pattern of acquittals develops,
however, in response to repeated attempts to prosecute a
statutory offence, this can have the de facto effect of invalidating
the statute. A pattern of jury nullification may indicate public
opposition to an unwanted legislative enactment."
More ...
"Jury nullification is a finding by a trial jury in contradiction to the
jury's belief about the facts of the case. This may happen in both
civil and criminal trials. In a civil trial, a jury nullifies by finding a
defendant not liable, even though members of the jury may
believe the defendant is liable. In a criminal trial, a jury nullifies by
acquitting a defendant, even though the members of the jury may
believe that the defendant did the illegal act, but they do not
believe he/she should be punished for it. This may occur when
members of the jury disagree with the law the defendant has been
charged with breaking, or believe that the law should not be
applied in that particular case. A jury can similarly unjustly and
illegally convict a defendant on the ground of disagreement with
an existing law, even if no law is broken (although in jurisdictions
with double jeopardy rules, a conviction can be overturned on
appeal, but an acquittal cannot)"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jury_nullification
=== === ===
JURY NULLIFICATION, HUMAN RIGHTS IRELAND, WILLIAM
FINNERTY:
=== === ===
TRIAL BY JURY
"I consider trial by jury as the only anchor ever yet imagined by
man, by which a government can be held to the principles of its
constitution."
Former US President Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Paine, 1789.
===
RELATED GOOGLE LISTINGS
Trial by Jury, Thomas Jefferson, Human Rights Ireland, William
Finnerty:
===
A jury can nullify unconstitutional legislation, Human Rights
Ireland, William Finnerty:
=== === ===
"TRIAL BY JURY IS EVERY PERSON'S RIGHT"
===
"It's every person's right" ("iamsam" at Thu Mar 25, 2010 00:32)
by Distant Observer Thu Mar 25, 2010 11:13
"Assuming you are correct, and I note with great interest that you
are being challenged in what seems to me to be a very major way
(by "Court Observer" at Thu Mar 25, 2010 10:43), then I hope that
Niall will choose the "trial by jury" option for his next appeal.
"I say this because I believe that if a jury were to act in the way
that a jury is meant to act in cases of this kind, which is to prevent
GOVERNMENT BULLYING of the type in question, then the jury
would -- in all of these "Shell To Sea" cases, or almost all of them
at least -- judge the protestors to be "not guilty" of any crime.
"And, if that were to happen, there is NOTHING that I can think of
which would hurt Shell Oil and their many accomplices more.
"Far more importantly perhaps, I further believe that there is
nothing that would HELP the people of the Republic of Ireland
more, than a string of such "not guilty" verdicts coming from a
jury -- or juries, as the case might be, on account of the fact the
"Shell To Sea" situation seems to involve several court cases.
"The above text has been copied from the following Indymedia
(Ireland) location:
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/96135#comment266419
"BACKUP COPY at:
http://www.humanrightsireland.com/IndyMediaIrel//Post.htm
"
===
The text in the section just above is from an email dated March
26th 2010 at:
http://www.humanrightsireland.com/HermanVanRomp//Email
.htm
=== === ===
RELATED RTE (REPUBLIC OF IRELAND STATE BROADCASTER)
ARTICLE
"Jury in Jobstown trial urged to put political views aside"
(Updated / Monday, 26 Jun 2017):
https://www.rte.ie/news/2017/0626/885602-jobstown/
=== === ===
RELATED "JUDICIAL CORRUPTION" EMAIL DATED JUNE 16th
2017
"They will not tell you that the entire system is corrupt."
Email sent on June 16th 2017 to, among others, several
professional lawyers and public officials:
http://www.humanrightsireland.com/FirstMiniste//Gmail.html
=== === ===
OUR (REPUBLIC OF IRELAND) PUBLIC OFFICIALS
AND
SOME OTHER PARTS OF THE "BIGGER PICTURE" ...
William Finnerty:
Finnerty:
===
The list just above has been taken from a www page address
which contains a scanned copy of a registered letter to THE LAW
SOCIETY OF NORTHERN IRELAND dated January 28th 2017 at:
http://www.humanrightsireland.com//ScannedRegisteredLetter
=== === ===

"A NEW BIRTH OF FREEDOM (FROM INJUSTICE)"?
"But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate, we can not
consecrate, we can not hallow this field. The brave men and
women, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it,
far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little
note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget
what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated
here to the UNFINISHED WORK which they who fought here have
thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated
to the GREAT TASK remaining before us -- that from these
honoured dead we take increased devotion to that cause for
which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here
highly resolve that these dead SHALL NOT have died in vain --
that this nation (the Republic of Ireland), under God, and by
PEACEFUL AND LAWFUL means and the use of HUMAN RIGHTS
LAW (https://tinyurl.com/yboc8qlp), shall have a NEW BIRTH OF
FREEDOM (FROM INJUSTICE) -- and that GOVERNMENT OF
THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE, FOR THE PEOPLE shall not
perish from the earth."
From:
http://www.humanrightsireland.com//26/GeneralElection.htm
=== === ===

RELATED FACEBOOK PUBLICATIONS:
=== === ===
UPDATES & DEVELOPMENTS
For most recent "HUMAN RIGHTS IRELAND dot COM"
developments and updates please see list at:
http://www.humanrightsireland.com/#LIST
JUDGES AND THE LEGAL ELITE a topic of discussion on Vincent Browne the other evening. In light of the
JOBSTOWN TRIAL in particular, the issue has real relevance. Thank God for juries! Jobstown Not Guilty
2/19629273_549754208748676_781664699044331520_n.mp4?efg=eyJybHIiOj
MwMCwicmxhIjo1MTIsInZlbmNvZGVfdGFnIjoic3ZlX3NkIn0%3D&rl=300&vabr
=86&oh=69cdeff2596fec4350e863bf2d410f56&oe=5959DCA3
Illegal Benchers in Irish judicial Appointments
http://www.jsijournal.ie/html/Volume%208%20No.%201/2008%5b1%5d_Fee
nan_Judicial_appointments.pdf
Irish Prison Service; Mental ... benchers of the King's Inns or ... the Programme for
Government proposes extensive reform of the judicial appointments process,
Tnaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Frances
Fitzgerald): The Judicial Appointments Advisory Board consists of 11
members. It is chaired by the Chief Justice and includes the Presidents of the
Court of Appeal, High Court, Circuit Court and District Court, the Attorney
General, nominated representatives of the Bar Council and the Law Society
and three persons nominated by the Minister for Justice and Equality. Six
members of the Board are barristers or former barristers and 2 members are
solicitors or former solicitors while the three Ministerial nominees are
appointed to the Board on the basis of their knowledge or experience of
commerce, finance, or administration or have experience as consumers of
services provided by the courts. As the Deputy will be aware, the Programme
for Government proposes extensive reform of the judicial appointments
process, to ensure it remains transparent, fair and credible.
http://www.genderequality.ie/en/JELR/Pages/PQ-26-05-2016-32
JUSTICE FOR 98 LAWYERS

Tue, Feb 25, 1997,
FRANK MACGABHANN
Sir, - Next year is the bicentenary of the 1798 Rebellion. In a spirit of national reconciliation, isn't it
time that the Irish Bar righted a historical wrong by posthumously readmitting those lawyers whom the
Benchers expelled on November 27th, 1798 for shaving been of a seditious and traitorous conspiracy
of men styling themselves United Irishmen and having confessed themselves guilty of high treason"?
https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/letters/justice-for-98-lawyers-
1.46414?mode=sample&auth-failed=1&pw-
origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.irishtimes.com%2Fopinion%2Fletters%2Fjustic
e-for-98-lawyers-1.46414

Keeping BC lawyers informed - Lawson Lundell
http://www.lawsonlundell.com/media/coverage/391_BenchersBulletin2013.pd
f

The medias response to

the Jobstown verdict, and
their obsession with
attacking the Irish left
In the wake of the Jobstown verdict, in which six
defendants were found not guilty of falsely imprisoning
Joan Burton in her car in 2014, many political columnists
clearly have issues with the fact that the jury found the
protesters innocent. In most papers, columnists have
voiced varying levels of anger about the not guilty verdict.
One of the main arguments now made by many in media

and political circles is that the charges of false
imprisonment were, in hindsight, too strong and that the
defendants should have been charged with a lesser crime.
Those saying this are essentially disappointed that no one
has gone to prison for protesting. Labour Leader Brendan
Howlin has stated that it was a mistake not to try and pin
the protesters with a different charge. Frank Buttimer at
the Irish Times explained why false imprisonment was too
strong a charge after the verdict. It is notable that
commentators such as Buttimer, who now have concerns
about the charges, were nowhere to be seen making that
same point during or before the trial. When there was a
chance of prosecution, the weightiness of the charges did
not bother these writers.
At the Irish Examiner, Politcal Editor Daniel McConnell

seemingly thought it appropriate to write not one, but two
hatchet jobs on defendant Paul Murphy TD and the
Solidarity party two days after the verdict. Re-hashing an
article of his own from 2014, McConnell seems to take
issue with the fact that Murphy is both a socialist and had a
middle class upbringing. He concludes, given that
[Murphy] loves causing trouble so much, why would he
ever want to grow up? While McConnell does not make
clear what he means by grow up, it is safe to assume he is
referring to the fact that Murphy takes part in protests and
is unapologetic and defiant in his politics (traits that the
supposed responsible members of Irelands political class
no doubt consider to be childish). Maybe the Irish
politicians who grow up are the ones content with leaving
thousands homeless so that the profits of private property
developers are protected.
McConnells second piece of the day saw him make the

bizarre claim that none of the three elected Solidarity TDs
were fit to hold public office. This is a fairly drastic and
dangerous claim. However, the reasoning for it is perhaps
more frightening still: he claims that the TDs are claiming
victory for what Jobstown was as he tries once again to
equate the 2014 Jobstown protest with violent, mob
behaviour. The victory that the Solidarity TDs are claiming
is of course that demonstrators have not been locked up on
trumped up charges for protesting. The headline for the
piece, To defend abuse is contrary to democracy, is in line
with a relatively constant stream of articles from the Irish
Examiner in which they try to brand Irelands left as an
undemocratic, dark force. Here is a selection of a few
similar headlines from the Irish Examiner over the last
year:
Elitist far-left has gained traction but its fascism is

affront to democracy (Gerald Howlin, 26 October 2016)
If Ireland faces a threat to its democracy it will be from
the left (Victoria White, 19 January 2017)
There does seem to be almost an obsession at the Irish

Examiner with attacking the Irish left. Columnists there
regularly write similar pieces, with the article generally
taking the same form: show some sympathy with the plight
of people suffering with austerity, suggest that the left are
using populist techniques to rally people to their cause,
make some strange illogical accusation of hypocrisy,
probably draw a link between Donald Trump and the Irish
left, and then conclude that the tactics of the left are
undemocratic and dangerous for Irish society.
When journalists and columnists see their role as to defend

rather than challenge the establishment at every
opportunity, Irish democracy is under threat. When they
see it as their duty to repeatedly attack those found not
guilty by a jury, we have to wonder whether they are
actually interested in conveying information deemed to be
in the public interest or simply using their platforms to
defend the political order at any cost.
What is disturbing at this moment is that the judge on the

Jobstown trial effectively admitted to the jury that the
Gardai witnesses had lied while under oath in the
courtroom, and there is little concern about this among
Irelands media. Now Fine Gael are tabling a bill to crack
down on the use of social media. We should expect serious
criticism of this from the Irish media, but this is unlikely.
When such things happen in other countries, we rightly see
outrage in our media. But when it happens in Ireland, it
seems that the medias priority remains the same: side
with the state and go after the left. The media have been
playing a very dangerous game with Irish democracy.
Just what drives this behaviour among so many in the

media? Why does a Dil alliance with just six TDs (and 4%
of the popular vote in the 2016 election) cause so much
outrage among Irelands media? Is it that the Irish
establishment is getting shaken in recent years? Are they
concerned about the prospect of a politics that looks after
the basic needs of everyone in society? In a pattern seen
elsewhere in Europe, Irelands two right-wing parties
couldnt cobble together 50% of the vote between them in
2016a record low. There is an air of desperation and
hyperbole from those who wish to defend and rebuild this
establishment whatever the cost. The ideology of the left is
dismissed as supposedly failed by those who take little
note of the destruction of Irish society happening all
around them as a result of the ideology they promote.
Such media behaviour is clearly a phenomenon seen the

world overwe need only to look towards the UK and how
the media treated Jeremy Corbyn for the last two years.
After the enormous surge in Corbyns support in the run-
up to Junes election, we have seen the media coverage
change course somewhat. Most commentators were left
red-faced after that election, caught out as having been
massively out-of-touch with British public opinion.
And herein lies an important lesson: faced with a massively

hostile media, social movements succeeded in shifting the
debate in the UK. Those media foot-soldiers for the status
quo couldnt match the power of strong, left-wing social
movements that inspired millions. And a media that cares
so little for genuine democracy needs to be called out again
and again for its role in enabling the destruction of society
by right-wing political forces.
https://medium.com/@RobWinkel86/the-medias-response-to-the-jobstown-verdict-and-
their-obsession-with-attacking-the-irish-left-6666d48e8216
Fiona Barry from Thurles in Tipperary I have just read your piece
about the working class.
Your father was working class but you are middle class. Hmmmm so
you elevated yourself to something you believe yourself to be ? Your father
was working class , so you were born into the working class. You consider
yourself now to be above that station and have shamed your father and his
father , who no doubt were proud of who they were and where they came
from.
We lowly working class people have a word for that , it is snobbery.
Fiona you can preach to the masses all you want , facts are facts and if you
try tell the world you do not use vulgar language , you are a liar and a
hypocrite. We all use vulgar language at some stage in life. It is just natural.
But to condemn others for using language you have used again shows your
Snobbery.
The fact you cannot understand why these people were protesting and were
angry at a system that has not only betrayed them , deserted them but
confined them to a life of enforced poverty again shows your Snobbery as
you hide away in your comfortable existence in your new found class.
Many of us are proud of who we are fiona and where we came from, then
there are Snobs like yourself who spend a lifetime pretending they are
something they are not.
Labour are supposed to be the beacons for repealing the 8th, yet every member voted
against this bill last year
The delicacy of this woman amazes me.
Ed Brophy
@edbrophy
More
Follow
Replying to @KittyHollandIT @solidarityie
You say Gardai perjurers, hit me with libel &
then get caught telling porkies about never
speaking at Trot gigs? Structural violence
my arse
That is the same man that was responsible for cuts to lone parents & under 25's social
welfare while Lab broke pay caps to pay him.
Fine Gael TD calls for change of
law after social media comments
during Jobstown trial
http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/fine-gael-td-
calls-for-change-of-law-after-social-media-comments-during-
jobstown-trial-795979.html
Translation:Politician from hereditary Fascist Party (Blueshirts) calls for change to law to
enable fascism to flourish unhindered.
prosecution.
When asked asked if the DPP made a mistake with charging the men
with false imprisonment, he said: I can say now, honestly - yes.
I deliberately said nothing - from the beginning to the end of this I

stayed quiet on this, because I thought let judicial process take its
course.
women.
Earlier:


Ireland.

social media.
were "menacing".

2014.

Update 1.18pm: Labour Party leader Brendan Howlin has said it was
a mistake not to pursue public order offences rather than false
imprisonment charges in the case of the Jobstown Six.
Solidarity TD Paul Murphy and five other men were all cleared this
week of falsely imprisoning the former Labour Party leader Joan
Burton during an anti-water-charge demonstration in 2014.
Speaking immediately after being cleared, Mr Murphy said files sent
by the garda to the Director of Public Prosecutions in the case were
"rubbish
Best mind what you say! Irish blogger/tweeter detained for stating
facts about Government Minister.
FitzgeraldFrncs call in the #Dail for appeal of #JobstownNotGuilty travesty. Thx @RTE
too #Marian
Not travellers I hope Josepha! We both know what they're like!
Them and the dregs from Jobstown, Shinners and the net
#JobstownNotGuilty
Social media should not be available to the less educated, travellers, Shinners etc. An
explosive mix #JobstownNotGuilty #Marian #twip #vinb
I haven't broken the law": Government Chief
Whip defends liquidation of company
Regina Doherty defended the closure of her company today.
May 21st 2016,
GOVERNMENT CHIEF WHIP Regina Doherty has

defended her decision to liquidate a company in 2013.
Doherty was a director along with her husband Declan
of Enhanced Solutions Ltd, a company which bought and
sold IT components until it went to the wall in 2009.
However, it was not liquidated until 2013.
The liquidators report shows the company owed 59,000 to
Revenue and 50,000 to AIB.
The company had lost over 205,000 according to its most
recent accounts. Separately, a judgement was awarded
against the company by UK firm Eurosimm for over
10,000.
Before Februarys election, Doherty told The Peoples
Debate with Vincent Browne that her debts had been paid.
However, her promotion to Chief Whip led some to question
whether there were debts left outstanding.
Last week, Doherty declined to speak to the Mail on Sunday,
but today penned a piece in the Irish Independent defending
her actions.
She also took to RTs Saturday with Claire Byrne to give
her side of the story.
Failure
Doherty said that she has been reminded of how much of a
failure she is since the liquidation ended in 2013.
She said she and her husband had taken out a loan to pay
back AIB.
That will probably take me the rest of my life to pay back
and thats cool because Im fortunate enough to be in a
position to do that and some other debts were written off
during the liquidation.
The Revenue debt was part of that written off, some being
written off against VAT owed to the company.
She says that she has been reminded of the liquidation daily
by people who think theyre smart.
People think theyre smart reminding me of it, but I lived
with it.
She said that she had ignored the social media commentary
on the liquidation until her appointment as Chief Whip two
weeks ago.
Then, she said, the interactions went through the roof,
leading the story to take on a new life.
I cant just ignore people saying things about me that are
not true.
I cant have an ambiguity for people and there cant be
many left, Im sure who do actually like me.
I havent hidden anything, Im not happy or proud about
what happened.
Im not a bad person, I had a tough time in business and Ive
learned more from that than everything else.
She said that some of the criticism was politically motivated,
but added that there was no political party conspiring to
organise it.
She said that the Companies Registration Office had deemed
an auditors concerns insignificant.
I havent broken the law.
Yeah, I did liquidate a company and the company did owe
people money, but we didnt get to that space by choice.
Food on the table
She said that once she and her husband liquidated the
company, they were not entitled to social welfare.
The only reason there was food put on our table was
because my parents and Declans parents got us through.
If I had the money, the company would have been liquidated
in 2009, but I didnt have the money. We didnt have the
money to go to Lidl on a Friday evening.
The company was liquidated two years after Doherty was
elected as a TD for Meath East.
http://www.thejournal.ie/regina-doherty-defends-liquidation-of-
company-2781806-May2016/

The not guilty verdict in the Jobstown water protest trial in Dublin has
raised various questions about political policing and the political use of law
disregard it and unmasked politicians and their wellpaid advisors who will
tell very tall tales directly contradicting video evidence. What was
confirmed throughout the trial, and indeed in the aftermath with media
attacks on the power of social media, is that political power is being
wielded through the instruments of the state to suppress dissent and
protest and to cause widespread fear among the citizenry lest they raise
their heads above the parapet.
experience very recently with law enforcement and the political
establishment. Leaving Ireland on June 27, 2017 to return to New York, I
was approached by two men in plain clothes who presented themselves as
officers from Pearse Street Garda Station. They asked, Is your name
Catherine Kelly? When I confirmed my name they stated they needed to
speak with me.
I was quickly shown one Garda badge though I did not have time to note
any identification number or name. One of the men did all the talking while
the other looked on.
I was asked if I use social media, which I confirmed. I was asked if I use
Twitter, which I also confirmed. I was shown a small notebook in which the
words Sane Politico were written. I was asked if I used the name Sane
Politico, which I again confirmed. I was asked if I had written an article
about Minister Regina Doherty and that too was affirmed. This is the article
in question: http://www.judecollins.com/2017/04/solve-problem-like-
regina-catherine-kelly/
complaint. I was informed that I was being cautioned, and that I was not
to tweet Regina Doherty, or any material relevant to her again. I was
informed She does not like it. As the Regina Doherty and Sane Politico
accounts have utilized mutual blocks for at least two years, I explained how
I cannot and do not tweet Minister Doherty directly. This explanation was
not understood by the man posing the questions.
I then informed the interrogator that I am a Professor of Political Science at

an American University and that I teach about the use of social media in
political contexts. The man responded Sure half of these ones do not even
understand what social media is.
The man who questioned me then reintroduced a small notebook and I

saw a page of notes that I did not attempt to read. I was asked to sign the
page of notes at the bottom. I did as requested as I was informed I was
required to do so before I could proceed to my gate. I signed the page,
Catherine Kelly. As I had an urgent personal matter to attend to in New
York, it seemed like the wisest action to take.
In a country such as Ireland, where much of the media has become just
another branch of what can fairly be characterized as a corrupted
government, the power of social media cannot be overstated. I have used
Twitter and other social media outlets to challenge the powers that be on
their activities to do the job that a fair and balanced media would
undertake if they were truly independent.
I have raised issues about Minster Regina Doherty frequently on social

media. The content of my commentary is based on material in the public
domain or fair comment based on that material.
Min @ReginaDo must make a statement on these damning allegations which represent
yet another attack on free speech
http://www.judecollins.com/2017/07/theres-
quare-sinister-things-dublin-catherine-kelly/
How Do You Solve A Problem Like
Regina? by Catherine Kelly
by Jude Collins on April 14, 2017
Fine Gael TD Regina Dohertys recent call for prayer in the Dail
reminded me of a pet peeve I have: kissing the altar rails on a
Sunday while misbehaving for the remainder of the week.
Another pet peeve I want to confess to is political corruption.
More specifically, I get truly rattled by the deliberate and ill
intentioned skirting of the rules that we see politicians indulge in
so often. The acts that I speak of are usually highly immoral in
even the most neutral observers book but are defended and
excused away by the I did nothing illegal announcement.
Legality and morality become skewed and conflated in an effort
to obfuscate from the carry on that politicians indulge in.
According to a report in the Irish Independent, it is alleged Ms. Doherty finally

liquidated a poorly run company in 2013: Enhanced Solutions folded with losses
of 280,000, including almost 60,000 owed to the Revenue Commissioners,
50,000 owed to state owned bank AIB and various debts owed to suppliers.
The same story claims the company was not run properly, with serious
accounting failures reported in violation of Section 202 of the Companies Act. It
was also reported that a loan taken from the company by Ms. Doherty violated
the same act. (http://www.independent.ie/business/small-business/fine-gael-
tds-firm-folds-with-debts-of-280000-29021682.html).
Ms. Doherty was elected to the Dail as a Fine Gael TD in 2011 in the backlash
against Fianna Fail. In her election disclosure of 2011, the Meath TD would
appear to have broken the law by failing to reveal the Enhanced Solutions
bankruptcy. Records seem to show she did not disclose her bankruptcy in 2011,
she disclosed the bankruptcy in 2012, 2013 but it then seems to have
disappeared off her disclosures again in the run up to the election of 2016. Is it
too cynical to suggest that Ms. Doherty might have been picking and choosing
when to disclose her bankruptcy according to the election cycles?
When social media picked up this story that the establishment Irish media had
largely ignored, Ms. Doherty was forced to go to the establishment media with
her defence a Nixonian plea of I am not a crook. This claim went uncontested
by RTE, the Irish Times and so forth despite the clear evidence that appeared to
indicate that yes indeed, Ms. Doherty had violated the Companies Act.
http://www.thejournal.ie/regina-doherty-defends-liquidation-of-company-
2781806-May2016/
According to the Irish Independent, it seems that Ms. Doherty took an illegal
loan from her company. Ms. Doherty has apparently broken the law by not
acting according to accounting standards and further would appear to have
broken the law by failing to disclose her bankruptcy details to her constituents in
violation of election rules. None of these alleged violations has been denied and
yet, Ms. Doherty has offered no explanation as to how these items were
resolved and the media have made no effort to get any answers.
Despite the apparent illegality of it all, her actions seem to be morally
dubious, especially when you consider her voting record in the Dail. Ms.
Doherty has voted consistently for legislation that mercilessly punishes her own
constituents who have lost their homes, their jobs and their hopes. For instance,
Ms. Doherty in recent days voted for Fine Gael housing and rental legislation
that has largely benefitted landlords while homelessness in her Meath
constituency has skyrocketed.
According to the Irish Independent, it seems that Ms. Doherty took an illegal loan from her company. Ms. Doherty has
apparently broken the law by not acting according to accounting standards and further would appear to have broken the
law by failing to disclose her bankruptcy details to her constituents in violation of election rules. None of these alleged
violations has been denied and yet, Ms. Doherty has offered no explanation as to how these items were resolved and the
media have made no effort to get any answers.
Despite the apparent illegality of it all, her actions seem to be morally dubious, especially when you consider her voting
record in the Dail. Ms. Doherty has voted consistently for legislation that mercilessly punishes her own constituents who
have lost their homes, their jobs and their hopes. For instance, Ms. Doherty in recent days voted for Fine Gael housing
and rental legislation that has largely benefitted landlords while homelessness in her Meath constituency has skyrocketed.
Single Adults/Couple Households Households With Children Total Number of Households

Jan March 2015 50 6 56
Jan March 2016 48 16 64
Jan March 2017 62 27 89
Data provided by Meath County Council
Ms. Doherty also recently scolded her constituents, informing them that their water bills were not going to magically
disappear, unlike her bankruptcy bills which appear to have been paid for by the tax payer.
http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/water/irish-water-crisis/pay-your-water-bills-chief-whip-tells-tds-34700271.html
Of course, the problem of corruption in politics in Ireland is worsened by the unwillingness of the establishment media to
hold elected officials to account. Ms. Doherty was given a platform to bat away the story without one journalist prodding
about what would appear to be legally questionable and morally dubious activity.
There is something disturbing about a politician calling for public displays of piety. One would think that Ms. Doherty
would have enough to be bothered with, what with the growing homelessness and desperation in her constituency and
indeed across Ireland. Perhaps a little reminder is in order: Ms. Doherty, God is watching us, even when we are not
publicly beating our chests in Church or in the Dail.
http://www.judecollins.com/2017/04/solve-problem-like-regina-catherine-kelly/

January 23 2013
firm was run.




10,000 in fines.

company went under.
firm was run.





10,000 in fines.

company went under.
http://www.independent.ie/business/small-business/fine-gael-
tds-firm-folds-with-debts-of-280000-29021682.html
eginaDo used state institutions to use their power vs a citizen who broke no laws to
silence comments she didn't like. Undemocratic. #twip
Pay your water bills,'

chief whip tells TDs
1 Cormac McQuinn
May 10 2016
Regina Doherty: 'The bills are not going to magically disappear

and I would advise people, whether theyre elected or not, to pay.'
Two Independent TDs who back the Fine Gael minority Government are
coming under increasing pressure to pay their water charges, with Chief Whip
Regina Doherty warning them that the bills won't "magically disappear".
Super junior minister Finian McGrath and Waterford TD John Halligan have
both said they oppose water charges and will not be paying the bills.
Three other Independent members of the minority Government -

Communications Minister Denis Naughten, Children's Minister Katherine
Zappone and Clare deputy Dr Michael Harty - last night confirmed that they
are in compliance with the law on water charges.
But Mr Halligan remained defiant and questioned why Ms Doherty was

advising him to pay as he believes that the charges will be abolished in nine
months anyway.
Speaking on RT Radio, Ms Doherty warned: "The bills are not going to

magically disappear and I would advise people, whether they're elected or not,
to pay."
She added: "If and when we pass a new piece of legislation to suspend the law,
it doesn't diminish the fact that it is the law and those outstanding bills need
to be paid."
A spokesman for the Roscommon-Galway TD Denis Naughten confirmed that

he had paid his water charges.
Ms Zappone's spokesman said she paid for and serviced a private well and was
not subject to water charges. He added that she had not applied for the 100
water-conservation grant.
Clare TD Dr Michael Harty told the Irish Independent that he was signed up
to a rural group water scheme and therefore didn't have to pay charges.
He said: "I've been paying for the last 20 years" and also confirmed that he
hadn't applied for the conservation grant, despite being entitled to.
Mr Harty declined to offer an opinion on whether Mr McGrath or Mr Halligan

should pay their charges.
Tipperary TD Michael Lowry - who also supported the minority government -

did not respond to attempts to contact him on the matter.
Independent Alliance TDs Shane Ross (the Transport Minister), Sen Canney
and Kevin 'Boxer' Moran have previously confirmed they are in compliance
with water laws.
Mr Halligan last night reiterated: "I'm not paying my water rate. I've made
that quite clear." He said the Dil was likely to abolish the charges when the
commission examining the issue reports in nine months.
"I can't understand why she (Ms Doherty) is bringing it up when it's going to
be voted out by the Dil," he added.
http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/water/irish-water-crisis/pay-
your-water-bills-chief-whip-tells-tds-34700271.html
THE FINE GAEL BLUESHIRTS , THE BIGGEST TWO FACE
LIARS , CORRUPT CRIMINALS, AND HYPOCRITES OF THE
YEAR WHO ROBBED US BLIND, THE FG AND FF AND LB
AND SOME IND PARTIED ON THE IRISH TAX PAYERS
EXPENCES WITH DENIS O BRIEN AND OTHER
MULTINATIONAL WHO DONT AY THERE TAXES AND THE
IRISH BILLIONAIRE S TOO ALL FAT CHEATING, LIARS AND
ROBBERS OF ALONG WITH CORRUPT BANKERS AND
COPPERS FROM THE TOP AND RICH DEVELOPMENT
NOBBERS, AND TD LANDLORDS ALL PARTIED AND STOLE
THE IRISH SILVER RESOURCES BUT THE MEDIA AND
GOVERNMENT AND DPP AND JUDGES HAVE THE CHEEK TO
CALL US ARE SINISTERS, DREGS, DISSIDENT REPUBLIC,
ISIS, TERROROIST, WHATS THEIR NEXT NAME AND
TACTICS PLAN FOR US ALL, THEY CAN CALL US NAMES,
THEY CANNOT TAKE OUR PEOPLE POWERS AND
DEMOCRACY AWAY FROM US< THE IRISH PEOPLE ARE
NOW FIGHTING BACK AGAINST TRAITORS, LIARS AND OUR
ENEMIES, WE SHALL NEVER BE BEATEN,
GOD BLESS THE IRISH PEOPLE, AMEN

TD
Niall O'Connor
February 23 2016
Gardai are investigating a death threat made against Fine Gael TD Regina Doherty which was issued
after she became embroiled in a heated radio row with Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams.
Read more: Red C poll: Hung Dil will be the outcome of the General
Election
Read more: Who would you like to see as the country's next Taoiseach? Enda
Kenny and Michel Martin tie in the polls
personal safety.
touch with gardai.

economic policies."
http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/election-2016/news/gardai-
investigate-slit-your-throat-death-threat-made-against-fine-gael-td-
34477972.html
AND ON IT GOES
Almost one third of Taoiseach Leo

Varadkars frontbench gave family
members cushy assistant gigs, Irish
Sun can reveal
Taxpayers are splashing out 1.35m a year so 30 TDs can dole out
jobs paying out upwards of 52k to relatives and partners
By Kieran Dineen
25th June 2017,
LEO Varadkars new cabinet members have between
them hired 12 family members, an analysis by the
Irish Sun shows.
Nine of his senior team are among the 30 TDs and two
senators who have given jobs to relatives or partners,
while two senators have done likewise.
Helen McEntee and Catherine Byrne
Junior Ministers Helen McEntee and Catherine Byrne both
employ two relations each, we have learned.
And the new Social Protection Minister Regina Doherty
hired her brother Andrew Dalton as a secretarial assistant.
The senior Cabinet member told the Irish Sun: Andrew
has worked for me since the day I started in the council.
He runs the constituency office and they are mad about
him.
HANDOUT
Pat The Cope Gallagher hired his nephew as a driver
TD McEntee given the vital European Affairs brief by
the Taoiseach has taken on two family members.
She confirmed the employment of aunt Eileen Clarke
McDermott and cousin Christine Condra who job share the
Secretarial Assistant role.
Byrne is now employing her niece Nina Turner as a
parliamentary assistant, and her daughter Clare as a
secretarial assistant.
The Minister of State for Drugs and Health Promotion told
the Irish Sun: I am very happy with the work and
dedication and trust of all my staff and the work they do.
The salary of a secretarial assistant is between 23,180
and 44,726 and can be split into two part-time positions.
PA:PRESS ASSOCIATION
Danny Healy-Rae is among those in the Dail who employ
family members to work for them
A parliamentary assistant earns between 41,092 and
52,200 while a driver can earn from 32,000 to
34,699.
While the politicians are not breaking any rules, previous
Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Opposition leader Micheal
Martin have in the past spoken out against the practice of
deputies hiring relatives.
Michael Ring, promoted to Minister for Rural Affairs,
employs daughter Suzanne McGreal who, he has pointed
out in official papers, was first appointed in 2005.
In appointing his new cabinet, Leo Varadkar gave just seven
ministerial roles to women out of 34
Other ministers who hired relatives are new Diaspora
Minister Ciaran Cannon, Research and Development
Minister John Halligan, the new Minister of Sport Brendan
Griffin, and Andrew Doyle, Minister for Food, Forestry and
Horticulture.
We have also learned that Ceann Comhairle Sean O
Fearghail employs his sister as secretarial assistant.
In the Seanad, Denis ODonovan gave a job to his wife
Eileen Griffin, who is a personal assistant.
And Pat The Cope Gallagher hired nephew Peter Logue
as a driver.
Between them, the family members are earning up to
1.35million a year from working for the 30 TDs and two
senators.
KEEPING IT IN THE FAMILY
MINISTERS REGINA DOHERTY (FG), brother Andrew is secretarial assistant.HELEN McENTEE (FG), aunt Eileen
Clarke McDermott and cousin Christine Condra, share the secretarial assistant role working 50 per cent/50 per
cent.CATHERINE BYRNE (FG), niece Nina Turner as parliamentary assistant and daughter Clare as secretarial
assistant.MICHAEL RING (FG), daughter Suzanne McGreal as parliamentary assistant.CIARAN CANNON (FG), wife
Niamh Lawless as secretarial assistant.JOHN HALLIGAN (Ind), daughter Aoife Marks as secretarial
assistant.BRENDAN GRIFFIN (FG), cousin Tommy as parliamentary asst and wife Roisin as part-time secretarial
assistant.ANDREW DOYLE (FG), sister Eithne is employed as part-time parliamentary asst.SEAN KYNE (FG),
brother-in-law Tom McDonagh as a civilian driver.SEANADDENIS ODONOVAN (FF), wife Eileen Griffin as
personal assistant.PAT THE COPE GALLAGHER (FF), nephew Peter Logue as civilian driver.TDsDANNY
HEALY-RAE (Ind), wife Eileen is a parliamentary assistant.MICHAEL HEALY-RAE (Ind), son Jackie is parliamentary
assistant.JOAN COLLINS (Ind), partner Dermot Connolly as part-time parliamentary asst.SEAN CANNEY (Ind), wife
Geraldine employed as a secretarial assistant.KATE OCONNELL (FG), sister Theresa Newman is parliamentary
assistant.DARA MURPHY (FG), wife Tanya Ainscough is part-time secretarial assistant.PETER FITZPATRICK (FG),
hired daughter Grace Fitzpatrick as secretarial asst.LISA CHAMBERS (FF), sister Ciara Chambers as parliamentary
assistant.BERNARD DURKAN (FG), son Tim as secretarial assistant.EAMON SCANLON (FF), daughter Lisa Anne
Scanlon as parliamentary assistant.MARIA BAILEY (FG), dad John Bailey is part-time parliamentary assistant.WILLIE
PENROSE (Lab), brother John Penrose as parliamentary assistant.SEAN SHERLOCK (Lab), sister Una Willis as
secretarial assistant.SEAN FLEMING (FF), wife Mary Fleming as part-time parliamentary assistant.MICHAEL
COLLINS (Ind), brother John Collins is part-time secretarial assistant.MARTIN HEYDON (FG), sister Rosemary is
parliamentary assistant.MATTIE McGRATH (Ind), daughter Triona OFlynn and niece Kathy McGrath share the
parliamentary assistant job.SEAN BARRETT (FG), daughter Jaci Power is parliamentary assistant.JOHN
McGUINNESS (FF), son Andrew as part-time secretarial assistant.TIMMY DOOLEY (FF), wife Emer is his secretarial
assistant.SEAN O FEARGHAIL (FF), sister Deirdre Morrisroe as secretarial assistant.
https://www.thesun.ie/news/1178463/varadkars-frontbench-in-nepotism-
row-as-its-reveal-almost-a-third-gave-family-members-cushy-assistant-gigs/
Insult to associate
'working class' with foul-
mouthed protesters
1
Letters to the Editor
July 3 2017
Former tnaiste Joan Burton. Photo: Collins Courts
The furore surrounding the Jobstown Six trial has pushed the real issue to the sidelines.
Two women were confronted by an angry mob because of one woman's job and decisions made in that
job.
The then tnaiste Joan Burton was subjected to the most foul and coarse language and assaulted with a
water balloon. Garda "asked" the rabble to stand back, afraid to use their batons.
A simple question to readers: If that was your mother, daughter, sister, wife, girlfriend, and you were in
front of that car, in possession of a baton - what would you do?
Put yourself there ...
I am a middle-class woman, in other words, from the group in society who cannot be seen to criticise
the 'working class'.
I must not be seen as confrontational, should compromise and show empathy.
Well, unlike Paul Murphy, with his pseudo working-class principles, my father was working class, as
was his father.
They had values and principles, and while they railed against the injustice of taxes and annual budgets
which gave them very little, it would be unthinkable that they would call any woman a c***, threaten
or intimidate her, because they disagreed with her decisions. If they were in the presence of people who
behaved as such, they would challenge them and defend the woman, as opposed to mealy mouthed
smirking and sneering.
It is an insult to associate working-class people with those at the Jobstown protest. Those present may
hide behind such language as "right to protest", but make no mistake, what we saw in Jobstown was a
crowd of unprincipled thugs, influenced by louts with political power.
In plain terms, Irish people, both working and middle classes, are intimidated
by political correctness, which is the modern equivalent of censorship.
We need to call a spade a spade, open our eyes and speak up.
Fiona Barry
Thurles, Co Tipperary
Rita Cahill
In response to Fiona Barry, if your father, son, brother, husband or boyfriend were setting off
on a legitimate protest and faced the prospect of life imprisonment because of the behaviour
of others at that assembly,would you feel you were living in a democracy? Because that's the
real issue, and the media are determined not to make a furore about it despite the fact that it's
precisely their job in a functional democracy. Ms Barry, you have plenty to say about course
language by 'the rabble' (does that include the majority on the day, who thew nothing,
insulting or physical?) what about scores of police officers who, under oath, tried to mislead
the court until caught out by video evidence? Perjury and an effort to effectively outlaw a
political perspective, t!hat's what Jobstown is really about!
Middle Class'' Fiona Barry you have got to be kidding! the whole trial was a complete farce
and thankfully the jury saw right through it!
Joan Burton and her too well-heeled middle class Labour Party colleagues purporting to
represent the working classes--NOW THAT'S THE REAL INSULT
She was instructed (by Gardai) to make no further mention online
of Minister for Social protection: Regina Doherty
#PoliceState
desperate to give out Free Whoopee Cushions #DesperateDinny
I Need Irish Water to Profit

From the Irish thick Shites
Criminalizing Anti-
Austerity in Ireland
OLIVER EAGLETON
Irish activists won major concessions
against water privatization. Now, the
state is looking to imprison them.
In November 2010, the Irish government agreed

to introduce domestic water charges in return
for its 85 billion bailout from the European
Union and International Monetary Fund. Meters
were to be installed throughout the country,
households were expected to pay an extra 500
per year for water usage, and responsibility for
water infrastructure would be transferred from
local authorities to the semi-state company Irish
Water.
These measures came alongside a raft of
liberalization policies set out in the IMFs
Memorandum of Understanding, which
instructed the government to raise taxes, cut
welfare, shrink the public sector, reduce the
minimum wage, hand 72 billion to the banks,
and promote competition in previously
sheltered sectors such as law and medicine.
Fianna Fil and Fine Gael Irelands main
political parties, both of which represent the
center-right embraced the Troika program
during their 2011 election campaigns. But
Labour promised to renegotiate the bailout from
a pro-growth perspective. Its manifesto decried
the excessive austerity of the Memorandum
and expressed its concern about the value-for-
money of establishing new semi-state
initiatives.
This concern was articulated in its rejection
of the water tax a pivotal feature of Labours
fiscal agenda, reiterated in public speeches,
manifesto pledges, press interviews, and
campaign ads. For a population on whom the
need for austerity was repeatedly impressed,
the resonance of its rejection was enough to
increase the partys vote share by almost
10 percent.
So when Labour jettisoned this stance to join a
Fine Gael-led coalition, signing onto large-scale
meter installation, the betrayal provoked fury
among many of their former voters. An internal
party memo from 2010 was leaked, showing that
Labour had secretly supported water charges
since before the election, and a prominent
Teachta Dla (the Irish equivalent of an MP) who
once described water as a basic and
fundamental need [which] should not be treated
like a market commodity now told her
constituents to give Irish Water a chance,
remarking that things change.
The Water Service (No.2) Bill was pushed
through parliament in four hours, and meter
installation began in early 2014. By this time,
the effects of years of austerity were showing:
30.5 percent of Irish people lived in deprivation,
13.2 percent suffered food poverty, male
suicides had increased by 57 percent, while
emigration, homelessness and unemployment
rates soared.
On top of that, Irish Water was instantly struck
with scandal when it emerged that this cost-
saving utility spent 86 million on consultants
and doled out bonuses of 19 percent to staff.
Fine Gaels Environment Minister sparked
further controversy by awarding the meter
installation contract to right-wing business
mogul Dennis OBrien, whose monopoly over
the national press has given Ireland one of the
most concentrated media markets of any
democracy (in the words of an independent
report).
The Irish peoples capacity to take
pain, famously applauded by Finance Minister
Brian Lenihan, had all but worn off.
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Resistance and Repression
The lack of popular resistance which enabled
previous neoliberal reform was quickly
dissolved, as years of latent discontent became
crystallized in this issue.
Led by an alliance of trade unions, left-wing
political parties and grassroots community
resistance, a campaign was launched which
organized mass protests, the obstruction of
meter installations, and an effective boycott
movement. It was against this backdrop that
Joan Burton, the Labour Partys leader at that
time, faced a hostile reception in Jobstown, a
working-class suburb of Dublin where she
attended a graduation ceremony in November
2014.
Sixty-one percent of Jobstown families are
headed by single parents, whose state
allowance was slashed by Burtons Social
Welfare and Pensions Bill one of Labours
earliest capitulations to the austerity program.
Dozens of people, including recently-elected
Anti-Austerity Alliance (AAA) TD Paul Murphy,
as well as activists from the republican-socialist
party irg, staged a sit-down protest in front of
the Labour leaders car, preventing her
departure for about two hours.
In the confrontation, local residents who had
voted for Labour only to see their communities
deserted expressed their anger. But in the end,
despite media sensationalism, the protest
petered out to what would have been
considered in any other austerity country in
Europe a relatively mild affair.
Yet for the past three years, this incident has
been exploited to criminalize the Irelands anti-
austerity movement.
More than forty Jobstown protesters were
arrested in dawn raids conducted by large
numbers of police. Three of those apprehended
were prominent AAA politicians; seven were
juveniles between the ages of thirteen and
seventeen.
Their files were sent to the Director of Public
Prosecutions (DPP), who opted to indict twenty-
three activists (including Paul Murphy TD) with
charges ranging from criminal damage to
false imprisonment an offense for which
the maximum sentence is life. The defendants
were not informed of this decision by any
judicial authority; instead, their charges
became public knowledge after police leaked
them to the media, in a move intended to
provoke fear.
The government swiftly denied accusations of
political policing. It refused to pass official
comment on the case, though Fine Gael TD
Noel Coonan told parliament at the time that
we are facing what is potentially an ISIS
situation from Jobstown which must be
nipped in the bud.
While his remarks were patently absurd, they
reflect the Irish elites sense of fear at the
growing power of the water movement.
The Right2Water phenomenon had disturbed
what had been, in the Republic, a much-
treasured consensual politics, shared between
two dominant center-right parties, which had its
roots in an economy characterized by Catholic
corporatism. Ireland was in many ways a former
colony, still struggling for independent
legitimation, whose leap from pre- to
postmodernity bypassed ideological conflict
proper.
This culture of anxious respectability allowed
the governing parties, along with the media, to
present the movements participants as
extremists, threatening the statesmanship of
Taoiseach Enda Kenny.
In late 2014, the Health Minister branded water
charge demonstrators sinister, saying, they
break the law, they engage in violence, they
spread all sorts of misinformation and what Im
worried about is that it is only a matter of time
before someone gets hurt. Olivia Mitchell,
another Fine Gael representative, stated that
the Jobstown residents had engaged in acts of
violence and terrorism.
Their comments were echoed by Kenny
himself, who likened the protesters to hounds
after a fox in a 2014 parliamentary debate. The
Irish Independent newspaper followed suit,
describing Paul Murphys activism as dogs
abuse intent on [causing] disruption and
confrontation, while the Irish Times painted
him as a dog chasing a car [it] will never
catch. The national broadcaster also faced
protests over its biased coverage of the issue,
as local resistance to Irish Water services was
routinely ignored or maligned.
Along with the demonizing rhetoric, the
Jobstown incident sparked a number of heavy-
handed interventions against opponents of Irish
Water.
A court injunction banned protest within twenty
yards of meter installation, restricting the scope
for civil disobedience and prompting the arrest
of several Dublin activists. Five were given jail
sentences ranging from twenty-eight to fifty-
six days, while another was reported to have
lost his job over the indictment.
The ruling precipitated an increased police
presence at small community demonstrations,
with up to forty officers overseeing Irish Water
construction work in parts of the capital. Dublin
City Council passed a motion condemning the
excessive mobilization of police in working-
class areas. Pepper spray was twice used
against picketers; video footage showed police
hurling a young woman into an iron post; a sit-
in protester sustained face injuries when she
was forcibly removed from her local council
building; and a special force of twenty-
five officers was established in Cork with the
specific mandate to protect meter installation.
By April, the police had been effectively
remodeled as private security for water
charges.
A score of North Dublin residents including
left-wing politicians Joan Collins and Pat Dunne
were detained during a meter installation
protest and held for hours under the Public
Order Act. Collins stood accused of causing
apprehension for the safety of persons and
property by loitering in a public place. She
responded, I was simply standing on a public
footpath.
Most those arrested received criminal charges
which though dismissed by judge Aeneas
McCarthy on the grounds that there is a
constitutional right to peaceful protest
intensified the association between direct
action and delinquency. By 2015, the number of
people arrested at water charge protests had
risen to 188. But, when Paul Murphy used the
phrase political policing in parliament, the
chair ruled he was out of order and disabled his
microphone.
The leaking of the Jobstown defendants
charges became the subject of an internal
police inquiry in 2015. However, the person
delegated to investigate the leaks,
Superindendent Jim MacGowan, is the husband
of the Garda Commissioner. He is also the head
of Operation Mizen, a police sub-unit which
phone-taps and car-tracks water charge
activists.
McGowans team, funded by the States
domestic surveillance budget, has spent
months monitoring protesters, compiling
profiles and gathering intelligence on their
whereabouts. It closely monitors social media
and tracks the leaders of the anti-austerity
movement, according to an Irish Daily Mail
report whose accuracy was verified by
government sources.
Court Cases
Last year, the charges against the Jobstown
protestors reached trial for the first time. In
Dublin Childrens Court a schoolboy (aged
fifteen at the time of the protest) was convicted
for falsely imprisoning Burton and her advisor.
The prosecutions main evidence consisted of
videos in which the boy led a chant and held a
megaphone actions which, police said,
marked the child out as a ringleader. While
handing down the sentence (a nine-month
conditional discharge), the judge remarked that
the accused was an active participant in the
sit-down protest. The boys application to
appeal the verdict was rejected.
Irrespective of its outcome, the terms on which
his case was argued demonstrate an insidious
shift in discourse: it was the extent of his
participation in the protest which determined
the teenagers guilt, not an evaluation of the
protests legality.
Resistance to water charges is already
accepted as a criminal act. The prosecution
must simply provide evidence of involvement
(as a ringleader or participant) to secure a
guilty verdict. This precedent has now been set
for Paul Murphy TD and his co-defendants.
Before the cases began, Orla McPartlin, the
police Chief Superintendent who coordinated
Murphys arrest, moved to financially
asphyxiate Murphys Anti-Austerity Alliance.
Her decision to block the renewal of the partys
door-to-door collection permit was motivated by
a belief it would be used in such a manner as
to encourage the commission of an unlawful
act. While McPartlin refused to specify what
offense might be encouraged, her statement
was an obvious allusion to Jobstown.
Meanwhile, it was found that police
Commissioner Nirn OSullivan (who publicly
described the Burton incident as
unacceptable) had questioned candidates for
the position of Deputy Commissioner about
their views on the Jobstown protest.
Interviewees were asked to comment on left-
wing political extremism and left-wing
politicians in Ireland.
Even so, the state is on shaky ground. The
water charges were recently suspended after a
three-year campaign and mass popular
opposition. There is also an indication that
State crackdowns on the anti-austerity
movement have been counterproductive. The
Jobstown Not Guilty campaign has grown in
strength, as evidenced by a boisterous rally
held recently in Dublins Liberty Hall.
The twenty-three facing trial have received
statements of support from international trade
unions and campaigners including Angela
Davis, Ken Loach, Yanis Varoufakis and Jean-
Luc Mlenchon. Noam Chomsky reflected that
convictions against the Jobstown activists
would have the effect of criminalizing protest
and sending a chilling message to all those who
would seek to protest in the coming years.
And, in a supreme embarrassment for Burton,
the Northern Irish Labour Party recently passed
a motion calling for the charges to be dropped.
In this context, it is unclear whether Jobstown
will be an open-and-shut case. The climate of
fear engendered by police, media and
politicians could be offset by popular sympathy.
Which is why, as the trial begins this month, the
DPP has tried to skew proceedings in the
States favor.
Prior to the Jobstown Not Guilty support rally
on April 1, a legal appeal tried to block the
defendants from publicly asserting their
innocence or participating in the anti-water
charge campaign.
According to the Irish Times, prosecutor Sean
Gillane told the judge that a matter of serious
concern had arisen connected with literature
made available around the city and a campaign
in respect of the trial He said he believed the
court would find that what was happening to be
completely unacceptable.
When pushed for clarification on this statement,
the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) office
wrote to defense lawyers expressing its
intention to extend the bail conditions to
prevent defendants from making further
public comment ahead of the trial an
effective gagging order. In the end, this most
ambitious attempt to criminalize protest was
denied.
Jury selection has since become the alternative
means of stitch-up. The prosecution demanded
that no one from Tallaght (the predominantly
working-class area where Jobstown is situated),
no one active in anti-austerity organizations,
and no one that has ever expressed an opinion
about water charges, should be allowed to sit
on the bench.
The restriction on political activists is
understandable, but the states other
stipulations signal an extraordinary bid to
circumvent kind of problems which the phrase
jury of ones peers might present.
Given that Tallaght is the largest district of
South Dublin, comprising 14 percent of the
citys population, this blanket refusal to accept
its residents is likely to limit the jurys working
class composition. Equally, the rejection of
anybody with views on water charges (in a
country where up to one in five adults
participated in the Right2Water movement) will
ensure that jurors are abnormally apolitical
or, rather, that jurors belong to a small sector
of Irish society whose privilege allows them to
be apolitical.
If the DPP succeeds, such people will probably
subscribe to the establishments demonization
of Jobstown demonstrators in which case a
judge could make an example of these
protestors with prison terms, or sanction civil
disobedience by suspending their sentences.
Either way, this campaign has already
evidenced the extent to which Irelands
establishment is willing to go in the repression
of anti-austerity protest. If it is successful in
convicting this latest group of protestors, it is
likely to be only the beginning of a much
broader attack on political rights.
#DPP's guidelines show this case should not have been brought. Why do @rte question
the verdict but not this? #JobstownNotGuilty
JobstownNotGuilty just the latest confirmation that Ireland is a #policestate with little
protection for citizens or democracy
AnneRabbitte and 23 others
'likes of @JoanBurton need to sit back and see if she can appeal' Anne Rabbitte. On
what grounds do Fianna Fail dispute #JobstownNotGuilty?
I'd actually fear for Maurice Deegan's safety if #mayogaa lose this. @rte smear
#Jobstown while glorifying violence at games. #mayovderry
Just in: @sinnfeinireland has supported calls for independent inquiry on #Jobstown -
this from @JOBrien_SF
Women seen as strong= "cold & heartless." In Ireland almost all female politicians&
reporters have only 1 of 2 profiles. #JobstownNotGuilty
One of the most revealing pieces ever written in a #Redacted paper: #RTE
#JonathanSugarman
http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/rte-stars-judges-and-rugby-elite-who-owe-
anglo-millions-29887499.html
Have to get him something with immediate impact!

The special criminal court is the only place to try dregs, some of whom were obviously
on the #JobstownNotGuilty jury
Garda say Jobstown trial
would have 'benefitted hugely'
from body cam footage
GRA spokesperson John OKeeffe said the idea that garda were hell-
bent on prosecuting certain people is nonsense.
July 3, 17
RANK-AND-FILE garda have said body camera footage

would have provided beneficial evidence for the Jobstown
trial.
Solidarity TD Paul Murphy and five other men were last
week found not guilty of falsely imprisoning Labour TD
Joan Burton and her adviser Karen OConnell at a 2014
protest.
There have been questions since the verdict about how the
protest was policed, and about comments made by the judge
in the trial, Melanie Greally, who said that on a number of
instances, garda witnesses had provided testimony
describing events that were not borne out by the footage.
This morning, Garda Representative Association
spokesperson John OKeeffe told RTs Today with San
ORourke that it suits the agendas of certain individuals
to cast garda as the States bully boys.
OKeeffe said garda are non-political and their job is to
bring the best evidence to the DPP, who decides whether or
not to pursue it.
The idea that somehow in this particular case garda might

have been hell-bent on prosecuting certain individuals, I
think, is nonsense, he said.
He said rank-and-file officers were there on the day to
make sure that protest was as peaceful as it possibly could
be.
All I can say is, garda do their best to protect the general
public subject to the supervision they are given and the
operational training they are given.
When asked about witness accounts conflicting with what
was seen in footage of the protest, OKeeffe said everyone in
the country appears to be an expert on helicopter evidence.
However, he added that operations such as this one would
have benefitted hugely if garda who attended were
wearing body cameras as they give the best evidence
available.
We would have firsthand video evidence of what happened
on the day and let justice be done, he said.
OKeeffe also said it would be helpful if the DPP explained
why decisions were made to either prosecute or not
prosecute in certain cases, in the interest of transparency.
Widespread abuse' of Garda phone powers,
claims whistleblower
A second Garda whistleblower has made serious allegations of widespread

abuse by Garda intelligence of the powers surrounding the accessing of phone
records, the Irish Independent can reveal.
The officer has claimed that tens of thousands of phone records were
"unlawfully obtained" and that over a period of years retired garda routinely
accessed people's records without proper authorisation.
According to correspondence seen by this newspaper, the whistleblower
claims that she repeatedly raised her concerns about the processes
surrounding the accessing of phone records but was ignored.
The whistleblower was attached to a highly sensitive section known as the

Telephone Liaison Unit (TLU).
The TLU is tasked with approving applications for phone calls and text
messages to be traced as part of Garda investigations.
There are allegations:
That tens of thousands of phone records have been "unlawfully obtained" over
a period of years.
A serving garda was arrested based on false information being submitted as

part of an application.
Retired members of the force would routinely obtain phone records without
authorisation.
Widespread concern was raised as to why clerical officers and clerks were
submitting applications in the name of superintendents.
For years, there was no written procedure in place despite the sensitivity of
the work carried out by the TLU.
advertisement
The whistleblower is a serving middle ranking officer who is currently on
suspension from the force for unrelated matters.
The officer in question has now written to the Garda Ombudsman and the
Charleton Tribunal seeking that her allegations of her unlawful phone traces
are investigated.
The officer also told Judge Peter Charleton that repeated confidential reports
were sent to the force's Confidential Recipient but were ignored.
The whistleblower has also come out in support of a retired officer who said he
was put under major pressure to routinely bypass strict protocols to listen in
on private conversations for almost a decade.
Court documents reveal how the first officer, who was based in the monitoring
section in Garda Headquarters, was "bullied" and "vilified" after repeatedly
raising his concerns that some of the practice was illegal.
In February, he agreed an out-of-court settlement with An Garda Sochna

and the Justice Minister.
A Garda spokesman last night said the allegations will be examined by a

sitting judge.
"The original allegations referred to have been referred to the designated
judge under the relevant legislation and who is independent in her functions
in this regard. The outcome of that process is awaited," the spokesman said.
"An Garda Sochna is committed to co-operating fully with the Disclosures

Tribunal. It would appear matters you make reference to are before both the
Tribunal and GSOC and on that basis we would not be in a position to
comment further at this time."
http://www.thejournal.ie/jobstown-body-cams-3476267-Jul2017/
GRA spokesperson John O'Keeffe said today that operations like the Jobstown protest would
benefit from the use of body cams by garda.
We would have firsthand video evidence of what happened on the day and let justice be
done, he said.
O'Keeffe also said the idea that garda were hell-bent on prosecuting certain people was
"ridiculous
However, he added that operations such as this one would have benefitted hugely if garda
who attended were wearing body cameras as they give the best evidence available."
Ah so the actual video evidence provided by the defence wasn't the best evidence available?
Some Orwellian shit spewed here.
Irish government needs to defend the irish territorial waters - no their is a sea grab by UK due
to the brexit vote
Is this what #PoliticalPolicing means in #Ireland? Does Regina @ReginaDo know about
this? What right had #Garda to do this?

Any juror viewing @rte or #MSM had been told for 2 years that Paul Murphy is guilty but
FG attack social media! #JobstownNotGuilty #TodaySOR
And let's not overlook this classic. Astonishing in its crudity. #JobstownNotGuilty
Dont forget that the state had some assistance in their attempt to lock up political
opponents for peacefully protesting. #JobstownNotGuilty
Paul Murphy escaped justice for now but be mindful, our #GardaCommissioner can do
what she did to #MauriceMcCabe #JobstownNotGuilty #Marian
See Broadsheet.ie 27th June 2016

Holy sweet Jaysus it was the commissioners husband that headed up #jobstown Garda
lying under oath fest .. media fall silent #marian
Jobstown: It's Been Emotional #BoldWWN #JobstownNotGuilty

And then there was this gobshite. #JobstownNotGuilty

#TodaySor #jobstownnotguilty GRA can assure the public that Gardai are honest and
truthful as the day is long #morristribunal

Just found #Marian checklist for today. Seems legit @itchybollix @Revolution_IRL
@gazzahead @geraghty040 @ger_mccann @WhistleIRL @gemmaod1

Travelling to the Northside now. Please advise of I need Garda approval and forward
any documentation I need to sign @ReginaDo #TravelBan

"They were out of a job, and they hadn't a bob," because of the power of Social Media.

#KnowYourSocialMediaDregs I detest political corruption.I have spent my life fighting
for equality and fairness for all. I plan to continue

As six men were found not guilty of falsely imprisoning former
tnaiste Joan Burton and her adviser at a water charges protest,
Isabel Hayes looks at how the arguments played out.
Nine weeks after the Jobstown protest trial opened in Dublin Circuit
Criminal Court it took a jury just three hours and 10 minutes to
return unanimous verdicts of not guilty.
Six men, including Solidarity TD Paul Murphy, had been on trial since
April 26, charged with falsely imprisoning the then tnaiste Joan
Burton and her adviser for three hours during a water charges
protest in Jobstown.
Paul Murphy, South Dublin County Councillors Michael Murphy and
Kieran Mahon, Scott Masterson, Frank Donaghy, and Michael Banks,
had all pleaded not guilty to falsely imprisoning Ms Burton and
Karen OConnell by restricting their personal liberty without their
consent at Fortunestown Road, Jobstown, Tallaght on November 15,
2014. The charge comes with a maximum sentence of life
imprisonment.
the conclusion of the prosecution case after Judge Melanie Greally
ruled that the extension of his garda detention in February 2015 was
unlawful.
During the trial, the prosecution argued the men were plainly
involved in the restriction of liberty of the two women, who were
trapped in Garda cars for three hours after they left a graduation
ceremony at Jobstown.
Follow
jonathan @Earl1995Lfc
Garda helicopter video from the Jobstown protest
9:33 PM - 3 May 2017
The trial heard that when Ms Burton attended the church ceremony
that day, eggs and water balloons where thrown at her. She was
advised by garda to leave in an unmarked Garda car in order to
avoid the crowd.
However, their car was immediately surrounded by protesters,
including the accused men, and they were unable to leave the
church yard.
At one point garda moved in and unsuccessfully tried to remove the
accused men, pulling off Paul Murphys top in the process. Ms Burton
and Ms OConnell remained in that car for about an hour before a
decision was made to move them to a Garda jeep.
The trial was told that a police cordon set up to protect the women
as they made their way to the jeep was immediately broken up by
protesters, many of whom were screaming abuse.
The jeep was also then surrounded and moved inch by inch along
Fortunestown Road over the next two hours before the women ran
to waiting Garda cars and left the area.
The Public Order Unit was called in and several garda described
how they feared for the safety of the tnaiste and their colleagues
during the protest. They said the crowd was abusive and hurling
missiles including sticks and lighters.
The prosecution submitted that by surrounding the cars containing
Ms Burton and Ms OConnell, the six men worked together with a
shared intention to totally restrict their liberty.
Joan Burton and Karen OConnell were trapped, Sean Gillane SC,
prosecuting, told the jury in his closing address last week.
Their liberty was not just restrained, it was totally restrained. Their
liberty was never in truth restored until they were running down that
road coming up to 4 oclock that afternoon.
The jury was told 11 people have yet to stand trial in relation to
alleged violent incidents at the protest that day.
Defence case
Defence counsel argued that it was this fear of violence that led to
the women being kept in the vehicle by garda, not the peaceful acts
carried out by the accused men. Some defence counsel were highly
critical of garda, who they said were unprepared for the protest and
made unwise tactical decisions.
They submitted there was something rotten at the core of this
investigation because evidence given by garda was proved
demonstrably wrong in court by video footage.
Extensive video footage of the protest was repeatedly played
throughout the trial. They came from sources including videos
uploaded by protesters present on the day, RT footage and clips
from the Garda air support unit.
In her closing charge to the jury, Judge Melanie Greally said that on
a number of instances, there was garda testimony describing events
that were not borne out by the footage.
As a result, she said they should regard the video footage from that
day as the primary and most reliable evidence, as it was not subject
to the frailties of human memory.
The defence argued that at worst, their clients were involved in
obstructing a vehicle, or delaying and inconveniencing the women
a legitimate feature of peaceful protest as recognised by the
European courts.
They argued the DPP had a range of charges open to her under the
Public Order Act and that she had not chosen a charge that could be
proved.
The defence asserted the case was politically motivated and that it
was an attempt on the part of the political establishment to assert
itself in the face of the successful campaign against water charges.
Follow
Mick Caul @caulmick

Chant ringing around the CCJ "Jobstown innocent -
Labour Guilty" #JobstownNotGuilty #not1pipe #right2water
2:18 PM - 29 Jun 2017
The vote on Fortunestown Road

A key part of the case was video footage of a vote that Paul Murphy
held on Fortunestown Road over two hours into the protest. During
the clip, which was played several times throughout the trial, Paul
Murphy called on the crowd to vote on whether to march her (Joan
Burton) out of here or keep her here.
Paul Murphy and Michael Murphy voted for Ms Burton to be slow-
marched to the bypass within the next half hour, although Paul
Murphy also told the crowd he didnt care either way and would go
along with what was decided.
The crowd voted to keep the women there, but the jeep ultimately
made it to the bypass within the next half hour and the women left
the area.
The prosecution argued that this vote indicated that Ms Burton and
Ms OConnell were not free to go.
Its crystal clear from the mans own mouth, Mr Gillane said of Paul
Murphy. The suggested option of a slow march is no more than a
suggested alteration or changing the form of confinement selected
by these detainers.
However, the defence was highly critical of a failure on the part of
garda to locate the Fortunestown Rd vote footage, which they
argued showed Paul Murphy was seeking to bring the protest to an
end.
Sean Guerin SC, representing Paul Murphy, said he carried out the
vote on Fortunestown Road at the request of the senior garda at the
scene in an effort to bring it to an end.
Mr Guerin said garda at trial had given inaccurate, incomplete or
misleading accounts of the vote and he expressed astonishment
that a woman who called for Ms Burton to be kept there for the night
was not charged with any offence.
The prosecution also relied on an interview that Paul Murphy gave to
RT later that day in which he said Ms Burton was detained for a
number of hours by us.
Joan Burtons evidence

Ms Burton, who gave evidence over four days, told the trial she was
quite frankly terrified throughout the protest, describing the crowd
surging around her as very, very wild, and enraged.
They were wishing all kinds of stuff on me, illness and death;
shouting and roaring names like c**t and bitch, she said.
Ms Burton became upset as she told the court that her shoe began to
come off as she tried to make her way to the garda jeep while
surrounded by the cordon of garda.
I kept thinking if the crowd got us, where would we run to, and how
would I run without my shoe, she said.
During lengthy cross-examination, Ms Burton denied she was relaxed
while in the car. The court was played some of the 42 videos taken
from her phone that day, including one in which she could be heard
telling Ms OConnell that she should put a message on social media
describing the number of children who were roaming the area.
In another clip, Ms OConnell could be heard saying: This always
happens at the end of protests. The fucking dregs decide not to
finish it.
Ms Burton agreed with defence counsel that this was completely
unacceptable but said they had been in the car for three hours at
that stage and they were stressed out.
Ms OConnell gave evidence that she was petrified, crying and very,
very fearful and that Ms Burton was trying to calm her down and
reassure her.
Argument in the absence of jury
During lengthy submissions in the absence of the jury at the end of
the prosecution case, defence counsel submitted that the case
should not go before the jury for deliberation.
They submitted the charge of false imprisonment could not possibly
apply to their clients, who they said were engaged in a peaceful
protest.
They argued that if the case went to the jury for deliberations, it
would undermine the fundamental right of assembly, as set out in
the Constitution.
Judge Greally was told it would be a travesty to expose the accused
men to the possibility of being convicted of a crime that carries a
maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
Judge Greally denied the application, saying she believed the jury
was capable of deciding whether the prosecution case of false
imprisonment had been met.
In her ruling in the absence of the jury that ultimately led to the
charges against Ken Purcell being dropped, Judge Greally said that
the extension of Mr Purcells garda detention in February 2015 was
unlawful.
Putting it mildly, the first three hours of his detention were not put
to good use, the judge said.
She noted the superintendent who made the decision to extend his
detention was given a misleading impression as to how the
investigation was progressing that day.
The casual and languid approach of the interviews is inexplicable
on the face of an arrest that was pre-planned and carried out at
7.30am with great precision, she said.
The trial heard that some of the defendants were arrested by groups
of garda during dawn house raids in February 2015, despite most of
them telling garda they would make themselves available for
interview at any time. Some of the mens children witnessed their
arrests, which the defence described as over the top and heavy-
handed.
Several other accused persons are still before the courts facing
various charges from the protest, including violent disorder and
criminal damage. In October 2016, a 17-year-old boy was found
guilty of false imprisonment of the two women.

Paul Murphy has defended his party's use of Twitter and Facebook
It comes after Fine Gael's Josepha Madigan said she had issues with
some of the comments made online during the trial.

Mr Murphy said: "The jurors were also directed not to pay attention
to the media that's dealing with it, not to pay attention to social
media, not to do any research and we trust that we have robust
juries.
"The second thing is that if the jurors went online to look at what we
were saying about the trial, they wouldn't have heard about anything
that they didn't hear inside court."
Update 1.18pm: Labour Party leader Brendan Howlin has said it was
a mistake not to pursue public order offences rather than false
imprisonment charges in the case of the Jobstown Six.
week of falsely imprisoning the former Labour Party leader Joan
Burton during an anti-water-charge demonstration in 2014.

"rubbish".
prosecution.
When asked asked if the DPP made a mistake with charging the men
with false imprisonment, he said: I can say now, honestly - yes.
I deliberately said nothing - from the beginning to the end of this I

stayed quiet on this, because I thought let judicial process take its
course.
women.
Earlier:

Ireland.

social media.
were "menacing".

2014.


Ireland's justice system and freedom of
speech is under attack by our MEDIA! UN
must protect us! #JobstownNotGuilty

I've seen 6 yr olds having planning parties the whole class is coming to who aren't as
excited about their breithl as @alankellylabour is.

Brendan Howlin when Solidarity TD, @MickBarryTD, announced the verdict in the Dil
today #JobstownNotGuilty #JobstownInnocent
Slow clap for the Irish Times editor whose verdict on the Jobstown trial... Social media
is Bad. Who is really in the echo chamber I wonder?

trials under strain
of witnesses
Fri, Jun 30, 2017,

system
https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/editorial/jobstown-acquittals-jury-trials-
under-strain-1.3138118?mode=amp

Gemma O'Doherty @gemmaod1 Jun 30
More
Gemma O'Doherty Retweeted Colette Browne
Presumably the 'scrupulously independent' DPP will now ask

#NoirinOSullivan to charge any garda who may have lied on oath
@CharlieFlanagan

Trying to determine who would have to approve prosecution such as
#JobstownNotGuilty @LegalEagleStar @thomasjstamp #TodaySOR #JeSuisWW #vinb

Peak Ireland Inc as the DPP threaten an online satirical site with prosecution
#JeSuisWW #JobstownNotGuilty

Garda after Garda falsifying statements says Paul Murphy #JobstownNotGuilty
Remaining defendants should have all charges dropped

If Gardai perjured either DPP knew Gardai lied & complicit or DPP too incompetent to
select cases &/or vet witnesses #JobstownNotGuilty

People can argue all they want about the outcome of #JobstownNotGuilty, but the fact
of the trial smacks of North Korea.

Minister Katherine Zappone tells

Jobstown protest trial that Joan
Burton and advisor were in "great
danger"
http://bit.ly/2qOwMd2
Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Katherine Zappone TD, has told
the trial of seven men charged with falsely imprisoning TD Joan Burton
that she felt Ms Burton and her advisor were in "great danger" during a
water charges protest in Jobstown in November 2014.
Ms Zappone agreed with Sean Gilanne SC, prosecuting, that she was "very
frightened" for the Tanaiste who she felt was "in great danger".
The court heard that she told gardai: "I felt something could happen. The
dynamic was that they (the protesters) were not letting her go."
Solidarity TD Paul Murphy (34) along with South Dublin Councillors Michael
Murphy (53) and Kieran Mahon (39) and four other men have pleaded not
guilty to falsely imprisoning Ms Burton and her special advisor Karen
O'Connell by restricting their personal liberty without their consent at
Fortunestown Road, Jobstown, Tallaght on November 15, 2014.

Mr Murphy of Kingswood Heights, Tallaght, Kieran Mahon of Holbrook Grove,
Tallaght, Michael Murphy of Whitechurch Way, Ballyboden, Dublin, Frank
Donaghy (71) of Alpine Rise, Tallaght, Ken Purcell (50) of Kiltalown Green,
Tallaght, Michael Banks (46) of Brookview Green, Tallaght and Scott
Masterson (34) of Carrigmore Drive, Tallaght have denied the charges.
Ms Zappone said that she was a independent Senator at the time and was
attending the graduation ceremony at An Cosan women's education centre, of
which she was a founding member.
On day eight of the trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, she said that during
the walk from An Cosan to the nearby Catholic church protesters crossed the
road and "closed in on us, particularly on Joan".
"I tried to engage with any of them close to me and said this was a day for
their fellow community members. I put my hands up a few times because I felt
that people were closing in on us and it was a matter of concern," she told Mr
Gillane.
Ms Zappone said that when she noticed Ms Burton leaving the church, she
followed her outside.
"She was in the car, there was lots surrounding it, banging on the car and
chanting, moving the car back and forth. I felt deeply concerned, I was scared
for her. I picked up the phone and rang 999 as I didn't see too many gardai,"
she told the court.
The Minister said she saw one of the accused, Paul Murphy, during the time
that Ms Burton and Ms O'Connell were detained in the unmarked car.
"He was in front of the unmarked car, holding a loudhailer. We had a brief
exchange," she said.
During cross-examination by Sean Guerin, who is representing Paul Murphy,

Ms Zappone agreed that in principle she did not agree with water charges and
regarded it as a regressive model.
Ms Zappone agreed with Mr Guerin's proposition that in public life there are
sometimes "tipping points where a historic wrong can be addressed perhaps
violently, when people find the ability to voice that wrong and put it right".
Mr Guerin also referred to a pre-election TV debate during which Ms Zappone

said she did not condemn "at all" what was going on in Jobstown on
November 15, 2014 in response to a question from an audience member.
After the court viewed the tape, Mr Guerin asked Ms Zappone if her position
was any different today.
She said that her judgement was that what happened to Ms Burton was
menacing and deeply concerning and intimidating.
"I was deeply concerned about what could happen to Ms Burton and Ms
O'Connell. I put out a statement which says pretty much the same thing," she
replied.
"So when in the company of voters and when on TV you won't condemn the
protest but you are happy to quietly issue a statement?" Mr Guerin asked.
"I think I've offered my view," Ms Zappone responded.
The trial continues before Judge Melanie Greally and a jury.
http://www.sundayworld.com/news/courts/minister-tells-trial-joan-burton-
and-advisor-were-in-great-danger

Chilling
Bodger at 2:29 pm July 3, 2017
Chilling .....
Leaving Ireland on June 27, 2017 to return to New York, I was approached by two men in
plain clothes who presented themselves as officers from Pearse Street Garda Station.

From top: Minister for Employment and Social Protection Regina

ODoherty; Professor Catherine Kelly
Tyrone-born, US-based academic Catherine Kelly (via the Jude

Collins blog) writes:
Leaving Ireland on June 27, 2017 to return to New York, I was

approached by two men in plain clothes who presented themselves as
officers from Pearse Street Garda Station.
They asked, Is this your name Catherine Kelly?. When I confirmed

my name they stated they needed to speak with me.
I was quickly shown one Garda badge though I did not have time to
note any identification number of name. One of the men did all the
talking while the other looked on.
I was asked if I use social media, which I confirmed. I was

asked if I use Twitter, which I also confirmed. I was shown a
small notebook in which the words Sane Politico were
written.
I was asked if I used the name Sane Politico, which I again

confirmed. I was asked if I had written an article about Minister
Regina Doherty and that too was affirmed.
This is the article in question.
I was then informed that a complaint had been made against me at

Pearse Street Garda Station. There was no information offered about
who filed the complaint. I was informed that I was being
cautioned and that I was not to tweet Regina Doherty or
any material relevant to her again.
I was informed she does not like it. As the Regina Doherty and Sane
Politico accounts have utilised mutual blocks for at least two years, I
explained how I cannot and do not tweet Minister Doherty directly.
This explanation was not understood by the man posing the

questions.
I then informed the interrogator that I am a Professor of Political

Science at an American University and that I teach about the use of
social media in political contexts. The man responded, Sure half of
these ones do not even understand what social media is.
The man who questioned me then reintroduced a small notebook and I

saw a page of notes that I did not attempt to read. I was asked to sign
the page of notes at the bottom. I did as requested, as I was informed I
was required to do so before I could proceed to my gate.
I signed the page, Catherine Kelly. As I had an urgent personal matter

to attend to in New York, it seemed like the wisest action to take.
Broadsheet contacted the Garda Press Office and was told it cannot
confirm anything about the matter as it cannot comment on individual
cases.
Broadsheet also contacted a spokesperson for Fine Gael TD Regina

Doherty and we are awaiting a call back.
I looked through @sanepoliticos (Catherine Kellys) Twitter account

over 500 Tweets mentioning Regina Doherty since last year (raising
the issue indeed). Between that and the blogs, even if it is her right, its
looking quite obsessive and creepy.
We live in a democracy. Whether you think it is healthy or not, blurring

the lines between free speech and intimidation is not doing anything to
heal it.
So the answer to online intimidation is state intimidation?
Free speech doesnt obviate the concept of harassment.

If there was harassment, then she should be charged with that. What
was the basis for this caution? Is it simply that a politician doesnt like
having her dirty laundry aired in public so sends the police to sort it out.
This is clearly an attempt to silence Catherine Kelly and the only
harassment I see here is on the part of the police.
Howlin: Public order offences should have been

brought against Jobstown Six
The Labour leader says what happened at the water protest was "vile"
NEWSTALK.COM
July 2nd 17
Howlin: Public order offences should have been brought against

Jobstown Six
The Labour leader says what happened at the water protest was
"vile"
NEWS
The Labour Party leader Brendan Howlin says 'it was a mistake' in
not pursuing public order offences against the Jobstown Six,
instead of false imprisonment.
week of falsely imprisoning the former Tnaiste Joan Burton
during an anti-water protest charge demonstration in 2014.
prosecution.
charging the men with false imprisonment instead of public order
offences.
"I deliberately said nothing from the beginning to the end of this I
stayed quiet on this because I thought 'let judicial process take its
course'.
women.
"I'm trekking around the country right now, doing my best to get
women to involve themselves in politics.
"And if I can even persuade women to do that - looking at what
happened in Jobstown - and having people say: 'that's alright -
you can call people the most vile and vicious, sexist terms' that
you wouldn't use obviously against a man. You can throw things
at them".
"We will not get people with passion and vision involved in politics
if it is acceptable now to have that sort of bullying, vileness,
spitting at them".
Mr Howlin says he has been involved in political protest himself,
"but never targeting individuals with vileness like that".
The neck of this prick his party are the biggest gangsters they
sold the working class people out while in power with Fine Gael
and said the language used against two woman was disgraceful
what about the language these two horrible woman used against
the ordinary people who the Labour Party described as dregs
hope they never get back in
http://www.newstalk.com/Howlin:-Public-order-offences-shoul
Latest: Sinn Fein and Solidarity call for independent inquiry into
Jobstown trial
Sinn Fein Justice Spokesperson Deputy Jonathan OBrien said
the nature of the trial will raise serious questions for the public.
very serious charges should never have been brought forward by
the DPP.
While we obviously recognise the independence of the courts,
the DPP, and the policing structures of the state, we also
recognise that there is now huge public outrage following the
vindication of the Jobstown protest.
this trial came about and why these charges were brought in the
first instance.

imprisonment.
The party claims that former Labour Party leader Joan Burton -
who did not make a criminal complaint - went straight to the
Earlier:
One of the men cleared in the Jobstown trial says he has no faith
in the judicial process.
process?
been involved in.
use.
"Weve had a sustained campaign by the media where the media
has basically had a free run in what it said about Jobstown, in
what it said about Solidarity, what it said about the AAA, Paul
Murphy TD and the defendants."
He also told Newstalk Breakfast the State broadcaster RT, and
the Dil, was used against them.
over the last two and a half years against the community in
Jobstown and against the defendants themselves.
light".
"People were looking at the story as it was presented to them by
the national media".
disciplined way".
claimed by some of Councillor Mahons colleagues, he said: "All
the information weve received about our charges has been
received through the State broadcaster".
"The other aspect of the political establishment... is the Dil - the
use of the Dil by TDs, and the use of national media by TDs to
criticise and frame the Jobstown protest in a certain way".
http://www.irishexaminer.com//latest-sinn-fein-and-solidar
Jobstown: 'Everybody in the country now seems to

be an expert on helicopter evidence'
Monday, July 03, 2017 -
Worn body videos is a vital tool in ensuring that assaults for example are properly recorded,
but something which holds everybody accountable and gives the best evidence available,
instead of helicopter evidence and maybe in place of oral testimony even," he said."
So the gardai want all their members to be able to record everything, but want a ban on
members of the public doing the same thing... is that a contradiction or what!
The Garda Representative Association has rejected claims that
members attempted to "stitch up" the Jobstown protesters who were
acquitted last week of false imprisonment.
Solidarity TD Paul Murphy and five other men were all cleared of
falsely imprisoning the former Labour Party leader Joan Burton
during an anti-water-charge demonstration in 2014.

"rubbish".
GRA spokesperson John O'Keefe spoke to Cormac O'hEadhra this

morning on the Today programme on RT Radio 1.
In response to Paul Murphy's claims that garda gave a litany of

false, inaccurate statements in the trial and is now calling for a
public inquiry to ask how what he refers to as a conspiracy took
place, O'Keefe said "we can't comment on that".
"I would say that everybody in the country now seems to be an

expert on helicopter evidence," he said.
When asked if the GRA have confidence in their ability to police

similar protests in the future, O'Keefe said the Garda do their best.
All I can say is that garda do their best to protect the general public subject to supervision
they are given, subject to the operational training they are given," he said.
O'Keefe went on to say that garda involved on the day of the protest at Jobstown would
have benefitted hugely both for the protesters and for the garda had they worn body
cameras.
"Worn body videos is a vital tool in ensuring that assaults for example are properly
recorded, but something which holds everybody accountable and gives the best evidence
available, instead of helicopter evidence and maybe in place of oral testimony even," he
said.
http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/jobstown-everybody-in-
the-country-now-seems-to-be-an-expert-on-helicopter-evidence-796082.html
Too hot for Facebook - The truth about Brendan Howlin
and his relatives
Posted by Wayne's World Order on April 22, 2016 at 15:09 in General
View Discussions
This was taken down from Facebook about a month after it was uploaded. Please share!
hi FYI, please keep my name anonymous thanks . share amoung friends pls. The
Electorate/people of Ireland need to know the truth about Brendan Howlin and his relatives
We got an investigator to investigate the howlins.
Two of Brendan Howlins relatives are:
1.Ms Elizabeth Howlin, Head DPP officer, lives at 36 Carysfort Park, Blackrock, Co Dublin
and her brother
2.Eamonn Howlin, Diving Consultant, lives at The Woodlands, Ballina, Co Mayo, drives a
silver Audi, car number 07 MO 6314.
Ann and Eamonn Howlin, Mother and Father to the above, live at Abbeylands, Arklow
In 2004 Eamonn Howlin was arrested by Gardai in Dunlaoire for the murder of Damien
Byrne, age 24, from Cabinteely court, Dublin 18 (Murdered 4 July 2004). At the time Eamonn
Howlin was arrested his sister Ms Elizabeth Howlin was Head of the prosecution section in
the dpps office. Also their relative TD Brendan Howlin was in the Labour Party at the time
looking to get into Government.
When the file in relation to the murder of Damien Byrne came back from the dpps office it
was recommended no criminal prosecution. The Byrne family were not told that Ms Elizabeth
Howlin, Eamonn Howlins brother was Head of the Prosecutions section in the dpps office at
the time or that they were related to Labour TD Brendan Howlin.
Instead Eamon Howlin and others etc. pleaded guilty to a health and safety offence and got a
fine of 45,000 for the Death of Damien Byrne.
Both Brendan Howlin and Elizabeth Howlins involvement here was not disclosed in the
disclosure process it was all covered up, as you can see in the newspaper articles, despite
a. Eamonn Howlin being the director of the company
b. Ms Elizabeth Howlin being the head of the dpps office at the time of the murder
investigation involving her brother.
c. The business, North Sea Diving Company, was also being run from DPP official, Ms
Elizabeth Howlins Home, at 36 Carysfort Park Blackrock.
All articles below prove all of the above:

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/diving-company-former-director-fine...
http://www.solocheck.ie/Irish-Company/Offshore-Subsea-Consultancy-S...
http://www.maritimejournal.com/directory-entries/north_east_diving_... (Liz Howlins

Home)
http://www.comfortslatmat.com/awards ; (Photo of Eamonn Howlin here)
http://www.criminalcode.ie/website/clcac/clcac.nsf/page/aboutus-com...
http://www.yelp.com/biz/north-east-diving-services-blackrock ;
http://www.solocheck.ie/Irish-Director/Howlin/Eamon/1131495856/
http://www.ccdni.com/director-eamon-howlin
https://www.duedil.com/director/908158110/eamon-howlin
http://www.solocheck.ie/Irish-Company/North-East-Diving-Services-Li...
http://www.cbetta.com/director/eamon-howlin
http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/dive-firm-fined-over-salvage-w...
http://www.yelp.com/biz/north-east-diving-services-blackrock ;
http://www.companydirectorcheck.com/eamon-howlin
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/diver-became-entangled-inquest-told...
http://rent-a-car.cmblog.ca/dive-firm-fined-over-salvage-worker-jud...
http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/gardai-name-deceased-diver-15547...
http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/diving-company-heavily-fined-for...
http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/diver-24-dies-while-salvaging-...
http://www.ukcorporatelist.com/corp/665556.html
http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-24856567.html
https://www.rte.ie/news/2006/1103/82150-diving/
http://www.emigrant.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&a...
Eamonn Howlin, who has an English passport as well as an Irish passport, is now a
consultant and director with his wife Mrs Sinead Coole, Historian, for another diving
company again, as if nothing ever happened.
The people employing Eamonn Howlin as a consultant should know of his arrest for murder,
it was all covered up as you can see because of who he is related to.
You can see the likeness between Eamonn Howlin. TD Brendan Howlin and Liz Howlin.
They look the image of each other. Eamonn Howlin got his crony the ex-Mayor of Wexford
who he got the job for to lie in the papers saying how they are not related. Now we see why,
he did not want the connection exposed between Liz Howlin, Eamonn Howlin and himself.
A lot of Articles were removed by the howlins to cover up the involvement in the murder of
Damien Byrne.
Ms Elizabeth Howlin worked for a Solicitors Company in England called Linklaters and
Paines London, she was told resign with a reference or she would be sacked.
She resigned and Brendan Howlin her close relative got her a Job in the AG's office first, then
she moved across to the Dpp's office, were since Brendan Howlin got into power in the last 4
years, her salary went from 80,000, to now 150,000 plus with promotion after promotion.
http://www.linklaters.com/ContactUs/Pages/London.aspx
The below case makes a lot of sense why there was no prosecution !
http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/ahern-refuses-to-explain-dropp...
http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/gardai-misled-department-twice...
https://drugsinfonewslineireland.wordpress.com/2010/12/19/dublin-al...
As a group we got together and employed an investigator to investigate the Howlin family
after we had been informed that Ms Elizabeth Howlin was a cocaine abuser and was carrying
out malicious prosecutions on behave of the Labour and Fine Gael Government on the people
of Ireland. A number of solicitors she would have worked with have confirmed this
especially the ones in LA and in London.
The money we have spent on an investigator was well worth every penny, so much more to
come out about Ms Elizabeth Howlin, about guns, drugs, her close druggy friends etc. But we
felt this needs to be out in the open, if this was my bother and this cover up happened to him
I would want the world to know about it and the people involved.
Why is Fine Gael sabotaging
corporate tax transparency
initiative?
3 July 2017
Fine Gael MEP Brian Hayes voting for or against transparency?
MATT CARTHY
At the last minute, the liberals and the

EPP group which Fine Gael is part of
banded together to introduce under
which corporations can be exempted
from reporting requirements on the
grounds of commercial sensitivity
OPINION
Matt Carthy is a Sinn Fin MEP and a member of the European
Parliaments Panama Papers inquiry committee and Economic &
Monetary Affairs Committee
ON TUESDAY in Strasbourg, MEPs will vote on a vital report on
corporate tax transparency.
For more than a decade, civil society, NGOs, tax justice activists and
academics have been campaigning for the introduction of country-by-
country company reporting. This means that multinational corporations
would be required to publicly report their turnover, profits and tax paid
in each country in which they operate.
New figures published by the Tax Justice Network in March estimate
that profit-shifting by multinationals results in around US $500billion in
tax being lost each year.
This offshore scam affects us all.
Every euro hidden by tax dodgers is one that should have been used to
fund healthcare, water, education and other vital public services.
Public country-by-country reporting is not a measure that would

impose any restrictions on what corporations can and cannot do but it
is a measure that would lift the veil on their global activities.
It would allow ordinary people to become aware of instances where tax
dodging and profit shifting by large corporations is taking place, and to
exert public pressure on them to change their damaging behaviour.
It would also level the playing field for small and medium businesses
currently disadvantaged as they pay more tax than multinationals.
After intensive corporate lobbying, the country-by-country reporting
proposal made by the Commission and now before the Parliament is
riddled with exceptions and loopholes.
Instead of applying to companies defined in EU law as large (with a
turnover of more than 40million per annum) the proposal was
applicable only to massive corporations with a turnover of more than
750million per annum. This automatically excludes around 85% of
corporations.
The second most significant failure of the Commissions proposal was
that it did not require companies established in the EU to report their
operations separately for each country it would be broken down by
EU member state but only on an aggregated basis for non-EU
operations, and disaggregated only for jurisdictions that are on an as
yet to be determined tax haven blacklist that.
In all likelihood, this EU blacklist will be based on the OECD
(Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) blacklist
which (as of this week) has just a single jurisdiction on it Trinidad &
Tobago.
Notorious tax havens such as Panama, Bermuda and the Cayman
Islands? Theyre fine, according to the OECD.
This issue of disaggregation (actually breaking down the information
for each country) is crucial in order to examine the patterns of profit
shifting and will impact in particular on developing countries.
MEPs took a more progressive position on many issues than the
Commission does and the draft report in Parliament would have
strengthened the proposal significantly. But, during negotiations at
committee stage, conservatives and liberals opposed the progressive
groups and won a small majority in favour of limiting the proposal to
companies above the 750million threshold.
It appeared as though the Parliaments economic committee would
take a strong position on the question of disaggregation but, at the last
minute, the liberals and the EPP group which Fine Gael MEPs Brian
Hayes, Deirdre Clune, Sen Kelly and Mairad McGuinness are part of
banded together to introduce a so-called safeguard clause which
can be forever renewed and under which corporations can be
exempted from reporting requirements in one or more jurisdictions on
the grounds of commercial sensitivity.
This is a loophole you could drive a truck through and will allow profit-
shifting to tax havens to continue unhindered.
It is appalling that conservative MEPs are siding with multinationals in
order to block tax transparency.
This is a major step backward from the Parliaments previous majority
position of supporting measures to inform the public about what
multinationals pay in taxes and where.
The conservatives and liberals have clearly decided that protecting
tax cheats is more important than protecting the public interest.
Together with other progressive MEPs, I have proposed several
amendments to the report.
We are calling for the reporting requirements to be on a disaggregated
basis without the safeguard loophole and to apply to all large
companies with a turnover of more than 40million.
We are urging every MEP who cares about the public interest to vote in
favour of these amendments to ensure the Parliament takes the
strongest position possible before entering negotiations on the text
with the Commission and the Council whose position is even worse
than the Commissions.
The Irish Government introduced country-by-country reporting for
companies with a turnover of more than 750million, in line with the
OECD BEPS (Base Erosion and Profit Shifting) recommendation.
But it has not introduced the requirement that the reporting be made
public and Irish Government representatives have made it clear
that they will oppose in the Council the financial data being made
public.
Maximum EU and international transparency on tax is not a threat to
tax sovereignty, which I have always supported and which is a key
principle of Sinn Fins engagements with the EU.
The only people with anything to fear from tax transparency are tax
cheats and their cheerleaders.
There is no evidence to support the argument that public CBCR
(Country By Country Reporting) will impact on the competitiveness of
EU-based companies. It has already been introduced for the largest
banks and extractive industries in the EU, and these industries have
not reported any reduction in their competitiveness.
There has, however, been increased public scrutiny of tax dodging.
Using the public figures from 2015 from the banking sector, Oxfam
reported in March irrefutable evidence that the Irish state was being
used to facilitate massive tax avoidance in the financial sector.
Five of the biggest banks reported profits in Ireland of more than 100%
of their turnover something that can only be achieved through blatant
profit shifting.
Their findings vividly illustrate the value of country-by-country reporting
being made public instead of the figures only being provided to state
tax authorities.
New Fine Gael leader and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar

The Irish Government should stop playing an obstructionist role on
transparency by opposing public country-by-country reporting in the
Council and commit instead to advocating for maximum tax
transparency.
Public financial reporting on a country-by-country basis is arguably the
most important development that has been proposed so far when it
comes to tackling tax avoidance.
We need to get it right.
Fine Gael seems determined to resist full transparency on corporate
taxation, whether it is in the Irish Government, in the European
Parliament, or in the Council.
This Tuesday in Strasbourg, Fine Gael MEPs have an opportunity to
stop siding with corporate tax cheats and vote in favour of our
amendments to scrap the so-called safeguard clause that will weaken
the Parliaments position on this vital transparency initiative.
I hope they take this opportunity.
http://www.anphoblacht.com/contents/26967
New Oxfam report: Strong
evidence that Ireland facilitates
significant tax avoidance by top
European banks
In Ireland, three banks paid an effective tax rate of no more than
2%
Massive average profitability rate here of 76% for top European
banks
Average employee in Ireland of banks studied generated
409,000 in profits in 2015, over 9 times worldwide average
Monday 27th March, 2017: Immediate release
There is strong evidence that Ireland is facilitating significant corporate tax

avoidance by top European banks, according to a new report published today
by Oxfam and the Fair Finance Guide International.
The report, Opening the Vaults, studied Europes 20 biggest banks (16 of
which operate in Ireland). The research was made possible by new EU
transparency rules that require European banks to publish information on the
profits they make and the tax they pay in every country in which they operate.
The research found that a disproportionate amount of profits of the top
European banks are reported in Ireland, with these banks in 2015 making
more than 2.3bn in profits here on 3bn of turnover a massive profitability
rate of 76% that is four times higher than the global average. Only the
Cayman Islands had a higher average profitability rate (167%).
Ireland appears to be a very productive location for European banks with just
the Cayman Islands, Curacao and Luxembourg having a higher average profit
per employee, according to the report. An average employee in Ireland
generated 409,000 in profits in 2015, more than nine times the average for
employees worldwide. The Spanish bank BBVA stands out in this respect:
while the banks employees generated on average a profit of 33,000 each,
an average employee in Ireland generated 6.8m, well over 200 times as
much.
The 16 top European banks operating in Ireland examined in the research
paid an average effective tax rate in Ireland of no more than 6 percent half
the statutory rate of 12.5% with three banks (Barclays, RBS and Crdit
Agricole) paying no more than 2 percent.
Oxfam said countries are being denied large amounts of potential tax revenue
and this is contributing to inequality and poverty as governments are forced to
decide between increasing indirect taxes such as value-added tax (VAT),
which are paid disproportionately by ordinary people, or cutting public
services, which hits the poorest hardest. At the same time, increased profits
as a result of lower corporate taxation benefit wealthy companies
shareholders, further increasing the gap between rich and poor.
Oxfam Irelands Senior Policy and Research Coordinator Michael McCarthy
Flynn said: The massive profitability levels of European banks in Ireland
suggests that large profits may be reported in Ireland as a tax avoidance
strategy. This is creating little additional benefit to the Irish economy and
tarnishing Irelands reputation.
The cost to the Irish exchequer of loopholes that facilitate banks to pay such
low levels of tax is rarely publicly documented and accounted for. For
example, if RBS profits had been taxed at the statutory rate of 12.5 percent,
the bank would have paid 120.5m in additional taxes.
The research raises serious questions about the effectiveness of the Irish
Governments measures to tackle corporate tax avoidance. The rules must be
changed to prevent banks and other big businesses from dodging taxes or
helping their clients dodge taxes. Tax dodging deprives countries throughout
Europe and the developing world of the money they need to pay for doctors,
teachers and care workers.
Tax havens account for 26 percent of the profits (an estimated 25 billion)
made by the 20 biggest European banks but only 12 percent of banks global
turnover and 7 percent of the banks employees well out of proportion to the
level of real economic activity that occurs in these countries. While there may
be legitimate business reasons for booking high profits in some cases, the
report suggests that discrepancies may have arisen because some banks are
using tax havens to avoid paying their fair share of tax, to facilitate tax
dodging for their clients, or to circumvent regulations and legal requirements.
Oxfam says transparency measures, such as EU rules making corporations
publically report on a country by country basis where they make their profits
and pay their taxes, are vital tools in the global fight against tax dodging.
(Ireland is opposed to the public element of this reporting). However, a new
European Commission proposal designed to extend public reporting to all big
companies needs to be enhanced. The proposal is limited to companies with
a turnover of 750 million or more, a measure that would exclude up to 90
percent of multinationals, and does not require companies to report on their
activities in all the countries in which they operate including developing
countries.
Mr McCarthy Flynn continued: Its only fair that businesses open their books
to scrutiny so that we can see whether they are paying their fair share towards
public services in both rich and poor countries. As a matter of urgency the EU
should strengthen and extend its draft directive to require that all large
multinationals publish separate financial reports for every country where they
operate, and the Irish Government should end its opposition to these new
transparency proposals. This will make it easier for all countries including
the poorest to establish if companies are paying their fair share of tax or not.
In addition, Irelands transfer pricing regime should be amended to give Irish
Revenue officials the power to investigate where companies may be using
inter-company transactions to avoid tax.
ENDS
Contact: To arrange an interview or for more information, please
contact:
Alice Dawson on 00 353 (0) 83 198 1869
/ alice.dawson@oxfamireland.org
Updates and breaking news: @Media_OxfamIRL
Media releases: www.oxfamireland.org/press
NOTES TO EDITORS:
The report, Opening the vaults: the use of tax havens by Europe's biggest
banks, a breakdown of bank data, infographics and a methodology document
is available at https://oxfam.box.com/s/wn9mdt217isfp4ji8dzossuyxphb698d.
The complete data on which Oxfam based its calculations is also available.
The 20 European banks (16 of which operate in Ireland) assessed by Oxfam
include: HSBC, Barclays, RBS, Lloyds and Standard Chartered (UK); BNP
Paribas, Crdit Agricole, Socit Gnrale, BPCE, and Crdit Mutuel-CIC
headquartered (France); Deutsche Bank, Commerzbank AG, and IPEX
(Germany); ING Group and Rabobank (Netherlands); UniCredit and Intesa
Sanpaolo (Italy), Santander and BBVA (Spain); and Nordea (Sweden). All
banks were asked to comment on the findings of the report before publication
their responses are outlined in the report.
More statistics from the report:
Luxembourg and Ireland are the most favoured tax havens, accounting
for 29 percent of the profits banks posted in tax havens in 2015.
Banks often pay little or no tax on the profits they post in tax havens.
European banks paid no tax on 383 million of profit they posted in
seven tax havens in 2015. In 2015 European banks posted at least
628 million in profits in tax havens where they employ nobody.
Tax havens account for 26 percent of the profits made by the 20
biggest European banks an estimated 25 billion but only 12
percent of banks turnover and 7 percent of the banks employees.
Subsidiaries in tax havens are on average twice as lucrative for banks
as those elsewhere. For every 100 of activity, banks make 42 of
profit in tax havens compared to a global average of 19.
Some banks are reporting profits in tax havens while reporting losses
elsewhere. For example, Germanys Deutsche Bank registered low
profits or losses in many major markets in 2015 while booking almost
2 billion in profits in tax havens.
Oxfam is an international confederation of 19 non-governmental organisations

working with partners in over 90 countries to end the injustices that cause
poverty. www.oxfamireland.org
Fair Finance Guide International is an international civil society network,

initiated by Oxfam that seeks to strengthen the commitment of banks and
other financial institutions to social, environmental and human rights
standards. http://fairfinanceguide.org/
https://www.oxfamireland.org/blog/tax-avoidance-links


Ireland.

social media.
were "menacing".
2014.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/fine-gael-td-calls-for-
change-of-law-after-social-media-comments-during-jobstown-trial-795979.html
Time for these bastards to go.
"The media, the main media, are not allowed make comments like that during criminal trials," I think she
needs to review the MAIN media coverage again.. to me this is an "untrue statement". here is a sample of just
the independent coverage and there are a lot more.
Ms Madigan admitted we do not know if social media had an influence on the jurors, but she
said we needed legislation to protect juries from outside influences.
The TD is now going to attempt and bring a Bill to the Dil making it a statutory offence to
comment on ongoing criminal cases.
People are angry cos their own government is.lieing to them.and framing innocent people so the public is very rightly
angry and unfortunately sometimes people do say.some. silly things.and be abusive ... its an.normal.human reaction to
being beat down over a.long time but I do agree that making threats of violence is not on and is counter productive. But
even.when dealing with fb pages like.fianna failure they don't like any dissent and have started.to delete and block
people.for legitimate questions .... then we have the irish times rte and the dob media.lieig to us on a.daily basis so people
are getting very angry ..
STILL UNABLE TO FIND ANY PROFESSIONAL LEGAL
REPRESENTATION
"The High Court has cleared the way for a Dublin man to sue the
State over alleged malicious prosecution."
From Irish Times at:
https://www.irishtimes.com//man-can-sue-state-over-alleged
=== === ===
The big difference between my case and that of James Walsh is
that I am the target of a malicious prosecution for attempting to
expose and challenge the whole sickening, and ongoing, array of
"Government corruption, crime, cover ups, bullying, and impunity"
in the Republic of Ireland.
More, of a general nature, on this sickening subject at can be
viewed via following www link:
=== === ===
REQUEST FOR REVIEW OF DISCRETIONARY SUPPORT
APPLICATION
===
' 4) Correctly or otherwise, I have long believed that the main
location:
===
The text in the section just above formed part of an email, and a
registered letter, both sent last Thursday (June 29th 2017) to the
Discretionary Support Commissioner, in Antrim, Northern Ireland.
The email was copied to all (or almost all) of Northern Ireland's
MLAs (Members of the Legislative Assembly of Northern Ireland),
and to all (or almost all) of Northern Ireland's MPs. It was also
copied to, among others, several senior public officials in the
Republic of Ireland.
A slightly edited version of the full email can be viewed at the
following www location:
http://www.humanrightsireland.com/AntrimJobsAn//Gmail.ht
ml
Also, an unedited "Gmail PDF" copy of the email can be viewed
at:
http://www.humanrightsireland.com/AntrimJobsAnd//Gmail.p
df
=== === === === === ===
To:
20 Castle Street,
Antrim,
BT41 4JE.
Dear Commissioner,
RE: REVIEW OF YOUR CLAIM ID REF: 37202, DECISION ID:
45713, AND WILLIAM FINNERTY, NATIONAL INSURANCE
NUMBER YH615974D:
I would be grateful if you could please look at the decision relating
to my claim which is set out in the text of the unsigned letter I
have received from your office dated June 9th 2017.
A scanned copy the June 9th 2017 letter in question can be
viewed at the following www location:
http://www.humanrightsireland.com/AntrimJobsAn//Letter.ht
m
In connection with the above request, I would appreciate it if you
could please take account of the comments of mine set out under
1 to 6 below, which all relate to the letter dated June 9th 2017 at
the www address directly above.
===
1) As the June 9th 2017 unsigned letter to me contains no definite
mention of the letter I sent to your office through the registered
post on June 7th 2017, I have no way of knowing if the person in
your office who sent me the June 9th 2017 letter was aware of the
full contents of my June 7th 2017 letter, or not. That being so,
please know that I have placed a scanned copy of my June 7th
2017 to your office, together with scanned copies of the

2) When I decided to come to Northern Ireland in July 2015, I
came with thoughts of Article 18 ("Right to asylum") of the THE
CHARTER OF THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF THE EUROPEAN
UNION in mind; and, the hope that I would only need asylum (as
in "a safe harbour") in Northern Ireland for a period of a few
weeks, or a few months at most. It was not my intention to stay in
Northern Ireland for any longer than that, and it is still my
intention, as it has been throughout the whole period of the past
two years almost of my "forced exile" (as I see it) in Northern
Ireland, to return to the Republic of Ireland as soon as it seems
safe for me to do so.
However, the warrant for my arrest which I understand was issued
on July 8th 2015, remains extant as far as I know, as it has been (I
believe) throughout the entire period from July 8th 2015 up to the
present time.
The extant warrant for my arrest in the Republic of Ireland relates
to completely false allegations that I had committed crime in the
Republic of Ireland; and, I fled to Northern Ireland, in haste, in
early July 2015, for the purposes of a) trying to avoid being
corruptly criminalised, fined, and possibly imprisoned in the
Republic of Ireland, through the use of a "Trial by Judge (i.e. NON
JURY)", or, "Kangaroo Court" arrangement as I see it, and, b)
finding legal representation in Northern Ireland of the kind which
supports the set of principles stated in the text of Article 47 of
THE CHARTER OF THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF THE
EUROPEAN UNION, which reads as follows:.
"Everyone whose rights and freedoms guaranteed by the law of
the Union are violated has the right to an effective remedy before
a tribunal in compliance with the conditions laid down in this
Article.
"Everyone is entitled to a fair and public hearing within a
reasonable time by an independent and impartial tribunal
previously established by law. Everyone shall have the possibility
of being advised, defended and represented.
"Legal aid shall be made available to those who lack sufficient
resources in so far as such aid is necessary to ensure effective
access to justice."
The full text (of the English language version) of THE CHARTER
OF THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
can be viewed at the following www location:
3) To date, and despite my very best efforts to find legal
representation in Northern Ireland, of the kind which supports
Article 18 and Article 47 of THE CHARTER OF THE
FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, I still have
not managed to locate any; and, consequently I still feel I cannot
sensibly return to the Republic of Ireland: for fear of being
corruptly criminalised, fined, and possibly imprisoned. However,
my efforts to find the kind of legal representation I am seeking,
which I, as a full citizen of the European Union continue to believe
I have a right to in law, are ongoing. When and if I manage to find
such legal representation, it continues to be my intention, as it has
been throughout the entire duration of my present stay in
Northern Ireland, to then straight away set about making
arrangements to return to the Republic of Ireland. It is for this
reason I have made no attempt to sell my home in the Republic of
Ireland, which seems to be one of the two main reasons my
application for Discretionary Support has been turned down: as
stated on Page three of the letter from your office dated June 9th
2017, which I have highlighted on the scanned copy of it that I
have placed at the following www location:
4) Correctly or otherwise, I have long believed that the main

location:
Please find some samples of evidence, of the kinds of wide-
ranging forms of Republic of Ireland "judicial corruption" (as I see
it) in question, in addition to evidence of my long-standing, and
ongoing, personal efforts for trying to remedy the "judicial
corruption problem" in the Republic of Ireland, in the following set
of Google listings:
William Finnerty:
Finnerty:
===
5) As as I have truthfully stated in Section 7 of the registered letter
I sent to your office on May 27th 2017, I owe a total of Euros
80,000 to my brother (Gerald Finnerty), and my half-sister
(Marjorie Dolan), who are both domiciled in the Republic of
Ireland. However, it is stated on Page 3 of the letter dated June
9th 2017 from your office, referred to under 3) above, that "the
customer's debt at the time of review is confirmed as being
0.00". For me, this statement that I have zero debt, which seems
to be the second of the two main reasons for the turning down of
my application for Discretionary Support, represents a huge error
on the part of the person who is responsible for making this
statement..
In case that for some reason you might not be aware of my May
27th 2017 registered letter to your office, please know that there
is a scanned copy of it, together with scanned copies of the
Delivery" note at the following www location:
6) With reference to the "As such I do not consider the customer
to be in an extreme, exceptional, crisis situation which presents a
significant risk to his health and safety" statement at the bottom
of Page 3 of the letter dated June 9th 2017 from your office,
which I have also highlighted in the scanned copy referred to at 3)
above, I would be grateful if you would please consider the
contents of the two letters at the following www page address:
One of the letters at the www address just above was sent by me
on February 14th 2017, and the second letter is a reply to my
February 14th 2017 letter, dated February 20th 2017, from
Craigavon Hospital Consultant Mr AJ Glacken (Urologist), dated
February 20th 2017, which contains the statement that "The level
of PSA (Prostate cancer indicator) found in January 2016 is most
concerning and requires further investigation". I feel I should point
out, for the purpose of enabling you to consider the matter, that
the www address for this "letter information" appears at the very
top of Page 4 of the letter I sent to your office through the
registered post on June 7th 2017, just under the heading "PTSD"
RELATED" LETTER FROM CRAIGAVON HOSPITAL
CONSULTANT MR ANTHONY CLACKIN MD FRCSI. Scanned
copies of my June 7th 2017 letter, together with scanned copies
of the associated Royal receipt, and the associated Royal Mail
"Proof of Delivery" note, can be viewed at the following www
page address:
===
I look forward to hearing from after you have considered the
matters referred to above.
Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to make it clear to all
concerned that I feel very grateful for the help I have received,
from a wide variety of sources, since coming to Northern Ireland
in July 2015; which I think of -- and consistently view -- as a very
considerable and worthwhile amount of help.
Yours faithfully,
William Finnerty.
=== === ===
ATTACHMENT:




festival in Galway.

Follow

3:26 PM - 1 Jul 2017
Follow

community.
5:20 PM - 1 Jul 2017
1 1 Retweet3 3 likes

"Just because somebody wasn't convicted of false imprisonment doesn't mean that their behaviour, or
the way the treated Joan Burton and Karen OConnell, was in any way acceptable and I don't think it
was acceptable," he said."
means...
Jury selected for trial of men
accused of falsely imprisoning
Joan Burton
Over 100 potential jurors were called in a random ballot and a jury of
five women and seven men were selected.
Apr 24th 2017
A JURY HAS been selected for the trial of Solidarity TD Paul

Murphy and six other men on charges of falsely imprisoning
Joan Burton in Tallaght in 2014.
Paul Murphy (34), together with South Dublin councillors
Kieran Mahon (39), Michael Murphy (53) and four other
men have entered not guilty pleas on charges of falsely
imprisoning of then Tnaiste and Karen OConnell by
restricting their personal liberty without their consent at
Fortunestown Road, Jobstown, Tallaght on 15 November,
2014.
Judge Melanie Greally has told the jurors the case is
expected to last six weeks and the trial is expected to begin
at 2pm tomorrow.
Following a jury selection process that took three-and-a-half
hours and in which over 100 potential jurors were called in a
random ballot, a jury of five women and seven men were
selected.
Murphy of Kingswood Heights, Tallaght, Mahon of Bolbrook
Grove, Tallaght, Michael Murphy of Whitechurch Way,
Ballyboden, Dublin, Frank Donaghy (71) of Alpine Rise,
Tallaght, Ken Purcell (50) of Kiltalown Green, Michael
Banks (46) of Brookview Green, Tallaght, and Scott
Masterson (34) of Carrigmore Drive, Tallaght have all been
arraigned and entered not guilty pleas.
During the selection process some potential jurors were
excused after speaking privately with the judge. Further
members of the panel were excused following challenges
from the defence and prosecution legal teams which is
provided for as part of the jury selection process.
One person was excused after she indicated that she had
holiday booked in seven weeks time.
Judge Greally told the jury they must be satisfied they can
stay with the case for at least six weeks. She outlined that
they could not serve if they knew any or had any connection
to any of the parties involved in the case or their families.
She said they should not serve if they had any substantial
knowledge of the events over and above what was in the
public domain and which would affect their impartiality.
Greally told the jury panel that people from the

Fortunestown Road and surrounding roads should not
serve. She said people from the wider Tallaght area should
be cautious and carefully consider if they had any
connection to parties or events in the case.
She said the fact a person was from Tallaght or Jobstown did
not preclude them from serving if they were satisfied they
could be impartial.
Irish Water
Greally said people employed by Irish Water or
subcontractors, as well as their immediate families, or
people who had engaged in installation of water meters
should not serve. She said people working for An Cosn,
outside where the alleged incident took place, or the
Department of Environment should not serve.
She said people active in campaigns for or against water
charges on a formal or informal basis should consult their
conscience and not serve if their views on water charges,
water protests or water protesters was so strong that they
could not be impartial.
Greally said people who shared the political views of the
defence or prosecution witnesses should ask themselves if
they could approach the case with the necessary
impartiality.
She said if anyone had expressed themselves on the internet,
in print or broadcast media or on social media or online
comment pages and made statement about events or
witnesses in this case they should bring it to the courts
attention and be ready to describe the comments.
The judge had earlier given details of certain categories of
people who were disqualified from serving such as
practising barristers or solicitors, garda, prison officers,
members of the defence forces and court service employees.
The jury panel were told Paul Murphy was a full time public
representative and member of Dil ireann. Kieran Mahon
and Michael Murphy are county councillors with South
Dublin County Council. Masterson is a self-employed
courier, Donaghy is a retired construction worker and
Purcell works in a factory.
Judge Greally told the panel that Banks is not in any
occupation that would bring him into contact with the
general public.
http://www.thejournal.ie/jobstown-trial-2-3356535-
Apr2017/
WARNING Article from 24th April ""2017""

EXTRACT
""She said people active in campaigns for or against water charges on a formal or informal
basis should consult their conscience and not serve if their views on water charges, water
protests or water protesters was so strong that they could not be impartial.
Greally said people who shared the political views of the defence or prosecution witnesses should ask
themselves if they could approach the case with the necessary impartiality.
She said if anyone had expressed themselves on the internet, in print or broadcast media or on social
media or online comment pages and made statement about events or witnesses in this case they should
bring it to the courts attention and be ready to describe the comments.""
Apart from the Numerous Restrictions in the "selection process"....
Wasn't the Jury also told NOT to go on Social Media during the trial?
Howlin: Public order offences

should have been brought
against Jobstown Six
The Labour leader says what happened at the water protest
was "vile"
NEWS

The Labour Party leader Brendan Howlin says 'it was a
mistake' in not pursuing public order offences against the
Jobstown Six, instead of false imprisonment.
this week of falsely imprisoning the former Tnaiste Joan
Burton during an anti-water protest charge demonstration in
2014.
prosecution.
charging the men with false imprisonment instead of public
order offences.
"I deliberately said nothing from the beginning to the end of
this I stayed quiet on this because I thought 'let judicial
process take its course'.
women.
"I'm trekking around the country right now, doing my best to
get women to involve themselves in politics.
"And if I can even persuade women to do that - looking at
what happened in Jobstown - and having people say: 'that's
alright - you can call people the most vile and vicious, sexist
terms' that you wouldn't use obviously against a man. You can
throw things at them".
"We will not get people with passion and vision involved in
politics if it is acceptable now to have that sort of bullying,
vileness, spitting at them".
Mr Howlin says he has been involved in political protest
himself, "but never targeting individuals with vileness like
that".
The neck of this prick his party are the biggest gangsters they sold the working class people
out while in power with Fine Gael and said the language used against two woman was
disgraceful what about the language these two horrible woman used against the ordinary
people who the Labour Party described as dregs hope they never get back in
http://www.newstalk.com/Howlin:-Public-order-offences-should-have-been-
brought-against-Jobstown-Six
Latest: Sinn Fein and Solidarity call for
independent inquiry into Jobstown trial

Sinn Fein Justice Spokesperson Deputy Jonathan OBrien said the

nature of the trial will raise serious questions for the public.
very serious charges should never have been brought forward by the
DPP.
While we obviously recognise the independence of the courts, the

DPP, and the policing structures of the state, we also recognise that
there is now huge public outrage following the vindication of the
Jobstown protest.

this trial came about and why these charges were brought in the first
instance.
imprisonment.

The party claims that former Labour Party leader Joan Burton - who
did not make a criminal complaint - went straight to the Phoenix
Park Garda Station after the protest.
It also claims that in the days after the protest, Garda dropped plans
to go door-to-door in Jobstown seeking evidence.
Earlier:
One of the men cleared in the Jobstown trial says he has no faith in
the judicial process.

Solidarity Councillor Kieran Mahon was asked if his acquittal makes

him trust the courts system.
process?

been involved in.

use.
Mahon replied: "I think as long as facts are reported correctly, youre
free to give opinion."
"Weve had a sustained campaign by the media where the media has
basically had a free run in what it said about Jobstown, in what it
said about Solidarity, what it said about the AAA, Paul Murphy TD
and the defendants."
He also told Newstalk Breakfast the State broadcaster RT, and the
Dil, was used against them.
over the last two and a half years against the community in Jobstown
and against the defendants themselves.

light".
"People were looking at the story as it was presented to them by the

national media".
disciplined way".

claimed by some of Councillor Mahons colleagues, he said: "All the
information weve received about our charges has been received
through the State broadcaster".
"The other aspect of the political establishment... is the Dil - the use
of the Dil by TDs, and the use of national media by TDs to criticise
and frame the Jobstown protest in a certain way".
http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/latest-sinn-fein-and-
solidarity-call-for-independent-inquiry-into-jobstown-trial-795768.html
in question:
parapet.
looked on.
catherine-kelly/

catherine-kelly/


finances.
Her name is Catherine Kelly. She has dual citizenship of Ireland & the
USA.
On 27 June she was in transit through Dublin Airport & was approached by
two men. One showed Garda ID.
Her identity was established & she was asked if she was @sanepolitico,
which she confirmed...
She was instructed to make no further mention online of Regina Doherty,

Minister for Social Protection.
In order to continue on her way, she had to sign a document. She was not
given a copy & does not know what it said.
She was required to sign "a page of notes" including her Twitter handle
@sanepolitico. She could not go to her flight until she did so.
She has taken legal advice & is exploring various possible courses of action
here & in the U.S.
She has written a full account of the incident, which I will post a link to as
soon as she makes it public.
Apparently she was not told she had broken any law, just that the Minister
"didn't like it."
Catherine has tweeted on many occasions about Minister Doherty, mainly

public record information about her finances taken from newspapers
She has also questioned whether there is evidence for the Minister's frequent
claims of "online death threats."
(Minister Doherty is one of a number of politicians who make such claims
when discussing "online abuse" aka criticism.)

Jude collins site crashed....but im sure you have heard about it, wonder will history call this
period "the unmasking of fascism in Ireland"

Here is a screen grab of Catherine Kelly's (aka @sanepolitico) statement on being detained and questioned
about her Twitter account by Gardai in Dublin Airport last week, taken before the website mysteriously went
down..

Teenager found guilty of false

imprisonment of Joan Burton
during water charges protest
He was 15 at the time of the incident at Jobstown.
Oct 21st 2016,
A STUDENT HAS been found guilty of false imprisonment

of Joan Burton during the Jobstown protest.
The youth (17) denied falsely imprisoning the former
Tnaiste and her advisor Karen OConnell who were
allegedly trapped in two garda cars for three hours during
the demonstration at the Fortunestown Road in Jobstown in
Tallaght, on 15 November 2014.
He was aged 15 at the time of the protest.
The judge in his case said he would impose a conditional
discharge on both charges with a term that he must not re-
offend within next nine months. He will also be spared
a criminal record in this case.
His trial at the Dublin Childrens Court resumed this

morning for Judge John King to decide if he was going to
throw out the case. The 17-year-olds legal team contended
that it is not accordance with Irish or European human
rights laws and that the State has not made out a case to
answer.
Burton had been at a graduation ceremony at An Cosan
education centre when a water protest took place outside.
She told the court earlier that she was frightened and did not
think she had the alternative of being able to get out of garda
cars surrounded by people shouting abuse and banging on
windows.
The teenager had also walked in front of her holding a phone
filming her and blocked her while saying talk to us Joan,
she said.
Last month, the State closed its case and on Tuesday, the
boys legal team asked Judge John King to dismiss the
charges. The boys barrister Giollaoisa O Lideadha SC told
Judge King that the the case is unprecedented and is a
recipe for totalitarianism.
However, Judge King held that the liberty of the then
Tnaiste and her advisor were restricted at numerous stages
and the teenager was guilty based on the evidence given to
the court.

http://www.thejournal.ie/teenager-guilty-false-imprisonment-3038549-
Oct2016/

Protests can and do take many different forms.Small or large Demonstrations, Rallies, Individual statement.
The purpose of a Protest is to influence Government Policy, Employers or Public Opinion.To do this Protests
should be effective.
Where Protest are part of Direct Action Campaign using Pressure and Persuasion, can be best described as
Civil Resistance, Civil Disobedience, Non-violent Resistance.
Protests are some times Organised, supported or reaction to a situation.
Protests, Civil Disobedience should be LAWFUL in Democracy Society.
Civil Disobedience, Protests or Protesters should NOT be Criminalized

Paul Murphy: Water charge

protesters 'on the verge of a
big victory'
LISTEN: Irish Water says over 500,000 households have yet to
register
NEWS
Socialist TD Paul Murphy talks to media outside Terenure garda

station in
Anti-Austerity Alliance TD Paul Murphy says water charge
protesters are on the verge of a 'big victory', amid estimates
that 30% of households are yet to register.
Irish Water is refusing to release full details on how many
people have paid the charge so far, with just six days left until
applications for the conservation grant close.
Those who do not register will not receive the 100 grant from
the Department of Social Protection.
Irish Water has admitted that more than 500,000 households
have yet to register with the utility.
It says 1.32 million households have registered their details,
but it believes that is only around seven out of every 10
households.
Head of communications with Irish Water, Elizabeth Arnett,
said yesterday: "All households across the country are entitled
to the government 100 Water Conservation grant even
those who are part of a group water scheme or have a well
and a septic tank and are therefore not customers of Irish
Water."
"We are urging all households to register with us so that they
will not miss out on this 100 government grant in
September", she added.
Deputy Murphy told Newstalk Breakfast the campaign against
the water charge has been a success.
http://www.newstalk.com/Irish-Water-payment-registration-figures-Paul-Murphy-
conservation-grant
I was with these people right from the start, even before the first protest took place. I
supported them through their trial.
Why you might ask,well i believed that if the government got their way on the water charges
there would be nothing they would not do to the poor of this country. And you might ask what
have that to do with an old man, well i was poor very poor actually hungry cold poor, and i
know what it was like going to bed hungry and waking up hungry. Now what kind of human
being would i be if i was not to put up a fight to protect our future generations, well i would not be able
to live with myself, i would be so ashamed to say i done nothing.
Now i say to the people who done nothing, well you are nothing you are just selfish greedy people,you
don't care about your own families let alone about others.You see life never stands still it keeps on
changing and to live for today and yourself is not human or christian tomorrow may and probably will
throw you up a heap of problems that you will need help with. I will say nothing about who you turn to
for help, well i don't know
Jobstown Not Guilty, None of us Guilty.only the government and the guards are GUILTY.
Jobstown trial a huge

propaganda victory for
radical left
Radical lefts moment has passed despite attention-
seeking populism
Pat Leahy
Locals from the Jobstown area react to the verdict after six people were found
not guilty of the false imprisonment of former Labour party leader Joan Burton
and her assistant in 2014.
If the Jobstown trial was, as Paul Murphy and his
comrades insist, a political conspiracy, it must have been
one of the most inept conspiracies ever.
If this is what the establishment and its media lackeys do
when theyre trying to nobble a rising political
movement, Id hate to see what they would do when
theyre trying to promote it.
On Friday, Solidarity TDs Paul Murphy, Ruth Coppinger
and Mick Barry called for a public inquiry into supposed
political influence on the decision to prosecute party
members. This is absurd. If the slightest amount of
political intelligence had been brought to bear, these
prosecutions would never have been taken.
The policing on the day was generally useless but the
decision to charge the protesters with false
imprisonment was idiotic. The Director of Public
Prosecutions should be taking a long, hard look at her
decisions on this. If charges were warranted at all, surely
public-order offences would have made more sense, and
been more proportionate?
The trial has given the Solidarity campaigners a huge
propaganda victory, though I suspect conviction might
have been even better for political purposes.
The political model of the radical left parties requires
these radicalising moments water charges, bin
charges, anti-austerity campaigns to give them a
foothold in politics. They have demonstrated
considerable application and political skill in doing so,
translating public antipathy to austerity, especially in
working class areas, into their largest Dil
representation ever.
Social media
Partly because some of their TDs are very able but also
because of the distinctiveness of their political message,
they command a disproportionate share of political
debate. They have harnessed the political and
campaigning power of social media better than any other
party.
not acceptable
McGrath says false imprisonment charges went too far
Government rules out inquiry into Jobstown prosecutions
Yet for all that, their moment of true political
opportunity may have passed. The economic crisis is
over. Public finances will remain semi-tight for the
foreseeable future, but the era of austerity is over.
The policies of the radical left parties nationalisation of
industry, higher taxes, a dramatic reorganisation of the
state and the market are not ones for which a wide
audience is discernible. Their views on the structure of
politics that the street politics of protest is just as
important and legitimate as parliamentary politics are
minority pursuits, to say the least.
The radical left has coherent political and economic
ideas, for sure; they are just not very popular.
Sinn Fins brand of leftism has proved more successful,
and its presence in the mainly working-class
communities where the radical left parties and
Independents base themselves has been a big brake on
their growth.
At Fridays press conference, Ruth Coppinger was asked
if Sinn Fin could be a part of the new left platform
Solidarity says it wants to build in advance of the next
election. Her reply was delivered with a moue of distaste.
She didnt see how Sinn Fin would qualify for a left
alliance too interested in coalition, insufficiently pro-
choice; not committed to higher corporate taxation.
Never mind that its hard to see a broad left alliance
being very broad without Sinn Fin. Despite the fact they
may be rhetorically on the same side, Sinn Fin and the
radical left parties are each others deadliest political
rivals.
Minority viewpoint
Politics has changed since the crash; of course it has.
Fianna Fil, Fine Gael and Labour used to clock 90 per
cent of the votes; now its not much above 50 per cent.
Where previously only a small minority of the voters
believed that the State and its institutions acted
deliberately against their interests, that view is more
widespread now. But going on rough electoral
arithmetic, its hardly 20 per cent of voters. The idea that
government is a conspiracy against the ordinary people
is still very much a minority viewpoint. Its not
insignificant, but its nothing like the popular and
transformative anti-establishment movements that have
been evident elsewhere.
Radical left TDs such as Paul Murphy, Richard Boyd
Barrett and Ruth Coppinger have dug in and
consolidated their votes in their own constituencies in
recent years; they are now a part of our politics.
But there is little sign that their political appeal has
broadened. Partly thats because their political ideas are
not accepted by very many people, and partly because
Sinn Fins parallel growth has limited them. There are
only so many left-wing votes, after all.
But theres another reason why, and it relates to the
Jobstown trial. Its also because not many people
appreciate the political and campaigning tactics that
some far-left activists employ.
Other people in the water charges campaign say
privately that they were horrified by the aggressive edge
that some radical left activists brought to the
organisation. People began to ask whether it was safe to
bring their children to protests, says one prominent
campaigner.
I suspect that many peoples reaction to the trial is not so
much that it was a political set-up but that what
happened to Joan Burton was disgraceful. It wasnt false
imprisonment, but that doesnt make it acceptable.
Politics can be a rambunctious game sometimes, and it
demands a thick skin of all involved. Thats fair enough.
But some radical left campaigners have engaged in bad
behaviour too often, directed personally against their
political opponents. Thats not right, and most people
recognise that. Following someone around with a camera
phone and calling them a f***ing traitor to post it on
Facebook is not political activism; its just following
someone around and calling them names.
Pat Leahy author of this article in the irish times.. is not on the
same field as most of us are. read the full article and see if you
agree with me. :)
the following is just one of his sentences that i disagree with,
"The economic crisis is over. Public finances will remain semi-
tight for the foreseeable future, but the era of austerity is over."
Really??? would ya ever tell the GOVERMENT then because they
seem to have missed that part.
https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/jobstown-trial-a-huge-propaganda-
victory-for-radical-left-1.3139432
Gardai have now proven that they are Irelands biggest enemy and are a major criminal
organisation .Jobstown lies , breathalyser lies, driving offence lies, embezzlement and theft of
your money . Allowing child abusers walk free , selling heroin, framing the innocent ,
protectors of white collar criminals , rape , claims fraud and so much more . Hope your
families and neighbours are proud of you . You are very sick individual s who need
immediate treatment . We in A.C.T will make you accountable .Its only a question of time
in question:
parapet.
looked on.
catherine-kelly/

catherine-kelly/

https://www.scribd.com/document/352742895/There-s-Quare-and-Sinister-
Things-in-Dublin-by-Catherine-Kelly
The not guilty verdict in the Jobstown water protest trial in Dublin has raised various questions about political policing
and the political use of law enforcement for corrupt intent. It has exposed a police force whose sworn testimony was so
suspect that it prompted the judge to instruct the jury to disregard it and unmasked politicians and their wellpaid
advisors who will tell very tall tales directly contradicting video evidence. What was confirmed throughout the trial, and
indeed in the aftermath with media attacks on the power of social media, is that political power is being wielded through
the instruments of the state to suppress dissent and protest and to cause widespread fear among the citizenry lest they
raise their heads above the parapet.
In view of these matters raised by the Jobstown show trial, I had my own experience very recently with law enforcement
and the political establishment. Leaving Ireland on June 27, 2017 to return to New York, I was approached by two men
in plain clothes who presented themselves as officers from Pearse Street Garda Station. They asked, Is your name
Catherine Kelly? When I confirmed my name they stated they needed to speak with me.
I was quickly shown one Garda badge though I did not have time to note any identification number or name. One of the
men did all the talking while the other looked on.
I was asked if I use social media, which I confirmed. I was asked if I use Twitter, which I also confirmed. I was shown a
small notebook in which the words Sane Politico were written. I was asked if I used the name Sane Politico, which
I again confirmed. I was asked if I had written an article about Minister Regina Doherty and that too was affirmed. This is
the article in question: http://www.judecollins.com/.../solve-problem-like-regina.../
I was then informed that a complaint had been made against me at Pearse Street Garda Station. There was no information
offered about who filed the complaint. I was informed that I was being cautioned, and that I was not to tweet Regina
Doherty, or any material relevant to her again. I was informed She does not like it. As the Regina Doherty and Sane
Politico accounts have utilized mutual blocks for at least two years, I explained how I cannot and do not tweet Minister
Doherty directly. This explanation was not understood by the man posing the questions.
I then informed the interrogator that I am a Professor of Political Science at an American University and that I teach
about the use of social media in political contexts. The man responded Sure half of these ones do not even understand
The man who questioned me then reintroduced a small notebook and I saw a page of notes that I did not attempt to
read. I was asked to sign the page of notes at the bottom. I did as requested as I was informed I was required to do so
before I could proceed to my gate. I signed the page, Catherine Kelly. As I had an urgent personal matter to attend to in
New York, it seemed like the wisest action to take.
In a country such as Ireland, where much of the media has become just another branch of what can fairly be characterized
as a corrupted government, the power of social media cannot be overstated. I have used Twitter and other social media
outlets to challenge the powers that be on their activities to do the job that a fair and balanced media would undertake if
they were truly independent.
I have raised issues about Minster Regina Doherty frequently on social media. The content of my commentary is based
on material in the public domain or fair comment based on that material.
http://www.judecollins.com/.../theres-quare-sinister.../
If this story about Catherine is true, its a gross double standard of her to complain about being silenced since
she herself supports the silencing of other people she disagrees with ( see screensave ), I say to Catherine
that free speech cuts both ways for people you agree with + people you disagree with .

She was supporting people who protested against a university paying a fascist speaker. No one was silenced
or denied free speech, no one was detained by the cops for their speech. You're comparing denying
someone a public platform to preach hate to threatening someone's liberty over a twitter post, get a clue.
They just can't get over the jury seen the tds & the Garda force lie thru there teeth it wasn't social media that done it but
them selves and there all frightened of been found out it's just to protect them selves not the people who elected them
News papers express opinions all the time many a person has been tried by media in Ireland . Corrupt media
law and government. I've absolutely no doubt that if it was a non jury trial all of the accused would have gone
to prison.
Maybe they want to do away with jury trials. After all the 15 year old was convicted on the same garda
evidence that was dismissed in the jury trial
until she did so.
While this opinion piece is a kind of refreshing read for the IT the most scary part and perhaps part of the problem with
this country and many others like it is some of the sentiments in the comments of the actual article on the IT page....
These are the biggest problem of any change that needs to come about when I read them the first thing that came to mind
was the poem by Martin Niemller First they came ........ And to be honest they sound like they came from the Joan
Burton School of Entitlement so perhaps it shouldn't be so surprising .....
Joan Burton the Minister for social protection, A Leader of a party who's roots where based on democratic
rights, suddenly after a taste of power forgot about the people who elected her, tried to make a political stand
in the benefit of right wing politics which ended up biting her in the Ass, I just hope people see now what the
Labour party actually stand for in Ireland.

A cynical RTE reporter sat in his expensive car hating the dumb do-gooders that had lately hogged his headlines. The
streets were empty. Minister for Housing, Simon Coveney sat across from us. Frustration on both sides. Trying to break a
deadlock. We were Home Sweet Home and Coveney and his cohorts were the government.
We were in lengthy negotiations to secure basic rights for some of societys most vulnerable. They were complex and
difficult but Coveney reiterated the brilliantly bold statement that he would have every family out of emergency hotels by
July 1st 2017. He gave his word on it. He was staking his reputation on it. This was going to happen. This was irrefutable.
This was fact.
Our side of the long negotiating table was a motley crew. Brendan Ogle and Dave Gibney were the main negotiators.
Brilliant men both. Union leaders. Fighters. Then there was Jim Sheridan, the multiple Oscar nominated genius in fiction
and in life; Glen Hansard, the Oscar winning giant with a heart as big as his magnificent voice; the relentlessly brave
saints of The Irish Housing Network, Aisling Hedderman and Oisin Fagan; and Dean Scurry, the visionary working class
hero who started the whole damn thing. And me, the dumb fuck hack-whore whod never be normally let in the building.
On the governments side there were men and women who led us to believe they wanted to do the right thing. And we
believed them. We had to.
I wont speak for the others. They have their own tale to tell. Most of them much better than mine. Every one of them,
without exception, handled themselves beautifully. Erudite, passionate and humane, they put everything on the line. I
only opened my mouth three times. There were several recesses during the lengthy negotiations where wed break for
fifteen minutes to regroup. I hadnt spoken yet. Listening was more important. And watching. Lies arent just told with
the mouth.
We had reached another bullshit impasse and broke for the obligatory recess. Downstairs in our allocated room someone
asked if the room was bugged. We were told no. The collective decision was made that someone would have to shake up
the negotiations. Pull the pin on a grenade. The decision was made that it should be me. Nobody asked how it should be
done. It just had to be done. Effectively. But politely.
We went back upstairs and the mood in the room from the government folks was jovial. Confident. They had us on the
run. Everyone took their seats and the Minister looked at Brendan Ogle waiting for him to recommence. Brendan said
nothing. Best poker player I ever saw. The Minister raised his eyebrows behind those ill-fitting glasses of his and waited.
Simon? It was the first time hed heard my voice. And he didnt like it. Everybody in the room had shown respect to
the office by addressing him at all times as, Minister" and here was I calling him Simon.
He looked over at me. Him and the rest of his team. No attempt to hide their disdain. Coveney wiped his lower lip to hide
a tiny quiver and peered over his glasses. I didnt know what was going to come out of my mouth but I watched his eyes
to get a read of the man. In truth, all I saw was a kind of shallow vanity. Pointing to the large windows behind us, my
voice became low, almost shy, and I said, Everyone out there thinks youre a bunch of lying scumfuck bastards.
For a man accustomed to negotiations it was bizarre how the skin on Coveneys face blanched. How the purple blood
rushing behind the epidermis betrayed his entire facade. His disgust was palpable. Visceral. He wanted me dead. I didnt
blink. Fuck him. What can you give me to prove to those people youre not a fucking hustler?
Coveney had never been spoken to this way. Not by anybody. Particularly not by some piece of shit commoner off the
street. The rest of his staff were paralysed. Coveney looked to Brendan Ogle and stammered a demand for some kind of
decorum. But Brendan remained silent. The pin had been pulled. Coveney stared at me and spat the words out, Im no
hustler. I stared right back at him and quietly said, Prove it.
Today is July 1st 2017 and, more than six months after the occupation of Apollo House, homelessness is worse than any
time in recorded history. In a Machiavellian deal with his new boss - Leo Vardakar - two weeks before he was due to
deliver on his promise, Minister Simon Coveney dumped his Housing portfolio to become Minister For Foreign Affairs
and Trade with Responsibility for Brexit.
Children are being raised in emergency hotel rooms with their families. The hotel rules and regulations they have to abide
by would make convicted felons balk. These kids are not allowed go out to the grounds. Not allowed to enter and exit
through the front door. Not allowed eat in the restaurant. These children are ghosts. Walking through corridors in the
early morning. Permission given only because they have to go to school. Uniform on. Head down. Passing noisy business
types on their way to slice and dice some deal. Slice and dice some dream. Slice and dice some corpse. Masters of the
Universe. Too busy to see these children. Too important to do a double take. Too indifferent to give a damn. Everyone
understands the contract. The perfect division. Shame does that to you. Trains you how to be silent. Teaches you how to
become invisible. Prepares you for rage.
The second time I spoke was just after a break in negotiations. It wasnt intended to be provocative. If anything it was an
attempt to connect. We appeared to have made real progress. In between recesses, as everybody was taking their seats,
Coveney threw away a comment about having to get on the road. He wanted to kiss his kids goodnight before they went
to bed. Despite all the bullshit, I found that touching. Plus, Im a father of four. Empathy. What ages are your kids?
Thats all I said. Across the room. Open. Warm. No hustle. He looked at me. That same purple rising up his face. How
fucking dare I discuss his life. He stammered through an answer he hated having to give.
Turns out the Minister has three kids. Girls. They too have schoolbags on their backs. Uniform on. Head up. But there's
no need for silent bowing in their world. They dont live in an emergency hotel room. In fact, now that Daddy is Minister
for Foreign Affairs and Trade with Responsibility for Brexit these girls will be in many hotel rooms. Plush rooms in
plush cities with plush expense accounts. The folks theyll pass in hotel hallways will be Daddys mates. And those mates
won't be deaf, dumb and blind to these kids. Because these kids are ministers daughters. Theyre not the silent ghosts in
cheap emergency hotel corridors. The ungrateful ones with the chips on the shoulders. The ones with the lazy parents.
The future dole fraudsters. These might get up early but its usually because they have to get three busses to school. The
slovenly bastards probably sleep in class anyway. You know the type. Professional magpies. Scroungers. The cheats who
cheat us all.
The third time I spoke I gave the game away. I was effusive. Emotional. Needy. When I was seventeen I got my first
bedsit. I had been homeless. Lost. A ghost. Like those kids in the corridors. But when I closed that bedsit door behind me
those keys were more precious than it is possible to explain. During the negotiations I had become obsessed with the
symbolism of 'Own Key Accommodation.' True autonomy. I was stupidly nodding in agreement to anything to secure
Own Key Accommodation for the three new buildings that we had been promised. Thankfully Brendan Ogle and Dave
Gibney interceded and kept us on track. Brendan and Dave smelled a rat but I was willing to sell my soul for the thought
of those people feeling that same thing I had at seventeen. Own Key Accommodation. Coveney agreed to include it in the
document. I could have kissed him. Him and his face that turns purple. Him and his instinct to kiss his daughters
goodnight. Him and his, Im no hustler.
Brendan and Daves instinct was right. They fucked us. They fucked everyone. Worst of all they fucked the most
vulnerable. Thats the thing about being a Master of the Universe. Once you slice and dice one human being it gets easier.
Becomes a numbers game. Statistics. Few things dehumanize faster than numbers. One hundred homeless is a scary
figure. One thousand is terrifying. Seven thousand is just a number. Deal done. An entire subclass of people to use as a
weapon to threaten folks who cant pay the mortgage. The ultimate whipping boy. The homeless. Not even people any
more. No even numbers. Just, the homeless.
Simon Coveney is now the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade with Responsibility for Brexit. The same Simon
Coveney who attended the Bilderberg meetings. The same Simon Coveney whos willing to let countless children be
ghosts in their own lives. When it comes to slicing and dicing this country for Brexit who do you think this professional
hustler will listen to? The countless children he lets haunt hotel corridors or his beautiful Bilderberg buddies?
Today is July 1st, 2017. The lies are exposed. And nobody gives a fuck. Just like the lies told about Jobstown. There will
be no accountability. No media outcry. No consequence. These sociopaths lie to get what they want. And lie some more
to keep it. And to keep their fictions alive some people have to die. Some die slowly. Some fast. Some dont even see it
coming. Some deny its existence. But the one thing that connects us all is the fact that austerity is premeditated, cold-
blooded murder. And its champions are serial killers.
Kids in fancy hotel rooms dont die. Kids in emergency hotel rooms do. One day at a time. Unless we fight for their
future.
Wise words, no one will do youre work for you. so don't expect these good people too do it for you, only in numbers, can
change happen, and change can only happen, when we look in the mirror. because that's were the real problem lay's, with
ourselves. We shut up, and put up, from our so called ruling masters, they kick the self esteem, out of you, from the
moment you start school, they teach you too, obey. like an elephant when its a baby, you tie a heavy tractor tyre around
its leg, and no matter how hard it tries, it will never break free, so when that elephant grows up, you can tie it, too a twig.
and it wont even try, too break free. and thats how they do it. they tell you, dont try, dont try, we are the brains, we will
make sure, too keep you alive,for as long as we can use youre name as a bond, so we can get a loan in youre name. a wise
man once said, when running up a mountain. its the pebble in the shoe that stops you getting too the top. all you have too
do it take the pebbles out. one at a time. one thing i find with these politicians, is when they say something serious, laugh
youre head off at them there lying. and when they tell a joke, take it very serious. there telling the truth, you see them do
it with the put downs and jokes they say in the Dail.
"Just because somebody wasn't convicted of false imprisonment doesn't mean that their
behaviour, or the way the treated Joan Burton and Karen OConnell, was in any way
acceptable and I don't think it was acceptable," he said."
means.
Here it comes. The start of the clampdown on social media.
Amazing how they never define exactly what they consider "hate speech".
I suppose under this new fascist censorship, once pages like ours and others start to
disappear, then you will know...
Will you miss us when we're gone?
this is a violation of right to speak....as it is google/Facebook are censoring articles that THEY deem unsuitable....and as
for Germany who imprison up to 2,000 people a year for just ASKING for information on the holocaust, one of these
was an 80 year old lady who just asked for information and was brought to court and given a prison sentence. ....these are
the stories the world and more importantly EU citizens never get to hear.
Solidarity Councillor Kieran Mahon hit back at the deliberate smear and fear campaign
orchestrated by the establishment with the goal of criminalising protest...
"We've had a sustained campaign by the media where the media has basically had a free run
in what it said about Jobstown, in what it said about Solidarity, what it said about the AAA,
Paul Murphy TD and the defendants."
He also told Newstalk Breakfast the State broadcaster RT, and the Dil, was used against
them.
"All you have to do is look at the media campaign that's been run over the last two and a half years
against the community in Jobstown and against the defendants themselves.
"If you look at it from the very off from the Saturday of the protest, the first reporting of that in
mainstream media by the State broadcaster RT was by RT's crime correspondent.
"Even that in itself show's a certain framing of an issue in a certain light".
"People were looking at the story as it was presented to them by the national media".
That kind of propaganda is deliberate and they are not going to stop. In fact it will ramp up because
they didn't get the result they wanted and the reason is Social Media...
They have a new target now.
The target will be you. Your Social Media will be under attack after this. I guarantee it...
Sinn Fein and Solidarity call for independent inquiry into
Jobstown trial
July 2nd 17
There are calls this evening for an independent inquiry into the
prosecution of the Jobstown Trial.
Sinn Fein Justice Spokesperson Deputy Jonathan OBrien
said the nature of the trial will raise serious questions for the
public.
The Cork North Central TD said it was blatantly obvious that

these very serious charges should never have been brought
forward by the DPP.
While we obviously recognise the independence of the
courts, the DPP, and the policing structures of the state, we
also recognise that there is now huge public outrage following
the vindication of the Jobstown protest.

The Solidarity Party has also suggested there was a

conspiracy to stitch up its members who were yesterday
acquitted of false imprisonment.
It denies that yesterdays acquittal was "a watershed moment"
- it says that would only have been true if the Jobstown Six
were convicted for their part in a protest.
The party claims that former Labour Party leader Joan Burton
- who did not make a criminal complaint - went straight to the
Earlier:
One of the men cleared in the Jobstown trial says he has no
faith in the judicial process.
Yesterday, a jury acquitted six people of falsely imprisoning
the former Tnaiste Joan Burton and her adviser Karen
OConnell at a water charge protest in Tallaght in November
2014.
He said: "I dont respect that process, how could you respect
that process?
"Look at the evidence, look at the contradictory evidence by
the guards, the video evidence. Look at the scandals the
Garda have been involved in.
"How could you put your faith in an organisation of that
nature?"
The trial at Dublins Circuit Criminal Court attracted huge
attention on social media with the hashtag #Jobstownnotguilty
in frequent use.
"Weve had a sustained campaign by the media where the
He also told Newstalk Breakfast the State broadcaster RT,
and the Dil, was used against them.
"All you have to do is look at the media campaign thats been
in Jobstown and against the defendants themselves.
"If you look at it from the very off from the Saturday of the
protest, the first reporting of that in mainstream media by the
State broadcaster RT was by RTs crime correspondent.
"Even that in itself shows a certain framing of an issue in a
certain light".
"People were looking at the story as it was presented to them
by the national media".
"People were angry, people were annoyed - but generally over
the course of the protest, people expressed themselves in a
very, very disciplined way".
claimed by some of Councillor Mahons colleagues, he said:
"All the information weve received about our charges has
been received through the State broadcaster".
way".
http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/latest-sinn-fein-and-
solidarity-call-for-independent-inquiry-into-jobstown-trial-
795768.html
The truth is plain. Corruption, lies and collusion together with abuse of political clout are to blame.
This country is going to break very soon and god help them corrupt dictators when it does.
We have a police force that nobody has any confidence in which is hanging together by a thread.
We have the 2 main parties colluding between each other FF/FG and both corrupt and rotten to the core.
This can't last much longer something will give and it's not going to end well.
Jurors wouldn't have heard anything on social media that
wasn't said in court, says Murphy
Paul Murphy has defended his party's use of Twitter and
Facebook during the Jobstown trial.
It comes after Fine Gael's Josepha Madigan said she had
issues with some of the comments made online during the
trial.
Mr Murphy said: "The jurors were also directed not to pay
attention to the media that's dealing with it, not to pay attention
to social media, not to do any research and we trust that we
have robust juries.
"The second thing is that if the jurors went online to look at

what we were saying about the trial, they wouldn't have heard
about anything that they didn't hear inside court."
Update 1.18pm: Labour Party leader Brendan Howlin has
said it was a mistake not to pursue public order offences
rather than false imprisonment charges in the case of the
Jobstown Six.
this week of falsely imprisoning the former Labour Party leader
Joan Burton during an anti-water-charge demonstration in
2014.
Speaking immediately after being cleared, Mr Murphy said
files sent by the garda to the Director of Public Prosecutions
in the case were "rubbish".
Joan Burton hit by water balloon in Jobstown Tallaght

Published on Nov 15, 2014
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tzKz69VkYJE
>
prosecution.
When asked asked if the DPP made a mistake with charging
the men with false imprisonment, he said: I can say now,
honestly - yes.
I deliberately said nothing - from the beginning to the end of
this I stayed quiet on this, because I thought let judicial
process take its course.
women.
Fuck off you treacherous bollix your face in the Dal told your story
and your hopes. your former leader was untruthful in her evidence.
You and your corrupt gang are finished.
Earlier:
Ireland.
believes our laws need to be updated to cover the increased
use of social media.
In an interview with the Sunday Times, she said she believed
that some comments made by Solidarity TDs during the
Jobstown trial were "menacing".
On Thursday, jurors cleared TD Paul Murphy and five other
and her advisor during an anti water charge demonstration in
Jobstown in 2014.
Well, I found it very difficult during the Jobstown trial, and
indeed I would say the same if it was any trial, the fact that
there was a lot of activity on social media, on Facebook and
on Twitter, about the trial itself, said Ms Madigan.
The media, the main media, are not allowed make comments
like that during criminal trials, and I dont think it should be
allowed on social media either.
The TD is now going to attempt and bring a Bill to the Dil
making it a statutory offence to comment on ongoing criminal
cases.

http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/latest-jurors-wouldnt-have-heard-
anything-on-social-media-that-wasnt-said-in-court-says-murphy-795979.html
I believe the jury followed the judges instructions diligently and with honour
including Garda evidence contradicted by video evidence(FG&L had
nothing to say about this, I find this worrying,is this acceptable?!)
These men found innocent by a jury of the most serious charges of false
imprisonment (with potential maximum life sentence) that protesters been
charged with (&silence from FG,FF,L on the severity of a charges)and yet
again the trial continues it seems.I must say I find this very disturbing and
worrying.
The ordinary people and families and communities in this country won't be
silenced when they faced austerity for several years with devastating
impacts on their lives and again and again more and more pushed on their
shoulders regardless of affordability or consequences.
Also people want a referendum to ensure our water services and
infrastructure stays in public ownership but Joan Collins bill re same has
been stalled for 7/8 months as Coveney hasn't got AG advice so bill can be
progressed yet could get immediate AG advice when FG lost votes on
Committee on Future Funding of Water!
Worryingly the next River Basin Management Plan is due to be furnished to
EU by end of year and no Referendum before that and where is other
legislation also re water services.Plus IW should be put under jurisdiction of
PAC &C&AG as it's funded by public money plus 11B of state assets
transferred to it.Why was this not done??
The voters who gave a majority democratic mandate to the Dail last year
that wasnt honoured haven't gone away.....the people from all walks of life
who marched in massive marches haven't gone away!
The only thing that's ''menacing'' Mrs Blueshirt is Murdoch giving you
and your cronies a platform to intimidate future juries.
What was 'VILE' was bring those charges in the first place, what was 'VILE'
the way some of the Guards lied under oath, what was 'VILE' the biased
commentary by the mainstream media, what is 'VILE' is the push to censor
the Social Media, ask the CHINESE about that.... what is 'VILE', is your
support for a member of your Party calling the people 'Dregs' - and is it
'VILE' for Joan to want to put her video on Social Media?
No Gene Kerrigan in the Sunday Independent this week, instead his usual spot was given to Eilis
O'Hanlon, a right wing commentator with a massive chip on her shoulder over the Jobstown not guilty
verdict. I have a feeling that Kerrigan's article was censored by the Denis O'Brien controlled Blueshirt
organ and that O'Hanlon was rolled out to spew as much vitriol and hatred against Jobstown as could
be squeezed into a half page of the broadsheet. From her "soapbox" O'Hanlon articulates the
disappointment and the shock and anger of the establishment at this verdict. She attacks Left politicians
and she attacks the Jobstown area in a raving, ranting piece that seemed to have been written when she
had a few glasses of wine too many. Of course Eilis's rose-tinted glasses prevent her from seeing
anything but the martyr Saint Joan, but about the lies and perjury of scores and scores of garda - not a
word. The early morning raids on family homes by armed police, the use of handcuffs, the relentless
campaign of vilification by right wing media, led by Denis O'Brien's monopoly, the reason why Burton
was hated and despised because of her brutal austerity measures .... not a word from O'Hanlon on her
Denis O'Brien soapbox.
The media in Ireland is rotten to the core and the stench is most putrid around O'Brien's print media.
But social media has allowed more and more people to read and share the truth. And the political
establishment and their wealthy backers do not like it. That is why Blueshirt TD Josepha Madigan is
talking about introducing a bill in the Dil to censor social media. This must be resisted at all costs
Wouldn't you just hate been Ellis O Hanlon what a bitter twisted human being all that hatred inside of her
Should social media posts be

held in contempt of court?
Theres a debate over the role social media plays in court cases after
the Jobstown trial verdict last week.
July 2, 17
DO YOU THINK Ireland should legislate to include social

media posts that comment on ongoing trials in contempt of
court?
Fine Gael TD Josepha Madigan is to table a bill to make
contempt of court a statutory offence, and believes
commenting ongoing trials on social media sites like Twitter
and Facebook should be made illegal (as it is for media
organisations).
In an interview with The Sunday Times, Madigan said that

she believed the law needed to be updated after the
Jobstown Not Guilty social media campaign.
But there are concerns about how this would be policed, and
that it could infringe on freedom of speech rights if it was
over-enforced.
So. do you think social media posts should be held in
contempt of court?
Poll Results:
http://www.thejournal.ie/donald-trump-tweet-2-3474752-Jul2017/
Lying gardai should be held in contempt of court
From the very start of this Jobstown court case with a 15 year lad along with
the others accused,Getting a visit from the Gardai at 7am stunk of political
interference. Were these people highly strung and dangerous to the public
that the guards arrived in their numbers? What about the people who drove
this country off the cliff when it came to them being questioned they made a
time to be interviewed at the station. This seems like another politician
wanting to cut out social media like that unelectable one from Labour.
Two trials on the same incident using the same evidence.
The one without a jury returns a guilty verdict, the one with a jury returns a
no9t guilty verdict.
The difference? Once the decision making moved outside the circle of the
DPP, judiciary and Gardai to ordinary citizens, the stitch up was rightly
rejected.
thus could be the start of a slippery slope and I would not be in favour of
gagging people.
Established Ireland running scared after what they have got away with over
the decades it is about time.
FG, can you run a poll on whether or not perjury charges should be brought
against the officers of the law whose evidence the judge directed the jury to
disregard
They all need to get over themselves .. Not guilty was the verdict by jury
whats social media to do with it
Instead of inventing new unworkable laws, could we see some enforcement
of the ones that currently exist? Corruption laws would be a good place to
start, Whats in it for me and a multi million euro report called Moriarty.
Then Perjury, theres a good law, any idea when the last time someone was
convicted under that?
First the Garda wanted to make it a criminal offence if someone filmed them
during the course of their duties
This is a backdoor to get that restrict social media in a court case and
everything will fall into that bracket
This is unacceptable censorship by a fascist right wing neo-liberal
government which is antisocial and undemocratic and unnecessary as there
are already adequate contempt of court laws in existence. The purpose of
this members bill is to demean and undermine the jury who were
independent of any outside influence and to accuse them otherwise is
insulting and just sour grapes as the governments contrived stitch up failed
and was based on a tissue of lies. The only contempt of court in this case
were the trumped up charges and conspiracy to falsify evidence by the
Gardai, government and the office of the DPP. I await a full investigation and
prosecution of those in the gardai who lied in court.
Stupid poll . To narrow a question . Depends on what the post says or
inferred as to if it is in contempt or not
curtailing freedom of speech is never, ever acceptable.
Fg FF, labour, are trying to close down free speech.they see people
withdrawing support for their partys as SM reveals their corruption etc.MSM
does not hold them to account.
Crikey I didnt know there were that many Liebourites left!
All out for the poll on Noddys orders,
Lying gardai should be held in contempt of court.
Some question of previous guilty verdicts based on Corrupt Lying Garda

misleading evidence provided by the same officers apparently.
Filthy little state. Social media has nothing got to do with it.
We're being watched .
By Retreated politicians Social Media Dreg
defendants were denied presumption of innocence by state & media. They still are now, even after being
cleared!
Newly elected TD Josepha

Madigan released an erotic
novel back in 2011 -
following in Alan Shatter's
footsteps
BYKATHY ARMSTRONG
14:03, 28 FEB 2016

Josepha Madigan
Newly-elected Josepha Madigan has penned a raunchy novel.
Josepha followed in the footsteps of her fellow Fine Gael politician Alan
Shatter by writing an erotic book.
Negligent Behaviour was released in 2011 and tells the tale of Helene
McBain, a Dublin-based solicitor in Celtic Tiger Ireland.
The novel features Helenas sexual exploits with the rich and powerful.
The fictional novel also follows the seedy and immoral dealing of Dublins elite
at that time.
Josephas main passion these days is politics and she beat former Justice
Minister Shatter to clinch a seat in the Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown constituency
on Saturday.
Josepha - who formerly worked as a solicitor- landed

herself in hot water in 2014 when she branded traveller
accommodation in south Dublin a waste of valuable
resources.
She was today forced to defend her position once again.
Josepha said: Of course every sector of society must be
accommodated and we must look after all of our
constituents, particularly the most vulnerable.
The argument that I had is that we do not necessarily
have to use the most expensive site in the country in order
to do that.
Negligent Behaviour (Photo: Amazon)

It was purely an economic issue..
She also said: I dont intend to elaborate any further on
it...
I cant look into the minds f the electorate, i think that the
electorate knows that I will work hard, that I have been a
committed counsellor and local representative over the
last year-and-a-half.
I intend to work hard as a TD and Im conscientious.
Speaking on RTE Radio 1 with Claire Byrne, Josepha claimed that the
controversy never cropped up while she was canvassing over the last few
weeks.
She said: no, it never came up, it was hardly mentioned at all.
The leaflet was from May 2014, it was before the local elections, it wasnt the
leaflet that I sent out in the general election, so it really wasnt relevant.
Josepha also addressed comparisons between herself and Iron

Lady Margaret Thatcher.
She said: I think the Iron Lady characterisation is probably in relation to me
as a person, in that I will be robust in championing issues for my constituents
going into the future.
If I can help somebody improve their issue or help the country then I will do
that.
So I will take that as a compliment.
Speaking after his defeat, Shatter blamed Fine Gael for him not winning a
seat.
He said: Unfortunately there was some interference in the electoral process
by Fine Gael headquarters.
"I objected to when it took place. To a minimal extent I attempted to

counteract it, but I substantially didnt.
Varadkar: Although no one was
found guilty of the Jobstown
fiasco those responsible should
not be proud of their actions as
they were completely
unacceptable
July 1, 2017 19:45 Michael McKeowen
Although no one was convicted during the recent Jobstown

trial the Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has condemned those
involved for their actions.
In the wake of the recent trial that seen a number of people
charged with the false imprisonment of the former Tnaiste
Joan Burton and Karen ODonnell over the water charges
fiasco in 2015, Mr Varadkar said those involved should not but
proud as their behaviour at the time was completely
unacceptable.
Speaking at an event in Galway on Saturday the Taoiseach

said: I think its important that we respect that outcome
because it was a trial by jury and its a jury who spent nine
weeks considering all the evidence.
They made the decision they did.
Just because somebody wasnt convicted of false
imprisonment doesnt mean that their behaviour, or the way
they treated both women, was in any way acceptable and I
dont think it was acceptable.
The Taoiseachs comments will surely recieve a backlash from
the public as those involved in the fiasco that seen Ms Burton
and Ms ODonnell trapped inside a car for a number of hours
in November 2015 were found not guilty earlier this week.
http://theliberal.ie/varadkar-although-no-one-was-found-guilty-of-the-jobstown-fiasco-those-
responsible-should-not-be-proud-of-their-actions-as-they-were-completely-unacceptable/
Scandalous: Errors in Gardais

ancient Pulse computer system
eschew official number of deaths
reported across the State
June 29, 2017 Fernando Sanchez Irish News
According to shocking revelations, 89 deaths appear to be

missing from officially reported CSO figures due to errors in
the way the data was entered into the Pulse system.
Gardai say that the missing figures mostly correspond to
cases of dangerous driving causing death and homicides.
Some cases were quoted where three people were killed in an
homicide event, but only one victim was recorded.
This latest revelation in Garda incompetence is likely to erode
public confidence in the Force to even lower levels.
http://theliberal.ie/scandalous-errors-in-gardais-ancient-pulse-computer-
system-eschew-official-number-of-deaths-reported-across-the-state/

So NO Gene Kerrigan Article today?
What are THEY Afraid of?
Its those corrupt embezelling fkrs against us.

who is breaking the law here, Garda on double line for brunch tea break

Armed Garda outside the Rally for a Left Alternative

freedom of speech is in danger

Ah I get it. If it were public order offences then there wouldn't
have been a jury...
Face it ye tried to criminalize these people, it didn't work. They are

innocent. The only people who committed a crime here were the
people who gave false evidence. And yes they should be brought
before the court for prudery
For what exactly ... try charging Joan Burton with false allegations
and wasting courts time and money is she paying for her expensive
lies in court hope they are all going suing her

A Fine Gael TD is to table a bill to make contempt of court a statutory offence
in the wake of the Jobstown trial.
They just can't get over the jury seen the tds & the Garda force lie thru there teeth it wasn't social media that
done it but them selves and there all frightened of been found out it's just to protect them selves not the
people who elected them
Newly elected TD Josepha Madigan released an erotic novel back in 2011 - following in Alan Shatter's
footsteps
Whistleblower John
Wilson blasts garda
evidence from Jobstown
trial and says force 'cannot
be trusted'
Mr Wilson also claimed that comments made by ex-Taoiseach Enda
Kenny had 'focused the minds' of senior gardai
BYJAMES WARD
1 JUL 2017
Garda whistleblower John Wilson has said the force cannot be trusted to
take statements that are not audio-visually recorded following the Jobstown
trial.
Mr Wilson, who served as a guard for over 30 years, criticised the evidence
given by gardai in the case.
Six men, including Solidarity Party leader Paul Murphy, were acquitted on
charges of false imprisonment against former Tanaiste Joan Burton after the
ten week trial concluded on Thursday.
Mr Wilson also claimed that comments made by ex-Taoiseach Enda Kenny

describing the events of the protest as kidnapping had focused the minds
of senior gardai.
He told the Irish Sunday Mirror: The quality of some of the garda evidence
was truly shocking and I was a guard for over 30 years.
I can say that safeguards will have to be introduced into

the future.
Im proposing that all statements made by members of An
Garda Siochana, and taken by An Garda Siochana,
should from now on be audio-visually recorded.
It gives me no great joy or pleasure to say that. I was truly
concerned about what transpired during that trial.
He added: I know from experience that if you phoned up
the garda station where I was working with an inquiry
about something, you might be brushed off and ignored.
Defendants in the Jobstown trial (LtoR) Ken Purcell, Scott

Masterson, Paul Murphy TD, Michael Murphy, Kieran Mahon,
Frank Donaghy and Michael Banks leave the Dublin Circuit
Criminal Court after they were all found not guilty on charges
of the false imprisonment of then Tanaiste Joan Burton at a
water protest in Jobstown in 2014 (Photo: Collins Courts)
But if the local TD phoned up, they would jump, they would click their heels,
they would run off and they would answer their questions. Thats the way it
operates.
I have no doubt that when Enda Kenny used the word kidnapping to
describe the events that transpired in Jobstown in November 2014, I have no
doubt that that comment by our Taoiseach focused the minds of the senior
gardai.
It focused the minds of the senior ranks in An Garda Siochana, I can tell you.
Mr Wilson stopped short of calling for a public inquiry into the matter, but said
a review of the investigation process was needed at the very least.
Minister of State Finian McGrath told RTEs Claire Byrne Show he had
concerns about how sections of the arms of the State were used in relation to
early morning visits, raids.
Deputy McGrath said the court had reached the correct verdict and that the
false imprisonment charges went too far.
Today, the Solidarity Party held a rally at Central Bank in Dublin calling for
charges against 11 remaining individuals involved in the protest to be
dropped.
Paddy Hill of the Birmingham Six addressed the 100 strong crowd telling them
to keep the protest going.
He said: I thought the Brits were bad, Ill tell you what, this lot over here is
worse.
What the people forget in the Dail is that the gardai belong to you, the public
because its your money that pays their wages.
Defendants in the Jobstown trial led by Paul Murphy TD leave
the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after they were all found not
guilty on charges of the false imprisonment of then Tanaiste
Joan Burton at a water protest in Jobstown in 2014
Solidarity TD Paul Murphy has branded the evidence against him as "rubbish"
after he was cleared of falsely imprisoning former Tanaiste Joan Burton
during a water charge protest.
Deputy Murphy and five others were found by a jury not guilty of restricting the
personal liberty of ex-Tanaiste Joan Burton and her then assistant Karen
O'Connell on November 15 2014, at Fortunestown Road in Jobstown, Dublin.
The trial at Dublin's Circuit Criminal Court lasted for eight weeks.
Speaking immediately after being cleared, Mr Murphy said files sent by gardai
to the Director of Public Prosecutions in the case were "rubbish".
You saw Garda witness after Garda witness have their testimony shredded by
our defence counsel," he said.
Mr Murphy added: "In the course of the next 24 hours we will have more to
say about the implications of this trial for the political establishment and for the
development of a left challenge as well as the role of the Gardai in this
process."
until she did so.
It's refreshing to read a piece from the Irish Slimes that isn't a left bashing fest...
"Surrounded by scores of Gardai, Joan Burton made a desperate cry for wolf, and in doing so
exposed the ever increasing distance between herself, her party and the working class
communities to which she so eagerly claims heritage - a wolf in sheeps clothing."
While this opinion piece is a kind of refreshing read for the IT the
most scary part and perhaps part of the problem with this country
and many others like it is some of the sentiments in the comments
of the actual article on the IT page.... These are the biggest
problem of any change that needs to come about when I read them
the first thing that came to mind was the poem by Martin
Niemller First they came ........ And to be honest they sound like
they came from the Joan Burton School of Entitlement so perhaps
it shouldn't be so surprising .....
Joan Burton the Minister for social protection, A Leader of a
party who's roots where based on democratic rights,
suddenly after a taste of power forgot about the people who
elected her, tried to make a political stand in the benefit of
right wing politics which ended up biting her in the Ass, I just
hope people see now what the Labour party actually stand
for in Ireland.
I think it's important that we respect that outcome because it
the treated Joan Burton and Karen OConnell, was in any
way acceptable and I don't think it was acceptable," he
said."
He couldn't even accept the result. He had to add a massive but at
the end and we all know what that means...
This is the DELUSION that emanates from the pages of the
Irish Slimes...
""Yet for all that, their moment of true political opportunity
may have passed. The economic crisis is over. Public
finances will remain semi-tight for the foreseeable future, but
the era of austerity is over.""
Fuck me, I am shocked. Time to stop protesting. Shut our
pages down. We are all rich again lads!
Always remember that the higher echelons of the Judiciary, the
Government, the Banking system, the Church, the Garda , the
Trade Union movement and the Media are all part of the same
hypocrisy. Truth is always independent of the source that
stimulates it and is always independent of the conditions that
guides it's expression. Truth stands alone and does not need
qualification but sometimes needs amplification. Whether you
accept it, reject it, distort it, ignore it or deny it Truth remains.
This is what is considered "justice" in Ireland today.
"A perverse situation currently exists where the only

person convicted of false imprisonment is someone
who was 15 years old on the day. He was convicted
on the same Garda evidence that was ultimately
rejected by the jury. Unfortunately, his was a judge-
only court. He is appealing and if there is any justice,
I believe his conviction should be overturned."
Imagine if it were you in the dock and it was your
word against a member of law enforcement?
This kid lost because of the perception that those in blue
are infallible.
A misguided and dangerous view as we now can see..
TD wants to make
commenting on criminal trials
an offence
It follows the use of social media in the Jobstown trial
NEWS
A Fine Gael TD wants to make it an offence to comment
on ongoing criminal trials.
It follows the use of social media during the Jobstown trial.
Josepha Madigan - a Fine Gael TD and solicitor - believes our
laws need to be updated to cover the increased use of social
media.
In an interview with the Sunday Times, she said she found
some comments made by Solidarity TDs during the Jobstown
trial as very menacing - and she believed there had been an
attempt to influence the jury.
On Thursday, a jury cleared TD Paul Murphy and five other
and her advisor during an anti-water charge demonstration in
Jobstown in 2014.
Ms Madigan admits we do not know if social media had an
influence on the jurors, but she said we need legislation to
The TD is now going to try and bring a bill to the Dil making it
Ah I get it. If it were public order offences then there wouldn't have been a jury...
http://www.newstalk.com/TD-wants-to-make-commenting-on-criminal-trials-
an-offence
Expert says no need to

change contempt laws
following Jobstown trial
The use of social media by Solidarity TD Paul Murphy has
come under scrutiny following the trial
NEWS
Pictured is (LtoR) Michael Banks, Paul Murphy TD, Scott

Masterson outside the Central Criminal Court in Dublin following
their acquittal yesterday
A legal expert has said there is no need for changes to
the law following controversy over online commentary
Joan Burton and her advisor during a Jobstown water protest
in 2014 were found not guilty in Dublin Circuity Criminal Court
yesterday.
However, the use of social media by groups associated with
the accused as the trial was ongoing has come under scrutiny
following the result.
Legal advice
Trinity College law professor, Eoin O'Dell said Ireland's
current contempt laws are capable of dealing with social as
well as traditional media - but warned authorities may need to
offer greater advice to the public about what comments are
acceptable online.
He said the law is always a bit slow to understand
technology but added that once it catches up, the basic rules
usually continue to apply.
Under contempt of court laws, it is an offense to publish any
material that might influence a jury in the run-up to and
especially during a trial.
Professor ODell said he wouldnt be surprised to see the
DPP follow the lead of the Attorney General in the UK and
begin publishing guidelines in relation to upcoming cases:
Professor Eoin ODell
In the UK for example, the Attorney General issues what he
calls advisories relating to high profile trials to remind people
that social media for example is subject to contempt laws and
there are usually links to these advisories on Facebook and
Twitter and so-on, he said.
So I wouldnt be surprised to see the DPP here doing
something similar.
Social media
One of the six accused in the trial, Solidarity TD Paul Murphy,
published a succession of tweets relating to the case while it
was ongoing.
Some of Mr Murphys tweets were sent from inside the
courtroom itself while the majority were associated with the
hashtag #JobstownNotGuilty.
A number of the politicians tweets were sent while Judge
Melanie Greally was charging the Jury.
Mr Murphy also retweeted commentary from a range of others
about the ongoing case as well as videos posted by
Solidarity press officer Dave Murphy.
The Solidarity press officer posted video reports on the trial
which included commentary slamming the veracity of
evidence provided by former Tnaiste Joan Burton and calling
on the public to support the #JobstownNotGuilty campaign.
Contempt of court
Professor ODell said Irelands contempt laws are designed to
protect the administration of justice and the fairness of the
trial adding that they apply not just in ordinary media but also
on social media.
He suggested that there are potentially two problems with
Deputy Murphys use of social media during the trial.
Not only is there the prospect of his tweets having an impact
on the trial but also he was tweeting from within the
courtroom, he said.
So there were two problems there and, as a law graduate, I
think he was probably well aware of that.
He warned that there is still some scope for refinement
regarding the laws, adding that there remains uncertainty over
the extent to which it can be said you intend to impact, to
have the prejudice or pre-judgement on the trial.
He said a well-instructed jury should be capable of avoiding
both social and ordinary media something Judge Greally
regularly warned the jury about.
Biased media coverage
On Newstalk Breakfast, one of the accused, Solidarity
councillor Kieran Mahon said both the Dil and state
broadcaster RT were used against the defendants.
"All you have to do is look at the media campaign that's been
in Jobstown and against the defendants themselves, he said.
"All the information we've received about our charges has
been received through the State broadcaster."
way".
Asked about the use of social media during the trial he said I
think as long as facts are reported correctly, you're free to give
opinion."
"We've had a sustained campaign by the media where the
Campaigners for the Jobstown Six are holding a press

conference this afternoon to raise concerns about the Garda
role in their attempted prosecution.
http://www.newstalk.com/Expert-says-no-need-to-change-contempt-laws-
following-Jobstown-trial-

On June 29th 2017, the verdict was delivered in the Jobstown Trial: Not Guilty.
Much has been written about the case, and a key element has been the role of
social media.
On Twitter, over the past year, over 89,000 tweets have been published featuring
the official campaign hashtag: #JobstownNotGuilty.
At Olytico, we have analysed this data in an effort to answer some key questions:
Protesters outside court

where Joan Burton is giving
evidence
17-year-old accused of false imprisonment at Childrens
Court
Mon, Sep 19, 2016, 14:57 Updated: Mon, Sep 19, 2016, 14:59
Ciarn D'Arcy
Protesters during the trial of a 17-year-old for false imprisonment at the

Childrens Court in Smithfield. Photograph: Gareth Chaney/Collins
Labour Party TD Joan Burton arrived at the Childrens
Court via a side entrance on Monday morning before
giving evidence in the trial of a 17-year-old accused of
false imprisonment.
Dozens of protesters gathered outside the courthouse to
show solidarity with the accused, including Anti-
Austerity Alliance TD Paul Murphy, who was also
charged with false imprisonment for his involvement in
a protest which allegedly detained the then Tnaiste in a
car for two hours in November, 2014.
Ms Burton arrived by car shortly before 11am on Monday
and made her way into the court complex in Dublins
Smithfield to give evidence.
Demonstrators held signs reading Drop the charges and
No Justice, No Peace, and there was a minimal Garda
presence.
Among those holding placards outside the venue was
Aisling Butler, who said she knows many of the 20
individuals who face trial in relation to the disturbances
in Jobstown in 2014.
I am totally disgusted that the case has come forward,
and also that she is giving evidence against a minor, her
being a mother, she said. My main objection is that it
was a protest that people were on, there were over 700
people at the protest and a handful were singled out.
Independent TD Joan Collins also turned up to voice her
support for the teenage defendant after she herself was
recently cleared of committing public order offences
arising from a separate water charges protest in 2015.
Im here in solidarity with the Jobstown group, its
absolutely horrendous that a young 17-year-old is in
there. Well show our solidarity for as long as necessary.
The Childrens Court trial is ongoing and is expected to
last a number of days.
law/protesters-outside-court-where-joan-burton-is-
giving-evidence-1.2796912
Was this a lot of tweets from a very small
number of accounts?
There were over 7,700 unique accounts that used the #JobstownNotGuilty
hashtag in the last year giving an average of 11 tweets per account.

Across the last 12 months, there were four days on which #JobstownNotGuilty
tweets spiked significantly: the first two relate to the trial of a 17 year old and the
second two relate to the start and end of the trial of six others.

Jobstown protest: TD Paul

Murphy and 5 others found not
guilty
The six men were accused of falsely imprisoning former Tnaiste Joan
Burton and her adviser Karen OConnell in 2014.
SOLIDARITY TD PAUL Murphy and five other men have

been found not guilty of falsely imprisoning former Tnaiste
Joan Burton and her adviser during a 2014 water charges
protest.
The jury of seven men and four women returned the
unanimous verdicts today after just over three hours of
deliberations.
The court room, which was packed to capacity, erupted in
cheers as the verdicts were handed down shortly after
midday. There were cheers of No way, we wont pay and
several supporters broke down in tears.
Paul Murphy, South Dublin County Councillors Michael
Murphy and Kieran Mahon, Scott Masterson, Frank
Donaghy and Michael Banks were on trial in Dublin Circuit
Criminal Court for over two months. They nodded and
smiled as the not guilty verdicts were handed down.
Road, Jobstown, Tallaght on November 15, 2014.
It is a charge that carries a maximum sentence of life
imprisonment.
The charges against a seventh accused, Purcell (50), of

Kiltalown Green, Tallaght, were dropped towards the end of
the prosecution case after Judge Greally ruled that the
extension of his garda detention in February 2015 was
unlawful.
Judge Greally thanked the jury for their exemplary service
and told them they had shown extreme bravery and courage
in taking on the case. A juror was discharged halfway
through the trial for personal reasons.
further cheers in court as she told the six men they were free
to go.
The 40 day trial, which started on April 26, heard the two
women were attending a graduation ceremony at An Cosn
adult education centre in Jobstown when demonstrations
broke out around them.
The jury heard they were detained in vehicles for three
hours as they attempted to leave the area.
The prosecution case was that by surrounding the cars, the
accused men engaged in a joint enterprise to trap the
women and totally restrain their liberty.
The defence argued that their clients engaged in a peaceful
protest and this could not amount to false imprisonment.
They submitted that at worst, their clients were engaged in
obstructing a vehicle or delaying and inconveniencing the
women.
Paul Murphy (34) of Kingswood Heights, Tallaght; Kieran
Mahon (39) of Bolbrook Grove, Tallaght; Michael Murphy
(53) of Whitechurch Way, Ballyboden, Dublin; Michael
Banks (46) of Brookview Green; Scott Masterson (34) of
Carrigmore Drive, Tallaght and Frank Donaghy (71) of
Alpine Rise, Tallaght had all denied the charges.
When asked for a comment, a garda spokesperson said:
An Garda Siochana do not comment on matters which are or
have been before the courts.

Tnaiste denies any
"government agenda" after
Jobstown protesters found
not guilty
Joan Burton in 2014 have been found not guilty
NEWS
Pictured are Paul Murphy TD and five others outside the Central
Criminal Court today, 29-06-2017
The Tnaiste has denied there was any "government
agenda" in regards to the Jobstown trial after all six
accused were found not guilty.
Solidarity TD Paul Murphy and five others were alleged to
have falsely imprisoned former Tnaiste Joan Burton and her
adviser Karen OConnell during a water charges protest in
Jobstown, Dublin in 2014.
The prosecution had alleged that the women were trapped
inside two garda vehicles when protesters surrounded them
as they tried to leave.
Earlier today the jury in the trial had asked the court to replay
some video footage of the demonstrations.
This afternoon, following three hours of deliberation, jury
members cleared all six accused.
They returned to a packed court room just after 12:15pm this
afternoon.
Mr Murphy was the first of the six accused to learn he had
been found not guilty on both counts.
The unanimous verdict was met with loud cheers and
applause.
The huge crowd descended into silence as his five co-
accused were also cleared of the charges - but the room
erupted again when the foreperson was finished delivering the
verdicts.
Paul Murhpy TD outside Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, 29-06-2017.

Image: Sam Boal / RollingNews
Speaking outside the court following the verdict, Mr Murphy
gave this reaction: Solidarity TD Paul Murphy
We would very much deeply like to thank all of our legal
teams who, from all of our solicitors, our junior council our
senior council played a really exception role from the very
start of the trial of exposing the hypocrisy, the lies, the empty
promise of Joan Burton to the Guards, who were exposed in
terms of the lies that they told, he said.
I would also like to thank all of the trade unions, trade union
branches, trade unionists who supported us.
All the different TDs, senators, MEPs who came down to
support us, councillors etc., and everybody here in particular I
would say.
29 Jun
Gavan Reilly
@gavreilly
"The continued existence in public life of @joanburton and Minister
@KZapponeTD must also come under severe scrutiny" -
@joancollinstd
Follow
Gavan Reilly
@gavreilly
Statement from the @Labour party
pic.twitter.com/zXUzYWNBJx
1:05 PM - 29 Jun 2017
Speaking in the Dil following the verdict, the Tnaiste
Frances Fitzgerald said it was "quite simply untrue" to suggest
any vested interest in the running or outcome of the trial.
However Solidarity TD Mick Barry called for all outstanding
charges relating to the Jobstown protest to be dropped.
He said the acquittal of the Jobstown Six was a "stunning
defeat" for the TDs on the government benches:
Mick Barry, Solidarity
The political establishment in this country wanted to create a
powerful chill factor - a powerful warning - against anyone who
would engage in serious protest against government, against
austerity and against the anti-working class agenda, he said.
You have failed.
29 Jun
Gavan Reilly
@gavreilly
Barry says there is "an appalling vista" that 180 Garda statements
are being dismissed, including claims contradicted by video
evidence
Follow
Gavan Reilly
@gavreilly
Barry wants to know if the Tanaiste can deny a criminal
conspiracy to convict the Jobstown Six. She says "justice
takes its course"
12:25 PM - 29 Jun 2017
A large media presence gathered outside the Dublin Circuit

Criminal Court as the six accused left the court as free men.
Additional reporting from Frank Greaney and Gavan Reilly
http://www.newstalk.com/Jobstown-protesters-found-not-guilty

This word cloud represents the Top 100 words used in the 89,000 tweets
analysed.

What did people share? What were the most

popular links in tweets?

Who were the most influential accounts?

The answer depends on how you define influence. For the purpose of this
analysis, Olytico has looked at two factors: volume of tweets sent, and the
follower number of the accounts.
Two accounts sent more than 1,000 #JobstownNotGuilty tweets during the time
period: AndreaMurray67 (1,789) and IzzyKamikaze (1,145).
While these were the most active accounts in terms of tweets sent, they were not
alone over 160 accounts sent more than 100 tweets each.
A number of accounts combined high follower numbers with high frequency

tweeting to generate the highest levels of impressions:
Paul Murphy TD: 828 tweets sent to 14,400 followers, generating potential
impression of 14.4 million.
Joe Higgins: 170 tweets sent to 20,700 followers, generating potential

impressions of 3.5 million.
Cllr. Enda Fanning
@EFFanning
9:48 PM - 29 Jun 2017
Follow
Paddy Holohan

@PaddyHolohanMMA
Stand behind these guys Everyone has the right to protest
@Jobienotguilty #jobstownnotguilty #RT
12:16 AM - 30 Mar 2017
Is their any other measure of influence?

Celebrities or the media?
89 of the accounts who used the #JobstownNotGuilty hashtag were verified (you
can check out Twitters definition of a verified account here).
@jamesvmcmorrow
Rubber Bandits
#JobstownNotGuilty it's official. Now piss off Labour. You've dissapointed
Connolly and Larkin. Sort yere shit out
12:38 PM - 29 Jun 2017
Yanis Varoufakis
@yanisvaroufakis
https://
tinyurl.com/m46hwl9
5:54 AM - 14 Apr 2017
What does this mean for social media use in

future trials?
As Colm Kenna reported in the Irish Times, the judge regularly warned the jury
not to be reading about the case in newspapers or online. Traditional media have
covered court cases for centuries. But there have always been gate keepers
editors, journalist, publishers who ultimately decided what was covered and
which voices were heard. Social media removes these barriers, as was
evidenced with the #JobstownNotGuilty campaign. While our analysis focused on
Twitter, the conversations and content featured on Facebook, YouTube and
countless other social media platforms. These networks arent replacing
traditional media but theyre giving campaigners alternative options to have
their voices heard.
http://olytico.com/jobstownnotguilty-analysis-89000-tweets-
across-365-days/

trials under strain
of witnesses
Fri, Jun 30, 2017, 00:06

system
Related
trial'
Confessions, defiance and Labour-bashing as the left comes
together
Taoiseach says treatment of Burton at Jobstown protest not
acceptable

trials under strain
of witnesses
Fri, Jun 30, 2017

system
great disservice.
great disservice.
https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/editorial/jobstown-acquittals-jury-
trials-under-strain-1.3138118?mode=amp
The final closing speech has been heard in the Jobstown trial.
Solidarity TD Paul Murphy, two Dublin councillors, and three other men all deny
falsely imprisoning the former Tanaiste Joan Burton during a water charge
demonstration in November 2014.
The judge will begin her charge to the jurors on Monday and they will then begin
their deliberations.
The final closing speech delivered to the jurors this morning was on behalf of 46-
year-old Michael Banks of Brookview Green in Tallaght in Dublin.
His barrister, Ciaran OLoughlain, admitted there is footage of his client engaging
in a rude gesture at the back of a car at one stage during the anti-water charge
demonstration in Jobstown.
But he said although it was vulgar and might not make Michael Banks the jurys
favourite man it is not a crime.
There was also an allegation that Mr Banks had called a Garda a wife beater
during the protest.
The barrister said the ins and outs of this arent clear, but even if he did giving lip
to a guard is not an offence either.
Mr OLoughlin said Michael Banks was peaceful protesting that day and perhaps
the reason it was hard to move was because of the sheer volume of people
present.
Nobody is to blame unless everybody is to blame, he said.
Now that all the closing speeches in the two month trial have been heard, Judge
Melanie Greally told the jurors she will give them directions in relation to the law
on Monday.
They will then be in a position to begin their deliberations.
ustice Minister Charlie Flanagan is rejecting calls from

both Solidarity and Sinn Fein for a public inquiry into the
handling of the Jobstown trial.
Six men, including Solidarity TD Paul Murphy, were acquitted
yesterday of falsely imprisoning the former Tnaiste Joan
Burton and her adviser Karen OConnell at a water charge
protest in 2014.
He later called for an 'independent and public' inquiry into the
way the investigation was handled, alleging there was a
conspiracy to 'stitch people up' for participating in protests.
This evening, the Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan rejected
calls for an inquiry, stating: "This case has now concluded and
a verdict reached by the court. Both the Courts and the DPP
are independent in the exercise of their functions.
"I do not see any grounds for a public inquiry."
Deputy Murphy's party today held a press conference
demanding an independent investigation into Garda handling
of the case.
Follow
Gavan Reilly
@gavreilly
Solidarity TDs and Cllrs alleging a Garda conspiracy in
prosecution of #Jobstown case, and calling for
investigation
2:12 PM - 30 Jun 2017
Solidarity claims there are a series of irregularities in how the
case was taken and evidence brought.
In a statement, the party said: "The Jobstown trial was an
attempt by the establishment to instil fear into the minds of
working class people. It was a warning that if you protest and
oppose their anti-working class policies you could end up in
jail.
"The jury's decision to reject a case built on Garda evidence is
a major new addition to the mounting litany of Garda
scandals," it added.
Solidarity denies that yesterday's acquittal was "a watershed
moment" - it says that would only have been true if the
'Jobstown Six' were convicted for their part in a protest.
Deputy Murphy, however, added: "I think there isn't much
question that there was an attempt to stitch us up for false
imprisonment. The question I'd like to know is at what level
was that decided on."
Sinn Fin's justice spokesperson Jonathan O'Brien,
meanwhile, also called for an inquiry, claiming the charges
should never have been brought forward in the first place.
He argued: While we obviously recognise the independence
of the courts, the DPP, and the policing structures of the state,
we also recognise that there is now huge public outrage
following the vindication of the Jobstown protest.
Additional reporting by Gavan Reilly
First there was Jobstown, A New Hope, with the complete and unambiguous acquittals of all
after two and a half years of negative and downright slanderous narratives from the
establishment.
Now The Establishment Strikes Back, with their bitter invective to try and delegitimise the
outcome of the trial.
What started on RTE and TV3 yesterday has now moved to the printed media.
The game has been stepped up. They will not accept your right to protest nor will they accept the
outcome of the trial and it is clear as day that the lines have been drawn...
Solidarity TD Paul Murphy is calling for independent and public inquiry into
the way the 'Jobstown Six' investigation was carried out.
He was among six men acquitted today of falsely imprisoning the former Tnaiste
Joan Burton and her adviser Karen OConnell at a water charge protest in 2014.
Deputy Murphy was the first of the six accused to learn he had been found not
guilty on both counts.
The unanimous verdict was met with loud cheers and applause.
The huge crowd descended into silence as his five co-accused were also cleared
of the charges - but the room erupted again when the foreperson was finished
delivering the verdicts.
Outside court, Deputy Murphy accused Garda of lying to try to secure criminal
convictions against him and other protesters.
Speaking on Newstalk Drive this evening, Deputy Murphy argued: "I don't think
it's really in question that there was a conspiracy. Exactly how high up it goes we
don't know - but a conspiracy to fit people up and to stitch them up for false
imprisonment because of participating in sit-down protests and slow marches."
He said that the jury was "able to see through that" and find himself and his fellow
defendants not guilty.
A demonstration is set to be held in Dublin on Saturday calling for an
independent investigation into the handling of the case.
On the subject of an inquiry, Deputy Murphy observed: "I wouldn't trust the
guards to investigate it. Perhaps GSOC are the people to do it, although
obviously they're badly under-resourced and they get no cooperation from the
Garda.
"I think the point is it needs to be independent and it needs to be public, so I
would say someone from outside An Garda Sochana should be appointed to do
it."
Additional reporting by Frank Greaney
Jobstown jury ask to re-watch protest
footage
Jurors resumed their deliberations this morning
29 Jun 2017
The jury in the trial of six men accused of falsely imprisoning Joan Burton
and her adviser have asked the court to replay some video footage.
Solidarity TD Paul Murphy and five others are alleged to have committed the
offences during a water charge protest in Jobstown in Dublin in 2014.
It is the prosecution's case that the women were trapped inside two garda
vehicles when protesters surrounded them as they tried to leave.
Before the jurors resumed their deliberations this morning, they asked for footage
taken above the protest by a garda helicopter to be replayed.
The jury foreperson said they wanted to see if one of the vehicles they were in
could have reversed away from the area.
The newspaper article is just the opinion of an individual/entity that ultimately does not have the power to change
anything on its own. The mainstream often fear change or challenge because ultimately, they know their kingdoms are
built on sand and depend on the apathy and lazy ignorance of large parts of the public. If everybody voted in elections or
at least took the time to go to a poll booth to spoil their vote, society would be very different.
After the Maurice Mc Cabe saga and now the jobstown trial,how can anybody respect or trust the Garda force
.There seems to be an element of criminality and corruption deeply rooted in the organisation flagged by the
Department of justice and Minister
newstalk just now did similar piece, all i can say as an auld luddite,TG for social media and phones that can
be used to film & record what actually happened,I'm sure Maurice McCabe recording his meeting feels the
same,btw the most damming article I read was the judges 1st direction to the jury and I read that in an Irish
Times article
Paul is still being grilled even on Vincent's show. Particularly by the ex-copper..
i respect Vincent in the majority of what he does...even though i don't always agree, however the dog in the
street knows that we are living in a seriously corrupt state....why cant anyone say it outright in the media?
whats all the pussyfooting and "allegedly" crap?
John O' Brien posed the question to Paul on Vincent Browne live. 'Why did you have a loud speaker at the protest?' What
a stupid question for him to ask. Has he ever been at a GAA match? A loud speaker is a means to rally support for
whatever cause people are involved in. Even the Garda use loud speakers. John we know what side you are on. And
Vincent let himself down tonight in trying to stop Paul from mentioning names. Paul did not mention any Garda names,
only their titles. The video proved Garda conflicted evidence, and also Joan did not appear to be a lady in terror insid eher
car. Not one of the panellists congratulated Paul on the show. He has been through hell as have the others accused and
their families by Joan Burton. Well done Paul. March on for the rights of all citizens to protest without the hand of the
political establishment attempting to criminalise their rights to peaceful protest.
Yep watching it ,unbelievable , the media (vinnie is an exception to the rule along with Gene Kerrigan ) are
now taking the piss with people whom have been found innocent ! If i was one of the accused (i was brought
up and i hate the "claim culture") i'd be gearing up to sue the Ass off the Gards and the DPP
Every time John O Brien spoke last night you could feel the culture of the force in the form denial,lies and corruption
embedded in his thinking.Garda force needs to be disbanded and cleaned out for once and for all.A total disgrace to the
Country
The arrogant bastard ! Paul didn't speak up enough ! Between the copper barrister and the smirker they are
three of a click all in it together! I would throw vinnie in there as well !
RTE never ever let up do they?
The trial has ended. The man has been acquitted of any and all charges yet this robot who
sucks the lifeblood out of your tv licence tax is regurgitating spurious claims of violence and
trying to get Paul to confess.
What the fuck is this? Confession in a Church with Sharon neeeeeee Bheolain as the feckin
priest?
It is obscene how the so called main stream establishment

media can willfully ignore this...
Just goes to show the lengths they will go to keep a lid on

this.
Wrongful Arrest of falsely accused protesters. Guards who
lied under Oath, Perjury. Labour Party member involved,
Abuse of her position. Bar from standing in all future
Elections. Still her of state income. Remove her from state
pension Entitlement.
Should be automatically Deported as an Enemy of the Irish
People. Will any of what I said, No. She has immunity from
any counter Case against her.
Can someone clarify this for me, as I had a debate about
this at home last night. What were the EXACT words of the
judge on the issue of the garda perjury?
Everyone seems to have forgotten that Joan Burtons
special advisor Karen OConnell called the water protesters
f*****g dregs,
Usually the guards lies are swallowed hook line and sinker
by the judge, the lads were very lucky. Well done to the jury.
If a Witness lied under oath, and if found out what would be
the penalty?
What we saw in there was Guard after Guard taking the stand to lie. To tell lies that they
knew were lies in order to try and criminalise protest"
That about sums it up...
2/19587108_1535394109853031_840674422955180032_n.mp4?efg=eyJybHIiOjY4Nywicm
xhIjoxMzY4LCJ2ZW5jb2RlX3RhZyI6InN2ZV9zZCJ9&rl=687&vabr=382&oh=9fff115f48fedf
8d8c45f8bc84a61ac0&oe=59599898
The campaign stills goes on for the second jobstown trial with a visit by paddy hill one of the
Birmingham six who served sixteen years in prison on a trumped up charge paid a visit to
jobstown today to show his his support . #jobstownnotguilty
Paddy Hill always standing with the oppressed, a true gentleman.
The Irish Times HATES water protesters.
So much so that when the #JobstownNotGuilty verdict was
arrived at by a jury of their peers, the Irish Times couldn't handle it
and scrambled to find a reason they were acquitted...because
they simply couldn't be innocent! So it's the fault of social media,
apparently.
It's not like the mainstream media (including the Irish Times) or
establishment politicians had tarnished water protesters in the run
up to the trial by referring to them as 'dissidents', 'a sinister
fringe', 'thugs', 'the equivalent of ISIS' or anything. How dare
ordinary people express the opposite opinion to their elitist
nonsense.
We can thank our lucky stars that juries are selected from our
peers, and not from well-to-do politicians, journalists, editors,
judges or former journalists, judging by the reaction on Twitter
and in the Irish Times today.
Congratulations to all of the defendants for the courage, patience
and dignity shown over the last two and a half years when the full
force of the state was thrown at them. Dawn raids, constant trial
delays, attacks by the media and politicians, millions spent on a
ridiculous prosecution claim...the effect on their mental and
physical health must've been enormous.
While the #JobstownInnocent verdict does give some level of
satisfaction, justice has not been done. This trial and the
intimidation that went with it should never have taken place. We
need all other charges dropped immediately and stop wasting
vital taxpayers' money on this show trial and we need an
investigation into the biased and deeply worrying synchronised
claims made by Gardai against the accused which were
contradicted by actual evidence.
Lesson of the day: when in a difficult situation or at a peaceful
protest, keep your phone and video camera handy. It just might
protect you from facing a life sentence in prison.
Labours Statement
We note the verdict of the jury announced earlier today. The
from the political system, a party statement said.
As we have been all along, the Labour Party remains resolutely
focussed on our central tasks of holding the Government to
account, and campaigning for decency, justice and equality in
society.
"DECENCY,JUSTICE & EQUALITY""?

protect juries from outside influences."
How sad that they just can't accept the not guilty verdict!
Excellent piece from Paul Murphy nailing today's media bullshit
about the Jobstown verdict, and particularly the disgraceful half-
made suggestion in the Irish Times editorial that campaigners
broke court rules about reporting legal arguments made when the
jury was absent.
Jobstown Not Guilty: The Irish Establishment in the dock |
Shortly after midday on 29th June, an eleven person jury delivered
6 unanimous verdicts of not guilty to spontaneous cheers in the
courtroom at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The verdict brings to
its conclusion a trial by means of which the Irish ruling class
sought to bring an end to the fundamental democratic right to
peaceful protest.
https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=jobstown%20not%20guilty
I was on Claire Byrne's radio programme this afternoon about
Jobstown. The media are still baying for blood after the verdict.
Some clips here, shortened in many instances cos we get enough
Jobstown-bashing. Interesting to hear how far the self-described
'left of centre' Finian McGrath has come. Earning your stripes as a
right-winger now Finian! Jobstown Not Guilty
"I'm choking back tears to be honest... This verdict is great for the six men, but it's also great
for the working class."
"This was a politically driven investigation vindictively designed to punish those who fought
against water charges."
JUDGES AND THE LEGAL ELITE a topic of discussion on Vincent Browne the other
evening. In light of the JOBSTOWN TRIAL in particular, the issue has real relevance. Thank
God for juries!
https://www.facebook.com/
search/top/?q=jobstown%2
0not%20guilty
warriors
Fri, Jun 30, 2017, 05:00
Colm Keena

Mr Murphy was one of a number of accused before the
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court charged with the false
imprisonment of Joan Burton and Karen OConnell at
Jobstown, Dublin, in November 2014, and the video he
shared was a report on the first day of evidence to the
trial.
The video was introduced by Solidarity reporter Dave
Murphy, who is press officer for Solidarity, working out
of the Dil, and on the public payroll.
Ms Burton had showed all the class prejudice of the
political establishment during her first day in the
witness box, Dave Murphy said. The former Labour
Party leader went over the top as she described how
terrified she had been during the events at Jobstown.
He introduced Solidarity activist Diana ODwyer and
asked her for her view of Ms Burtons evidence.
It just seemed very unreal to me, to be honest, Ms
ODwyer said on the video. It completely didnt coincide
with anything I have seen of the protest or heard about
the protest in all of the videos and everything that Ive
seen of it.
She completely refused to recognise that this was a
political protest, she said, referring to Ms Burton. She
was trying to portray people there as having been a type
of rabble.
The video ended with Dave Murphy saying it wasnt the
Jobstown not guilty defendants who had been on trial,
but rather the Labour Partys betrayal of the working
class people was put in the dock.
He signed off by asking people to keep on tweeting to
maintain the #JobstownNotGuilty social media
presence.
Over the following weeks of the trial, the Solidarity press
officer produced a succession of videos which were
posted on the JobstownNotGuilty Facebook page and
promoted on Twitter.
No one in authority contacted him to object to his
activities, he told The Irish Times.
Jury influence
In the run-up to criminal trials, and even more especially
when they are actually under way, journalists are careful
not to publish material that might influence a jury, lest it
interfere with its assessment of the evidence.
Publishing material that might influence a jury can be an
offence. An obvious reason for the offence, which is the
offence of contempt, is to protect an accused person.
Material urging a conviction, or depicting the accused in
ways that might make a juror more likely to convict,
creates obvious dangers.
trial'
Confessions, defiance and Labour-bashing as the left
comes together
not acceptable
However, material urging an acquittal is also a problem,
as society generally has an interest in the fairness of the
criminal justice system. Biased coverage one way or
another is bad for society and it is for this reason that the
offence of contempt exists.
Dave Murphy said he was aware of the law governing
comment about jury trials when they were in progress.
Obviously, its against the law, but we felt there is a
political nature to this trial so that wed do it anyway.
There was an appetite to find out what was going on
during the trial among people who already supported the
#JobstownNotGuilty campaign, he said. Also the judge
regularly warned the jury not to be reading about the
case in newspapers or online.
A notable aspect of the Jobstown trial was not just the
extent of the social media commentary while it was still
under way, but also that this material included social
media commentary by Paul Murphy, who was not just a
parliamentarian but one of the defendants.
Planned rally
In the run-up to the trial, the judge Melanie Greally was
told the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) was
concerned that the constitutional process of trial by jury
might be interfered with by a planned rally scheduled to
take place that month (March). As a result, Mr Murphy
and the other defendants gave an undertaking not to
speak about the trial at the rally.
All through the trial Mr Murphy had a pinned tweet on
his Twitter account referring to an attempt by the DPP to
gag the defendants and there being a threat to the
right to protest.
Mr Murphys tweets on the matter were associated with
the #JobstownNotGuilty hashtag, which could in itself
be viewed as prejudicial commentary. The deputy, who
has 14,300 followers, was tweeting from the courtroom
during the trial, including during the judges charge to
the jury on Monday, June 26th.
#JobstownNotGuilty now trending at number 6 in
Ireland. Thanks everybody, keep it up, he tweeted just
after 2pm while the judge was addressing the jury and he
was sitting in the area reserved for the accused.
He retweeted a succession of tweets by others about the
case. At 2.45pm, he retweeted a tweet that referred to
the judge telling the jury that some of the Garda
evidence was directly contradicted by the video evidence,
and questioned some of the evidence given by garda.
The judge, meanwhile, was continuing to address the
jury.
The Irish Times does not want to suggest, and is not
suggesting that any witness to the trial gave false
evidence.
Trial evidence
On Wednesday, June 28th, while the jury was out of the
courtroom, Sen Gillane SC, for the prosecution, told
Judge Greally it had been brought to their attention that
Mr Murphy had been tweeting and publishing retweets
that included pointed references to evidence heard in
the trial.
He said steps were being taken to delete relevant
material and that he just wanted to bring the matter to
the judges attention. The judge said that if Mr Murphy
had been advised of the potential consequences of
engaging in these sort of tweets at this point in the trial,
she would say no more.
By that Wednesday, tweets that Mr Murphy had
published relevant to the trial were already being deleted
from his account. The deletions included the pinned
tweet referred to above.
Mr Murphys Dil colleagues, Mick Barry and Ruth
Coppinger, also tweeted about the trial while it was in
progress, using the same not guilty hashtag.
On May 19th, Mr Barry apparently tweeted from the Dil
about a vote being taken but the seat beside me is
empty because my colleague Paul Murphy has to be in
court to defend the right to protest. Mr Murphy
retweeted the tweet.
The same day, Ms Coppinger tweeted about RT giving
another very one-sided unrepresentative account of
evidence at #JobstownNotGuilty trial today.
The social media commentary on the trial included
numerous accusations that the coverage in the media
was biased. Paul Murphy issued tweets accusing the
media, including The Irish Times, of bias in its coverage.
Former Socialist Party TD Joe Higgins, who was at the
trial most days, also repeatedly complained of the media
coverage, saying it was biased.
Early in the trial, Michael OHiggins SC, for defendant
Ken Purcell, complained about a tweet put up by Peter
Murtagh, a journalist with The Irish Times, in which Mr
Murtagh, referring to the cross-examination of Joan
Burton, asked who was on trial. The tweet was removed.
(The charges against Mr Purcell were later struck out for
unrelated reasons.)
Running commentary
The #JobstownNotGuilty account on Twitter kept up a
running commentary on the trial, regularly including
abuse at not just Joan Burton, who gave sworn evidence
of having been terrified by her experience at Jobstown,
but also against the Garda witnesses. There were
references to a show trail and a sham trial.
An account of the same name operated on Facebook.
While some of the material was straight reporting of the
evidence, other material was clearly prejudicial.
Videos that included commentary about the trial were
posted in the run-up to and during the trial, with some
of the videos receiving tens of thousands of viewers. A
video on one aspect of the evidence was viewed 297,000
times while another about the coverage of the trial in the
mainstream media received 44,000 views. A video that
included Garda helicopter footage had 732,000 views.
(Many of these views probably occurred before the trial
began.)
One video, which had 1,200 viewers, explained that the
purpose of the campaign was so everyone can see for
themselves the stitch-up the establishment is engaged
in.
The unidentified woman who spoke on the video
appealed for funds from the public to continue the
campaign.
We are under no illusion that to win justice and the
freedom of the accused in this case, we have to continue
our campaign on the streets and in the courtroom, she
said.
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/circuit-court/the-
jobstown-trial-and-the-social-media-justice-warriors-1.3138089
McGrath says false
imprisonment charges went
too far
Minister of State is concerned cost of case and early
morning raids by arms of the State
Jack Power
Minister of State for Disabilities Finian McGrath: I didnt buy the original
debate around the false imprisonment argument. Photograph: Gareth Chaney
Collins
A Minister has expressed concern at the bringing of false
imprisonment charges against the so-called Jobstown six
and said these charges went too far
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/mcgrath-says-false-
imprisonment-charges-went-too-far-1.3140672?mode=sample&auth-
failed=1&pw-
origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.irishtimes.com%2Fnews%2Fireland%2Firish-
news%2Fmcgrath-says-false-imprisonment-charges-went-too-far-1.3140672

#JobstownNotGuilty
"The right to protest is a democratic and hard-won right. It cannot be brushed aside or diluted
to suit a political agenda."

Main stream media screaming about Jobstown Not Guilty but
have virtually ignored this.
'How Do You Solve A Problem Like Regina?' by

Catherine Kelly - Jude Collins
Fine Gael TD Regina Dohertys recent call for prayer in the Dail reminded me
of a pet peeve I have:
JUDECOLLINS.COM
How Do You Solve A Problem Like Regina? by Catherine Kelly

April 14, 2017
Fine Gael TD Regina Dohertys recent call for prayer in the Dail reminded me of a pet peeve I have:
kissing the altar rails on a Sunday while misbehaving for the remainder of the week.
Another pet peeve I want to confess to is political corruption. More specifically, I get truly rattled by the
deliberate and ill intentioned skirting of the rules that we see politicians indulge in so often. The acts
that I speak of are usually highly immoral in even the most neutral observers book but are defended
and excused away by the I did nothing illegal announcement. Legality and morality become skewed
and conflated in an effort to obfuscate from the carry on that politicians indulge in.
According to a report in the Irish Independent, it is alleged Ms. Doherty finally liquidated a poorly run
company in 2013: Enhanced Solutions folded with losses of 280,000, including almost 60,000 owed
to the Revenue Commissioners, 50,000 owed to state owned bank AIB and various debts owed to
suppliers. The same story claims the company was not run properly, with serious accounting failures
reported in violation of Section 202 of the Companies Act. It was also reported that a loan taken from
the company by Ms. Doherty violated the same act. (Fine Gael TD's firm folds with debts of).
Ms. Doherty was elected to the Dail as a Fine Gael TD in 2011 in the backlash against Fianna Fail. In
her election disclosure of 2011, the Meath TD would appear to have broken the law by failing to reveal
the Enhanced Solutions bankruptcy. Records seem to show she did not disclose her bankruptcy in 2011,
she disclosed the bankruptcy in 2012, 2013 but it then seems to have disappeared off her disclosures
again in the run up to the election of 2016. Is it too cynical to suggest that Ms. Doherty might have
been picking and choosing when to disclose her bankruptcy according to the election cycles?


January 23 2013
firm was run.





10,000 in fines.

company went under.
Even if that draconian action is not taken, the Dohertys could be restricted
from being directors of any other companies.
Under the Act, the main defence against prosecution is if no harm was caused
by the directors' failures, and if the breaches of the Act were not wilful.
That will all be considered in a report that liquidator Edward Walsh must
send to the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement, the watchdog for
company law offences.
First-time TD Ms Doherty has previously admitted taking loans totalling

37,360 from Enhanced Solutions Ltd when the size of the loans relative to
the business was also in contravention of the company law, but the debt has
been paid back and Ms Doherty has said she had informed the Director of
Corporate Enforcement of the breach herself.
Ms Doherty has said previously that Enhanced Solutions Ltd had ceased
trading in 2009. She didn't declare her directorship of the company in the
annual declaration of TDs' interests after becoming a TD in the 2011 General
Election.
She later admitted her error and asked that her records be corrected.
Enhanced Solutions Ltd was struck off by the Companies Office in 2011 for not
filing its accounts, but was later reinstated on the register.
Ms Doherty did not return calls last night.
http://www.independent.ie/business/small-business/fine-gael-tds-firm-folds-
with-debts-of-280000-29021682.html

A woman in transit through Dublin this week was
cautioned by Garda in relation to tweeting/blogging about
Her name is Catherine Kelly. She has dual citizenship of
Ireland & the USA.
She is a Professor of Political Science at a U.S.
university...
On 27 June she was in transit through Dublin Airport &

was approached by two men. One showed Garda ID.
She was instructed to make no further mention online of

Regina Doherty, Minister for Social Protection.
She was told the Minister "did not like it" & that she
should not post anything relating to the Minister again.
In order to continue on her way, she had to sign a
document. She was not given a copy & does not know
what it said.
She was required to sign "a page of notes" including her
Twitter handle @sanepolitico. She could not go to her
flight until she did so.
She has taken legal advice & is exploring various possible

courses of action here & in the U.S.
She has written a full account of the incident, which I will
post a link to as soon as she makes it public.
Apparently she was not told she had broken any law, just
that the Minister "didn't like it."
Catherine has tweeted on many occasions about Minister

Doherty, mainly public record information about her
finances taken from newspapers
She has also questioned whether there is evidence for the
Minister's frequent claims of "online death threats."
(Minister Doherty is one of a number of politicians who
make such claims when discussing "online abuse" aka
criticism.)

Shame Of Ireland @ShameOfIreland
Follow
Shame Of Ireland Retweeted Social Media Dreg
#Ireland and the #Garda #PoliceState

Shame Of Ireland added,
Social Media Dreg @IzzyKamikaze
Replying to @IzzyKamikaze @sanepolitico
Tweeting about a government minister is not a crime & should not result in a caution or
a detention.
3:56 AM - 2 Jul 2017

https://www.facebook.com/ClaireNiFhearghail/posts/1021209285
7951022



festival in Galway.

3:26 PM - 1 Jul 2017
Follow


community.
5:20 PM - 1 Jul 2017

http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/taoiseach-just-because-
somebody-wasnt-convicted-doesnt-mean-their-behaviour-was-
acceptable-795943.html

The Real Ireland @Real__Ireland 15h
15 hours ago
More
'Just because somebody wasn't convicted doesn't mean their
behaviour was acceptable'
http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/taoiseach-just-because-somebody-
wasnt-convicted-doesnt-mean-their-behaviour-was-acceptable-
795943.html
Indeed @campaignforleo!
Catherine Vallely, David Scott, Jonathan Sugarman and 2 others

TD all based on lies, no
evidence of this story
Fabricated Story, Media false news

Niall O'Connor
February 23 2016
Gardai are investigating a death threat made against Fine Gael TD Regina
Doherty which was issued after she became embroiled in a heated radio row
with Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams.

personal safety.
touch with gardai.

economic policies."
http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/election-
2016/news/gardai-investigate-slit-your-throat-death-
threat-made-against-fine-gael-td-34477972.html
Fine Gael TD Regina Doherty

Regina Doherty insults Paul Murphy
Dec 11, 2014
Fine Gael TD Regina Doherty suggests that Paul Murphy "Thinks
he was elected to break the law" on Primetime
Doherty made up stories about non-existent threats after
she lost a debate with Adams.
finances.
Her name is Catherine Kelly. She has dual citizenship of Ireland &
the USA.
On 27 June she was in transit through Dublin Airport & was
approached by two men. One showed Garda ID.
She was instructed to make no further mention online of Regina
Doherty, Minister for Social Protection.
In order to continue on her way, she had to sign a document. She
was not given a copy & does not know what it said.
She was required to sign "a page of notes" including her Twitter
handle @sanepolitico. She could not go to her flight until she did so.
She has taken legal advice & is exploring various possible courses of
action here & in the U.S.
She has written a full account of the incident, which I will post a link
to as soon as she makes it public.
Apparently she was not told she had broken any law, just that the
Minister "didn't like it."
Catherine has tweeted on many occasions about Minister Doherty,
mainly public record information about her finances taken from
newspapers
She has also questioned whether there is evidence for the Minister's
frequent claims of "online death threats."
(Minister Doherty is one of a number of politicians who make such
claims when discussing "online abuse" aka criticism.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjhPl6ai1yM

Paul Murphy TD speaking on the jailing of water meter
protesters
Mar 8, 2015
What a horrible interview! Its like two lads fighting over a carton of
milk in the school yard. Instead of getting into a heated tit-for-tat
conversation. Why didn't they use all that empty space behind
there heads, to display the facts. Like, the financial pro's and con's
of this water arrangement. Are there examples of other
governments around Europe imposing the same amount of
financial levies? Have they been successful? Are there other more
successful government structures in Europe? We can't be the only
country with, Water, infrastructure, Health and education to juggle,
can we? Why don't we use those pre-existing models that work. Or
just take some advice from the more established systems. Oh, we
still have a massive amount of debt? And by asking these simple
questions, we have highlighted something more sinister. Lets
spend a little bit of time, investigating that further maybe. And stop
back-tracking. We can't stop talking ourselves in circles? Ah, yes,
Irish. Lets get a mediator. Obama maybe? haha. Maybe. Who's
opinion do we all respect. Thats the question. Or a group of
people. To give an unbiased opinion on the matter. If it exists.
Clearly not that many close to home, they are being bullied too
easily. As this interview shows, its part of the culture to stubbornly
argue your point. Also, I'm sure it would have looked and sounded
less messy in text. And be blatantly obvious whats right and
wrong, without needing to have a heated debate on national
television. Thats the issue with the news I believe, it just looks, and
sounds so tense. Nobody wants to see a nice man like this get
bullied. There must be a graphic designer out there that doesn't
agree with water tax. Make us a big colourful picture of these
events please! So it can be put on t-shirts! +Russell Brand
Shut your trap Dobo Stopo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSg7-aOp3rI

Ms Doherty is a Meath East TD and a Minister of State in her Chief Whip role.
Doherty said she will support farmers and landowners if they engage in "civil disobedience" to hamper
the decision by An Bord Pleanla to give the green light to EirGrid's plans to build a new North-South
electricity interconnector.
I'm surprised she's so anxious to support her constituents in this civil disobedience, after her remarks
about Paul Murphy during the water charges debate. And her insistence that water charges should be
paid.
Both our energy and water infrastructure are in need of great investment and action, why has she
chosen to support this civil disobedience for energy and not for water?

Gardai arrest four people as 'Operation

Retail' continues in Tallaght
Latest
July 01, 2017
As part of Operation Thor, a large number of Gardai are

assisting in what is being called Retail Operation in
Tallaght today.
The focus of the operation is to target retail theft, engage
positively with members of the public, execute warrants
and carry out checkpoints in and around the Square
shopping centre in Tallaght.
An Garda Siochana
Garda members assisting in the Retail Day of Action are
uniform officers, DDU and traffic officers from units across
the DMR South, supplemented by Community Units.
In a statement released this afternoon, a Garda
spokesperson said: Up to 12pm today, the following
incidents had been detected: 4 Arrested on Warrant. 2
cars seized. Checkpoints carried out.
The people arrested are due before the courts.
Members have also been engaging positively with
members of the public and retail staff providing crime
prevention advice in support of Operation Thor.
John Hearne was a barrister that we do know. And we also know that he was very involved in the drafting of
the constitution. It just shows that civil servants do run this country not politicians. The civil service got the
constitution written just the way they wanted it.
Reid More widely known as the biggest scam that was pulled on the Irish people
Retweeted Social Media Dreg (@IzzyKamikaze):
8. Sane Politico was illegally stopped & "cautioned" at Dublin Airport for tweeting about a govt Minister.
THAT'S the story. Focus on that.
RTE won't show you this footage of the Jobstown protest, taken from a Garda helicopter on the day,. In it a
Garda can clearly be heard reporting there is 'no hassle really'.
Watch it and make up your own mind about what really happened that day, and what this trial is all about.
https://www.facebook.com/JobstownNotGuilty/

Garda monitoring a number of people using Facebook who are attempting to radicalise people
A number of pages have been removed in the last two weeks.
July 1, 17
Image: Shutterstock/Alexey Boldin

GARDAI ARE INVESTIGATING a number of people who are using social media platforms in a bid to radicalise
vulnerable people here, TheJournal.ie has learned.
A number of profiles, many of which are now under garda investigation, have targeted young people in areas where there
are large Muslim populations, including Limerick, Galway and certain parts of west and south inner city Dublin.
The Facebook profiles are attempting to argue that the concept of democracy is flawed and should be shunned by the
Muslim community here.
They are also trying to promote the idea that non-Muslims and Muslims should not associate with each other something
which the pages call to be banned.
This small number of individuals have come to the attention of a number of mosques in Ireland leading to at least one
Imam to publicly state their revulsion at the ideas.
A handful of the pages have since been shut down and TheJournal.ie understands that garda are being briefed by the
social media platform when complaints regarding these pages are made.
One of the pages which has been shut down.

Source: Facebook
Outcry
One particular page, which had amassed over 1,000 likes, was shut down two weeks ago. While Facebook could not
confirm the exact reason it was closed, it is believed it is because the page was attempting to radicalise people.
A number of Facebook pages have been closed in recent weeks which had been glorifying jihad and were in violation of
the networks terms and conditions.
The Imam of Blanchardstown Islamic Centre Shaykh Dr Umar Al-Qadri has said that the internet is just one of a number
of ways that young people are being turned towards a life of violence.
Shaykh Muhammad Umar Al-Qadri

Source: Mark Stedman/RollingNews.ie
Speaking about the threat of radicalisation, Al-Qadri said: We have a big problem in this country dealing with
radicalisation in the name of Islam.
There are many people in Ireland who hold these beliefs. They are spreading their lies on social media, on Facebook
especially. Of course, its a very large problem here. There needs to be ways to persuade people not to go down this
route.
Their age is a big factor. They are very young and they are being brought down the wrong path. Many of them have
never spoken with someone who know what our religion is about.
Violence
The extremists are here. There is no question about that. It is what we do to react that is the most important.
Dr Al-Qadri said more resources are needed to tackle potential radicalisation at its roots. He believes there needs to be
more education about what his faith entails and described the wave of extremism as a cancer.
He also spoke about a number of specific social media profiles which he says were reported to Facebook and garda.
In response to a number of questions, Facebook confirmed that it does work extensively with An Garda Sochna and has
urged anyone who has concerns about the behaviour of people on its site to use its reporting tools.
A spokeswoman for Facebook said: We work with the authorities around the world, including An Garda Sochna, on a
variety of criminal activity (per our Government Request Report) of which terrorism could be included. We have
standard practices for disclosing data as highlighted in our Law Enforcement guidelines. If we see evidence of a threat of
imminent harm or a terror attack, we reach out to law enforcement.
An Garda Sochna declined to comment on the matter.
http://www.thejournal.ie/terrorism-facebook-gardai-islam.../
Government Requests Report
https://govtrequests.facebook.com/country/Ireland/2016-H2/
Verdict in: NOT GUILTY.

Now we must demand they drop the charge againt the remaining 11 defendent, and overturn
the sentance againt the 17 year old.
Take the government, burton, the garda, to courts, fir what they caused u guys, and SERIOUSLY labour and
that zappone to quit as from.now
Who's blocking the doors of the Toyota Avensis ? Definitely not
the people who are in the dock tomorrow waiting for the verdict
on trumped up charges of false imprisonment. crime with a
possible sentence of life imprisonment.
#jobstownnotguilty

This is the sort of stuff we have to deal with on a daily basis in this
trial. Thankfully we are starting to see a light at the end and this
should all be wrapped up regardless of outcome within the next
two weeks.
Please try to get in to lend your support if you can. 10.30am each
day in CCJ. Court 13.
Remember, the outcome of this trial doesn't just affect us six or
this generation but it will have future implications on your children
and grandchildren.
#jobstownnotguilty
Garda denies conspiracy to pervert course of

Jobstown trial
Defence claims superintendent provided false statement and gave
misleading evidence

20 June 2017
on issues.
More to come.
imprisonment.
Update on the Prosecution's closing arguments!
This was the worst possible result for this poor man. He was called a dreg and other nasty names which will stick to him
for the rest of his life in open court and the position now is that he is the same as Sean Fitzpatrick which is as we all know
, . He would have been better off had he been found guilty because then he could appeal the decision and clear his good
name. This poor man should have been given the opportunity to defend his good name on the stand in open court where
he could have explained to the jury why he was protesting, that he was a father, a husband, a respected member of the
community etc etc , instead of been a dreg and a thug.

This is the same corrupt police who have been swearing lies in the
witness box for the past six weeks against the jobstown water
protesters #jobstownnotguilty
Pat Flanagan: 'Ireland is

the most corrupt country
in the Western world'
There are and will always be crooked cops but to have a crooked
police force, thats some thing else
BYPAT FLANAGAN
31 MAR 2017
Former Garda Commisioner Martin Callinan and acting Garda
Garda Commisioner Noirin O' Sullivan
UP to 50 secret bank accounts, money laundering, fraud
on a massive scale... and this is just the police force...
welcome to the most corrupt country in the Western world.
While we might not be able to compete with Nigeria and
Zimbabwe but after the latest Garda revelations we are
getting there.
Name another country anywhere in the world that can
boast a police force that used an actual laundry to launder
money that should have gone to the State.
Garda Commissioner, Noirin O'Sullivan during the launch of
the new 24 hour Phoneline for Victims of Child Sex Abuse
Find me another nation where law officers could falsify up
to one million breath tests and still keep their chief in her
job.
Did I mention the 14,700 wrongful convictions and the
smear campaigns against gardai who tried to highlight
wrongdoing?
Each one of those wrongly convicted can now sue the
State for damaging their good name in combined claims
that could run to tens if not hundreds of millions of euro.
There are and will always be crooked cops but to have a
crooked police force, thats something else
Its not that the public are not concerned about the never-ending Garda
scandals, its just that they are finding it hard to keep up to speed with the new
ones.
Still the disclosure that the laundry at the Garda Training College was being
used to launder money is straight out of the Police Academy movies.
Think about it, the institution charged with training cops to uphold the law
collecting rent of 124,903 for land belonging to the taxpayer and keeping the
cash that should have gone to the State at a time when the country was on its
knees.
And it gets better for there was another account held for laundry and services,
where 37% of the funds were spent on meals, entertainment, contributions to
charity or to parish clergy, and the golf society.
It has now been revealed there was as much as 5million sloshing around in
up to 50 bank accounts.
This week an internal audit into Templemore Garda training college

recommended a host of changes. Why not a host of charges?
Templemore Garda Training College

Sinn Fein TD David Cullinane claimed the college accounts were effectively
used as a slush fund.
Had these goings-on taken place in a private company the Garda would be
investigating and not a team of accountants.
But this is Ireland where corruption is so endemic that it is almost impossible

to find the line between lawmakers and lawbreakers... if indeed there is one.
What is even more worrying is the auditors couldnt give an assurance the
financial controls at the Garda College were compliant with public procedures
or the Garda Financial Code. So we cant even be sure anything has
changed.
The Garda Commissioner yesterday accepted gardai may have acted

dishonestly by inputting false breath test figures into the forces Pulse
computer system.
Noirin OSullivan told the Oireachtas Justice Committee it has not been
established why almost a million false breath tests were recorded.
Could this systemic falsification of figures have anything to do with the fact
that bonuses were paid for increased numbers?
The Commissioner sincerely apologised for the grave mistakes and

wrongdoing.
This being corruption central, no one says words like fraud, crime, or criminal
activity.
Such descriptions are only applied to the guys in tracksuit bottoms who sell
drugs and steal cars.
For years we wondered why there were so few convictions for white-collar
crime; the latest revelations provide all the answers we need.
Is it any wonder the public have lost confidence in gardai when there are 17
separate inquiries, investigations, reviews and reports being carried out into a
police force that is one-third the size of Londons Met.
There are also Garda internal section audit reports and disciplinary reviews, GSOC reports,
Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee and Independent Policing Authority hearings. Ireland
is by the day becoming less a republic than a series of tribunals,
investigations and inquiries.
To think the breath test scandal came about because of an anonymous tip-off
from a reserve who didnt like what was going on when it didnt seem to
bother the regular force.
But if people are expecting change they shouldnt hold their breath. In the
meantime we cant confirm the forces website has been changed to garda.lie.
Solidarity TD Paul Murphy and five other men have been found not guilty of
falsely imprisoning former Tnaiste Joan Burton and her adviser during a
2014 water charges protest.
The jury of seven men and four women returned the unanimous verdicts today
after just over three hours of deliberations.
verdicts were handed down shortly after midday.
There were cheers of no way, we won't pay and several supporters broke
down in tears.
Paul Murphy, South Dublin County Councillors Michael Murphy and Kieran
Mahon, Scott Masterson, Frank Donaghy and Michael Banks were on trial in
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for over two months. They nodded and smiled as
the not guilty verdicts were handed down.
Michael Murphy (53) from Whitechurch Way in Ballyboden,

Kieran Mahon (37) of Bolbrook Grove, Michael Banks (46) of
Brookview Green Tallaght, Frank Donaghy (71) of Alpine Rise,
Scott Masterson (34) of Carrigmore Drive, Paul Murphy (33) of
Kingswood Heights
Road, Jobstown, Tallaght on November 15, 2014. It is a
charge that carries a maximum sentence of life
imprisonment.
The charges against a seventh accused, Mr Purcell (50),
of Kiltalown Green, Tallaght, were dropped towards the
end of the prosecution case after Judge Greally ruled that
the extension of his garda detention in February 2015 was
unlawful.
Judge Greally thanked the jury for their exemplary
service and told them they had shown extreme bravery
and courage in taking on the case. A juror was discharged
halfway through the trial for personal reasons.
further cheers in court as she told the six men they were
free to go.
http://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/pat-flanagan-ireland-most-corrupt-
10132233

Barristers in FitzPatrick case

paid record-breaking rate
Senior counsel paid 3,000 a day during 126-day trial,
and received 40,000 brief fee
Conor Gallagher
July 3, 17
The daily fee paid to barristers in the trial of former Anglo
Irish Bank chairman Sean FitzPatrick were the highest
ever paid to counsel in a criminal case.
Senior counsel for the prosecution and defence were paid
3,000 each a day by the State for the 126-day trial which
was the longest in Irish legal history. This is more than
three times more than the standard rate of 858 a day for
senior counsel in Circuit Court criminal trials.
The senior barristers were also paid a 40,000 initial
brief fee to take the case, vastly more than the normal
brief fee of 1,716. The two senior counsel earned a total of
over 400,000 each including VAT for the trial.
The prosecutions two junior counsel were paid brief fees
of 26,400 and 16,000 respectively.
Correspondence released to the Irish Mail on Sunday
newspaper following a Freedom of Information request
shows the Director of Public Prosecutions office wrote to
the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform
requesting that the barristers on the State side be paid a
higher than normal rate due to the complexity and
importance of the trial.
Related
ODCE investigation into Anglo Irish completely
unacceptable
No order from DPP to resume inquiry into Anglo auditors
Sen FitzPatrick trial: a trail of blunders
Sanctioned the increase
The departments then minister Paschal Donohoe
sanctioned the increased payments on condition they
came from the DPPs existing budget, the newspaper
reported.
Because of parity rules, Mr FitzPatricks barristers were
paid corresponding amounts. Mr FitzPatrick was on legal-
aid for the trial.
The prosecution had alleged that Mr FitzPatrick (68) of
Whitshed Road, Greystones, Co Wicklow, had failed to
disclose to the banks auditor Ernst and Young the details
of directors loans he received from Anglo between
November 2002 and February 2008. He pleaded not
guilty to 27 offences under the 1990 Companies Act.
These include 22 charges of making a misleading, false or
deceptive statement to auditors and five charges of
furnishing false information in the years 2002 to 2007.
Mr FitzPatrick was tried twice. The first trial collapsed

after several weeks in 2015 while the second trial was
stopped earlier this year by Judge John Aylmer before it
could go to the jury. Judge Aylmer ordered that Mr
FitzPatrick be found not guilty due to serious deficiencies
in the investigation by the Office of the Director of
Corporate Enforcement (ODCE).
Lead investigator
It emerged during the trial that the ODCEs lead
investigator had shredded evidence during the first trial. It
also emerged the ODCE had coached witnesses while
taking their statements.
A source in the DPPs office has confirmed the figures paid
to the legal teams and told The Irish Times that they are
unprecedented and record-breaking.
There is provision for barristers to be paid above the
standard rates for complex or lengthy trials but it rarely
happens. For example, barristers in the high-profile trial
of Graham Dwyer for the murder of Elaine OHara were
paid the standard rate.
It can happen in exceptional circumstances but never
before at that level, the source said.
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/barristers-in-fitzpatrick-
case-paid-record-breaking-rate-1.3141237?mode=amp

CONTROL THE MEDIA & YOU CONTROL THE NARRATIVE! THE GOVERNMENT OF
THE DAY "GIFTS" RTE, THE NATIONAL BROADCASTER 35 MILLION PER ANNUM VIA
SOCIAL WELFARE! IS THAT WHY THEY ARE SO HAPPY TO TOW THE GOVERNMENT
LINE?
EVERY TIME THEY DON'T GET THEIR OWN WAY, THEY (THE ESTABLISHMENT
PARTIES) TROT OUT THE USUAL TIRADE OF DEATH THREATS ETC ON SOCIAL
MEDIA.....THINK ALAN KELLY, JOSHEPHA MADIGAN & THE REST! THEY KNOW THEY
CAN'T PEDDLE THEIR
LIES IN THE MAINSTREAM MEDIA AND EXPECT TO GO UNCHALLANGED ANYMORE.
WE WILL HAVE A SUMMER FULL OF ATTACKS ON THE "DREGS" AND "KEYBOARD
WARRIORS" OVER THE SUMMER RECESS WHILE THEY HOBBLE TOGETHER SOME
FLAWED LEGISLATION
FOR THE AUTUMN. ONE THING IS FOR SURE......WE MUST REALLY HAVE THEM
RATTLED!

as regards the state broadcasters...

parapet.
looked on.
catherine-kelly/

catherine-kelly/

Traveller families complain

over invasion of site by
armed garda
Actor John Connors who lives at Dublin halting site says
residents are traumatised
Thu, Jun 29, 2017, 20:30 Updated: Thu, Jun 29, 2017, 20:31
Kitty Holland
Actor and documentary-maker John Connors Traveller site in Coolock was

raided by armed and unarmed Garda. Residents claim that the search
warrant was for a neighbouring site not their one.
A 16-year-old mother has claimed that armed garda
pointed an assault rifle at her and her two-month-old
daughter when they invaded a Traveller site in north
Dublin this week.
Kathleen Joyce says two men wearing balaclavas came
into her mobile home where she was changing her babys
nappy, pointing real guns.
I was screaming, saying, I have my baby. They didnt
believe me because she was on the bed so I had to pick
her up. She was crying and screaming. She was very
scared.
The incident is among several that three extended
families at the Belcamp Lane halting site in Darndale
claim occurred over a two-hour period, that they want
investigated.
They say armed and unarmed garda with dogs arrived at
the site at about noon. They say assault rifles were
pointed at several of them, including a 13-year-old girl,
and others were held face down on the ground, with
rifles directed at them, for up to 15 minutes.
They did not initially know the armed men in balaclavas
were garda. These men were followed, they say, by
uniformed garda, one of whom produced a search
warrant as they left, despite repeated requests as to their
purpose on the site.
The warrant indicated the garda were searching for fire-
arms, but that referred not to their site, but a
neighbouring one.
Among the about 40 people living there are five young
children, and actor and documentary-maker, John
Connors.
Traumatised
Mr Connors, who was filming elsewhere during the
incident, says he found his family traumatised when he
got home.
His mother, Kathleen Connors, tells how she was in her
trailer at about noon when she saw a load of men with
guns and balaclavas coming in over the fence. They were
telling everyone to get down to the ground.
She says she went out and was told: Get down or well
shoot. Ms Connors, her son Joe, her nephew James and
his wife Charlene were held down, lying in puddles with
their feet on our backs, she says. I really was afraid for
our lives.
They had their faces covered and they would not tell us
anything. They just kept telling us not to move.
Joe Connors, who works in construction, said garda at
the adjoining site called the armed officers away before
coming in themselves.
We were told to get up and stand at that end of the site
while they searched the place with dogs. I asked them for
a search warrant and got nothing. I asked their names,
their badge numbers, what they were looking for, they
just ignored me, Joe Connors says.
They saw my tools and asked if they were stolen,
because Im a Traveller I suppose. Theyre my tools. I
bought them. All they took away in the end was a
Playstation, bank cards and four curtain poles.
Among those on-site on Thursday was Sr Lumay Thomas
from the Franciscan Sisters of Mary who had just heard
about the events. Its very bad to treat people like that,
and the way they spoke to the families, with children
here, is really bad.
John Connors said the families would be making a
complaint to the Garda Sochna Ombudsman
Commission. This isnt going to just blow over.
Asked about the claims, a Garda spokesman said:
Garda from Coolock, assisted by the Armed Support
Unit searched the site.
During the course of the search garda seized drug
paraphernalia, mobile phones and offensive weapons.
One man was arrested on foot of a warrant and one was
arrested for possession of a small quantity of suspected
cannabis.
A write up in the Irish times about the invasion in the camp where
my family were terrorised by the ERU and Garda Siochona. The
man who they arrested was not a member of the family or a
Traveller but a friend of a resident. Please share the shit out of
this.
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/social-affairs/traveller-families-complain-
over-invasion-of-site-by-armed-garda%C3%AD-
1.3138235#.WVVgUIUTHy8.facebook
Man can sue State over

alleged malicious
prosecution
Jury acquitted James Walsh on charges he threatened to
kill or harm journalist Paul Williams
Fri, Apr 17, 2015, 19:04
Aodhan O'Faolain
The High Court has cleared the way for a Dublin man to sue the State over
alleged malicious prosecution. James Walsh claims he was the victim of a
malicious prosecution for allegedly threatening to kill and cause serious harm
to journalist Paul Williams. Photograph: Aidan Crawley/The Irish Times.
The High Court has cleared the way for a Dublin man to
James Walsh claims he was the victim of a malicious
prosecution for allegedly threatening to kill and cause
serious harm to journalist Paul Williams. Mr Walsh was
acquitted, following two trials, of the charges by a jury in
2007.
Mr Justice Paul Gilligan on Friday (yesterday) refused
an application by the State and Garda Commissioner
have Mr walshs proceedings struck out over want of
prosecution and inordinate delay.
While there was delay in advancing the case, no
prejudice to the defendants had been demonstrated and
the action should be allowed to proceed to hearing
before a judge and jury, Mr Justice Gilligan ruled.
In his action, Mr Walsh, Dunmore Park, Kingswood
Heights, Dublin 24, claims he was prosecuted for
offences that never occurred, which the State authorities
knew from the beginning had not occurred and which
were impossible for him to commit.
In proceedings against the Garda Commissioner, Ireland
and Attorney General, he is seeking punitive and
exemplary damages over the alleged malicious and
wholly corrupt actions of the defendants. The claims are
denied.
The defendants also argued the claim was speculative in
nature and that Mr Walsh was making unsubstantiated
allegations against gardai. It was the DPP, not garda,
who decided to prosecute Mr Walsh, the defendants add.
In a pretrial motion, the defendants argued inordinate
delay justified an order striking out Mr Walshs action.
The State parties argued Mr Walsh failed to progress his
civil action with expedition. He had served a statement
of claim in October 2009, two years after his acquittal
and a defence was filed in July 2010.
On two occasions since then, Mr Walsh had failed to
attend court resulting in his notice of trial being struck
out, the defendants argued.
Mr Walsh had argued the reasons for the delay included
that he had not secured legal representation until 2014
and health problems. The defendants disputed that
those reasons justified the delay.
Mr Walsh, represented by solicitor Anne Fitzgibbon,
argued that even if there had been a delay, the balance of
justice favoured allowing the case go to trial and the
defendants had not shown they suffered any prejudice to
them as a result of any alleged delay.
Mr Justice Gilligan said the delay in this case was
inordinate and inexcusable and no allowance could be
made for the period of time Mr Walsh did not have a
solicitor. No valid reason had been given for the delay in
the prosecution of the claim, he said.
However, he was not satisfied the defendants capacity to
meet the claim and advance their defence had been
compromised by the delay to the extent that a fair trial
was in peril, he added.
Looking at the conduct of both sides, the defendants
had delayed in delivering their defence to the claim until
after a motion for judgment in default of defence was
issued by Mr Walsh, he said. The defence could have
sought to have the case struck out much earlier, he
added.
The court had to consider the actions of both parties in
the litigation, he said. In the absence of any indication of
any prejudice in the particular circumstances and having
regard to the issue of fairness between the parties, it
seemed appropriate to refuse the strike out orders. The
proceedings should be brought on for hearing at the
earliest possible opportunity, he added.
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/high-court/man-can-
sue-state-over-alleged-malicious-prosecution-1.2180131#ssf
STILL UNABLE TO FIND ANY PROFESSIONAL LEGAL REPRESENTATION
"The High Court has cleared the way for a Dublin man to sue the State over alleged malicious
prosecution."
The big difference between my case and that of James Walsh is that I am the target of a malicious
prosecution for attempting to expose and challenge the whole sickening, and ongoing, array of
"Government corruption, crime, cover ups, bullying, and impunity" in the Republic of Ireland.
More, of a general nature, on this sickening subject at can be viewed via following www link:
=== === ===
REQUEST FOR REVIEW OF DISCRETIONARY SUPPORT APPLICATION
===
' 4) Correctly or otherwise, I have long believed that the main reason for the creation and sustenance of
===
The text in the section just above formed part of an email, and a registered letter, both sent last
Thursday (June 29th 2017) to the Discretionary Support Commissioner, in Antrim, Northern Ireland.
The email was copied to all (or almost all) of Northern Ireland's MLAs (Members of the Legislative
Assembly of Northern Ireland), and to all (or almost all) of Northern Ireland's MPs. It was also copied
to, among others, several senior public officials in the Republic of Ireland.
A slightly edited version of the full email can be viewed at the following www location:
http://www.humanrightsireland.com/AntrimJobsAn//Gmail.html
Also, an unedited "Gmail PDF" copy of the email can be viewed at:
http://www.humanrightsireland.com/AntrimJobsAnd//Gmail.pdf
=== === === === === ===
To:
20 Castle Street,
Antrim,
BT41 4JE.
Dear Commissioner,
RE: REVIEW OF YOUR CLAIM ID REF: 37202, DECISION ID: 45713, AND WILLIAM
FINNERTY, NATIONAL INSURANCE NUMBER YH615974D:
I would be grateful if you could please look at the decision relating to my claim which is set out in the
text of the unsigned letter I have received from your office dated June 9th 2017.
A scanned copy the June 9th 2017 letter in question can be viewed at the following www location:
http://www.humanrightsireland.com/AntrimJobsAn//Letter.htm
In connection with the above request, I would appreciate it if you could please take account of the
comments of mine set out under 1 to 6 below, which all relate to the letter dated June 9th 2017 at the
www address directly above.
===
1) As the June 9th 2017 unsigned letter to me contains no definite mention of the letter I sent to your
office through the registered post on June 7th 2017, I have no way of knowing if the person in your
office who sent me the June 9th 2017 letter was aware of the full contents of my June 7th 2017 letter,
or not. That being so, please know that I have placed a scanned copy of my June 7th 2017 to your
office, together with scanned copies of the associated Royal Mail receipt, and the Royal Mail "Proof of
2) When I decided to come to Northern Ireland in July 2015, I came with thoughts of Article 18
("Right to asylum") of the THE CHARTER OF THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF THE
EUROPEAN UNION in mind; and, the hope that I would only need asylum (as in "a safe harbour") in
Northern Ireland for a period of a few weeks, or a few months at most. It was not my intention to stay
in Northern Ireland for any longer than that, and it is still my intention, as it has been throughout the
whole period of the past two years almost of my "forced exile" (as I see it) in Northern Ireland, to
return to the Republic of Ireland as soon as it seems safe for me to do so.
However, the warrant for my arrest which I understand was issued on July 8th 2015, remains extant as
far as I know, as it has been (I believe) throughout the entire period from July 8th 2015 up to the
present time.
The extant warrant for my arrest in the Republic of Ireland relates to completely false allegations that I
had committed crime in the Republic of Ireland; and, I fled to Northern Ireland, in haste, in early July
2015, for the purposes of a) trying to avoid being corruptly criminalised, fined, and possibly
imprisoned in the Republic of Ireland, through the use of a "Trial by Judge (i.e. NON JURY)", or,
"Kangaroo Court" arrangement as I see it, and, b) finding legal representation in Northern Ireland of
the kind which supports the set of principles stated in the text of Article 47 of THE CHARTER OF
THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, which reads as follows:.
"Everyone whose rights and freedoms guaranteed by the law of the Union are violated has the right to
an effective remedy before a tribunal in compliance with the conditions laid down in this Article.
"Everyone is entitled to a fair and public hearing within a reasonable time by an independent and
impartial tribunal previously established by law. Everyone shall have the possibility of being advised,
defended and represented.
"Legal aid shall be made available to those who lack sufficient resources in so far as such aid is
necessary to ensure effective access to justice."
The full text (of the English language version) of THE CHARTER OF THE FUNDAMENTAL
RIGHTS OF THE EUROPEAN UNION can be viewed at the following www location:
3) To date, and despite my very best efforts to find legal representation in Northern Ireland, of the kind
which supports Article 18 and Article 47 of THE CHARTER OF THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS
OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, I still have not managed to locate any; and, consequently I still feel I
cannot sensibly return to the Republic of Ireland: for fear of being corruptly criminalised, fined, and
possibly imprisoned. However, my efforts to find the kind of legal representation I am seeking, which
I, as a full citizen of the European Union continue to believe I have a right to in law, are ongoing.
When and if I manage to find such legal representation, it continues to be my intention, as it has been
throughout the entire duration of my present stay in Northern Ireland, to then straight away set about
making arrangements to return to the Republic of Ireland. It is for this reason I have made no attempt to
sell my home in the Republic of Ireland, which seems to be one of the two main reasons my
application for Discretionary Support has been turned down: as stated on Page three of the letter from
your office dated June 9th 2017, which I have highlighted on the scanned copy of it that I have placed
at the following www location:
4) Correctly or otherwise, I have long believed that the main reason for the creation and sustenance of
Please find some samples of evidence, of the kinds of wide-ranging forms of Republic of Ireland
"judicial corruption" (as I see it) in question, in addition to evidence of my long-standing, and ongoing,
personal efforts for trying to remedy the "judicial corruption problem" in the Republic of Ireland, in the
following set of Google listings:
#1) Chief Justice Susan Denham, Violations of the Republic of Ireland's Constitution, William
Finnerty:
#2) Chief Justice Susan Denham, Violations of Article 47 of The European Union Charter of
Fundamental Rights, William Finnerty:
#3) Chief Justice Susan Denham, Violations of United Nations International "Aarhus Convention"
Treaty, William Finnerty:
#5) Chief Justice Susan Denham, The Republic of Ireland's Great Oil and Gas Giveaway, William
Finnerty:
#6) Chief Justice Susan Denham, Irish Water (Republic Of Ireland), William Finnerty:
#8) Chief Justice Susan Denham, Violations of Article 6.1 of Republic of Ireland's Constitution,
William Finnerty:
#9) Chief Justice Susan Denham, Fractional Reserve Lending Fraud, William Finnerty:
#10) Chief Justice Susan Denham, Derivatives Gambling Debt Fraud, William Finnerty:
#11) Chief Justice Susan Denham, NATO WARMONGERING, Shannon Airport, William Finnerty:
#12) Chief Justice Susan Denham, Judicial Corruption, William Finnerty:
===
5) As as I have truthfully stated in Section 7 of the registered letter I sent to your office on May 27th
2017, I owe a total of Euros 80,000 to my brother (Gerald Finnerty), and my half-sister (Marjorie
Dolan), who are both domiciled in the Republic of Ireland. However, it is stated on Page 3 of the letter
dated June 9th 2017 from your office, referred to under 3) above, that "the customer's debt at the time
of review is confirmed as being 0.00". For me, this statement that I have zero debt, which seems to be
the second of the two main reasons for the turning down of my application for Discretionary Support,
represents a huge error on the part of the person who is responsible for making this statement..
In case that for some reason you might not be aware of my May 27th 2017 registered letter to your
office, please know that there is a scanned copy of it, together with scanned copies of the associated
Royal Mail receipt, and the Royal Mail "Proof of Delivery" note at the following www location:
6) With reference to the "As such I do not consider the customer to be in an extreme, exceptional, crisis
situation which presents a significant risk to his health and safety" statement at the bottom of Page 3 of
the letter dated June 9th 2017 from your office, which I have also highlighted in the scanned copy
referred to at 3) above, I would be grateful if you would please consider the contents of the two letters
at the following www page address:
One of the letters at the www address just above was sent by me on February 14th 2017, and the
second letter is a reply to my February 14th 2017 letter, dated February 20th 2017, from Craigavon
Hospital Consultant Mr AJ Glacken (Urologist), dated February 20th 2017, which contains the
statement that "The level of PSA (Prostate cancer indicator) found in January 2016 is most concerning
and requires further investigation". I feel I should point out, for the purpose of enabling you to consider
the matter, that the www address for this "letter information" appears at the very top of Page 4 of the
letter I sent to your office through the registered post on June 7th 2017, just under the heading "PTSD"
RELATED" LETTER FROM CRAIGAVON HOSPITAL CONSULTANT MR ANTHONY
CLACKIN MD FRCSI. Scanned copies of my June 7th 2017 letter, together with scanned copies of
the associated Royal receipt, and the associated Royal Mail "Proof of Delivery" note, can be viewed at
the following www page address:
===
I look forward to hearing from after you have considered the matters referred to above.
Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to make it clear to all concerned that I feel very grateful
for the help I have received, from a wide variety of sources, since coming to Northern Ireland in July
2015; which I think of -- and consistently view -- as a very considerable and worthwhile amount of
help.
Yours faithfully,
William Finnerty.
=== === ===
ATTACHMENT:
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Reddit Share to Google+ Share to WhatsApp The High Court has cleared the way for a Dublin man to

JUDICIAL CORRUPTION:
Unless judicial corruption is stopped, or significantly reduced at least, we, the members of the general public, have no
rights in reality?
The corruption-ridden judges, and the government crime-supporting legal professions headed by the corrupt judges, can
easily continue to see to that: as things are at the present time, at least?
More on this subject at:


THE LONG AND IMPORTANT HISTORY OF TRIAL BY JURY
"Whoever controls the courts controls the state."

(Aristotle 384322 BC)
Most exactly correct, I'd say. And still true to this day.
===
Ancient Greece (Circa 600 BC):
"The law courts in ancient Athens (4th and 5th centuries BC) were a fundamental organ of
democratic governance. According to Aristotle, whoever controls the courts controls the state.
"These courts were jury courts and very large ones: the smallest possible had 200 members
(+1 to avoid ties) and sometimes 501, 1000 or 1500. The annual pool of jurors, whose official
name was Heliaia, comprised 6000 members. At least on one known occasion the whole six
thousand sat together to judge a single case (a plenary session of the Heliaia). This was very
different from Rome's laws, as in Rome, jury representatives were elected. The Athenian
jurors were chosen randomly by lot, which meant that juries would consist, in theory, of a
wide range of members from different social classes. Jurors were chosen on an annual
basis, as were all other offices within the state (with the exception of the generals, known as
strategoi). After the reforms of Solon in 594/3 BC, anyone from each of the four classes (the
pentacosiomedimni, hippeis, zeugites and thetes) could become a juror. This was meant to
make the system much fairer to the poorer members of society, who had previously been
excluded in favour of the elitist aristocrats."
From: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_court_(ancient_Athens)
===
Trial by jury, Human Rights Ireland, William Finnerty:

https://www.google.ie/?gws_rd=ssl#q=Trial+by+jury,+Human+Rights+Ireland,+William+Finnerty:
===
Remembering The JOBSTOWN Trial By Jury Court Case, June 2017:

===
Former United States President Thomas Jefferson

JURY NULLIFICATION" & THE "JOBSTOWN TRIAL"
(Dublin, Republic of Ireland, June 2017)
===
JURY NULLIFICATION
"This may occur when members of the jury disagree with the law
the defendant has been charged with breaking, or believe that the
law should not be applied in that particular case."
"In a criminal trial, a jury nullifies by acquitting a defendant, even
though the members of the jury may believe that the defendant
did the illegal act, but they do not believe he/she should be
punished for it."
"A jury verdict that is contrary to the letter of the law pertains only
to the particular case before it. If a pattern of acquittals develops,
however, in response to repeated attempts to prosecute a
statutory offence, this can have the de facto effect of invalidating
the statute. A pattern of jury nullification may indicate public
opposition to an unwanted legislative enactment."
More ...
"Jury nullification is a finding by a trial jury in contradiction to the
jury's belief about the facts of the case. This may happen in both
civil and criminal trials. In a civil trial, a jury nullifies by finding a
defendant not liable, even though members of the jury may
believe the defendant is liable. In a criminal trial, a jury nullifies by
acquitting a defendant, even though the members of the jury may
believe that the defendant did the illegal act, but they do not
believe he/she should be punished for it. This may occur when
members of the jury disagree with the law the defendant has been
charged with breaking, or believe that the law should not be
applied in that particular case. A jury can similarly unjustly and
illegally convict a defendant on the ground of disagreement with
an existing law, even if no law is broken (although in jurisdictions
with double jeopardy rules, a conviction can be overturned on
appeal, but an acquittal cannot)"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jury_nullification
=== === ===
JURY NULLIFICATION, HUMAN RIGHTS IRELAND, WILLIAM
FINNERTY:
=== === ===
TRIAL BY JURY
"I consider trial by jury as the only anchor ever yet imagined by
man, by which a government can be held to the principles of its
constitution."
Former US President Thomas Jefferson to Thomas Paine, 1789.
===
RELATED GOOGLE LISTINGS
Trial by Jury, Thomas Jefferson, Human Rights Ireland, William
Finnerty:
===
A jury can nullify unconstitutional legislation, Human Rights
Ireland, William Finnerty:
=== === ===
"TRIAL BY JURY IS EVERY PERSON'S RIGHT"
===
"It's every person's right" ("iamsam" at Thu Mar 25, 2010 00:32)
by Distant Observer Thu Mar 25, 2010 11:13
"Assuming you are correct, and I note with great interest that you
are being challenged in what seems to me to be a very major way
(by "Court Observer" at Thu Mar 25, 2010 10:43), then I hope that
Niall will choose the "trial by jury" option for his next appeal.
"I say this because I believe that if a jury were to act in the way
that a jury is meant to act in cases of this kind, which is to prevent
GOVERNMENT BULLYING of the type in question, then the jury
would -- in all of these "Shell To Sea" cases, or almost all of them
at least -- judge the protestors to be "not guilty" of any crime.
"And, if that were to happen, there is NOTHING that I can think of
which would hurt Shell Oil and their many accomplices more.
"Far more importantly perhaps, I further believe that there is
nothing that would HELP the people of the Republic of Ireland
more, than a string of such "not guilty" verdicts coming from a
jury -- or juries, as the case might be, on account of the fact the
"Shell To Sea" situation seems to involve several court cases.
"The above text has been copied from the following Indymedia
(Ireland) location:
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/96135#comment266419
"BACKUP COPY at:
http://www.humanrightsireland.com/IndyMediaIrel//Post.htm
"
===
The text in the section just above is from an email dated March
26th 2010 at:
http://www.humanrightsireland.com/HermanVanRomp//Email
.htm
=== === ===
RELATED RTE (REPUBLIC OF IRELAND STATE BROADCASTER)
ARTICLE
"Jury in Jobstown trial urged to put political views aside"
(Updated / Monday, 26 Jun 2017):
https://www.rte.ie/news/2017/0626/885602-jobstown/
=== === ===
RELATED "JUDICIAL CORRUPTION" EMAIL DATED JUNE 16th
2017
"They will not tell you that the entire system is corrupt."
Email sent on June 16th 2017 to, among others, several
professional lawyers and public officials:
http://www.humanrightsireland.com/FirstMiniste//Gmail.html
=== === ===
OUR (REPUBLIC OF IRELAND) PUBLIC OFFICIALS
AND
SOME OTHER PARTS OF THE "BIGGER PICTURE" ...
William Finnerty:
Finnerty:
===
The list just above has been taken from a www page address
which contains a scanned copy of a registered letter to THE LAW
SOCIETY OF NORTHERN IRELAND dated January 28th 2017 at:
http://www.humanrightsireland.com//ScannedRegisteredLetter
=== === ===

"A NEW BIRTH OF FREEDOM (FROM INJUSTICE)"?
"But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate, we can not
consecrate, we can not hallow this field. The brave men and
women, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it,
far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little
note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget
what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated
here to the UNFINISHED WORK which they who fought here have
thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated
to the GREAT TASK remaining before us -- that from these
honoured dead we take increased devotion to that cause for
which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here
highly resolve that these dead SHALL NOT have died in vain --
that this nation (the Republic of Ireland), under God, and by
PEACEFUL AND LAWFUL means and the use of HUMAN RIGHTS
LAW (https://tinyurl.com/yboc8qlp), shall have a NEW BIRTH OF
FREEDOM (FROM INJUSTICE) -- and that GOVERNMENT OF
THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE, FOR THE PEOPLE shall not
perish from the earth."
From:
http://www.humanrightsireland.com//26/GeneralElection.htm
=== === ===

RELATED FACEBOOK PUBLICATIONS:
=== === ===
UPDATES & DEVELOPMENTS
For most recent "HUMAN RIGHTS IRELAND dot COM"
developments and updates please see list at:
http://www.humanrightsireland.com/#LIST
JUDGES AND THE LEGAL ELITE a topic of discussion on Vincent Browne the other evening. In light of the
JOBSTOWN TRIAL in particular, the issue has real relevance. Thank God for juries! Jobstown Not Guilty
2/19629273_549754208748676_781664699044331520_n.mp4?efg=eyJybHIiOj
MwMCwicmxhIjo1MTIsInZlbmNvZGVfdGFnIjoic3ZlX3NkIn0%3D&rl=300&vabr
=86&oh=69cdeff2596fec4350e863bf2d410f56&oe=5959DCA3
Illegal Benchers in Irish judicial Appointments
http://www.jsijournal.ie/html/Volume%208%20No.%201/2008%5b1%5d_Fee
nan_Judicial_appointments.pdf
Irish Prison Service; Mental ... benchers of the King's Inns or ... the Programme for
Government proposes extensive reform of the judicial appointments process,
Tnaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Frances
Fitzgerald): The Judicial Appointments Advisory Board consists of 11
members. It is chaired by the Chief Justice and includes the Presidents of the
Court of Appeal, High Court, Circuit Court and District Court, the Attorney
General, nominated representatives of the Bar Council and the Law Society
and three persons nominated by the Minister for Justice and Equality. Six
members of the Board are barristers or former barristers and 2 members are
solicitors or former solicitors while the three Ministerial nominees are
appointed to the Board on the basis of their knowledge or experience of
commerce, finance, or administration or have experience as consumers of
services provided by the courts. As the Deputy will be aware, the Programme
for Government proposes extensive reform of the judicial appointments
process, to ensure it remains transparent, fair and credible.
http://www.genderequality.ie/en/JELR/Pages/PQ-26-05-2016-32
JUSTICE FOR 98 LAWYERS

Tue, Feb 25, 1997,
FRANK MACGABHANN
Sir, - Next year is the bicentenary of the 1798 Rebellion. In a spirit of national reconciliation, isn't it
time that the Irish Bar righted a historical wrong by posthumously readmitting those lawyers whom the
Benchers expelled on November 27th, 1798 for shaving been of a seditious and traitorous conspiracy
of men styling themselves United Irishmen and having confessed themselves guilty of high treason"?
https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/letters/justice-for-98-lawyers-
1.46414?mode=sample&auth-failed=1&pw-
origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.irishtimes.com%2Fopinion%2Fletters%2Fjustic
e-for-98-lawyers-1.46414

Keeping BC lawyers informed - Lawson Lundell
http://www.lawsonlundell.com/media/coverage/391_BenchersBulletin2013.pd
f

(RBSC) "I am absolutely shocked to think that the banking world is a corrupt pack of liars and pretence".
Said nobody ever!
So what's new?
Well EBS is now running a poster advert campaign to cover up the facts.
The EBS mortgage campaign states "since 1935" .....
Don't they mean 2011?
Or how about 2009?
How about we ignore all facts and assume 1966, as in the AIB establishment?
Or we could also assume the years 1825, 1836 and 1885.
Lay down with the lie or don't be shy, tell the truth and find the root.

Well this says it all
Socialist Party and Solidarity almost Single handedly kept the Focus of the Impending Trail of the Jobstown
Six Focused in the Public Conscience. .and Upped the Anti during the Trail. ..For which she should be given
Credit For..Nothing to do with the Outcome of the Trail as Some Media Speculaters would Imply..For is a Jury
not Selected from Amongst it's Peers" Or are we Led to Belive that they are Processed like Battery
Chickens..Which seems the Likely Outcome from Political Distractors right across the broadstream
Parties..and the Sheer attempt to Label People with a Social Conscience as Left... has Highlighted the Dept
Sunk by FG FG and Labour..Oh but for the Day of the Blind Faith which could enumour any amount of People
in a Cohersive Manner ...Beliving in the the Institutions of Power..Actually the Opposite has been the
Effect...Ordinary People like Sandra making a Stand..and Challanging Corrupt Alliances that would drag us
back to the Ice Age..despite the Consequences..The Left as Apparently Viewed is the New Politics of the
Future...Where Justice Will Prevail amongst our Peers who don't need a Social Media Blackout for our
Aspirations and Goals of Delivering ..That's the Real Threat to the Establishment. .but While the Sandra Fays
Stand up and Shout " Iam Sparucus"...Then I belive we have a Chance.
EH, LEO - HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF A CONCEPT CALLED ... THE
TRUTH?
Below is the transcript of an exchange between Leo Varadkar and Michel
Martin in the Dail chamber, the week after ex-Attorney-General Marie Whelan
was notoriously appointed direct to the Court of Appeals without any formal
selection process having taken place ...
Varadkar: I didn't know that three other senior judges had expressed an
interest in the position.
Martin: You did know, Taoiseach, because we discussed it when I rang you
on Sunday night - and you knew before that even, because we had
discussed it on a previous occasion.
Varadkar: AND YOU PROMISED NOT TO GO PUBLIC WITH IT.
Cue look of absolute disbelief on Micheal Martin's face, at Varadkar
admitting in the Dail chamber that he had asked the Fianna Fil leader to
collude with him in concealing the true facts from the public.
Still not realising the implications, Varadkar repeated once more, to looks of
incredulity around the Dail chamber: 'You promised not to go public ... and I
think you've made an error in going public, Deputy'.
Now I want to know, in view of Varadkar's well-publicised vendetta against
'cheats' ... who is the REAL cheat?!

There you have it - confirmed.

Gemma O'Doherty @gemmaod1 10m10 minutes ago
More
#NoirinOSullivan has until this Wednesday to hand over missing #Templemore letters to PAC

Fair play to paddy,

Fine Gael want the(ir) private sector to do EVERYTHING, the
"private sector" being party members, supporters and hangers-
on. So they award lucrative contracts to their pals to provide
"services".
In the old days, the County/City Councils provided services to the

community - housing, street cleaning, old people's homes, youth
clubs, libraries, meals on wheels ... and of course refuse bin
collection. Gradually, the politicians we elected started making
secret deals to divest the Councils of the services they provided
for generations and to give them to for-profit companies. Brown
envelopes? Probably! Fianna Fil, Fine Gael, the Labour Party, the
Green Party and some Independent councillors nodded and
winked and dismantled a system that that was not broken.
Unelected city/county managers prepared the paperwork and
drew up the contracts and pointed to where to sign along the
dotted line. Nod, nod ... wink, wink
One of the first winners were the bin companies, who were given
a blank cheque and told to do their own thing. When their
contracts were awarded and the medal winners announced, the
champions fell around laughing - all the way to the bank. Leo
loves this system of government! Early riser "entrepreneurs"
making big bucks. Leo and his fellow Blueshirt, Minister
Naughten, now dressing up bin charges increases as "save the
planet" have whispered to the offshore bin companies- 'Lads,
don't be too greedy now, keep the increases modest - like ... keep
them under the radar, we don't want to give Paul bloody Murphy
another Irish Water'

Seriously who would celebrate opening a food bank by cutting a red ribbon? Does anyone
else think this is a disgrace?

This is not about supporting any other particular party, be it left, middle or right wing. This is
about how Ireland's political system and those controlled - often abused by it, are being used
to disadvantage by others. People abused along with even 'framed' innocent others.
.
Greater legal and departmental structures are needed to stamp out continuing abuses going
on to this day by elected in government office. Ireland's system of elected accountability must
be made stronger. This is essential for a better, secure democracy.
.
Those doing nothing but good, should have nothing to fear. Those carrying on their old
methods of political corruption, back-door quiet deals and pocket filling activities, has to be
brought to account by increased accountability legislation and the departmental sections to
see it all carried through for the citizens of Ireland, protection

Social Protection Minister Regina Doherty also tried but failed to have comments made about
her removed from Facebook
Oh lordy. They really are scared of the truth. The truth hurts. People are not posting anything personal about
her, they are posting stuff about her in relation to her position as a politician. What on earth ever happened to
freedom or speech. These people have to start realising they will be judged by the public based on what they
say and what they do.
ARE THE LEFT IN IRELAND DIVORCED

FROM REPUBLICANISM?
June 28, 2017 by rebelbreeze
Clive Sulish
A DEBATE to discuss the above question at the
Teachers Club, Dublin, was organised by the
United Ireland Association with Tommy McKearney
and Clare Daly being the debaters on June 16th.
Tommy McKearney
(Photo: Wikipedia)
Tommy McKearney is a long-time Republican, formerly of the
Provisional IRA, 1980
Clare Daly
(Photo source: Internet)
Hunger-Striker and ex-Republican prisoner. He was, along with
Anthony McIntyre, a founder of the Republican Writers Group
which, while not advocating armed struggle, was critical of the
Good Friday Agreement, of Provisional IRA and in particular of
Sinn Fin. He is currently an Organiser for the Independent
Workers Union.
Clare Daly is a long-time Socialist, a former trade union shop
stewart and has been a Teachta Dla (member of the Irish
parliament) since 2011, formerly as a member of the Socialist Party
and now a Left Alliance TD. She has visited Republican prisoners
and raised issues about their treatment in court and in jail. Daly
was also arrested for trespass at Shannon Airport, along with
fellow-TD and partner Mick Wallace, protesting against the use of
the airport by US military flights and for transporting of political
prisoners of the US military to jails in various parts of the world.
TOMMY MC KEARNEY
Tommy McKearney spoke first and stated that there was an issue
of defining Republicanism and that sometimes what was meant
was the anti-monarchic Republicanism of France or the United
Stated but he was going to discuss it in terms of a specific Irish-
based ideology, i.e Irish Republicanism.
Mentioning a number of Left-Irish Republicans such as Fintan
Lawlor and Wolfe Tones famous quotation about relying on the
men of no property, Tommy developed a line of reasoning that
sought to say that there was not a huge difference between Irish
Republicanism and socialism and drew attention to the fact that
James Connolly had founded a party by the title of the Irish
Socialist Republican Party.
Going on to talk about the objective of Irish Republicans, Tommy
stated that not only is a republic desirable for Ireland it is
necessary. Only a Republic that is based upon socialist principles
can resolve the economic and political problems facing Ireland
today on both sides of the colonial Border.
Referring to the British election results in the Six Counties, Tommy
commented on the 238,915 votes and seven seats for Sinn Fin
an increase of 14,670 votes and the rise of almost 67,000 votes
for the DUP with their ten seats. Sinn Fin had been pushing a
peace process which was not about peace but about
normalisation; their claim to intend to bridge the sectarian
divide was empty and the voting lines were drawn up along
sectarian lines at least as deeply as before.
Tommy also speculated that the amount of votes cast for Sinn Fin,
on a platform of refusing to take their seats in Westminster
showed, among other things, the amount of people in the Six
Counties who did not care to be represented in a British
Parliament and presumably would want representation in a united
Irish Republic. He called for an alliance of Left Republicans and
Irish socialists and recalled that James Connolly had founded, as
well as the Labour Party, the Irish Socialist Republican Party.
CLARE DALY
Clare was next and she in turn highlighted the difficult issue of
defining the Left did it mean the parties that defined themselves
as Left, did it include the Labour Party some would say yes,
others no. For Clare it is not issue of the names we give parties or
activists but of what we stand for. Clare said she stands for a
socialist country and in that sense for a Republic.
Addressing the question for debate, Clare owned that maybe
socialists had neglected the national question maybe they had
been put off by images of balaclavas and guns but it could
equally be said that Republicans had for decades neglected social
questions such as womens reproductive rights, womens rights in
general, gay rights . However, in more recent times, Republicans
were seen actively supporting those rights.
Over recent years, Clare said, we had seen the gains our parents
fought for in terms of trade union rights and local authority and
state services lost or undermined.
Clare said she saw herself as a citizen of the world but as she lived
in Ireland that she stood for a Republic that was organised along
socialist lines and gave equal rights to all. The real question, Clare
stated, is how we are to achieve that and pointed to the swing to
the Left in Britain with Jeremy Corbyns party receiving a big
increase in votes, despite media hostility and predictions of failure.
The Conservative Party could only rule now with the support of the
DUPs 10 Mps. Clare said that opportunities of a Left Front existed
in Ireland too as was seen by the Right to Water mass marches
with broad political party and some major trade union support.
CONTRIBUTIONS FROM THE AUDIENCE,

RESPONSES FROM THE PANEL
Included in contributions from the audience were the following:
Sinn Fin had seven MPs to the DUPs 10 and should consider
abandoning their abstentionism and go to Westminster to
assist Corbyn in voting legislation
While the Labour Party in Britain had moved to the Left, Sinn Fin
in Ireland had moved to the right
Good debate from two good speakers but also two who had put
themselves out there for what they believed Tommy
McKearney in armed struggle in the past and hard prison
struggle and Clare Daly in protesting US military use of
Shannon Airport and also visiting Republican prisoners in
jail, along with a few other Tds.
We need more debates like these and also to focus on Republicans
with regard to where they stood with regard to socialism.
The Irish Left as a whole has divorced itself from Irish
Republicanism, probably in fear of being associated with
nationalism and/ or armed struggle. In doing so, it has
walked away from continual violation of human rights, e.g of
Republican prisoners in the jails and of civil rights, the right
to political dissent of Republican activists on both sides of
the Border.
The Irish Left has neglected to confront British Imperialism and
left the Republicans to confront the various visits of the
British Queen and the recent one of Prince Philip, when
major roads were shut and even civilians impeded in going
about their business or even going to their local shops or to
visit their relatives graves in Glasnevin and a megaphone
wrested by an undercover policeman backed up by a riot
squad from the hands of a person about to speak to a protest
demonstration.
Republicans are socialists and to pose the two as different
categories was ridiculous.
There should be a broad Left front in Ireland including the trade
unions and Sinn Fin.
Among the responses from the panel were that people were hung
up on condemning Sinn Fin and should welcome them into a
broad Left mass movement on the model of the Right to Water and
Right to change campaigns (this from Tommy McKearney)
The socialists might not have done very well opposing British
imperialism but had opposed US imperialism, which is one of the
imperialist powers in operation in Ireland (this from Clare Daly)
and a major one in the world.
COMMENT
The contributor who said that Republicans are socialists seemed
unaware that historically at least this certainly was not so. Sen
Mac Diarmada, the Irish Republican executed on the same day as
the socialist James Connolly, had been on record as saying that no-
one should support socialism. During the War of Independence,
some IRA units took actions to support landless labourers and
poor farmers but others took action to repress these in favour of
big farmers.
The IRA had a ban on Communists through the 1930s probably up
to the 1960s. Sean South, prominent Limerick IRA Volunteer killed
in the Bessborough RUC Barracks attack in 1957, was a
conservative Catholic, anti-Communist member of the Knights of
Columbanus and of An Ralt (Irish-speaking section of the Legion
of Mary).
The broad Left front being advocated by a number of people seems
to be a reformist social-democratic one and, while there is nothing
necessarily counter-revolutionary about fighting for reforms,
clarity is needed about whether what they are advocating is a
social-democratic program or fighting for some reforms while at
the same time openly organising with a revolution in mind.
Clare Daly has certainly fought hard against US Imperialism but
others on the Left much less so. The mobilisation against Hillary
Clintons visit to Dublin was not great and gave up in the face of
police opposition before they even reached City Hall and there was
no mobilisation at all against Obamas visit to Dublin in May 2011
and it remains to be seen how much there will be if he comes this
year, as he has reportedly promised to do. But the question of
oppposing British imperialism is a crucial one since a) it is the
main imperialist-colonial power at work in Ireland and b) because
it is the main prop of US Imperialism in Europe and in the UN.
There would seem to be fertile ground for debate on the historical
and current differences between Irish Socialists and Irish
Republicans, as well as for discussing possible joint action and one
hopes for many more debates and discussions of this nature with a
broad attendance.
End.

Re Catherine Kelly @sanepolitico who was stopped and cautioned by Garda in relation to tweeting/blogging
about an Irish govt minister's finances.
Catherine wrote about her experience on her blog. This blog has either crashed or been hacked but she sent
me a photo of the blog page so I have broken it up here so you can see it more clearly.
Catherine has dual citizenship of Ireland & the USA.
She is a Professor of Political Science at a U.S. university.
To me this is a very strange thing for the Garda to have done. I'm just trying to figure out under what law did the gardai
have a right to 'caution' Catherine about tweeting or blogging about Regina Doherty.
From her account of what happened, it doesn't appear that any law or regulation was cited by the man who spoke to her.
[We all know that politicians get abuse on social media.

Abuse can mean different things to different people.
Insults and name-calling would be, in my opinion, abuse.
We also know that there are members of our society who make threats by phone or social media. Many of these people
are unwell and make threats because of their mental illness. I believe Irish politicians and Gardai are well used to these
type of threats and rightly act on them because they can't take a chance that they are not serious.
I wouldn't consider writing about facts about any politician already in the public domain as abusive.]
Catherine writes about facts that are available in the public domain already.
So here is the series of photos of Catherine's blog post about what happened in Dublin Airport on 2nd July 2017.
Catherine is taking legal advice on the matter.
Remember, you can talk to Catherine via this link: https://twitter.com/sanepolitico
YOU'RE NOT ALONE

Three years it's been going
Outside the central bank
Feeding the homeless Now our hearts sank.
The bank boarded up
No room for our tables
The homeless will suffer
Now we are disabled.
Three hundred a night
Now won't get any food
Is this the end
Will we have to conclude.
It's not just our group
But others as well
We need a new place
No time can we dwell.
Any suggestions
Any ideas at all
Just get in touch
Just give us a call.
The Central Bank moves to it's new building on the quays - the
former Anglo Irish Bank Shell. So the homeless group feeding
hundreds every weekend and now blocked from setting up their
tables. That's Ireland for you.

Ronan Smith Gardai - WX152 Struck a 70 year old man in the back of the
head with a Baton. GSOC has started an ivestigation but we all know it wont
be resolved so please share far and wide. 14 November 2015
Jobstown Trial Judge Awards Joan
Burton 14 Million In Damages
THERE was an abrupt and bizarre end to a court case today in Dublin as Joan
Burton was awarded 14 million in emotional damages by a judge, WWN can
reveal.
September 19, 2016
In just one puzzling aspect of a trial that hardly seems to meet even the most
basic concepts of legal merit, former Tnaiste and relevant politician Joan
Burton, just a witness in the trial of a 17-year-old boy, was awarded the
damages shortly after taking to the stand.
Some of them had expensive phones, Burton recalled through sobs, as she
recounted the time she was forced to interact with members of the public.
The judge immediately abandoned proceedings, delivering damages to

Burton, which seem to have no basis in Irish law.
Poor people, with expensive phones? This is outrageous, the judge remarked
as he took the time to hand out life sentences, at the behest of Burton, to
anyone in the public gallery that seemed like they might object to Irish Water.
In some of the most troubling reports to come from the courts today it is
alleged the young man at the centre of the incident, which saw Burton trapped
in her car for several hours, had an accent.
More as we get it.
http://waterfordwhispersnews.com/2016/09/19/jobstown-trial-judge-awards-
joan-burton-e14-million-in-damages/
Garda want ban on people
photographing and recording
them on duty
AGSI conference kicks off
Calls for ban on photographing and recording
garda on duty
Motion for training on dealing with media during
duty
Three out of five farmers accuse Government of
under-investing in rural policing
Public opinion split on whether sufficient money is
set aside for policing of nation's roads
Antoinette Cunningham, of the Association of Garda Sergeants

Tom Brady and Cathal McMahon
April 10 2017
AGSI members will call for it to be made illegal to photograph or video a garda
member in the course of their duty without that member's consent and then
post this image on any media.
The issue has been raised in the past regarding the policing of water protests
and other demonstrations.
Images videos of garda have been posted to social media, identifying those
members. The motion has been proposed by garda in West Dubin and is set
to be discussed at the annual AGSI conference.
The 39th AGSI Annual Delegate Conference begins in Killarney this

afternoon. In a break with tradition Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald will
not be attending.
A spokesman said: "The Tanaiste very much regrets that, because the pressure
of Dail business this week relating, in particular, to Garda matters, she will not
be in a postion to attend the AGSI conference, which she had very much
hoped to attend."
Speaking to RTE Radio One's Morning Ireland, Association president

Antoinette Cunningham said members of the AGSI have found photos or
video of themselves "placed on some social media sites".
"Their private domestic lives, home addresses and members of family have
been referred to in a way not connected to the duty of which that member was
carrying out.
"There is a risk attached to that. They want to fully protect their private life
doing their duty. They feel it is justifiable.
"It can bring significant risk and stress," she added.
Separately delegates from Sligo/Leitrim are calling for the Justice Minister to
introduce legislation making it obligatory for all pedestrians and cyclists to be
forced to wear hi-visibility clothing.
AGSI members from Dublin's south inner city say that while they do not want
pedestrians to be forced to wear hi-vis clothing they do think bicycle helmets
should become obligatory for cyclists.
advertisement
Another motion that may cause debate is one introduced by members for
Laois/Offaly. Sergeants and Inspectors from that division are calling on the
Garda Commissioner to "provide suitable training" to "assist the member" in
their dealings with local and national media in the course of their duty.
Meanwhile, three out of five farmers have accused the Government of under-
investing in rural policing, according to a poll.
But public opinion is split on whether sufficient money is being set aside for
policing of the nation's roads.
The survey was carried out among a sample of a thousand people by Red C on
behalf of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI).
The results of the poll will be officially announced this evening in Killarney at
the opening of the association's annual conference.
According to the association, 55pc of those surveyed believe the Garda should
have the right to strike, while there was 81pc support for allowing garda to
negotiate their own pay and conditions.
The survey was carried out between March 20 and 23, before the latest
controversies erupted over false breath test figures and wrongful prosecutions
in court for road traffic offences.
The results of the survey show that 77pc took the view that the planned
withdrawal of labour last November had either a positive impact or no impact
at all on public opinion of the force.
Association president Antoinette Cunningham said this finding was

encouraging.
"Association members are very cognisant of, and value, the views of the
citizens of this State," Ms Cunningham said.
"We felt we had anecdotal evidence of how the public felt towards us, but we
wanted to get independent and expert research undertaken to establish the
facts."
http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/garda-want-ban-on-people-
photographing-and-recording-them-on-duty-35609002.html
THE GARDA AND GOVERNMENT WANT TO TAKE OUR HUMAN RIGHTS AWAY
OF OUR DEMOCRACY, FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND INDEPENDENT TO PROTEST
AND VIDEO AND TAKE PHOTO EVIDENCE AGAINST GARDA BRUTALITY AND
COVER UP IN LIES WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO PROVE WITHOUT A DOUBT ANY
EVIDENCE AGAINST THESE PEOPLE AS THEY ARE LIARS WHO HAVE
COMMITED CONSPIRACY AND BRUTALITY AGAINST THE PEOPLE IT HELPS IN
ANY COURT OF LAW TO REPRESENT EVIDENCE OF THE FACTS, BUT THE
GARDA DONT WANT THIS, USING EXCUSES AT ALL COST TO DEPRIVE OUR
BASIC HUMAN RIGHTS AGAINST THE TRAITORS OF GLOBAL CORPORATE
SECURITY IN OUR GARDA UNIFORMS WHO DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHTS TO BE
HERE UNDER THE IRISH NEUTRALITY LAW THAT WE HAVE, THE FACT THAT
OUR GOVERNMENT AND EU HAVE BLOCKED UOR REFEREBDUM OF OUR
NEUTRALITY IN OUR CONSTITUTION SO BY LAW EU ILLEGAL SECURITY OF
MULTINATIONAL HERE IN IRELAND ARE HERE ILLEGALLY
WE DO NOT HAVE AN ACT OF 2004 TO ALLOW ILLEGAL MIGRANTS OR
FOREIGNERS TO BE ALLOWED ILLEGALLY JOIN IRISH DEFENCE FORCE THE EU
AND IRISH GOVERNMENT HAVE FORGED THIS ILLEGALLY WITH US AND EU
AND BRITAIN,

THE CORRUPTION OF AN GARDA SOCHNA
Written by Greg McInerney
February 15th 2017
Its clear to anyone of sound mind that the Irish police force has become
corrupt and unaccountable. What may have started as a fairly trivial
investigation into the systemic erosion of penalty points has underpinned
what many have believed for some time now, the Garda are above the
laws they purport to uphold. Here is a brief summary of the important, inter-
linked issues to date.
Penalty Points The Garda have been wiping peoples penalty points
from their licenses as personal favours on an enormous scale. At first
glance, a typically Irish brand of parochial corruption but the story goes
much deeper.
War on Whistleblowers The mechanisms by which Garda can report
wrongdoing within the force have proven to be a sham. Garda can
supposedly approach the office of the Confidential Recipient, a subset of
the Department of Justice, anonymously and blow the whistle on internal
corruption. However the case is then referred to the Garda Commissioner
to investigate so it can be a case of senior Garda investing senior Garda.
The internal report into the penalty points found no evidence of corruption
surprisingly enough, a report which didnt even interview the very
whistleblowers who raised the issue in the first place. The Garda have a
long record of harassing and frustrating the work of whistleblowers in the
past including the two officers who revealed the penalty points scandal.
Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan described the actions of the
whistleblowers as disgusting.
The Media Irish Independent journalist Gemma ODoherty who was
investigating the penalty points corruption, was internally disciplined for
calling to Garda Commisioner Martin Callinans house for comment, a fairly
typical journalistic tactic. A few weeks later, she was offered a voluntary
redundancy despite having been one of the papers top investigative
reporters for over a decade. It subsequently emerged, though absolutely
nowhere in the Irish media, that the Irish Independents editor in chief
Stephen Rae, a former editor of the Garda Review magazine, had his
penalty points wiped clean.
Cold Case Father Niall Molloy was murdered in 1985 in an inheritance
quarrel seemingly lifted from John B. Keanes The Field. Evidence was
contaminated, key witnesses were not interviewed and the Judge was a
family friend of the accused. Where the Garda come in is intriguing. Martin
Cahill, The General and one of Irelands most infamous crimes bosses,
stole files from the Director of Public Prosecutions office, files that
contained details of the case previously unknown to the public. Journalist
Veronica Guerin then revealed some of Cahills information which exposed
the pathetic Gardai investigation into the murder and the willingness of the
DPP to cover it up.
So concerned were the Gardai with retrieving Cahills stolen files that,
according to crime reporter Paul Williams, they cut a deal with him to drop
charges against his associate John Traynor, one of the most notorious
gangsters in Ireland. The Molloy case was reopened but despite the
overwhelming amounts of evidence for a cover-up and at least mass
negligence, nothing ever came of it. The journalist who took up the case
and forced the State to reopen it? Gemma ODoherty of the Irish
Independent.
GSOC and Minister Alan Shatter One of the whistleblowing Gardai
involved in the penalty points case was told by the office of the Confidential
Recipient that Minister Alan Shatter will go after you if he were to proceed
with his complaints. In addition, GSOC, the Garda Ombudsman,
discovered that its office had been bugged last year but did not approach
Minister Shatter over the issue, clearly in fear or knowledge that he would
not do anything about it. The Garda have denied bugging the office but the
question of who else would bug the office of a body charged with
supervising the states police force springs to mind.
Rather than address this essential question of who bugged GSOC,
Minister Shatter has sought to downplay the event and even focus his
criticism on the comparably insignificant matter of GSOC failing to inform
him of this security breach at an earlier date.
AN GARDA SOCHNA, A
POLICE FORCE MIRED IN
CONTROVERSY
AND CORRUPTION
October 3, 2016 Crime, Current Affairs, Politics 2 comments
Repeated allegations of systemic corruption have been
made by independent politicians and journalists against
sections of An Garda Sochna, Irelands national police
service, since at least the 1980s. These accusations have
ranged in severity from claims of undue influence on the
force by the main establishment parties, the press and
major business interests to out-right criminality by
individual officers. These fears have been given renewed
impetus in recent years thanks to a handful of
conscientious whistleblowers in the organisation leaking
stories of Garda law-breaking to attentive TDanna and
Seandir. Of course the Garda, the Director of Public
Prosecutions (DPP), the Department of Justice and the
government as a whole (of whatever composition) have
sought to limit the damage caused by these revelations
rather than seek out their remedy.
As I argued back in February of 2014:
The importation, sale and production of illegal
narcotics generates huge revenues for organised
criminal gangs and their associates in nation-states
across the Western world. These black market
operations do not exist in isolation but are part of far
larger networks of co-operation that exist on both
domestic and international levels. Truly successful
narco-gangs survive in part because they have
suborned a significant portion of the citizenry they
work among: specifically those in positions of power
and influence, and those who can impede or
facilitate their criminal enterprises. This has been
observed in several Latin American countries, in
Asia, in Africa and in a number of European
territories. So can we really believe the repeated
assurances that our island nation (where several
underworld gangs have diversified or morphed into
narco-terrorist organisations, deploying automatic
weapons, improvised explosive devices and no end
of willing recruits), is free of corruption in the
spheres of politics, policing and the judiciary?
That lack of confidence in the moral probity of the
institutions of the state is even more apparent two years
later. From a report in last weekends Sunday Times
newspaper:
Garda aided drug dealer, finds inquiry
An internal investigation into allegations of gardai
collusion in heroin dealing in a midlands town has
found evidence to substantiate claims made by a
police whistleblower in 2014.
The inquiry has also established that a senior garda
was warned about fears of corruption in the force by
members of the drugs squad in 2009 but took no
meaningful action.
According to security sources, the internal inquiry
concluded that one garda was in a relationship with
a female heroin dealer One witness told
investigators that he was present when this garda
alerted local criminals to a planned garda search
the following day
The inquiry noted that in one notorious incident the DPP
was unable to proceed with the prosecution of a known
drug-dealer because it concluded that members of
An Garda Sochna in the small, rural policing division
were helping a rival gang eliminate its competition.
The Broadsheet reminds us of a speech made in Dil
ireann on May 15th 2014, by the Sinn Fin TD Pearse
Doherty:
More than a month ago I was contacted by a
serving member of An Garda Sochna who relayed
to me very disturbing allegations in regard to Garda
practices in the Westmeath division but not
exclusive to that division. I subsequently met with
this garda and have had a number of telephone
conversations with him since.
On the day that the former Minister for Justice and
Equality, Deputy Alan Shatter, resigned, that garda
called me and told me that as a result of that
resignation he now had more faith in the
confidential recipient process
Garda Keith Harrison claims that as a result of
arresting a member of the drugs unit in Athlone for
drunk driving, that Garda management maliciously
set out targeting him while the arrested garda was
afforded protection by Garda management.
He claims that a managerial review of his high work
returns and practices was instigated and persons
who had past interactions with him in the execution
of his duties were invited by the Garda to make
complaints against him.
He claims that during this period from September
2009 until March 2011, he was office-bound while
the garda he arrested, who had been found with a
high concentration of alcohol, was still driving
official vehicles and carrying an official firearm.
Garda Harrison makes serious claims about how
the drunk driving case was struck out of court on
dubious rulings and how evidence relating to the
case was stolen by a member of the Garda.
He also claims that a member of the Garda of
officer rank stationed in the Westmeath division
prevented successful prosecution of individuals in a
number of cases.
On Monday, I met with Garda Harrison again. At
that meeting there was also Garda Nicky Kehoe,
who is another serving Garda whistleblower, and
who has made serious claims in regard to the
connection of a major heroin dealer in the Midlands
and a senior member of the drugs unit.
At that meeting copies of sworn affidavits were
given to me from both garda. Garda Harrison
claims that he had suspicions about a member of
the Garda who was working within the drugs unit
who may have been knowingly allowing the sale
and supply of drugs within the Athlone district and
that he had raised this with management, but he
claims that it fell on deaf ears.
On the same day there was also this contribution to An
Dil by Mick Wallace TD, of the Independents 4 Change
grouping:
One such story comes from a former garda called
Jack Doyle. His story gained some attention around
2000. He revealed some serious drug involvement
by garda in the Cork area and at the time the
Garda authorities confirmed that undercover garda
had been involved in the importation of illegal drugs
into the State in what they described as controlled
operations.
However, a spokesman said that these operations
were necessary in order to bring the leaders of
criminal drug gangs to justice. Garda management
rejected calls for an inquiry into claims made by
Jack Doyle, saying nothing inappropriate had
occurred.
We got a 27-page report from Jack Doyle into the
background to what went on. I will read less than a
page of it. He was speaking with one of the drug
runners with whom he had become acquainted:
He recounted to me how they had many
opportunities to arrest the boss of the criminal gang
but failed to do so. When asked why, he replied,
They have a senior garda in their pocket. He then
recounted an incident in Rosslare when he was
returning with a shipment of drugs. A customs
officer stopped him and was about to search his
jeep when two plain-clothes garda commandeered
the jeep and drove out of the terminal at speed,
being pursued by customs officers. A high-speed
chase ensued and the garda lost their pursuers. As
a result of this incident he said he would never
personally bring drugs in again.
He then proceeded to tell me about the many runs
he had done, bringing in cocaine, ecstasy, cannabis
and firearms. Massive amounts of drugs were
coming in and quantities were allowed to get into
the hands of the criminal gang. He told me how he
was being well looked after financially by both the
criminal gang and the garda.
He then went on to tell me where he had left a
handgun in a wooden area in Cork. He contacted a
particular detective sergeant and told him of the
location, and drawing a map in the area pinpointed
it. On finding the location, two garda threw in a
number of firearms to beef up the find. He
explained that the press reported it as a subversive
arms find. When I asked him why they would do
this, he replied, To further their careers in the
force.
Their careers have progressed and one of them is
now an assistant commissioner. He was appointed
by the former Minister, Deputy Shatter, and this
same individual was involved in the Boylan case
which entails a very similar story to Jack Doyles.
Jack Doyles career did not progress. He turned up
at his place of work one day and was told, Jack,
youre not coming in here. Youd better go home.
Youre finished, Jack. But, listen, youll be grand;
well look after your pension. He was forcibly
retired. That one of the garda involved is now an
assistant commissioner he could actually be the
next Commissioner emphasises how important it
is that the new Commissioner should come from
outside the State with a new hierarchy built around
him or her as otherwise problems will not go away.
With suspicions that some serving garda have been
directly or indirectly complicit in drug-dealing, gangland
murders, the sexual abuse or disappearance of children,
and other crimes it is worth remembering to what
extremes the allure of self-advancement will take some
officers:
Senior Irish police officers planted fake IRA
bombmaking equipment and ammunition on both
sides of the Northern Ireland border to reap praise
for discovering them, according to a report
published yesterday.
The police from county Donegal in north-west
Ireland, went to bizarre lengths to orchestrate high-
profile bogus finds of homemade explosives, bullets
and fake prototype IRA rockets in the early 1990s.
THE ISLAND OF THE
CORRUPT AND
THE CORRUPTIBLE
Modern Ireland with some old-fashioned community policing (circa.
1914!)
The importation, sale and production of illegal narcotics
generates huge revenues for organised criminal gangs
and their associates in most nation-states across the
Western world. These black-market operations do not
exist in isolation but are part of far larger networks of co-
operation that exist on both domestic and international
levels. Truly successful narco-gangs survive in part
because they have suborned a significant portion of the
citizenry: specifically those in positions of power and
influence, and those who can impede or facilitate their
criminal enterprises. This has been observed in several
Latin American nations, in Asia, in Africa and in a number
of European territories. So can we really believe repeated
assurances that our island nation (where several
underworld gangs have diversified or morphed into narco-
terrorist organisations, deploying automatic weapons,
improvised explosive devices and no end of willing
recruits), is free of corruption or undue influences in the
spheres of politics, policing and the judiciary? Given the
now well-recorded history of corruption in national and
local government in Ireland throughout the 1970s, 80s
and 1990s, given all the scandals and tribunals of recent
times, who can claim with any credibility that Irelands
would-be elites are immune to malfeasance?
Or is it far more reasonable to assume that as elsewhere
in the world the forces of law and order, of good
governance, have in part fallen to those who can pay the
most? Or that a pre-existing culture of bribery and
patronage has made them readily susceptible to further
corruption?
It was former Taoiseach na hireann, Charles Haughey, who coined one of the more
famous phrases in the lexicon of Irish politics when he described a contemporary
political and judicial scandal as a bizarre happening, an unprecedented situation, a
grotesque situation, an almost unbelievable mischance. From the controversy arose
the acronym GUBU, Irelands equivalent of the Watergate analogy or soubriquet
in US politics. Well, we certainly seem to be in GUBU territory again as our island
nation lives up to its reputation as a stereotypical post-colonial state. Has nothing
been learned over the last forty years? Corruption and cronyism at all levels of society
seem as prevalent now as they were during the dark years of the 1980s and early 90s.
Morality, public service, civic duty and the rule of law are as hard to find in modern
Ireland as a virgin in a whorehouse. Bankers and financiers ignore or transgress the
law with impunity, knowing that they will never face any serious repercussions for
their misdeeds. Hospitals, medical clinics and charitable organisations use funds
donated by the government or general public to pay their boards of management
exorbitant salaries, bonuses and unaccountable top-ups. Citizens of influence and
power disregard laws they view as mere irritations, calling upon networks of contacts
to erase their legal transgressions from the record. Meanwhile whistle-blowers and
those who expose official misconduct in policing or the judiciary are vilified and
threatened by those that supposedly uphold the law, while government and legislature
act with complicity or cowardice.
GARDA Commissioner Martin Callinan is to seek clarification from the Ombudsman Commission after
a confusing statement from the watchdog appeared to implicate the Garda in the alleged bugging of its
headquarters.
Mr Callinan said he was gravely concerned that the Ombudsmans statement contained a clear
indication that An Garda Siochana was in some way suspected of complicity in the matter.
Speaking this morning, Public Spending Minister Brendan Howlin said the Garda Ombudsman needs
to clarify to the public in clear understandable language if its offices were bugged.
Mr Howlin said he was concerned about reports of bugging of the Garda Siochana Ombudsman
Commission and was anxiously awaiting a report from Justice Minister Alan Shatter.
The commission said yesterday an investigation by a British security consultancy firm had confirmed
the existence of three technical and electronic anomalies. But it did not say what those anomalies
were and acknowledged they could not be conclusively explained.
The commission said the anomalies had raised concerns about the integrity of its communications
security but it was now satisfied that its databases had not been compromised.
Ninety years of independence, ninety years of sovereignty, yet the patronage-based

political culture laid down by the old Irish Parliamentary Party and others who
collaborated with Britains historic colonial administration in Ireland is as virulent as
ever. Nothing has changed but the names of those parties and those people who carry
on the corrupt tradition of the Fear Gaimbn.
The militarisation of policing in Ireland. Not an Irish solution to an
Irish problem!
Garda Sochana na hireann, Irelands national police
service, has a long and fine tradition of policing by
consent. This can be traced back to its origins during the
War of Independence and the formation of the Irish
Republican Police under the authority of Dil ireann. A
populist auxiliary to the Irish Republican Army the IRP
fulfilled the role formerly held by Britains colonial police
force in Ireland, the despised Royal Irish Constabulary or
RIC. Since its transformation into An Garda this
organisation has acted as an unarmed civilian police
service in deliberate contrast to the paramilitary police
force it replaced. Indeed its very title means the Peace
Guardians of Ireland. So it is with no little concern,
sadness even, that one hears of the following through the
Irish Independent newspaper:
MORE than 120 uniformed gardai in specialist units countrywide will be permanently armed from
today as part of a crackdown on criminal gangs and dissident terrorists.
This is the first time that uniformed gardai have been given permission to carry guns full-time since the
foundation of the force almost a century ago.
The move has been sanctioned after a review of the operation of the five regional support units (RSUs)
since their introduction in 2008.
Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan has ordered that all the regional response units will be
permanently armed after a rise in the number of incidents requiring garda firepower.
Perhaps the most alarming part of this report is the almost fetishistic use of masculine
language (firepower!) wholly inappropriate to the nature of An Garda or of the role
it fulfils. Take this dubious claim here:
The regional units are armed with weaponry including high-powered Heckler and Koch MP7
machine guns.
And the move will placate some officers who were unhappy at a decision to withdraw the powerful
Israeli-made Uzi sub-machine gun from use within the force.
The UZI submachine gun is of course a military firearm originally designed to be

used by vehicle crews and rear-line units. It is little more than a simple point and burst
weapon, spraying a high number of bullets at a short range with relatively little
accuracy beyond that. Quite obviously this was wholly inappropriate for the Irish
policing environment which is why the Gardas ageing UZIs were replaced with the
more accurate if still too high-powered HK MP7A1. Just as troubling as the above
is this comparison for the arming of uniformed Garda by Tom Brady, a journalist
who has long expressed an interest in rehabilitating the history of British colonial
policing in Ireland:
Now, for the first time since police officers from the Royal Irish Constabulary patrolled the streets,
uniformed members of the force can from today carry guns permanently.
Which is as bad an indictment of modern Ireland and modern Irish society as one can
get.
[Sunday Times security correspondent John Mooney, above, and

Justice Minister Alan Shatter and Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan,
top]
Last night Mr Mooney, who broke the GSOC bugging story last Sunday;
Padraig MacLochlainn, Sinn Fin Donegal TD; Michelle Mulherin, Fine
Gael Mayo TD; and Mark Kelly, director of the Irish Council for Civil
Liberties, appeared on RTs Late Debate with Audrey Carville last
night to talk about the story.
During their discussion, Mr Mooney set out to explain what he believed

was behind the surveillance, while also accusing the Fine Gael/Labour
coalition of trying to cover up the story.
John Mooney: This whole matter goes back to a collusion

investigation, a Garda Ombudsman Commission investigation going
back a number of years, I was actually involved in it. Actually, I suppose
to quote Enda Kenny, when he was in Opposition, saying this was the
Kieran Boylan affair where he was demanding that the Government
of the day provide explanations: I want to give the Governmentto give
a full explanation of these cases, I will be tabling questions on the
nature of the inquiry into both Boylan and why he isnt before the courts
when he was caught with large amounts of drugs, heroin and
cocaine. This was a drug trafficker who was working with a group
of guards in the Dublin area, who served their way to promotion
on the basis of turning a blind eye to these activities, in return for
setting up people, including very young men in the Dublin area for
arrests, and GSOC were in the middle of a very, very sensitive
investigation into that which revealed all sorts of wrongdoing and all
sorts of what could only be described as corruption within the
intelligence services. And this particular escapade or whats been
happening, to the Commission, followed on, as they were drawing to a
close, their big, public interest inquiry into this. And there were various
people within the State apparatus who were desperately needed to
know what they knew. And if youre asking me, and its a very well-
informed opinion, this is what this is all about. To be perfectly frank, Im
astonished at whats going on in Government level.
I remember Pat Rabbitte, when he was a justice spokesman in
Opposition, screaming from the rooftops about Kieran Boylan getting
given a haulage licence on the basis of false documentation and
information to the Department of Transport. I remember when this
individual, whom I should say whose associates were issuing
threats against myself and others, was being brought up and
being charged, and then the charges would be dropped secretly
and then recharged again and again charges dropped secretly in
discreet manners, to try and get this man off because he has so
much dirt on the guards.
There was a lot of, there was a lot of people at risk over what had
happened, because this all totally contravened the new rules that were
brought in, following the Morris Tribunal. And I am actually astounded at
whats happening in Government at this level. Brendan Howlin himself, I
was a witness in the Morris Tribunal, Ive done a lot of work in security
issues in the last 15 years, Brendan Howlin was one of, I remember he
played a very noble role in exposing what happened there. And the
silence of the Labour party in this matter is absolutely deafening. How
anyone, at all, could suggest and you know, Im just, Im just speechless
at these kind of defences that well nothing can be proven. Simon
OBrien was very categoric tonight [last night] right.
And I know modern surveillance, because I deal with this stuff for a
living, it doesnt leave traces, you cant prove that someone has done
something because its so high tech. We published a report last week,
which has proved to be pretty accurate, despite Alan Shatter and Enda
Kennys attempts to [inaudible] to cover this up
Audrey Carville: And your implications, John, about who was behind
it, is pretty clear as well.
Mooney: Im not saying who is behind it because I think theres two

issues here: you have to differentiate between the guards as an
organisation and elements within the State security forces that are doing
their own thing and theyve the know-how and the knack to do this stuff,
on the QT and abuse State systems. I can hazard a guess, at this,
because Im pretty familiar with the types of people that may be
suspected of involvement in this and what might be motivating them.
But, at the end of the day, this has developed into something else
now. We had the Justice Minister stood up in the Dil yesterday
and poured cold water on the most serious allegations to come
out, concerning spying an espionage, illegal, I should say.
Carville: But he was doing it on the basis, it seemed, of GSOCs own

statement from the day before?
Mooney: Im not so sure that Alan Shatter is being so forthcoming,

again baseless innuendo, given the security report has stated and
what he published in the Sunday Times. Its quite clear this isnt
baseless innuendo, they were running state-of-the-art
countersurveillance tests on their internal communications and external
communication system and anyone who knows anything about a black
operation, which this is, thats a spying operation thats run off the books
and is deniable, that the first thing you do when you organise these, you
give yourself and exit strategy. And if youre asking me, my worthless
opinion, the bits and pieces that they found during these screening tests
were the loose ends that those involved in this forgot to tie up and have
left a signature which showed that something was going on.
But, again, I think you have to go back to this. Youve a number of
issues here: youve the comments and the statements that Alan Shatter
gave the Dil yesterday [Tuesday], you have the unprecedented
situation where Enda Kenny, the Taoiseach of this State, went off and
gave comments that were completely inaccurate about the legislative
requirements of the Garda Ombudsman and you have the bizarre
situation, like it, its just feeding into this problem about the
administration of justice, whereby Alan Shatter, for example. There was
information read into the Dil record about the Confidential Recipient [a
transcript of a conversation between Garda whistleblower Maurice
McCabe and the Confidential Recipient Oliver Connolly in which Mr
Connolly warned Sgt McCabe that Alan Shatter will go after you], we
were trying to seek, to find out, has the Justice Department done
anything about this?
These are the most incredible allegations being made and I dont think
there has beenI was asking tonight, there was something that Im
very deeply interested in as it seems now Im the subject of some sort
of investigation did Alan Shatter sign a warrant for surveillance on
the Garda Ombudsman? I still cant get an answer on that. So I
think this is gravely important, I think theres been a really serious
attempt by the State to cover this up over the last couple of days
and its blown up in their faces.
An Irish citizen pictured going out for a stroll in Dublin City, 2013
From the 1st of January 2013 to the 28th of August 2013 a
total of 59 viable explosive devices (or bombs) have
been defused or otherwise made safe by the Explosive
Ordnance Disposal Unit of glaigh na hireann (Defence
Forces Ireland). That is 59 bombs of various types and
explosive content over a period of just 35 weeks. There
were a further 109 suspect or hoax devices examined.
Virtually all of them originated in Irelands criminal
underworld and the increasingly paramilitarized narco-
gangs of the cities of Dublin, Limerick and Cork.
Ireland is becoming the Mexico of western Europe and no
one in government seems to care as long as the trouble is
kept at acceptable levels of violence (and in 2012 that
meant some 3000 reported gun and bomb incidences
across our nation-state)
Corrupt Irish Police Force: The Garda
By:
John Donovan - RoyalDutchShellPLC.com
OSSL is the whistleblower Mr Fixit company that has admitted distributing bribes to the Irish Police
(the Garda) and other parties on behalf of their client, Irish Shell, to smooth the path of the
controversial Corrib Gas project in Ireland.
OSSL director Desmond Kane has drawn my attention to the astonishing news articles below, which
speak volumes about the deeply flawed integrity of the Garda.
OSSL has spoken directly with Royal Dutch Shell CEO Ben van Beurden about the corruption in
question and related very serious actions carried out by OSSL at the express instruction of Irish Shell,
which funded the bribes, including 30,000 worth of alcohol.

Garda whistleblower review may become a full inquiry: Irish Examiner: Monday, October 10, 2016
Gardai used secret taxpayer fund to buy meals and gifts: Irish News: Sunday 9 Oct 2016
Senior garda bid to destroy whistleblower requires dramatic response, says Fianna Fil: Irish
Examiner: 5 October 2016
Posted Date:
11 October 2016
Link:
http://royaldutchshellplc.com/2016/10/10/corrupt-irish-police-force-the-...
CORRUPT IRISH POLICE FORCE: THE

GARDA
Oct 10th, 2016 by John Donovan.
By John Donovan
OSSL is the whistleblower Mr Fixit company that has
admitted distributing bribes to the Irish Police (the Garda) and
other parties on behalf of their client, Irish Shell, to smooth
the path of the controversial Corrib Gas project in Ireland.
OSSL director Desmond Kane has drawn my attention to the

astonishing news articles below, which speak volumes about
the deeply flawed integrity of the Garda.
OSSL has spoken directly with Royal Dutch Shell CEO Ben van
Beurden about the corruption in question and related very
serious actions carried out by OSSL at the express instruction
of Irish Shell, which funded the bribes, including 30,000
worth of alcohol.
Garda whistleblower review may become a full

inquiry
The review into the alleged mistreatment of garda whistleblowers
could be widened into a full-blown inquiry, Justice Minister Frances
Fitzgeralds office has said.
Monday, October 10, 2016
Pressure is growing for the review of the treatment of garda

whistleblowers to include other garda who have raised allegations
of malpractice.
Retired judge Iarfhlaith ONeill has been asked to examine the latest
allegations. These include claims by Superintendent Dave Taylor
that senior garda orchestrated a smear campaign against
whistleblower Sgt Maurice McCabe.
The former garda press officer, in a protected disclosure to Ms
Fitzgerald, claims he was instructed to spread rumours and lies
about Sgt McCabe to media and politicians. Supt Taylor says text
messages on a mobile phone back up his claims. But the handset
was taken into garda custody during separate inquiries into leaks to
the media about a Roma child.
Any inability of Judge ONeill to access the phone may curtail the
inquiry, it was claimed yesterday. Disabilities Minister Finian
McGrath said: I would accept that that [the phone] will be an
important part of any investigation.
Mr McGrath said on RTs The Week in Politics: You can take it the
Independent Alliance will raise that at Cabinet level.
Separately, there is pressure for the review to be widened, or for a
larger inquiry. The review, currently, is looking at internal garda
reports, believed to be from Sgt McCabe and Supt Taylor, and two
separate documents by John Barrett, a head of human resources for
the force. Judge ONeill is to report back within six weeks.
But other whistleblowers want to be included. Nick Keogh, in the
garda drugs squad in Athlone, has sent a solicitors letter to Ms
Fitzgerald asking to be included. He alleges malpractice in the force
and collusion with criminals.
Frances Fitzgerald
Garda whistleblower Keith Harrison has also complained to Ms

Fitzgerald of the narrow review, RT reported. He says his career
was ruined after he arrested a detective garda for suspected drink
driving.
Former Public Accounts chairman, John McGuinness, has called for a
wider review, saying there were deeper problems.
The Department of Justice last night said Judge ONeills review
would report in six weeks and would include any recommendations
for further action, which may be appropriate and warranted to
address the allegations.
Ms Fitzgeralds department added: This could, of course, include
forms of statutory inquiry, if the review sees fit.
The Garda Ombudsman has received a surge in garda whistleblower
complaints this year, with 13 disclosures to date in 2017 compared
to 11 over the previous three years, writes Cormac O'Keeffe.
The development comes as the Garda Sochna Ombudsman

Commission (Gsoc) secured sanction for five extra staff from the
Department of Justice to investigate what has become a backlog of
such cases.
Gsoc welcomed what it said was a starting allocation of personnel

but said that, before now, it had not been given any additional staff
or resources to investigate these complicated complaints since it was
given a role to do so in 2014.
In a strongly-worded statement, Gsoc said that, in passing the
Protected Disclosures Act 2014, there appeared to have been no
regard for the powers and procedures of Gsoc under the Garda
Sochna Act 2005, which had led to investigative complexities
that had been challenging to reconcile.
Last September, Gsoc chair Judge Mary Ellen Ring told the
Oireachtas justice committee that protected disclosure investigations
were complex and that there was no doubt she would like to devote
more time to them.
Independents 4 Change TDs Mick Wallace and Clare Daly raised

serious concerns regarding the operation of the protected
disclosures system and the delays in investigating cases.
Judge Ring said it was clearly an issue and that it would clearly be
of benefit if Gsoc had a skilled and dedicated team. At the time, she
said they had four protected disclosures.
Gsocs 2016 annual report, published earlier this month, said it had
had 11 disclosures by the end of the year. This included four cases
from 2014 and 2015 and a further seven in 2016.
Gsocs statement said it had had 13 disclosures already this year.

In early 2017, in particular, we saw an increase in such disclosures,
it said. To date, there have been 24 disclosures under the 2014 Act
made to Gsoc.
In the almost three years since the legislation was passed Gsoc has
not received any additional personnel or accompanying resources to
carry out the necessary investigations. Gsoc has had to add on this
important work to an already congested workload.
The Irish Examiner reported yesterday that Gsoc was struggling with
a significantly increased caseload, in addition to ongoing vacancies,
which stand at seven positions. The ombudsman has 27 public
interest investigations ongoing, most of which are complicated and
time-consuming inquiries, some ongoing since 2014.
Of the 27 inquiries, 15 were referred by former justice minister

Frances Fitzgerald under the Independent Review Mechanism.
The Gsoc statement said it had recently been informed by the

Department of Justice, in conjunction with the Department of Public
Expenditure and Reform, that posts for four investigators, along with
a support staff member, had been sanctioned to investigate
protected disclosures.
The Protected Disclosures Act 2014 replaced the existing

confidential recipient system for whistleblowers which had become
embroiled in controversy.
However, the statement said: In passing the 2014 Act there appears
to have been no regard for the provisions of part 4 of the Garda
Sochna Act 2005 and this had led to investigative complexities
which have been challenging to reconcile.
It said the allocation of five staff was welcome and that steps were
already underway to fill the posts.
The commission further welcomes the commitment by the Tnaiste

that it is hoped to build on this starting allocation of personnel in
the context of the estimates for 2018, Gsoc said.
This is a commitment Gsoc will pursue into the future.
The Government will publish the terms of reference later for a

statutory inquiry into the treatment of Garda whistleblowers.
The current Commissioner Nirn O'Sullivan and her predecessor

Martin Callinan have been accused of trying to destroy the
reputation of a senior officer who made a complaint about the force.
Sergeant Maurice McCabe had said there was Garda mismanagement

in the Cavan/Monaghan division.
Maurice McCabe
The scope of the forthcoming commission of investigation, which

will examine his claims, hinges on an initial report by a retired judge
also to be released today.
However Commissioner O'Sullivan will not be asked to stand aside
during the course of the inquiry.
Garda corruption rife

claims lobby body
Justice4all
BYADELINA CAMPOS
09:00, 18 MAY 2014
Dr Richard O'Flaherty, Luke Ming Flanagan TD and John Wilson

Chairperson of Justice4All
Members of Justice4All said the organisation has been inundated with

allegations of corruption in the force
An advocacy group has revealed it is shocked at the number of whistleblowers who

have come forward with allegations of Garda wrongdoing.
Members of Justice4All said the organisation has been inundated with allegations of
corruption in the force.
The body was was set up by TDs Clare Daly, Luke Ming Flanagan, Joan Collins
and Mick Wallace to highlight injustices within the legal system, the judiciary and the
gardai.
Mr Flanagan said on Saturday that Minister Fitzgerald needs to deal with these
allegations as a matter of priority.
He added: While there was, over the last 18 months, a consistent number of new
cases coming to Justice4All, that has now turned into a stream of complaints.
The TDs offices do not have the resources or staffing to handle the rate they are
now arriving at. Many of the people we deal with have suffered horrendous treatment.
They have been let down by the State.
The new Minister for Justice has promised she will move decisively to bring about
change in our policing.
This is a great chance for her to put those words into action. Ireland can look back on
the long, drawn-out process that people had to go through when dealing with abuse
within Catholic Church-run institutions. Will we have the same slow process now
when dealing with the abuses within the Garda Siochana?
The Minister must learn from the past. She already has over three dozen cases the
Taoiseach has sent to her.
Many of these cases were handed to the Taoiseach by Justice4All in March.
On Wednesday, the Oireachtas Justice Committee heard details of what has

happened in some of our Garda stations.
Senators and TDs remarked that we need to get a clearer picture of the abuses and
the malpractices which have occurred.
The group is now urging Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald to set-up a Garda
complaints forum to deal with the large number of people coming forward.
Mr Flanagan said: A forum to collate such details would be a first step in getting an
understanding of the severity of what has occurred.
We urge the Minister to act now and to set up a forum to take on the case load.
We recommend a non-judicious body that will simply collate the many cases.
This body will then inform the Minister as to the extent, variety and nature of the
failings within the Gardai, the GSOC, and related law enforcement agencies of the
state.
http://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/crime/garda-
corruption-rife-claims-lobby-3558458
An Garda Sochna and the culture of a

dangerously corrupted police force
Nepotism and pull are alive and well in
Garda force
April 4, 2017 - 2:45pm
An Garda Sochna, more commonly referred to as the Garda
is the police force of Ireland. For many years the Garda
Sochna has faced allegations of corrupt and dishonest
policing. There has been a history of the mishandling of
investigations. This included the past failure of the Garda
Sochna to protect victims of child abuse in the Dublin
Archdiocese. Involving the church sexual abuse scandal in
Ireland which revealed inappropriate relationships and
contacts between Garda and the Dublin Archdiocese. This was
at a time when deference to religious authorities was a factor
in the failure to lay charges against any senior church figures.
Over the years ongoing recognition of failures and allegations
of dishonest policing has attracted considerable attention,
leading to government investigations and resulting in a
number of reform initiatives. Sadly the dysfunctionality of An
Garda Sochna has been evident for a long time and
continues. Public confidence in the force is low and there is a
widespread belief that they can do what they like and concoct
stories to suite their own ends. Recent revelations have been
shocking. Not least has been the treatment and attempts to
threaten and undermine whistleblowers from within the
Garda.
One of which involved Maurice McCabe. A Garda Sergeant, he
tried to expose corruption within the police force. There then
followed a number of suspected reprisals against Sgt Maurice
McCabe for his actions. This has now led to a Tribunal being
established into alleged Garda malpractice that will investigate
claims that senior garda management directed a smear
campaign against him. Including possible involvement in the
fabrication of child abuse allegations against him. It is also
alleged in a protected disclosure made by the former head of
the Garda press office Supt David Taylor that he was
instructed by senior Garda management to negatively brief the
media and others about Sgt McCabe.
The latest controversy to hit the force is over breath tests and
fixed charge notices. There were 146,000 motorists wrongly
summoned to court for road-traffic infringements after they
had already paid fixed-charge notices. Some 14,700 people
were convicted and sanctions imposed. It was also revealed
that from 2011 to 2016, the number of drink-driving tests
garda claimed to have carried out was hugely exaggerated, by
over 937,000. The exaggeration of drink driving tests has been
described by some as "fake policing".
Now there will be another review, which has been promised as
a root and branch review of the garda force. Unfortunately,
there is little public confidence in the present weak Irish
government and Minister for Justice doing what is necessary
with the police force. There is a crisis of public confidence in
respect of An Garda Sochna. The fear of a dangerously
corrupted police force and the extent of the damage which has
been done to the Garda is alarming. Now is the time for real
root and branch reform.
The position of the present Garda Commissioner Nirn
O'Sullivan is no longer tenable and she has to go. The whole
structure of the force needs to be reformed, including looking
into more civilian involvement. The method of appointment to
the senior ranks needs to be changed, alongside the
engagement of a capable Garda Commissioner. Stronger
powers need to be given to the Police Authority, the Garda
Inspector and ombudsman. The Irish government needs to act
to restore public confidence in An Garda Sochna so that
people can have faith in the fundamental administration of
justice in Ireland.
Last week, as it was reported the Policing Authority is to fill its first
senior position since it was handed that power, the Garda Review
warned in an editorial that nepotism and pull are alive and well in
the selection process.
Today ex-garda Patrick Horan, now a lawyer, argues that methods of
promotion have sullied the honour of the force.
Without question, An Garda Sochna has been one of the most

respected of our public institutions in the country, present scandal
involving Sgt Maurice McCabeexcepted.
Many of its members have, to borrow a military euphemism,
embedded themselves in communities up and down the country and
as a consequence are especially prevalent, particularly in the realm
of sport where many have given generously to coach under-age
teams.
Not an inconsiderable number have represented their county at All-
Ireland hurling and football level with distinction.
An Garda Sochna is also one of the most corrupted public
institutions in the country, with a corruption localised within the
upper echelons of the force from where it permeates down.
This is not corruption as it is traditionally known or understood,
where there is dishonest or fraudulent conduct, typically involving
bribery. This is instead a systemic corrosion and it is the procedures
for promotion and advancement within the garda which are the
well-springs fromwhich it originates.
It has always been a truism that progression within the force was
dependent on two factors: Patronage and team spirit.
Patronage simply means having someone of higher rank within the
job or pre-eminence within a political party who can vouch for a
candidate when they apply for promotion.
Team spirit or initiative are deliberately nebulous terms designed by
management and which feature particularly on applications for
vacancies within the job.
The sole function of such management-speak is to covertly separate
in advance those deemed eligible for promotion from those who are
not.
But from an examination of this most corrupt of practices within the
job can one see the true extent of the problem affecting the
organisation, a problem which Judge Frederick Morris, in the Tribunal
bearing his name, pointedly noted 12 years ago had remained
unchanged for over seven decades.
The promotion-charade begins when a vacancy is advertised via
internal circulars. Potential candidates are invited to submit
applications for the position, noting the criteria for initiative or team
spirit or some such other bland corporate-jargon terminology lifted
from the pages of a secondary school business textbook by a HQ
flunky.
But nobody is fooled by what Charles De Gaulle once described in a
political context as this absurd ballet.
Everyone knows that when a job becomes vacant it is not really
vacant, for it is already destined for some favourite candidate
somewhere, a candidate who has shownthe requisite degree of
slavish obedience and an unthinking determination to follow orders
without question.
These therefore are the primary attributes which Garda management
value in a candidate.
Those who are prepared to demonstrate servility without question
(code for keeping the lower ranks in line) flourish accordingly.
Those who are not wither on the vine. Nevertheless, when a vacancy
arises the weary ruse must be carried through and sham interviews
must be conducted to fulfil civil service legal requirements that a
position be advertised to all, lest some upstart institute High Court
proceedings.
If there is one thing that petrifies management, it is the nightmarish
thought of being called to account before the High Court. The sham
interview process has been so fine-tuned over the years that garda
are adept at determining, often months before interviews commence,
who the successful candidate will be.
Yet candidates still march forward to throw their hats into the ring.
Why so if the result is not in doubt? Because a failure to apply for a
job, even a job which you know you cannot possibly get, regardless
of your excellent credentials, will be thrown back at you at some
future date as evidence of a previous lack of initiative.
There is nothing that the job dislikes more than a lack of initiative in
a candidate. Hence the soul-destroying practice, undertaken by many
able but failed candidates, of sitting pointless examinations and
attending humiliating interviews every year only to be rejected each
and every time.
This indignity is magnified by the sight of lesser-able candidates,
usually company-men, scurrying with ease up, as Harold MacMillan
called it, the greasy pole of promotion.
These company-men will form the future leadership of the force and
their followers, usually as limited as they, will be directly behind
them, thus ensuring a perpetual cycle of mediocrity and banality,
choking the rarified air amongst the upper echelons of the force to
the exclusion of men and women who may have superior talents but
who are shut out by dint of lacking all patronage.
An example of which I have personal knowledge is illustrative. In the
late 1990s, I was attached to a station in a busy Midlands town. One
of the stations senior detectives announced, in February or March
one year,that he would retire the following December.
We were all disappointed as he was a gentleman without fail, quiet
but effective and always with a spare moment for greenhorns such
as myself. His decision made, thoughts then turned as to who might
succeed him.
Within two months we had our answer. A sergeant from outside the
town was appointed to a vacant position within the station.This man
was known to play golf with a very senior member of the force in the
area. We all knew immediately that this was to be, regardless of the
formality of interviews, the successful candidate.
As dispiriting as all this was, men still put their names forward for an
interview which they knew was already decided. One candidate
stood head and shoulders above the rest.
He (John not his real name) was a man with significant crime-
fighting experience in Dublin, a veritable walking encyclopaedia of
criminal law and respected to the point of reverence by his
colleagues, including myself.
John too decided to demonstrate his initiative by applying for the job
that really wasnt on offer but he was kind enough to tip some of us
off in advance that he was doing so for no other reason than a sense
of morbid curiosity.
The contrast between John and the golf-mad drone who succeeded
to the position was the starkest I had ever witnessed in the force:
One man deserved the position because of demonstrable and
accepted excellence, the other was so incompetent I cannot
overstate this as to have no business applying in the first place.
No prizes for guessing who was successful.
John had the good grace afterwards to tell us how the interview had
progressed. To ensure that the right man got the job, the three-
member interview panel was headed by the senior officer whose
golfing pal was also in the running.
To head off the patent absurdity unfolding whereby somebody with
years of serious crime experience was being jettisoned in favour of
somebody with none, the senior officer asked John whether if
another job somewhere else came up would you be prepared to take
it?
John smiled and asked:Why? Is this job already taken? The senior
officer turned red-faced and spluttered No! No! Of course not! Were
still holding interviews!
We all laughed when John recounted this story to us later, but the
laughter was ironic and bitter. Starkly, perhaps fatally, the realisation
had struck, after less than two years in the job, that no matter how
hard you worked, no matter how well you did your job, your career
progression in the garda was predetermined at birth, at the moment
you passed the wrought-iron gates of Templemore Training College.
GARDA COMPLAINTS IGNORED
The Garda Sochna Ombudsman Commission claims
to be an independent statutory body. It was established
under the Garda Sochna Act 2005 to replace the Garda
Complaints Board, which had failed.
Their Mission Statement

states as follows:
The Garda Sochna Ombudsman Commission will provide
an independent and effective civilian oversight of policing. It
will deal with the publics complaints concerning Garda fairly
and efficiently so that everyone can have confidence in the
complaints system.
The Garda Sochna Ombudsman Commission ,
under the Act, is required and empowered to:
Directly and independently investigate complaints against
members of the Garda Sochna;
Investigate any matter, even where no complaint has been
made, where it appears that a Garda may have
committed an offence or behaved in a way that would
justify disciplinary proceedings;
Investigate any practice, policy or procedure of the Garda
Sochna with a view to reducing the incidence of
related complaints.
The Garda Sochna Ombudsman Commission have

failed miserably in the case of Kevin Tracey, Karen
Tracey and their family. They failed to investigate
any of their complaints. In all the cases detailed on
this website:
a) the complaints were not independently
investigated.
b) even if no complaints were made by Kevin and
Karen Tracey and where garda committed offences
against them which would justify
disciplinary proceedings these offences were not
investigated by the Garda Sochna Ombudsman
Commission .
c) when evidence of corruption and abuse was
produced and repeated the Garda Sochna
Ombudsman Commission did not investigate matters
with a view to reducing the incidence of garda
corruption. Despite claims by them to be "independent" the
Garda Sochna Ombudsman Commission to this very
day have garda investigating garda, which was the case in the
Garda Complaints Board. It is a fact that the Garda
Complaints Board have moved their office to the office of the
Garda Sochna Ombudsman Commission . It is also a
fact that employess of the Garda Complaints Board including
such people as Anthony Duggan former Chief Executive is
now a member of the Management Team of the Garda
Sochna Ombudsman Commission . He has a record of
involvement in the coverup of corruption and abuse by garda.
The Irish people are being fooled once again about the
"independence" of the Garda Sochna Ombudsman
Commission . Kevin and Karen Tracey have made
complaints about corruption and abuse by garda but they have
been ignored and covered up - not surprising !
Further corruption exists in the complaints procedure against
offending garda. There is ample evidence that the Garda
Sochna Ombudsman Commission is corrupt.
Dil debates (debates of the Irish Parliament)
Thursday, 14 April 2005
Garda Sochna Bill 2004 [Seanad]: Second Stage (Resumed).
Full Speech: http://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2005-
04-14.241.0&s=kevin+tracey#g273.0
Tommy Broughan TD
Member of Irish Parliament
"I am delighted to have the opportunity to welcome the Garda
Sochna Bill 2004.
.......................................................................................................
................... I welcome the proposed replacement of the Garda
Sochna Complaints Board by the independent Garda
Ombudsman Commission. Citizens have complained about the
length of time it takes to deal with complaints. In one case a
complaint was made to the Garda Sochna Complaints
Board by Mr. Kevin Tracey. He called to my clinic and that
of the Minister and effectively asked for a complaint he had
made to the board to be dealt with and reported. He made
that complaint approximately two or three years ago. I have
a file containing quite serious allegations which he has made.
It is disappointing that the board did not report on his
complaint. It is unfair that no report is available on serious
allegations made. In the case of Mr. Traceys complaint, the
new Garda Ombudsman Commission would have the
resources and the structures to deal with it in an efficient
manner.
There are some aspects relating to time limits which may
require examination. The Garda Sochna Complaints
Board is an independent body which does not report to the
Minister and certainly does not report to me, but what
happens when it takes on a case and just sits on it, as is
alleged in this case? For the sake of the family of the
complainant, Mr. Tracey, and everybody else, the
complaints made should be dealt with and laid to rest. I
mention this case because I had no other opportunity to do
so. I ask the Minister to ensure the case is
addressed..........................................................
..................................................... I welcome the provisions in
respect of the accountability of the Garda Ombudsman
Commission, in particular in respect of offences which may
have been committed as a result of the misbehaviour of a
member of the force................................................ I wish the
Bill well".
To this year 2013 this complaint has still not been investigaged
by the Garda Ombudsman Commission despite the speech
above made in the Dal on the 14th April 2005 by Tommy
Broughan TD and the Ombudsman Commission being fully
aware of this outstanding complaint. It is also disturbing that the
Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform Michael
McDowell TD (as mentioned above by Tommy Broughan TD)
did nothing to ensure this case was addressed.
This complaint concerned a physical assault on Kevin Tracey by
an off duty garda (Eunan Dolan) which was deemed admissible
by the Garda Complaints Board. However, one month later
the garda at Ballyfermot (lead by Inspector Paul Gillen
pictured below) proceeded to coverup this assault on Kevin
Tracey and the investigation of his complaint. In order to
distract from the admissible complaint of Kevin Tracey the
same garda maliciously proceeded to the District Court with
another fabricated charge against Kevin Tracey, which was
dismissed after two days in the District Court. Judge Michael
White is a member of the Circuit Court. The Circuit Court
released entirely false and damaging information to the Irish
Times which stated that Kevin Tracey was convicted and as a
consequence Kevin Tracey lost his high professional position in
addition to huge outstanding professional fees. The details of
this case are in preparation and will be posted to this website in
due course.
Rogue Garda Inspector Paul Gillen
It is our view that it is a complete waste of time making

any complaint to the Garda Sochna Ombudsman
Commission which is staffed by Gardai and which is
evidently engaged in cover ups and corruption.
It is also our view that politicians are aware of this criminal
wrongdoing and the cover ups but ignore it.
Complaints against Garda Corruption have been made
for many years in Ireland and a lot of damage done to
decent innocent people. To date this issue has not
received due attention from the politicians who know
about it and have the power to change it.
In the case of garda corruption involving the McBrearty
family in Donegal a public meeting was held in November
2005 at the Mansion House in Dublin where hundreds of
people attended to voice their stories and anger with garda
corruption. Since this date in 2005 instead of garda
corruption improving it has got worse.
Dil debates
Thursday, 14 April 2005
What are Dil debates?
Garda Sochna Bill 2004 [Seanad]:
Second Stage (Resumed).
All Dil debates on 14 Apr 2005
Previous debate
Next debate
Question again proposed: "That the Bill be now read a Second
Time."
Add your comment
11:00 am
Sen Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein) Link to this: Individually | In
context
I begin by reiterating an important point that was made by our
party spokesperson on justice. Despite what some Members on
the Government side of the House have said, Sinn Fin does
not see the Garda S-ochna in the category as the RUC-PSNI.
We acknowledge the Garda as the State's legitimate police
service and recognise and applaud the good work done by many
garda- in our community over the years.
Add your comment
Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour) Link to this: Individually | In

context
Does that include Detective Garda Jerry McCabe?
Add your comment
Sen Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein) Link to this: Individually | In
context
Yes, it does. However, confidence in the Garda is diminishing in
many working class communities and the case for fundamental
reform is well-established and timely. Sinn Fin has published
detailed reform proposals to restore community confidence,
which we submitted to the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law
Reform for his consideration prior to this Bill's publication.
My colleagues will go into more detail on our proposals to
establish a policing board for civilian oversight and community
policing partnerships at district levels for local community
accountability, which differ from the Minister's proposed Garda
inspectorate in Part 5 and the joint policing committees in Part 2,
sections 30 to 34.
I turn to our proposal to establish a Garda ombudsman for this
State to investigate allegations of Garda misconduct and abuse
of power and to end the culture of impunity which is quite
different in several major respects from the ombudsman
commission proposed by the Minister in Parts 3 and 4 of the Bill.
Sinn Fin recommends the establishment, on a statutory basis,
of a fully independent Garda ombudsman to investigate police
misconduct. Impunity for police misconduct is a major human
rights issue around the world. It is not limited to the Six Counties
nor to this State. Last year, an Amnesty International report on
Europe revealed that impunity is endemic in most European
jurisdictions. We accept that the level and extent of misconduct
here is not equivalent to that of the RUC-PSNI but that does not
mean people in this jurisdiction do not deserve the same
standard of protections as their Northern counterparts. Indeed,
Strand Three of the Good Friday Agreement stipulates that
equivalence is an obligation on the Irish Government.
Sinn Fin's proposals for a Garda ombudsman are based on the
Patten reform model which is consistent with UN and Council of
Europe standards on policing. While Patten was, and remains, a
compromise for Sinn Fin, we have accepted it as the absolute
minimum acceptable standard for a human rights compliant and
accountable policing service. The ombudsman element of the
Sinn Fin Garda reform package is, therefore, consistent with
the Good Friday Agreement in that it relates to harmonisation of
human rights protections which, as set out in Strand Three, must
be at least equivalent in the two jurisdictions on the island. The
Minister cannot extract himself from his obligations in this
regard.
This is not only our view. We welcome the growing consensus
that only an ombudsman can provide an effective complaints
mechanism and that nothing less than an ombudsman can
command full public confidence. Leading human rights groups in
this State, the Human Rights Commission, the Irish Council for
Civil Liberties and Amnesty International have endorsed this as
the most appropriate model for the garda-. Amnesty
International went further, advocating it as a model for police
services throughout the EU. Other progressive political parties,
such as the Labour Party and the Green Party, have also
accepted it.
Consistent with the recommendations of the Irish Human Rights
Commission, Sinn Fin proposes that a Garda ombudsman
must be an open, merit based appointment selected on the basis
of published criteria. It must be established separately from any
body charged with a Garda management function or with a
mandate to review Garda efficiency and effectiveness. It must be
adequately resourced and staffed full time. It must be granted
the necessary legal powers and resources to conduct
independent investigations. It must be allowed a scope of
investigations that include the special detective unit unless and
until that unit is disbanded.
It must be authorised to question witnesses, compel document
disclosure and access locations at will. It must be granted the
same legal powers as garda- to arrest and hold criminal
suspects related to its own investigations. It must be empowered
to determine breaches of Garda disciplinary code and to refer
evidence of criminality on the part of garda- to the Director of
Public Prosecutions. It must be empowered to resolve
appropriate complaints informally with the complainant's consent
or to resolve complaints formally by assigning penalties and
remedies, including recommendation for disciplinary action,
dismissal, changes in policy or procedure or compensation to the
complainant. It must be empowered to investigate systemic
problems, including policies and practices, and make general
recommendations to eliminate causes and classes of complaints.
Where determined necessary by the ombudsman, this should
include matters of national security.
The Garda ombudsman must be empowered to conduct
independent investigations on matters of public interest on his or
her own volition or on the request of the Minister without the
need for a complainant. Investigations should be compulsory in
the cases of certain violations involving loss of life, excessive
force, ill treatment in custody, discrimination and political
interference. Of critical importance for justice in this State and
necessary for a real end to impunity, it must have retrospective
investigative powers. Any information that becomes available to
the Director of Public Prosecutions, which indicates Garda
misconduct, should be automatically referred to the Garda
ombudsman. Garda- under investigation should be afforded the
full protection of due process rights. Both parties should be
afforded equal treatment before the law, including full disclosure
and access to legal aid in cases where there is need and an
opinion of sufficient merit.
The Garda ombudsman must be required to produce an annual
report for publication, including statistics, identified trends or
patterns, analyses and recommendations. The Government must
establish a mechanism for effective interaction, sharing of
information and collaborative investigation that enables the
Garda ombudsman and the Police Ombudsman for the Six
Counties to work together.
As the Irish Human Rights Commission has argued to the
Minister, this reform is not only necessary to respond adequately
to the criticism of the existing complaints system and
recommendations raised repeatedly by the UN human rights
committee and the European committee for the prevention of
torture over ten years, it is also required to conform with both
the European Court of Human Rights jurisprudence on standards
of independence and impartiality in police conduct investigations
and the Good Friday Agreement provisions on equivalent human
rights protections between jurisdictions.
We welcome the Government's recognition that internal
investigations and the Garda Complaints Board have proved
totally inadequate. Both Governments' commitments to establish
an independent complaints procedure date back to 1973. This
issue must be resolved in the proper way without further delay.
We have an opportunity now to shape the policing of the future
for the people of Ireland and it is critical we get it right.
I recognise and welcome that since Sinn Fin made its
submission to the Minister, he has moved away from his
fundamentally flawed earlier Garda inspectorate model which
wrongly combined investigatory with management functions and,
in many ways, replicated the flaws of the current system. I
acknowledge that he has taken on board several of our
recommendations. However, the newly proposed ombudsman
commission still does not get it right. The Minister's new model
has also been criticised again by the Human Rights Commission.
It has raised the following concerns which we share.
The appointment and dismissal processes are still not fully
independent and transparent. Complaints can still be referred to
the Garda Commissioner without the complainant's consent. Six
months, the general time limit for complaints, is unreasonably
short and restricts access to justice. The Garda Commissioner
retains too much power over the investigation process and we
could still end up with ineffective internal investigations where
the outcome was less than death or serious harm. There is no
obligation whatsoever on the commission to formally investigate
serious cases involving allegations of torture, sexual assault or
other abusive behaviour on the grounds of race or sexual
orientation or political opinion if the end result was less than
serious injury or death. Investigations can still be restricted in
the name of national security and the commission still lacks the
power to initiate investigations into individual incidents or
systemic patterns of misconduct or abuse. These are the main
concerns. There are others which my colleague, Deputy
Snodaigh, will treat in greater detail on Committee Stage.
I hope the Minister will accept Sinn Fin's constructive
amendments to strengthen this aspect of the proposed legislation
as I very much want to be able to throw my party's support
behind this reform effort when the Bill returns to the House on
Report Stage. I do not want ministerial intransigence to force me
into a position of voting against this Bill.
I urge the Minister to go the extra mile and accept the consensus
on the ombudsman issue and the broader issue of the validity of
the Patten reform model for this jurisdiction. If he does so, he
will have introduced legislation which commands all-party
support. I urge him to take this opportunity to make genuine
policing reform his positive lasting legacy as Minister for Justice,
Equality and Law Reform.
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Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael) Link to this: Individually | In context

I welcome the Bill and the debate which deal with the
fundamental issue of how the Garda operates and how the
service can be improved and the service that we, as politicians,
think ought to be provided. Listening to the last speaker I am
delighted Sinn Fin is talking about human rights. Sinn Fin
and its fellow travellers in the IRA have a dismal and appalling
human rights record North and South.
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The Deputy should not kid himself, they are only talking about it.
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I am not kidding myself. This is the party that has a baseball bat
in one hand and an election poster in the other. It is time for
them to make that step from the gun and the baseball bat to
democracy. If they do that it will be welcome and overdue. To sit
in a democratic Parliament and mouth the words it has just
mouthed is insincere and hypocritical in the absence of such a
commitment and decision from the party and its different
organisations, which are all the one.
The issue of the Garda is one on which the Government
campaigned strongly. In The Irish Times of the election date on
www.ireland.com the security correspondent wrote that the
significant difference between Fianna Fil and the Labour Party,
Fine Gael and others was on the key issue of the Garda, and the
fact that Fianna Fil promised to recruit an extra 2,000 garda-
two years ago. This was the first time that had been proposed
and it was an important and significant development. Obviously it
was expected that would happen within weeks or months. We are
two years down the road and still waiting for a fundamental
change in the number of garda- on our streets in towns, cities
and communities. It was a con job by the Government in the
general election campaign but we intend to hold it to that
promise. We will continue to push for more and a better
resourced Garda capable of providing a 21st century service to
which the public is entitled.
An issue that arose recently was the number of garda- on duty
on St. Patrick's Day. We read in the national newspapers prior to
the day that more garda- would be on duty in Dublin and in
cities and towns and everybody thought that was great. When it
was over we heard there were more garda- on duty on St.
Patrick's Day around the country than ever before. However,
when one tables a Dil question and asks specifically about
County Louth and how many garda- were on duty in the towns
of Drogheda, Dundalk and Ardee on St. Patrick's Day one is told
that information is not available, that it is a reserve function of
the Garda Commissioner to keep secret as an operational matter.
Where is the transparency and openness on Garda policy? What
PR stunt is being pulled by the Department of Justice, Equality
and Law Reform in the context of the number of garda- on duty
post the event? I do not want to know how many will be on duty
tomorrow in Dublin city or any of those operational matters
which it is important should not become public. After the event,
surely the political system and the public are entitled to know if
we are being protected or if it is all rubbish and PR stunts from
the Government and, particularly, the Minister for Justice,
Equality and Law Reform. I am appalled at the lack of
information on a basic fundamental issue of how many garda-
are on duty, where they are and what they are doing post the
event. I hope this will be covered in the Bill.
I note the Bill refers to changed fundamental approaches
between the Garda and the local community. One of those
changes is important and useful as it involves local authorities in
local police issues. Recently in Dundalk an important public
meeting was attended by the Garda and local authority members
which was fully reported on in the local newspapers. This was the
first indication of a new move between the Garda and the
community, led by the political system. This is the type of
policing the people need in their local communities
transparency, openness and co-operation between the Garda and
the community. The local elected representatives are the proper
people to debate the issue and inform Garda opinion. I welcome
that move which is welcome also by the Garda who do a good
job.
One of the key issues in Ireland is the lack of CCTV in many
towns and cities, although it is in some of the major cities. In
regard to modern policing, the Garda superintendent in Dundalk
made it clear that is what he wants. He was photographed in the
newspaper with approximately 16 screens behind him. People in
Dundalk feel safe and secure, and rightly so, because they have
CCTV. However, when one moves down the road to Drogheda
there is no such CCTV system in place. The Garda superintendent
in Drogheda wants it also. When I tabled a Dil question to our
wonderful Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform asking
what was happening in regard to CCTV in Drogheda, the
response was to wait until the end of 2006 and, if one was lucky,
it might be available in 2007. There are 17 such applications
before the Minister, but none of the towns is as large as
Drogheda, and all will have CCTV in place. However, the Minister
is lightening the burden on the Garda S-ochna by seeking a
new method of tendering for this equipment.
Let us get the facts right. The biggest town in Ireland is
Drogheda and it does not have CCTV in place. Under this
Government it will not have it until 2007. That is not acceptable.
I have written to the Minister asking him to meet with a
deputation from our community to make a strong case to him in
person. CCTV has to be at the heart of modern policing.
A change in policy is needed from the top on where and how we
do our policing, particularly late at night. There is no point in
having Garda stations manned successfully from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
when at night, particularly at weekends, there is only a limited
number of garda- on duty. The reality is that public disorder
occurs mainly on Friday and Saturday nights. That is when we
need a greater number of garda- and their presence on the
streets. If one speaks to the Garda, some of its members express
the fear that if there are inadequate numbers on duty they will
be personally exposed to assault and attack which, sadly, has
happened.
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It is a legitimate fear.
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It is a real fear. Why are more garda- not rostered for weekend
and night duty? Is it a question of the Government not being
prepared to pay the overtime? Clearly it is not prepared to recruit
the garda-. That is the nub of the issue in regard to public order
offences throughout the country. CCTV in not in place in enough
towns and cities nor are there enough garda- on duty at night.
I refer to a photograph which appeared in the Drogheda
Independent recently. It was of mounted garda- on horses in
the town. The next week I looked at the Dundalk newspaper and
saw the same photograph. I wondered whether the horse had
galloped up and down during the week or if the horse was on a
PR course around the country. I welcome the fact that mounted
police were on duty on at least one occasion in Drogheda and
that the same horse appeared in Dundalk. I do not know what
the facts are but I thought it was funny. I welcome it and I would
like to see more. Let us be modern.
Let us look at what has happened in America, New York and Los
Angeles where the whole police organisation was changed to put
them on duty on rota when one knows there will be trouble. Why
have a Garda station full of garda- from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and
few on duty at night?
When travelling to Dublin during the past few days I have noticed
an increase in the number of garda- on patrol on the motorway.
That is good, helpful and constructive. While the Garda may be
on duty the number of cameras for the purpose of catching
speeding motorists is inadequate. There ought to be hundreds
more cameras on motorways and on the approaches to towns
which are high risk accident areas without the necessity to take a
garda from other work to do that job.
This morning a wonderful gentleman suddenly decided to skip
down the bus lane to get into town earlier, leaving the rest of us
motorists stranded in a queue, which has become longer since
this Government took office. I suggest that speed cameras be
used on the bus lanes in place of garda-. It would be a practical
and cost-effective measure, even though I acknowledge the
worth of a Garda presence.
I wish to highlight the difference in Garda numbers in different
towns with which I am familiar. I will not name the towns. One
town may have no garda on street duty at 8 p.m. or 9 p.m. while
in other towns many garda- are on duty. Different policies
regarding the number of garda- on the beat seem to apply in
different areas. I am not suggesting that garda- are moved
from area A to area B but rather that the numbers in the main
towns should be augmented.
The link between the community and the garda- has been
broken by that wonderful invention, the Garda car. The garda on
the beat is a key element. I noticed on a recent visit to America
that police bicycle patrols are used. These are cost-effective and
efficient. I was a member of the Garda S-ochna and the
exercise would have kept me slimmer. Modernisation in the form
of a rapid response unit is required. More garda- on the streets
give a sense of security.
I was in Philadelphia at a waste management conference which
was not a junket in the political sense. I noticed that at 6 p.m. all
the major city intersections had a police patrol in place.
Everybody knew they were there and it was a deterrent. I was
aware of the efficient and low-key presence of the police on the
streets of Philadelphia which is not apparent in Dublin or in other
cities and towns because garda- are not doing those jobs.
I question why the Garda is not provided with more resources
and why there is not a fundamental change in their operational
methods. I urge the Minister of State to take these points on
board in a constructive manner. People must feel safe. I presume
everyone in this House brings their car keys upstairs at night
unless one is a Minister. In my constituency many people
are robbed at night. Thieves can remove double glazing panels,
enter the house, take the car keys and drive off into the night.
What is being done about this? People do not feel that their cars
are safe outside the front door. That professional thieves are
travelling from the cities to commit these crimes. As a
benchmark of how this Government is not working and of the
lack of proper policing, I ask the public to judge the effectiveness
or otherwise of the policing system and in particular its level of
resourcing by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform.
People judge it according to whether their car will still be there in
the morning. This crime is becoming endemic and I ask the
Minister of State to examine strategies for dealing with it. One
strategy would be to have more garda- on duty at night and to
have greater vigilance on the motorways in order to intercept the
speeding thieves.
My constituency colleagues and I are fully supportive of the
Garda. The Garda S-ochna in County Louth are extremely
helpful to us and will help solve any problem in a constructive
manner. I do not mean we interfere with the business of the
Garda but rather we identify problems which have arisen in the
community. The biggest problem of all in our society is anti-
social behaviour. I would like to see many more community
police on duty in urban communities. I have put down a
parliamentary question today to the Minister on this matter.
Poorer communities which experience unemployment are also
more likely to have a drugs problem. It is essential to have a
better link between the people and the Garda. In Drogheda a
Garda sergeant has been nominated to deal with the issues
arising in one part of the town. People know the community
garda- and therefore they respect them. When I was young
everybody knew the local garda-. They were leaders in the
community and their families were known. It is too impersonal
now and contact has been lost. I do not wish to hear people
complaining that the Garda response to calls is slow or non-
existent. Part of the duties of the Garda S-ochna is to build
up strong links with the community. The juvenile liaison officers
have a positive interaction with schools and young people.
I welcome the Bill and look forward to the Minister changing the
operational procedures of the force and investing in better
resources, particularly for the communities which most need this
support.
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12:00 pm
Pat Carey (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail) Link to this: Individually | In
context
Like other speakers, I welcome the Bill and I am pleased to have
the opportunity to speak on Second Stage. Before dealing with
the detail of the Bill, I wish to pay tribute to the Garda
S-ochna. It has a very proud record of service to the country
since its foundation and it has evolved into quite a modern and
well-developed police force. Some members have given great
years of service to the force and some have given their lives to
protect us. A school colleague of mine, Tony Hickey, who retired
as Assistant Commissioner a few weeks ago, was one of the
greatest policemen of our time. I wish him a very long and happy
retirement.
I listened to many speakers because I was Acting Chairman for
some of the debate. I listened to Deputy Crowe extolling the
virtues of the Patten report. I regard the Patten report as a very
good report. However, the Patten Commission was set up to
reorganise a fundamentally dysfunctional police force. To cut to
the chase, if Sinn Fin and Deputy Crowe are so enamoured of
all the provisions of the Patten Commission's recommendations,
why then are they not members of the policing boards and of the
district policing partnerships, of which they are such great fans?
To be frank, the Chief Constable and his management team has
done a really good job. A police force must have the confidence
and the co-operation of the community. The PSNI is working
towards this goal and the Chief Constable is doing a good job in
achieving this.
The Garda S-ochna has been policing with the consent and
co-operation of the community in this Republic. I acknowledge
that improvements need to be made, that deficiencies exist and
that reforms are required. It gives me no pleasure to listen to re-
enactments of the Morris tribunal activities on night-time radio
programmes or to read about them in the newspapers. It is not
pleasant to hear about miscarriages of justice which arose due to
inadequate or faulty Garda investigations or instances where the
Garda has been at fault and has not been prepared to admit its
failings.
However, we are not comparing like with like. The Garda
S-ochna polices with the support of the vast majority of
people in the Republic. There are models in parts of the United
Kingdom and the United States which we can usefully consider.
However, to suggest that everything proposed in Northern
Ireland should be replicated in this State is to miss the point. I
urge Sinn Fin in the strongest terms and with whatever
authority I might have in this House to join wholeheartedly and
unreservedly in policing in Northern Ireland. This would be one of
the greatest confidence-building measures it could make.
An issue that is constantly raised with me is that of Garda
numbers. Two places in which police numbers are tightly
regulated and controlled are Northern Ireland and South Africa. I
would hold neither of these models as example of good policing.
There is no doubt Garda numbers must be increased and the
projected expansion to 14,000 is probably inadequate. I presume
those involved in strategic management in the Garda and the
Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform are examining
the census figures, which indicate not only a rapidly increasing
population but the development of a very diversified population.
Garda recruitment policies should be modified so that the
different community interests and ethnic groupings are allowed
to contribute to policing. For example, the requirement that
garda- must be competent in Irish must be reconsidered in a
thoughtful manner. I am reluctant to discard the Irish language
requirement but such issues must be examined if we are to have
a police force that reflects all aspects of the community.
We should discuss the provisions of the Bill in a spirit of
constructive appraisal of the Garda S-ochna. Our objective is
to improve policing and we all want to facilitate the modification
and fine-tuning of structures devised in different times and social
conditions to suit the circumstances of the new century. Several
Members observed that emphasis is placed on different aspects
of policing in different areas. There may be significant emphasis
on community policing in one locality, for example, because
there is a senior garda who is driving that almost as a personal
interest. Garda- in another area might concentrate on tackling
drug abuse. We must devise a mix of structures which will
ensure a coherent form of policing that is fine-tuned to society's
needs.
In this context, it is important to note that this legislation is
introduced not to undermine but rather to underpin the Garda
S-ochna and the work it carries out to protect our freedoms
as individuals and as a society. The Bill undoubtedly contains the
most comprehensive and possibly the most important legislative
provisions on policing ever to come before this House. The
importance of the legislation, its aims and functions heighten the
need to get it right and necessitate the time we have taken to
have a comprehensive debate and to receive submissions from
interested parties.
I compliment Dublin City Council and the Lord Mayor of Dublin,
Councillor Michael Conaghan, on the establishment of its
commission on policing. The recommendations of that
commission will contribute to a further enlightenment in respect
of the provisions of this Bill. I was in Ballymun earlier this week
for a meeting of the local safety forum at which the Lord Mayor
outlined his vision of policing and the interaction between local
authorities and the Garda. This consultation represented a model
of best practice in that it involved the Garda chief
superintendent, the superintendent, an inspector and a sergeant
from the Garda drugs squad, together with an assistant city
manager, the local area manager, representatives of residents'
associations and delegates from the Health Service Executive.
The main recommendations of the Lord Mayor's commission have
been well rehearsed elsewhere. The Minister has taken on board
many of them in the area of engaging with local authorities by
giving them a say and inviting them to be partners in the
development of a consensus policing arrangement in their
communities. This is the way forward but it is important that we
get this process right. A similar forum I attended in another
locality last month turned out to be a very unfocused discussion
which lacked coherence. In effect, it was a whingeing forum for
those present.
One key difference between these two experiences was that the
Ballymun meeting was attended by the most senior
representatives responsible for the allocation of resources from
the local authority and the Garda. The other meeting was
attended by members of the excellent community policing unit
but nobody more senior than the sergeant and inspector. The
Minister should bear this in mind when framing statutory
instruments and secondary provisions in the Bill. It is important
that we ensure the provisions in this regard are adequate if we
are serious about engaging local authorities and community
interests.
The Bill's proposals reflect the outcome of a review of the Garda
S-ochna carried out under the Government's strategic
management initiative. In doing so, it aims for greater clarity,
democratic accountability and transparency within the force. It is
fair to say we are experiencing a period in which confidence
within the Garda is diminished because of lack of transparency.
The implementation of this Bill can effect a change in this regard
provided it enjoys the goodwill of all those involved. We can
enact as many legislative provisions as we desire but without the
support of the Garda authorities and staff representative
organisations, the three-legged stool of policing will not work.
The encouragement and receipt of submissions from interested
parties over a period was an important element of the
development of this Bill. It is to be hoped that during the debate
on Committee Stage some further refinements will be possible.
The Bill sets out for the first time in law the functions and
objectives of the Garda. The roles of and relationship between
the Minister and the Garda Commissioner are defined openly and
transparently. For example, it provides that the Minister is
entitled to set policing priorities. In addition, it puts in place new
and comprehensive reporting requirements for certain matters,
including the plans of the Commissioner for the year ahead and
his or her assessment of the previous year.
There is an argument that there should be an independent Garda
authority. The Minister has contended that this would preclude
this House's role as the forum to which policing is directly
accountable. I am not certain I agree with that argument and
hope it might be possible to review it. It is possible for this
Parliament to have an oversight function in policing without being
in any way restrictive in the negative sense.
The Bill brings the management structures of the force into the
21st century, particularly in respect of staff appointments and
reviews. The Garda Commissioner is being assigned new powers
and responsibilities regarding the distribution of the force,
financial matters and civilian support staff. These new powers are
balanced by more comprehensive accountability measures,
including the establishment of a statutory audit committee with
independent members. Why does such a committee not exist
already? It should be a given in any organisation, be it a policing
organisation or commercial body. Nonetheless, if we must set
such provisions in stone to have a policing force in which we all
can have confidence, let us go down that route. I recall few
enough examples of questionable practices in terms of
management or accountability. There may be examples from
earlier times.
The most fundamental and welcome development in the Bill is in
section 31. It provides for the establishment of joint policing
committees with Garda and local authority representation. I
referred to this already. This measure will probably be the one
that will win the confidence of the public.
Many Members have referred to Garda visibility. I do not want to
quote extensively from the findings of the Lord Mayor's
commission on crime but some of the quotations from the
submissions of the focus groups that met the commission are
constructive. Many communities reported that they are under-
policed. They identified an apparent lack of interest on the part
of local garda- in what is considered to be minor crime. Some
stated there was no visible police patrol in their area. The lack of
a consistent visible police presence in the community is a
continual complaint. The focus groups also contended that the
need for Garda foot patrols is a must. People want to see a
visible Garda presence on the streets, both day and night, and
believe a squad car driving around occasionally does not solve or
prevent the problems.
There is no doubt that the issue of Garda visibility is critical. I am
not pretending that seeing one or two garda- will transform
people's perception of the need for a proactive police force, but I
believe it makes a considerable difference. The very fact that
garda- can be seen is important. Many have adverted to the
fact that it results in fewer groups congregating around shopping
centres, for example. It can influence the problem of young and
not-so-young people drinking in public, both day and night.
There seems to be an epidemic involving people racing around
our parks and streets on micro-motorcycles and scrambler bikes.
When people ring up a Garda station about this, they are told the
garda- can do nothing because a squad car is not available. This
undermines people's confidence in the Garda.
There is no doubt that there are examples of good practice by
garda-. Deputy O'Dowd reminded me of the use of bicycles by
garda-. This initiative began in Tallaght and Clontarf and has
now been adopted elsewhere, including in my constituency.
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It is very good.
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There is no doubt that it has made a considerable difference.
That garda- on bicycles can cross footpaths and go down
alleyways means they can arrive at their destination without
being spotted. One of the downsides of the use of very colourful
Garda vehicles in urban areas is that they can be seen from a
great distance. They are spotted before they come anywhere
near the point of criminal activity and, by the time they arrive,
the perpetrators are long gone. Addressing this aspect of Garda
visibility is acutely important.
There is no doubt that there has been much development in co-
operation with residential bodies and communities to fight crime
more effectively. We started off on a bad footing with anti-drugs
marches and other such initiatives. In some cases, it may have
been a calculated objective of the organisers to present
themselves as an alternative policing force. However, we have
surmounted this problem. Through good leadership in the Dublin
metropolitan area and through the work of successive assistant
commissioners, we have made good progress. We have
recognised that crime and anti-social behaviour need to be dealt
with by society as a whole. We do the police a great disservice by
lumbering upon them responsibility for everything dysfunctional
in society.
The level of co-operation must be enhanced. Society's problems
will not be solved by greater policing but would certainly be
reduced by it. There are examples of good practice. The crime
diversion projects have been in existence for a long time and
have been very low-key but they are now well-integrated into the
youth service.
It is a pity people talk about anti-social behaviour as if everybody
is involved in it and as if every young person on the street
walking in a group of five or six is guilty of it, whatever it might
be. It is uncomfortable to have a group of seven to ten teenagers
playing football on one's street or leaning against one's garden
wall but, from my experience in youth work, I note that the vast
majority of them are only up to what youngsters generally get up
to, namely, talking rather loudly, playing rather loudly
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They could be up to much worse.
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They could be up to an awful lot worse. There is an onus on the
Government to provide creative and constructive alternatives for
young people. To be fair, it is beginning to do so. Alternatives
include all-weather soccer or football pitches, skateboard parks
and youth clubs which they can use should they wish to do so. It
is important that we continue to invest in our youth services so
the young will have alternatives to anti-social behaviour. If they
do not avail of the alternatives, it is fair enough to come down
hard upon them with a series of community-based sanctions.
In my constituency of Dublin North-West there have been
incidents of anti-social behaviour which caused serious problems.
There is no doubt that because of the lack of action by the estate
manager, Dublin City Council, and a lack of engagement by the
Garda, people have taken the ultimate step of leaving the area.
It is a pity. It happens regularly that older people, many of whom
are widows, simply cannot cope with rowdy behaviour on their
street. On one road in particular, which has 26 houses, three
requests have been made in the past month by residents asking
the local authority to buy back their houses so they can live out
their older years in peace and quiet in a more secure
environment.
I compliment the Minister on introducing the Bill. I had intended
to address the issues of the Garda ombudsman and inspectorate
but, unfortunately, I have run out of time. Perhaps there will be
another opportunity for me to ventilate some of my reservations
on these issues.
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I was pleasantly surprised to be in the House when Deputy
Crowe from Sinn Fin delivered a panegyric on the Patten
report. The Minister of State was not present to hear it.
I felt as if I was sitting in the Reichstag in 1930 listening to a
member of Hitler's Nazi Party praising the contribution of the
Jewish community to German culture over the previous century.
The level of hypocrisy and cant he enunciated, in the course of
which he conceded that Garda Jerry McCabe made a positive
contribution to policing while being murdered by members of the
Sinn Fin organisation otherwise known as the Provisional
IRA was a democratic dnouement such as I have not
experienced in a long time. I bring it to the attention of Members
who were not here at the time and refer them to the written
record in case they do not believe me.
In principle I commend this measure which has been a long time
coming and contains some positive elements but does not go far
enough. One of the great achievements of the new State in the
1920s was to introduce unarmed "civic guards", as my mother
called them, against the background of the politicisation of the
RIC as an instrument of an oppressive State prior to 1920, and
during the War of Independence and the Civil War. Many people
perceived the RIC as an embodiment of armed state terrorism.
One cannot praise highly enough all the people who made that a
reality. Deputy Costello cited Commissioner Michael Staines, the
first Garda Commissioner, "The Garda S-ochna will succeed,
not by force of arms or numbers, but by their moral authority as
servants of the people." This quote also features on our policy
document of 2000. The perception and wisdom behind that
observation, uttered so many years ago, is as relevant today as
it was then.
On occasion I have had to work closely with members of the
Garda S-ochna whom I admire as individuals and as an
organisation. I admire the way in which they have consolidated
their own working arrangements and shown solidarity with one
another, through support systems such as their credit union,
medical scheme and sporting facilities. This is testimony to an
extraordinary level of energy, skill and creativity which has
endowed their members and the wider community.
My criticism is constructive rather than denunciatory. Of all the
institutions of State the Garda S-ochna is the only one that
has not been significantly reformed since 1923-24. We have
reformed political parties, amended the Constitution and
overhauled different areas of society. This Bill attempts to go
part of the way to renew the Garda S-ochna but it does not
go far enough. The Bill contains two core elements, the creation
of an ombudsman and an inspectorate.
I do not agree with Deputy Carey that the Patten report was
intended for a different kind of social institution. Chris Patten
brought together a group of internationally respected consultants
and authorities in the area of policing, including a person deeply
involved in the reorganisation of the New York Police
Department, and a Member of the Oireachtas, Senator Maurice
Hayes. Mr. Patten had varied political experience, having been
Governor of Hong Kong and prior to that a member of the British
Cabinet.
The report contained 175 recommendations of which between
ten and 15 related to the peculiarities of the divided society of
Northern Ireland. At least 150 of the recommendations were
consultancy advice for what constitutes good policing practice in
a modern state. We need good policing practice because bad
policing practice is synonymous in the minds of many with
oppression by a "police state".
Citizens must have a sense of comfort, ownership and equality
with their local police. In general, that has been our experience
but as our society changes that relationship will change too. The
police must respond to reinstate the balance that existed
hitherto. This Bill will not achieve that.
The Labour Party wish to see a Garda authority included in the
Bill. This should comprise representatives of civic society, drawn
either by nomination from this House or through the social
partners but in an objective manner. For example, An Bord
Pleanla has been depoliticised and the Minister no longer
appoints its members.
The relationship between the Garda and the Department of
Justice, Equality and Law Reform is not sufficiently open,
comprehensive or pluralist to restore the balance of trust
between the Garda S-ochna and the citizen. There are historic
reasons for that. The Minister argued in the other House, and
Deputy Carey repeated the argument today, that because he is
accountable to this House for the police force the establishment
of an authority alongside him, the Commissioner and the
operational force would diminish that reporting relationship. The
logic of that, when carried to its conclusion, is to suggest that
because the board of the Industrial Development Authority is
responsible for the operation of the authority its existence in
some way diminishes the accountability or reporting relationship
between the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment with
this House. That comparison reveals the weakness of the
argument by the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform.
The authority would have a broader social composition and a
different relationship with the Garda S-ochna from that of the
Department. It would therefore be able to say many things that
need to be said to the Garda S-ochna in private at a monthly
board meeting. The revelations of the Morris tribunal show that
all is not well in the Garda S-ochna. I regret that the Minister
has not taken up the proposal we and others made for a Garda
authority in 2000.
Ordinary law-abiding citizens experience horror at the prospect of
making a complaint to the Garda. For example, recently I
received a telephone call from a constituent in his late 60s whose
son had got into trouble with the Garda. He said his son was no
saint and probably was at fault in this incident. The garda- beat
up his son and when he went to complain about this he could not
find anyone with whom he could talk in the local Garda station.
There was no one available to sit down and discuss what
happened, even when he was prepared to accept that his son
had contributed to the late-night fracas. Instead his complaint
resulted in a series of summonses and charges against his son.
This man, who attempted to go to the complaints board, got
absolutely no satisfaction whatsoever. However, to go back to
my first point, his sense of the positive relationship he felt he had
with the local garda- had been forever irreparably damaged. If
we do not reform radically and ensure the processes of resources
and transparency are provided for the new inspectorate and
complaints system, the erosion of that relationship, which has
commenced, will continue to do great damage to the fabric of our
society. I urge the Minister to elaborate on Committee Stage how
he intends the provisions of the complaints procedure to
function.
I have some reservations about the ombudsman structure. I like
the idea of it being a three-person body rather than a single
individual. There is a certain strength in that, even though our
proposal was for a single ombudsman. Unless it has the
resources and objectivity to investigate complaints in a manner
similar to Nuala O'Loan in Northern Ireland, it will not restore the
sense of trust which is necessary in Ireland to get the kind of
relationship citizens, the State and the garda- as an
organisation need. For example, if the structures that exist in
Northern Ireland were transposed to here, when the unfortunate
incident occurred in Abbeylara it was an unfortunate incident
for all concerned the police authority in Northern Ireland
would have arrived on the scene and preserved it independently
of the local garda-, which did not happen. There must be
operational independence if the ombudsman structure is to be
effective. I hope the Minister will outline precisely how he
proposes to do that.
The second area to which I want to refer is management
efficiency, that is, the access we have to the garda- and the
garda- have to society. Perhaps the Minister of State will correct
my interpretation if I am incorrectly informed. My understanding
is that when the Garda S-ochna was established, the Dublin
Metropolitan Police organisational structure was effectively butt-
jointed to the RIC provincial structure across the rest of the
State, and the number of Garda stations in the Dublin area,
which provide a 24-hour, seven days a week service, has not
changed since then.
The cost of running a 24-hour, seven days a week service is
enormous and extremely inefficient. Dublin South East does not
need six Garda stations within five kilometres of each other,
open 24 hours, seven days a week. These stations were provided
at a time when the garda-'s mobility was determined by how
fast they could cycle a bike. It is no longer necessary to provide
a 24-hour, seven days a week service. There is a need for a
presence in the areas where the current Garda stations exist, but
many people just go to the Garda station to get an application
form or a passport form signed, which is a nine to five type
service. This service does not have to be provided on Saturday
and Sunday. Having spoken in the past to two Garda
Commissioners, there are great internal difficulties in getting
management and work practice changes within the Garda. If a
Garda authority had the capability to discuss these matters,
many of the necessary reforms in terms of the perception of the
garda- would be capable of being implemented and would have
a positive effect. Many of the personnel who are tied up servicing
these Garda stations could be out on the beat.
Is there a need for garda- to retire at 57 years of age? On what
basis is that positive? What was the original reason for garda-
being required to retire at 57 years of age? Given the collective
wisdom these people have accumulated in the Garda force,
including their knowledge of their local community, why are they
forced to retire at 57 when they could be retained? They could
move to a nine to five type operation. They could become
community garda- and carry out many of the duties that can be
done by someone with that wisdom and experience. The cost of
putting one on pension at the age of 57 is expensive. Someone
of that age is likely to live much longer, because they may take
up a second career, than someone who retires at 60 or 65. I
would like the Minister to address why these garda-, with their
level of expertise and experience, cannot be kept within the
service.
Questions must be asked about the number of garda- who are
tied up in courts for whole sessions. Is there a better way of
dealing with this issue? Is there a way in which this garda
resource can be pooled? There may be reasons of natural justice
and legal requirement which would render that suggestion non-
viable. For people like me, and others, who have some
management experience of examining different operations, it
appears there are many practices in the Garda that need to be
addressed. The wage structure is distorted in that the basic
salary of a garda is quite low but the take-home income is
augmented substantially by a whole set of provisions,
allowances, overtime rates and so on. This is all fine and dandy
when one is working, but when one retires, one's pension is
based on the basic salary, which is far less attractive. Perhaps it
is time for a major review of that structure so that the flexibility
of working practices, which is clearly required, could be obtained.
The third point I would make on that aspect of policing is similar
to the point made earlier by Deputy O'Dowd, namely, the need to
examine the rostering structure. Does the timetable have to
remain as it was 30, 40 or 50 years ago in light of the patterns of
behaviour, particularly at week-ends. As many as 2,000 people
could be in Camden Street at 3 a.m., many of whom may be
obnoxious, unruly, drunk and terrifying to any young garda or
couple of garda- who may be sent to try to stop some ruckus
developing into a major incident. This aspect of policing would
terrify me. If there is occasional over-reaction by individual
garda- to threatening circumstances, while I do not condone it,
I can certainly understand it. There is nothing more frightening
than such a large crowd, particularly at that hour of the morning.
Is there a need to maintain the existing levels of rostering and
patterns of deployment of garda-, which were established in a
much different time, to deal with patterns of social behaviour at
week-ends, not just in Dublin but throughout the country, as
Deputy O'Dowd said in regard to Drogheda and Dundalk? I do
not think so. I do not know if the Bill will give the Minister and
the Commissioner the power to bring about these changes. A
Garda authority would have the capability to raise these issues.
Perhaps in the comfort of a dialogue between it and senior Garda
management, it could put forward proposals that would bring
about the changes that are clearly needed.
I support Deputy Carey who praised my colleague and friend, the
Labour Lord Mayor of Dublin, Michael Conaghan, for his initiative
in setting up the commission on policing in Dublin and for taking
the comments and submissions of people from across the city. It
is a very good report which I commend to the Department, the
Commissioner and the Garda S-ochna. The report has many
insights, some of which are not comfortable to hear. However,
these are the insights we must listen to the most whatever our
organisation or walk of life. Michael Conaghan and his team have
done a particularly good job in putting together a report which
reflects the concerns of the people of this State at the turn of the
century.
There is a serious mismatch between the necessity to have good
community policing and the way in which the community garda is
treated by middle and senior management within the Garda
force. This issue arose at a Labour parliamentary party discussion
some weeks ago. For example, there is an impression that the
community garda is moved on once he or she gets to know the
people in their locality, that there is no accumulation of
knowledge, wisdom or expertise and that the job is regarded as
temporary to move in and out of on to something else. I would
like to know if that is an incorrect impression. Perhaps a coherent
management case could be made for a permanent section of
community policing within the Garda S-ochna. It would be a
wider specialised group than the special detective units and
others. People could make a career in community policing within
the force, not necessarily moving from one set of duties to
another.
The Garda S-ochna will provide professional argument and
statistics to disprove my next observation. The sight of garda-
on the street provides a level of comfort for many people who do
not need the garda- and are not at risk or being robbed. This is
particularly true for those who feel vulnerable, which is half the
population of this country. Most women feel vulnerable on
frequent occasions when out on the street or on their own. Most
men find this hard to hear, but I invite them to talk and listen to
women. Seeing a garda on the street provides a level of comfort.
It is irrelevant whether one needs the services of the garda.
Seeing a fire escape in a building also provides a level of comfort,
but how many people have ever had to use one? However, it is
comforting to know that the provision and safeguard is there.
Add your comment
Rory O'Hanlon (Cavan-Monaghan, Ceann Comhairle) Link to this:

Individually | In context
The Deputy should conclude.
Add your comment

context
The deployment of garda-, the role of community police and the
relationship between our modern society, with its increasingly
varied cultural mix of people from different backgrounds and
countries, should be reflected in the structure of the Garda
S-ochna. There should be a restored relationship between
garda- and the public at large. This relationship has been
damaged, and this Bill goes some way to repairing it. However, it
does not go far enough and the Minister should rethink some of
his proposals.
Add your comment
Mae Sexton (Longford-Roscommon, Progressive Democrats) Link to this:
I welcome the opportunity to speak on this important legislation.
This Bill replaces various Garda Acts dating back 80 years while
providing the reforms necessary for the efficient and effective
operation of a modern police force for a modern Ireland and is
cognisant of our ever-changing society.
I congratulate the Minister for his commitment to legislative
reform to ensure that Ireland has the justice and policing system
it needs and deserves. I welcome the extensive consultation
process which preceded the introduction of the Bill and, in
particular, the input from Garda management and associations,
the Human Rights Commission and the Oireachtas Joint
Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights
which contributed in no small way to this legislation.
The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has time and
again demonstrated his and the Government's commitment to
the people. His work rate, steadfastness, legislative programme
and forthrightness are leading to the greatest ever reform of the
justice system. Yet he still takes time out to demonstrate his
obvious interest in improving citizens' quality of life and visited
my constituency last week.
The Minister is proceeding with the expansion of the Garda
S-ochna, but is acutely aware of the greater demands for
Garda resources and has restated his confidence that the
Commissioner, who is responsible for the distribution of
personnel across the country, will ensure that places such as
Longford will continue to benefit from increased manpower in line
with ever growing demands.
The Minister also took the opportunity last week to review plans
for the decentralisation of the Irish Prison Service and I welcome
his reaffirmation of his Department's commitment to the
programme and his message to those who suggest that the
commitment to roll-out the project is not there. The Department
now has control of the relevant site and is about to tender for the
contract. Some 170 people will work in the new headquarters,
attached crche, stores and logistics section.
I also welcome the progress made by the Minister with regard to
the Longford courthouse. The entire county is delighted that the
project is going well, that the adjoining buildings have been
demolished and that one of the finest buildings in Longford is
being conserved for its original purpose.
I am grateful to the Garda S-ochna. No matter what
discussions we have regarding reforms, accountability and
transparency, I still have the utmost faith in and respect for our
police force. This State was born out of conflict and civil war and
we are indebted to every person who has served as a garda since
its foundation, putting their lives on the line in its defence. This
State would not have survived without the service and protection
of the Garda S-ochna.
I had a very positive experience growing up beside the old Garda
barracks in Longford and this experience is true for the vast
majority of our citizens. It is important that brave and dedicated
members of the force hear us state this fact.
Our discussions of this and other Bills in the House must not lead
to the demoralisation of any honest serving member of the
Garda. They must know that we admire and appreciate their
work, dedication and commitment to the State in a society that is
more aggressive and less respectful of authority.
Last Monday, one such dedicated garda apprehended a person in
the process of robbing 5,000 from a post office. He received
a knife wound to the stomach but successfully detained the thief
and the money was recovered. We must acknowledge the
courage and dedication of members of the force when proposing
legislation.
As a former local authority member I warmly welcome the
provisions in this Bill for the involvement of local councillors and
elected representatives in dealing with specific local issues. The
issue of policing at local level on local issues has been
contentious and it is gratifying that the Minister has taken those
views on board. Its inclusion in the Bill will have a fundamental
impact on public confidence in community policing.
There is an impression that the provisions in the Bill are merely a
duplication of provisions pertaining in other countries, with
particular reference made to the UK. It is inevitable that certain
similarities will exist with regard to policies implemented in other
countries. It would be negligent not to study successful models
prior to drafting Bills and amendments. However, the measures
proposed in this Bill reflect the specific situation in Ireland and do
not, as suggested, merely replicate those of other countries.
Ireland has a single national police force responsible for all
policing matters and the intelligence and security functions
relating to the security of the State. Members have borne this in
mind in their deliberations and debate on the Bill.
A review of the Garda S-ochna took place under the
Government's strategic management initiative, and Part 2 of the
Bill sets out provisions in this regard. I welcome the clarification
of the role and objectives of the Garda S-ochna and the
definition of its relationship with the Minister and Government of
the day.
Two other elements of the Bill, namely, the mechanisms for
dealing with complaints against members of the force and the
means of improving democratic accountability for their actions,
have clearly drawn much attention. Parts 3 and 4 will provide
welcome reform of complaints procedures against members of
the force. It establishes a new independent body, the Garda
S-ochna ombudsman commission, to replace the existing
complaints board. It is the duty of this House to do all it can to
ensure citizens have the utmost confidence in those in whom we
entrust extraordinary powers. In light of this, I welcome the
provisions of the Bill. It is clear that the current system does not
command the full confidence of the public in light of recent
inquiries. It is imperative for garda- that this be addressed. It is
welcome that the ombudsman commission will be able to act on
its own initiative in cases or on a referral from the Commissioner
or the Minister. It is a positive development that the commission
will not have to wait for a complaint to emanate from the public
before instituting an investigation.
I reiterate, contrary to spurious claims of garda- investigating
garda-, that the Bill does not provide for that. Irrespective of
the method chosen by the commission to investigate complaints,
ranging from the most serious allegations, including possible
criminal offences, to those at the lower end of the scale,
including breaches of discipline, it will retain total control and
direction over the whole proceedings. I stress it will retain total
control. Furthermore, the commission will be able to enter into
arrangements with members of other police forces or any other
bodies to engage police officers or other persons on a temporary
basis to assist it in carrying out its investigations.
Part 5 reforms existing accountability arrangements. Again, this
is most welcome. In a time when our democracy and the political
institutions of the State are topics of contemporary discussion
among the public and media, we must ensure there is a proper
separation of powers. We must also ensure that those charged
with oversight of the force have correct information at their
disposal.
Part 5 provides for the establishment of an independent Garda
S-ochna inspectorate as a means of improving democratic
accountability for the actions of the Garda S-ochna. The main
functions of the inspectorate will be to ensure that the Minister
for Justice, Equality and Law Reform of the day will have
objective information on which to base comments made before
the Houses of the Oireachtas. That is only right and proper. This
will have a welcome and positive impact on the relationship
between the Executive, the Legislature and the justice system, as
well as the ombudsman commission.
The inspectorate proposed in this Bill will take a thematic
approach to policy issues. Standards, practice and performance
will be benchmarked to comparable international policing
experiences. This can only be welcomed by all Members of the
House. The key objectives of the inspectorate will be to ensure
and promote efficiency and effectiveness in the Garda
S-ochna and to provide advice and support to the Minister. It
is common sense that the Department with a statutory oversight
role in regard to the Garda S-ochna, namely, the Department
of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, is empowered by
knowledge.
The Bill contains provision for significant reform of the Garda
S-ochna. We must not underestimate the duty upon us when
exercising our power in this regard. It is fundamental to the
security and proper democratic functioning of this State, yet the
fundamental point remains that members of the public must
have total confidence in the transparency and accountability of
the force we empower to police them. It is for this reason that I
welcome and endorse this Bill.
Add your comment
1:00 pm
Paudge Connolly (Cavan-Monaghan, Independent) Link to this:

I extend a welcome to this Bill but not without some misgivings
and reservations. The Garda S-ochna has served this nation
extremely well as an unarmed Garda force over the past 83
years since the foundation of this State. It has a proud record of
service to the people since the formative years of the State when
its future was anything but assured.
The introduction of this legislation at the outset of this century is
particularly timely and appropriate since it is generally accepted
that Garda reform is a necessity given the changing
circumstances of Ireland today. In the past, a famous garda used
to patrol Baggot Street and dispense his own form of justice.
Many people welcomed that. It was an effective form of garda
patrol but today we cannot have the luxury of a garda patrolling
the way that garda used to patrol Baggot Street some 30 years
ago.
The force is seriously undermanned and there is unfinished
business in terms of the recruitment of an additional 2,000
garda- promised in the 2002 general election and in the 2002
programme for Government. Promises were made at that time
and the people expected that extra garda- would be recruited.
The Garda expected that additional garda- would come on
stream and hopes were risen only to be dashed. The promise of
an extra 2,000 garda- indicates that the force is understaffed
by 18%. That must have a serious effect on morale and on the
force's ability to man different events, police towns and be at the
beck and call of the public at all times. Even if the number of
garda- were doubled, that would not cure all the ills in society
because it has changed. The behaviour of society has changed
dramatically in recent years. What people feel they can get away
with has also changed.
Another factor that cannot be overlooked is the notion of
parental control. Parents have a role to play. More often than
not, if a garda knocks on the door of a family home concerning a
child who has misbehaved, it is more likely that the garda will get
a barracking rather than the child. While there should be a
balance, garda- should have the support of the public which
they do not always have. Effectively, much of the time garda-
try to perform their duties while looking over their shoulders. A
garda may wonder whether to arrest a child for doing A, B or C
or may think that if he or she does so, his or her life will not be
worth living. That is not a good way of doing business.
We also have the concept of neighbourhood watch. When driving
through a community area a number of years ago one would see
signs for the neighbourhood watch scheme. I am not sure that
the scheme is as effective as it should be. It is based on the
notion of neighbours looking out for each other. The signposts
are there but that does not mean action is being taken. There are
displayed to warn off criminals and to let them know they are
being watched, but I doubt if the scheme is as effective as it
should be. Members of the public have a role to play in that
regard. They must be additional eyes and ears for the garda-
and pass on information to them that they consider relevant.
I live in a Border constituency and crime, particularly cross-
Border crime, is rife there. The Garda and the PSNI know the
offenders involved in stealing and other criminal activity but
unless the offenders are caught in the act of stealing or in the
possession of stolen goods, little or nothing can be done about it.
Special Garda task forces have been assigned to these Border
groups but it is well nigh impossible to apprehend them. They
are basically opportunists who walk past a car and if they see a
key in the ignition, they hop into it and drive it across the Border.
They will generally find a mobile number of the car owner and
will contact him or her and demand money for the safe return of
the car. Such incidents have happened.
There was an incident where a four-wheel-drive jeep was stolen
and driven across the Border. Money was to be delivered for its
safe return and when the amount handed over was not correct,
the criminal almost drove the people who handed over the
money off the road in an effort to point out that a certain amount
of money was demanded and the owner was not prepared to pay
up.
Some members of the public almost present on a plate an
opportunity for criminals to steal by leaving a door unlocked or a
key in the ignition of a car. The public must co-operate to a
greater extent with the Garda. Garda- need the assistance of
the public. That cannot be stressed enough.
We have got into the habit of minding our own business. There
was a time when people would know that if a stranger came to
an area, he or she would watched or if a person called to his or
her neighbour, he or she would be told that A, B or C had called
to his or her house. That time is gone. We do not know what is
happening in the lives of our next door neighbours. Society has
gone that way.
Society should be more aware of people who might call to
neighbours' houses, particularly neighbours living on their own,
because there are many chancers and criminals on the move who
are impossible to catch. They can move about with impunity and
call to a house and if they find somebody home, they will come
up with a silly excuse such as looking for a dog. Society and
neighbours have a major role to play in this regard.
While I know the Garda comes in for criticism over various
matters, the criminal has a new way of operating. A criminal is
more likely to inform a garda of his rights than vice versa. While
the Garda might know an individual is guilty, until he is caught in
the act it is impossible to do anything. This reflects the type of
society in which we live. The Garda needs the public's help in this
regard, which cannot be underestimated.
Current recruitment appears to be barely sufficient to replace
those retiring from the force, which is another bone of
contention. I know of many garda-, who are much younger than
I am, who qualify for retirement but do not necessarily want to
retire. As morale is low in the force and because they know they
must retire at a particular age, some garda- decide to leave and
the level of early retirement can become a problem. We are
losing some very experienced members of the Garda, particularly
detectives who have built up a role and are well respected in
society. They might have just reached the pinnacle in the
performance of their duties and are told they have done their
service and must go, which is very frustrating. In addition to
recruiting an additional 2,000 garda- we should also consider
retaining very experienced garda- in the force. The
haemorrhage taking place is not good. If the chief executives of
a business were forced to retire at the age that garda- retire,
many companies would have gone to the wall. This matter needs
to be revisited.
To combat today's crime levels and the changing nature of
crimes, the Garda needs to be fully resourced with state-of-the-
art technology and retraining may also be required. In the past
garda- were trained in observational skills. However, garda-
now need many more new skills and some of them may need to
be retrained to deal with today's criminal.
The establishment of the Garda ombudsman commission receives
two cheers. An office along the lines of the Police Ombudsman
for Northern Ireland would be less unwieldy. Ms O'Loan has
discharged her duties with equanimity and no little skill, and has
engendered considerable respect from all sides in the North. The
Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland has proven to be most
effective in investigating police complaints and building public
confidence. It is generally perceived that the Garda complaints
board has had problems with accountability and there was a
deficit in public confidence. I do not believe an ombudsman
commission of three individuals is necessary when the Northern
ombudsman has had such an impeccable record since her
appointment. However, it is welcome that the new ombudsman
commission will enjoy complete independence from the Garda in
that none of its members will be garda-, and this should help
gain public confidence. There will no longer be concern over
complaints against the Garda being investigated by garda-.
One of the functions will be to investigate certain practices,
policies and procedures of the Garda S-ochna, thus ensuring
that no lower-ranking garda is made a scapegoat. This practice
happened in the past and was not healthy. It is evident that the
provisions for the ombudsman commission have been influenced
by the recommendations of the Patten report. A major
recommendation of that report was the establishment of a police
authority. This could have been adopted to advantage here by
the establishment of a Garda authority. In the all-party
negotiations in the North, strenuous efforts have been made to
get Sinn Fin to join the Northern Ireland Policing Board.
However, having an equivalent authority here seems
unacceptable.
Appointments in the upper ranks of the Garda are still carried out
on a political basis, which can be seen as a type of political
patronage. For many years the allocation of State briefs was
done on a political basis and was finally taken out of the hands of
politicians in the late 1970s when the last gravy train had rolled
out of the four goldmines. Subsequently, judicial appointments
were partly de-politicised by their transfer to a commission which
submits a shortlist to Government for final selection. Similarly,
senior Garda officer appointments, from superintendent up to
Commissioner, are still in the gift of the Government of the day,
which is hardly satisfactory. While I do not cast any aspersions
on the individuals appointed, it does not send the right signal. A
Garda authority should have exclusive responsibility for such
appointments, thus bringing real change in the manner of
appointment and promotion in the upper ranks of the Garda
S-ochna. Appointments and promotions throughout the force
should be free of political influence and should be made
independently, transparently and purely on merit and overall
suitability. In legal circles it has long been the perception that
young barristers and solicitors needed to align themselves with
one of the main political parties to progress in their chosen
calling. Rightly or wrongly, this is a general perception, and we
have all seen prominent examples in the main political parties.
It is perceived that a garda needs to be well connected to
particular Garda officers to progress on the promotion ladder to
the pinnacle of the force. By placing such promotions in the
hands of a Garda authority, the Minister would strike a major
blow for the concept of promotion solely on the grounds of
ability. The notion that promotions were carried out on political
grounds would also be dispelled, with a consequent boost for
morale within the force. A Garda authority would also be in a
position to organise transparently independent interview boards
to provide for promotions within the force at levels lower than
superintendent. It is here that the independent nature of such a
Garda authority would come into its own with wide
representation from various community organisations.
The proposals for volunteer Garda reserve members or "generic
garda-" are ill-considered and not fully-thought out. Considering
the amount of training over three years that applies to full-time
garda- in the Garda training college, it would be impossible for
these part-timers to perform full-time policing duties. What
criteria would be laid down for them and how would they relate
to the public? How would they be selected and resourced? Would
the Garda have any responsibility to the family of a volunteer
who was injured or even killed in the line of duty? We have had
occurrences of Garda recruits being killed in the past having been
brought out of Templemore at short notice and one must ask
what would happen in the event of a lack of training. Would their
medical and other bills be taken care of in a period of protracted
illness or injury?
I submit that the proposals for volunteer garda- amount to an
attempt to recruit replacements for the 2,000 extra garda- that
the Government has failed so far to deliver. The period of
training cannot be overlooked. Putting in people who are not
properly trained or resourced does not send the right message
and would create a second-rate member of the Garda. To whom
would they be accountable? If they only perform a few hours'
duty per week, it would be necessary to sign up many more than
2,000 to provide adequate coverage, which would not be good
for the morale of the force. Why should we believe that 15,000
or 20,000 suitable recruits would volunteer for a police force?
The spirit of volunteering is hardly alive and well in post-Celtic
tiger Ireland to that extent. Many issues remain to be teased out.
This proposal was tossed out without a full exploration or
discussion of its consequences with the proper authorities. It is
always healthy to discuss proposals of this nature with
representative bodies, in this case the Garda Representative
Association, which have useful contributions to make. Before
appointing a new force without adequate training it would be
useful to listen to the views and ideas of members of the force,
but I understand this did not take place.
With a current complement of 12,000 Garda members, Ireland's
ratio of police to 100,000 population is still well below the
European average. The raw fact is that we do not have the
necessary numbers. Many rural barracks are being closed down,
specifically in my area where stations have hitherto been well
manned. This development has not gone unnoticed among
criminals who are well aware that the only available police
resource in large areas of north Monaghan at night is a single
Garda car.
Garda- must think long and hard before apprehending a person
committing a minor public order offence. They must consider the
time, resources and effort required to take the person in question
into custody, given that no garda- will be available to look after
the needs of the community while the case of the individual in
question is being processed. Criminals make hay, so to speak,
during the periods when the Garda is under-resourced. It is
common in my area for crime to be committed during daylight
hours when Garda resources are stretched. These problems must
be addressed.
With rising levels of violent crime and a growing culture of drink,
drugs and violence, the promised 2,000 additional garda- are
needed more than ever. The Government has barely two years
left in which to implement its commitment, which means an
additional 1,000 garda- will have to be recruited this year and
next if it is to keep faith with the public. My reservations
notwithstanding, I intend to support the Bill.
I trust the Minister will take on board some of my suggestions. I
appeal to members of the public not to stand back, point a finger
at the Garda and argue it must do more. Instead, we must ask
what we can do to make life easier for garda- and assist them
in the performance of their functions.
Add your comment
Michael Mulcahy (Dublin South Central, Fianna Fail) Link to this:

With the permission of the House, I will share time with Deputy
Tony Dempsey.
Add your comment
Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour) Link to this: Individually | In

context
Is that agreed? Agreed.
Add your comment
Michael Mulcahy (Dublin South Central, Fianna Fail) Link to this:

I welcome this timely and necessary Bill. I have full confidence in
the members of the Garda S-ochna. As a person who has
been in public life since 1995, my experience, virtually at all
times, has been that the garda- whom I have met in the
discharge of my duties have acted with diligence and integrity,
on many occasions, to their own detriment. We are lucky to have
men and women of the highest calibre in the Garda. The question
which arises, however, is not the integrity, general ability and
dedication of individual members of the Garda S-ochna but
the management, direction, policy, philosophy and effectiveness
of the force as an organisation. We must make this distinction.
There are caveats to my first statement. As with all sections of
society, not all garda- have covered themselves in glory. In
every walk of life, there will always be people who do not adhere
to the highest standards. Like many others, I read the first
interim report of the Morris tribunal which deals with the
explosives module. It opens one's eyes to learn that in one part
of our island Garda practices were not of the highest standard.
I commend Mr. Justice Morris for the excellent work he is doing.
The position in which Mr. McBrearty finds himself demands
attention. Although I am not necessarily calling for a precedent
to be made in his case, the House must recognise that the
McBrearty module is the cornerstone of the Morris tribunal, which
will find it difficult to continue with the level of probative
excellence required, evident in the explosives module, unless Mr.
McBrearty is provided with proper legal representation. I
understand the position in which the Minister finds himself and I
am aware the matter has been the subject of a High Court
decision. For this reason, I do not wish to be pre-emptive as
there may be good policy reasons for the Government's inability
to assist Mr. McBrearty at this stage.
Nevertheless, some mechanism must be found to address the
issue because if the current module of the tribunal were to
continue without proper representation for Mr. McBrearty,
questions regarding the fairness of its hearings could well arise
under the European Convention of Human Rights. I do not wish
to interfere in the process. Mr. Justice Morris is doing a good job
and is constrained by the fact that he must implement the law.
While we must respect the decision of the High Court, the
Government needs to closely examine this matter. I apologise for
digressing but debate on legislation on the Garda S-ochna is
an appropriate forum for placing on record my views on the
matter.
While the vast majority of members of the Garda S-ochna are
of outstanding integrity, the force as a whole and its
effectiveness, training and so forth need to be scrutinised. When
the spotlight has been placed on the Garda, it has been found
wanting in several areas and continues to face major challenges.
In recent days, for example, several Deputies have raised the
issue of anti-social behaviour, about which, as a Deputy, former
councillor and Lord Mayor of Dublin, I am well aware. In addition,
the Garda must contend with organised crime, white collar crime,
international drug and people trafficking gangs and crime cartels.
It is not equipped, trained, organised or engineered to face up to
these challenges with the same degree of professionalism as the
criminals and must go further in pursuing a vision of excellence. I
welcome the legislation in so far as it will advance this process.
While the Bill contains several important features, sections 11
and 13 on the appointment of the Garda Commissioner are
critical. The Commissioner should be appointed by the
Government and, with his or her assistant commissioners, held
ultimately responsible to the Government because it is
responsible to the House. I do not believe in establishing
immutable quangos with no responsibility to anybody, including
this House, as we have seen in other sectors.
I ask that consideration be given to establishing a policing board
or authority. Why is such provision missing from the Bill, given
that the need for a policing board has been recognised in
Northern Ireland? Why do we not have a board of seven or 11
people, even on a consultative or advisory basis, who could
reflect minority interests, the urban-rural divide or gender
divisions? Such a board, consisting of people from different
backgrounds, could consult, advise, monitor and assist the Garda
Commissioner and his staff. Without some form of board or
authority, the Commissioner acts on his or her own. The Minister,
the Commissioner and then the Garda S-ochna operate a kind
of vertical transmission of power and authority without, for want
of a better phrase, any horizontal involvement by the
stakeholders in society. This is missing from the Bill. Perhaps the
Minister might consider the insertion on Committee Stage of
some form of advisory or consultative board for the
Commissioner, much as the RTE authority assists the director-
general of RTE. Such a board should not become part of the
chain of command, but should be there to be of assistance.
I strongly support the idea of volunteer members. I am glad to
see the new idea of joint policing committees and the
involvement of local authorities. Since the foundation of the
State, this has been the biggest gap in our policing. This was not
always the case and if one looks back to the 18th and 19th
centuries, one sees much greater involvement by local
communities with magistrates and local policing. For some
reason, when we adopted our model in the 1920s and 1930s, all
local involvement was eradicated. As an aside, we also had real
meaningful local involvement in the health sector, in local health
committees until they were abolished in the 1970s. At present,
we again see the evolution of a superstructure system without
the real involvement of local communities. I welcome the section
which will involve local authorities. Local authority members are
in the best position of anyone to know what is happening in local
authority estates. Councillors are the people who genuinely know
what is going on at street level. It will be of enormous benefit to
have them, along with officials from the county, city and urban
councils, politicians and police officers sitting together.
Section 41 is very important. It pertains to the liability of
members of the Garda S-ochna while performing their duty. I
am not certain that this is covered by the Bill. I do not believe
that the Garda S-ochna should be fettered in the performance
of its duties. It would be a bad day if every time a garda lifts his
or her baton or tries to move someone on, he or she would be
amenable to being sued or complained against. There is a danger
that we will reduce the Garda to an inefficient force that is afraid
to assert itself. Sometimes the Garda S-ochna has been
afraid to assert itself to the correct degree. Naturally, if an
individual garda breaks the law, he or she must be amenable to
the law. The Garda S-ochna is not above the law and garda-
must work within it. That said, there is a very fine balance
between doing so and the avoidance of fettering or restraining
the Garda S-ochna If one crosses that line, one might end up
with an ineffective Garda force. I am somewhat concerned that
this is not covered by section 41 of the Bill.
The Garda S-ochna ombudsman commission is cental to this
legislation. It is overdue and has been relatively well drafted in
the Bill. I applaud the fact that no past or serving member of the
Garda S-ochna can be a member of the commission. It is
important that the commission should be an independent body
that will exercise its powers independently of the Garda
S-ochna. The power of search of Garda stations is too
cumbersome. The idea of being obliged to give notice to the
Garda Commissioner and the Minister rules out the possibility of
emergency raids on Garda stations where bad things might be
happening. Given the subject matter of the Morris tribunal, it
appears they were. There must be a facility whereby the Garda
ombudsman commission can enter a Garda premises quickly in
an unfettered way without providing the Garda station with
advance notice. This facility is available elsewhere in that the
High Court can order what is known as a quia tenet injunction or
an Anton Pillar order to search a premises. The European
Commission has the power to do so under the competition rules.
European Commission officials can enter any business in the
State under EU competition rules. Why must a Garda station be
sacrosanct and above this sort of examination? I agree that such
searches should only be carried out in exceptional cases.
Section 105 pertains to the proposed Garda S-ochna
inspectorate. In general, this section is too weak and needs to be
beefed up. There are only a few paragraphs on the matter. It
does not appear to take the idea of an inspectorate seriously. An
inspectorate is an essential part of any large organisation,
leaving aside the Garda S-ochna. It is very important in terms
of keeping up standards within a force or 12,000 or 14,000
officers.
In a general sense, I welcome this Bill and its main thrust. We
need an efficient workmanlike Garda S-ochna which is fully
equipped to meet the crime and public order challenges of the
21st century. We do not need the Garda S-ochna to be
constrained, shackled or fettered. It should be able to go about
its business without fear or favour and without the fear of being
sued over the slightest matter. Garda- should not be subject to
frivolous or vexatious complaints and I notice that this is one of
the grounds on which complaints may be overruled. However,
where garda- transgress, they must be amenable to the law
and of all the sections in the Bill, the ombudsman commission is
particularly important. This will go a long way to restoring public
confidence in the Garda which, on an individual basis, is very
much deserved. It contains some of the finest public servants in
the country.
Add your comment
Tony Dempsey (Wexford, Fianna Fail) Link to this: Individually | In
context
Gabhaim bu-ochas leis an Teachta Mulcahy as ucht ama a
roinnt liom. T thas orm seans a fhil labhairt ar an mBille
seo. Fad, n- raibh baint ar bith le hobair na Garda- leis an
gnth-dhuine. An l at inniu ann, fach, toisc go bhfuil fs
ar choireanna ar fud na t-re, t dlthbhaint le saol an
ghnth-dhuine l go l le hobair na nGarda-. When
canvassing in the general election, the recent by-elections and
the local elections, the subject of crime was continually raised by
those whom I canvassed. I can understand this because we have
evolved into a society where many people, particularly in isolated
rural areas, feel afraid living in their own homes.
I congratulate the Minister on bringing forward a framework that
will allow the Garda S-ochna operate in the new
circumstances. Criminals and their work can only be defeated
when parents, teachers, garda- and ordinary people co-operate
in the ambition to defeat them. The old Irish saying, "N- neart
go chur le chile", was never more true. In short, community
policing is what the new world requires. The Garda S-ochna
will rely on the community and the community will interact with
the Garda S-ochna.
I saw a wonderful example of this in Cyprus last week in a little
village called Piale where the garda- working for the United
Nations use community policing without recourse to sanctions. I
witnessed at first hand and heard the muktar from the Turkish
Cypriot community and the Greek Cypriot community pay an
incredible tribute to the work of our garda- as members of the
United Nations. The people placed the garda- ahead of any
other country in the world in their efforts to involve themselves
in community policing.
The role of neighbours will be extremely important in the future,
irrespective of what legislative framework is introduced. People
no longer know who their neighbours are, which is probably the
result of urbanisation. I am interested in new directives on
planning introduced by the Minister for the Environment,
Heritage and Local Government yesterday because we need to
repopulate rural Ireland so we have more neighbours and more
community involvement.
I am interested in the objectives of the Bill. The Bill has three
main objectives, the most interesting of which states that a new
legislative structure for the management of the Garda- will be
introduced. That legislative structure recognises for the first time
the changed communities in which garda- operate. Like Deputy
Mulcahy and other speakers, I congratulate the Garda on their
hard and continuous work in very changed and straitened
circumstances. Another of the Bill's objectives is the
establishment of an independent Garda S-ochna inspectorate,
which will provide independent advice to the Minister for Justice,
Equality and Law Reform on the efficiency and effectiveness of
the Garda. This is a very important measure. The operational
responsibility does not stop with the Bill.
I congratulate the Minister of State, Deputy Parlon, who is here,
on opening a new Garda station in New Ross and on progressing
a new Garda station for Wexford. The location of Garda stations
will be extremely important in the future. I know that Deputy
Parlon will probably empathise with that sentiment. We must
build Garda stations in the centres of communities. I know it is
uneconomical and not feasible to have two or three stations in a
provincial town like Wexford. If it was feasible, I would
recommend that we had two stations in Wexford town rather
than one. However, I am a realist and there is only a certain
amount of money available. I am glad that Wexford is getting a
new station. The location of that station in Wexford and the
location of other stations will be very important.
Putting garda- back on the beat and releasing them from the
bureaucratic office work they appeared to be engaged in, which
could be done by someone with different training and not
necessarily a law enforcement training background, is extremely
important. The training of the gardais extremely important.
Courses in the Garda College in Templemore must take account
of the new need for the garda- to be involved in the
community, whether it is with the GAA, rugby clubs or soccer
clubs. It could be any aspect of community life where the
garda- can be involved and get to know the people and the
people get to know them. I would like to see the day when
garda- would help in training a local school team. I know this is
happening in many areas. A former Garda in Wexford, Samus
Keevans, who is involved with organising school GAA leagues has
played a very important role in the community.
Deputy Mulcahy spoke about the need for effective policing and I
agree with him. The Bill will enhance the level of democratic
accountability and that is very important. Quis custodiet ipsos
custodes is an old Latin saying. Who will guard the guards? The
vast majority of garda- excel at their duties and have nothing to
fear from democratic responsibility. This should not be seen as
challenge, rather it should be regarded as a form of assistance to
garda-. Justice must be seen to be done. It is important that
justice is seen to be done at the Morris tribunal. It is also very
important that people have recourse to the full protection of the
law even when they do not have the money to afford it.
I congratulate the Minister on the level of consultation because
community policing is about consultation and I know he
consulted with approximately 15 bodies and personnel. T
thas orm taca-ocht a thabhairt don Bhille.
Add your comment
Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael) Link to this: Individually | In

context
I welcome this legislation which seeks to carry out additional
reforms in the Garda S-ochna. I wish to acknowledge the
work done by the Garda since the force was established in 1922.
Any democracy of which we can be proud requires an
independent police force so we can have full confidence in it in
the performance of its duties. The necessary resources should be
prioritised to ensure that citizens are protected to the greatest
extent possible from criminality and subversion. When one
examines the history of An Garda S-ochna and the manner in
which it was established in very difficult times for this State, one
can see that the force has come through turbulent times in an
independent way and has protected people of all shades of
opinion, including political opinion. The force can stand the test
of time, without fear or favour, through the great work it has
done over those years, which is a testimony to the force's
importance in our community.
This Bill contains many important initiatives, particularly the one
relating to the establishment of a Garda inspectorate. Over the
last number of years, certain individuals in the Garda S-ochna
have besmirched the good name of the force. I suppose that is
inevitable in every occupation. There is often a temptation to
overstate these issues but in the interest of the Garda
S-ochna, the establishment of a chief inspectorate is
important so that citizens can continue to have full confidence in
the Garda and to aid the further development of personnel in it.
This will ensure people can continue to say the force is operating
to the best quality standards and has the best training
appropriate to its duties.
Various Deputies reflected on the changing population patterns
and the changing requirements for the police force. Garda
numbers do not reflect the enormous contribution required to
police new suburban estates and rural areas. We need more
garda- living in communities rather than being centralised in
various other locations. The decision some years ago to
downgrade and close local rural Garda stations and centralise
Garda personnel in geographical areas was mistaken. Efficiency
is one thing but the effectiveness of a police force is more
important from the citizen's perspective. The effectiveness of any
police authority can only be judged by the goodwill of the
community and the effectiveness of the Garda in solving and
preventing crime. I am thinking of examples in my constituency
in places like Castlecomer and Thomastown, which were
identified as the right locations for centralising Garda personnel
to cover a particular geographical area. I do not expect that if a
crime is committed in a rural area ten or 12 miles from those
locations that the Garda will be there in time to deal effectively
and quickly with it. The Garda should revert to the traditional
pattern of living as close as possible to the people they are
serving and being engaged with the community. That is why
community policing is essential for the future in expanding
estates in urban areas around the country. Many communities
have lost contact with the Garda and the Garda has lost contact
with them. That is part of the problem we have with current
crime levels.
Anti-social behaviour was mentioned. This is not a new issue but
very little has been done to address it. The role of parents,
people in authority and the Garda S-ochna is important in this
regard. There will not be an improvement in juvenile delinquency
or anti-social behaviour issues until such time as parents are
penalised for not having knowledge of the whereabouts of their
children. That must be addressed urgently in this House.
The issue of accountability is important and I welcome the
enshrining of joint policing committees in this Bill as it will allow
local authority members and Members of the Oireachtas to
engage more fully in the Garda S-ochna. There is a
temptation for some garda- to operate independently without
dealing with the representatives of the people. That is a mistake
they made over the years and it is essential that the Minister for
Justice, Equality and Law Reform explains the precise reasons
and criteria as to how the Garda S-ochna should engage with
public representatives. We were elected by the people. Police
authorities expect to get the resources to carry out their work
from this House. It is only prudent that the Minister insists on the
fullest possible accountability through public representatives
about the manner in which policing duties are carried out.
Drugs and organised crime are growing issues of serious
concern, not only in major urban centres but throughout the
country. I often fail to understand why the Garda are not
resourced to target the drug barons and chief architects of
criminal gangs on a 24-hour basis, seven days per week to put
them behind bars. The State's resources should be targeted in a
more concerted way to ensure people are protected, which is not
the case currently.
The Garda S-ochna has made a significant contribution to the
protection of our citizens and this Bill is essential in ensuring
better standards of accountability in our police force. I urge the
Minister to implement as soon as possible the community policing
aspects he has commented on. I would err on the side of the
citizens' protection from subversion and criminality as a priority
in a democracy. It is important that power is not abused and the
role of the chief inspectorate will be critical in maintaining the
public's confidence in the Garda S-ochna.
Add your comment
Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) Link to this: Individually | In

context
I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill. I had notes
prepared but they are not to hand. One must soldier on
regardless in such circumstances.
Add your comment
John Browne (Minister of State, Department of Agriculture and Food;

Wexford, Fianna Fail) Link to this: Individually | In context
I am sure the Deputy will find enough to say.
Add your comment

context
I welcome the Bill. It purports to re-examine the administration
of our police force. It is timely to update the administration of
justice and policing in every country on a regular basis. The
original legislation in this respect dates back to 1925. There have
been many changes in Ireland in the intervening period,
including in the area of crime. I listened to many of the
contributions and people tend to stand in awe of some of the
horrific crimes that have taken place and the surge in anti-social
behaviour, disorderly conduct etc.
Two issues come to mind. First, it is necessary to have the
people's confidence in the administration of justice. They must be
on the side of the law and must see that the administration of
justice, prevention and detection is open, even-handed,
transparent and in accordance with the law. A number of arrests
took place in certain parts of the country after a recent festive
weekend. I do not know whether that information is true or false
as the number of such incidents tends to be exaggerated. We
should never kill the butterfly with the sledgehammer. If
something must be done, do it, but do not exceed what is
needed.
I think back to about 20 years ago, to the time Jack Charlton's
famous "army" travelled all over the world and was hailed as a
jovial bunch of friendly, law-abiding citizens who, according to
themselves, were able to drink everybody else under the table
while remaining friendly and courteous. This was one of the new
wonders of the world, but I do not know where it has gone in the
meantime. Without any shadow of a doubt, there is now total
disrespect for authority, other people's property and attempts to
suggest that people stay within their own areas without imposing
their ways and wills on other citizens.
We have all encountered residents in local authority and other
estates who, having appealed to people who are young and not
so young to be a little quieter and so on, receive abuse. Many
people who have lived all their lives in residential areas now want
to leave, to be transferred, as they cannot live there any longer.
That is a sad reflection on our society and on the way we have
become. Regardless of the supposed Celtic tiger, a little bit of
respect for the rights of others and law and order goes a long
way. This Bill may deal with this matter.
However, I worry that we rush for more legislation every time
there is a crisis in the justice area. This presupposes that the
existing legislation is incapable or insufficient to deal with the
job, but that is untrue. The oldest way out in the book is to say
when something goes wrong, "why do we not have more
legislation?" Legislation does not enforce the law. That is a
matter for the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. It is
not useful for Ministers to say, as is the habit in this House, they
have no responsibility over an area and that it is a matter for
someone else. We have devolved responsibility to a series of
people to such an extent that eventually no one will have
responsibility. The roots of many of our problems can be found in
this practice. No one expects the Minister for Justice, Equality
and Law Reform, Deputy McDowell, to get involved in the day-to-
day running of the business, such as transferring people, but
when something goes wrong the Minister is bound to his
responsibility. He must call in senior Garda officers immediately
and ask them what is happening.
In the past few months there was a major robbery in Belfast that
should have set off alarm bells all over this country. The Minister
should have called in all senior police officers and laid down
certain guidelines in the circumstances arising from that robbery
and the likelihood of others taking place. Two or three more
occurred in the meantime, yet nothing happened. Only a week
ago, in the face of another such atrocity, the Minister finally
decided to call in the Garda S-ochna and private security
firms to discuss the matter with them.
I do not know what he was thinking about for the past two or
three months this is not a political point but a fact of life
but if there was a real intention to do anything about this
matter, it would have been done then. As soon as the first of
these robberies took place, it was well known that there would be
more and that the same technique would be used, and so it
happened. Why was something not done about this? The
production of legislation is only a camouflage in these
circumstances. It does nothing, good, bad or indifferent, other
than act as a pretence of going through the motions.
The daily escalation of gun crimes, organised crime, drug-related
crimes, paramilitary crime, money laundering, racketeering and
protectionism in recent years is unacceptable. The Minister for
Justice, Equality and Law Reform used to tell the House that he
knew what he knew and he saw what he saw, that he had the
information, but if he had all this information, why did he not do
something about it? What was tying his hands? I am tired of
listening to the excuse "My hands are tied, I can do nothing
about these things." It is about time somebody started to take
responsibility. That simply means the Minister for Justice,
Equality and Law Reform taking responsibility and giving
directions and instructions and not being afraid to stand over
them. That is important.
If what happened here occurred in a banana republic, one would
excuse it by saying it was a banana republic. We do not have the
bananas except to skid on them from time to time. The major
heists we have seen would put the professionals of bygone years
in Chicago to shame because those here do a more professional
job and with impunity. We have an unarmed police force, which
is good although it has its disadvantages. I heard noises recently
in the undergrowth to the effect that legally held guns were
about to be monitored and that more restrictions were to be
introduced on how they should be stored and dealt with. It would
be much better if the authorities were employed looking after the
illegal guns which are used regularly. What really took the biscuit
a few weeks ago was when an unfortunate bar employee was
shot with a sawn-off shotgun. It was reported in the newspapers
that the situation was not life-threatening. Whoever wrote that a
volley from a sawn-off shotgun was not life-threatening did not
know what they were talking about.
There are no situations in which a sawn-off shotgun or a shotgun
is discharged other than in life-threatening situations. How many
people have lost their lives already? How many people have lost
limbs? Not so long ago a well-known publican in this city lost a
limb as a result of such an attack. Will somebody do something
about the use of guns and violent crime? A proper sentence must
be imposed, even if it must be a mandatory one. People do not
take out a sawn-off shotgun to comb their hair or stir their tea
but rather to blow somebody's head off which they do on a
regular basis. It is about time we copped on, stopped pussy-
footing around and did something about this issue. Something
can be done if there is a will. If there is no will or if the Minister
is afraid he will upset somebody, then that is a different ball
game and he should tell us that. Unless something serious is
done about gun crime, it will get worse. The introduction of this
Bill will in no way affect it.
I have tabled a series of parliamentary questions over recent
years to the Minister and his predecessor on money laundering,
the laundering of drug related money and the proceeds of
robberies. I have also asked about the number of organised
gangs and where they are located. However, the Minister was
coy in many of his replies he is coy much of the time to
the extent that he said it was almost impossible to assess the
size of the criminal fraternity in terms of organised gangs and
that it would not be possible to establish how many operate as a
unit and as independent entities. I find that very hard to believe.
Almost every time we read a newspaper we read about
somebody who is known to the Garda and, I presume, to the
Minister. Surely the Minister speaks to garda- and asks them an
odd question from time to time. Surely he asks them how many
of these people there are and what they are doing.
It appears money-laundering is big business and is working well.
I tabled parliamentary questions some time ago to the Minister
for Finance on this issue. With quite low interest rates in the
banks, in terms of investment in the legitimate marketplace, it is
much more lucrative to be involved in money-laundering.
Journalists in this city who write about crime seem to know much
more about how the system works and how lucrative it is than
the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform.
The Minister is a very nice fellow. I believe he may have injured
himself when he swung off that telegraph pole in the course of
the last general election and that a low flying aircraft may have
buzzed him and disorientated him because, leaving aside his
geniality and joviality, he seems to have difficultly addressing the
tough issues. He complains about them as if he were a bystander
or a pedestrian passing comments on the terrible events that
happen under his watch.
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Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour) Link to this: Individually

| In context
He blames everyone but himself.
Add your comment

context
Correct. This is new because when the Minister was in opposition,
he used to point the finger at the then Government and ask it
what it was doing.
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John Browne (Minister of State, Department of Agriculture and Food;
Wexford, Fianna Fail) Link to this: Individually | In context
That was a long time ago.
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context
To give him credit, the only thing the Minister has not done so far
is come across to this side of the House to point the finger at the
Government. However, he has done almost everything else,
including complaining in public and telling the media and the
public how awful the situation is and that something must be
done about it.
The greatest laugh of all time is that after the most recent
horrendous armed robbery which netted a cool 2 million
the national lottery is not in the same league in that this is a
much more lucrative business the Minister called in the
private security firms and gave them 105 days to get certain
security measures in order. What was he thinking? What were
the 105 days for? Must more robberies take place in the
meantime? Is there another reason the Minister gave them that
length of time? Why did he not call those people in immediately
after Christmas when it was obvious there was a serious problem
of organised crime? If he had done so then, it would have been
much more beneficial.
Legislation is necessary and provides the basis on which a police
force or a Minister may take action. However, unless there is a
will on the part of the Minister to take direct action rather than
blame somebody else, then the legislation is of no benefit or use.
In recent years I have listened to various experts talk about a
part-time police force. There is no place for such a force. There is
no way other than to have a full-time, properly paid and
equipped police force under the control of the Commissioner and
the Minister. Unfortunately, that costs money but that is how it
has been since the foundation of the State, even though it had
no money. I do not accept the notion that we can have cheap
policing on the side.
I refer to another issue which I have brought to the attention of
the public and this House. I was glad to note that something said
by a retiring chief constable in the UK approximately ten years
ago was referred to at the conference of the Association of Garda
Sergeants and Inspectors. On the chief constable's retirement
he could not say this before it because he would have been
fingered he said a huge wall was being built between the
public and the police force although the British people were
generally very supportive of and co-operated with their police. He
said that as a result of the need for the police to continually
enforce traffic laws, there was antipathy towards the police and it
was not receiving that same degree of co-operation. I have said
that several times over the years but nobody paid any attention.
I was glad to note garda- said that at their conference because
they know what they are talking about.
Traffic management and traffic law must be enforced by the
Garda so far as it can be done. The way to make friends is not in
enforcing it on a straight road or dual carriageway when the road
is clear given that most of the time one can travel at only five or
seven miles per hour because of traffic jams.
In recent years I have tabled parliamentary questions about
traffic accident black spots all over the country. Lo and behold
some Minister decided to put cameras on the black spots. I would
have thought it would be better to identify what was wrong with
the road in the first place, and why so many were killed in a
particular area. In one part of my constituency 21 people were
killed over an 18 year period on the same road, at the same
intersection and there was a reason. It should be a simple matter
to deal with issues directly rather than indirectly.
The Garda S-ochna has a difficult job to do. Some of its
members have fallen by the wayside, like some politicians, some
medical practitioners and some religious. No organisation is
perfect. If anybody wishes to point the finger it can be pointed
everywhere. It is not sufficient to say that because one falls by
the wayside that everybody is guilty. We should never allow that
to be accepted in respect of any profession. It is important that
the Garda has the full support and confidence of the general
public. The best way to do that is to ensure the administration of
the law is above board, that it is clear, accountable and
transparent and in accordance with the legislation. I hope this
legislation will be of some benefit but it will be of little benefit to
anybody unless the Minister gets involved in addressing the
issues that confront him.
Add your comment
2:00 pm
Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour) Link to this: Individually
| In context
I am delighted to have the opportunity to welcome the Garda
S-ochna Bill 2004. Although my party will table some
amendments, the Labour Party broadly welcomes the Bill. I
congratulate and commend the Garda S-ochna on the service
it has given to the State since 1924. The last comprehensive
legislation in this area was the 1924 Act. It is timely that the
Minister is coming forward with this far-reaching legislation for
the purpose of modernising and upgrading some of the
structures of the force.
During the 80 years the Garda S-ochna has served us,
generally it has done a splendid job. While all professions are
important and play their part in the civic and economic structure
of the State without security one has nothing, and this includes
the Government or a senior citizen who, alone at night, is
terrorised by a gang. Throughout those decades the Garda
S-ochna has served us well. The Acting Chairman will join
with me in commending the local garda- in Dublin North-East
and the districts that serve the division, particularly the force
under Superintendent Noel McLoughlin, Superintendent Nicholas
Conneally and Inspector Eddie Hyland who run the three stations
in our constituency. Throughout the year, and especially at
Hallowe'en when there was significant disorder, it has always
responded faithfully to the urgings of the general population and
has carried out its work diligently.
I am delighted to have been facilitated in meeting with the senior
Garda staff in our three stations on numerous occasions. I
welcome that level of co-operation. Our part of Dublin city has
been well ahead of the legislation in regard to local involvement.
Six or seven years ago I proposed to Dublin City Council the
establishment of a joint Garda-local authority committee with the
support of our superintendents and local government staff under
manager Declan Wallace. That committee is in operation for the
past three or four years with the last two city councils. It is
always helpful for colleagues, local representatives and national
representatives to turn up to Darndale village centre and put
across to the superintendent and his staff, face to face, the
issues we think should be dealt with. In our constituency we
have foreshadowed much of the development we welcome today,
such as local accountability, policing plans and so on.
In the past the major problem in my local Garda station and
other areas was the serious lack of resources with, perhaps, only
25 people to man a major urban station and only one patrol car
available. The Government has still not addressed those
deficiencies. As my colleague said, we are still getting the same
mantra about crime as we heard three years ago. From last
Saturday it appears the Progressive Democrats Party is a caring
party, like those in Opposition. The Minister has had three years
to address the grave problems of anti-social behaviour, Garda
modernisation and so on which Deputy Rabbitte articulated
yesterday morning. So far, the Minister for Justice, Equality and
Law Reform, Deputy McDowell, has failed to do so. We saw the
spectacle of him on media last week and the previous week
berating security companies and every Tom, Dick and Harry
except the person who is responsible for the whole situation in
regard to armed robberies and the use of firearms, namely
himself. He needs to look at his own track record which is not
good.
The input of my party into the gestation of the Bill has been
important. I tabled a number of justice Bills particularly in regard
to the plague of joy-riding. I welcome the fact the Government
has implemented some of my proposals. It is fair to say that for
the generation of Labour politicians, of whom I am a member,
from the late 1980s and early 1990s, even before the Prime
Minister of the United Kingdom came up with the phrase "tough
on crime and tough on the causes of crime", that was precisely
our policy. If one looks through Labour Party documentation of
the past ten or 15 years, it is clear that we did presage some of
the key features of the Bill, particularly our proposals for
legislation for a Garda authority and Garda ombudsman as issued
by Deputy Howlin in November 2000. It is prefaced with an
interesting quote from Michael Staines, the first Commissioner of
the Garda S-ochna who said that the Garda S-ochna will
succeed not by force of arms or numbers but by its moral
authority as servants of the people. In that document we put
forward some seminal reforms.
Obviously, the issue of a Garda authority has not been dealt with
things are still centralised in the Minister's office. That is an
issue that should be addressed in the future. I commend the
Minister on bringing forward the county policing liaison
committees. While the Bill provides for a Garda ombudsman, we
would have gone further but the ombudsman commission
includes some of the basic proposals we suggested more than
five years ago. Similarly, we stress the role of human rights in
the work of the Garda S-ochna.
It is fair to say the Labour Party foreshadowed many of the
issues in the Garda S-ochna Bill. The Taoiseach issued a
challenge to us to support aspects of legislation which are
prepared to be tough on crime. The Labour Party and I have no
problem with that because we have always been tough on crime.
We know the situation at first hand because being a smaller
party we work hard on the ground and we know what is
happening every day and night.
Crime prevention is the key element of policing. I refer to the
National Crime Council which was an interesting initiative of the
previous Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. It was
chaired by the distinguished former public servant, Pdraic
White. It issued its crime prevention strategy for Ireland. Many of
its recommendations on crime prevention are as valid today as
they were when the strategy was published a few years ago,
particularly in respect of the necessity for local involvement, local
crime prevention plans and youth diversion. Valuable work has
been done on the youth diversion schemes in the past decade. I
commend the Garda Commissioner and the Minister for
continuing that programme. Speaking from experience in my
constituency and the north side region, the work done by the
youth diversion programme has played a significant role in
turning a number of young men away from a life of crime and
desolation.
Unfortunately, the overall track record of the past three years is
disappointing, particularly with respect to the plague of anti-
social behaviour. My party leader graphically outlined the
problem about which I have been in contact with the Minister on
numerous occasions, which is the situation of the person who is
regarded as different, very often living in a corner house in a
local authority or a private estate. They are often tormented
night and day. It is disappointing that the incidence of robbery of
goods in transit and the discharge of firearms has increased year
on year by over 50% during the Minister's time in office and to
which he must give serious attention in the coming months.
The Minister has stated that this Bill is the most far-reaching
legislation since 1924. In his contribution to the Second Stage
debate in the Seanad he commended Senator Maurice Hayes for
his contribution to the legislation. I welcome the provisions in
section 19 for a strategy statement and the setting of priorities
by a Minister. I also warmly welcome the establishment of local
policing plans. The Minister may recall that the first such plan
was in the Kilmainham area approximately four or five years ago
under Commissioner Byrne. I am informed by colleagues in
Dublin South that this was outstandingly successful.
I warmly welcome the annual policing plan which allows the
Minister invigilate the performance of garda- while not
interfering in operational matters. I welcome everything to do
with the independence of the Garda S-ochna in respect of its
financial responsibilities and the management and structure of
the force. I particularly welcome the provisions in section 31 on
the local policing commissions, one of which was established in
the area of Dublin North Central and Dublin North East four or
five years ago and has proved to be important and valuable. I
also welcome the provisions for the service of the Garda
S-ochna in other forces, including the PSNI, and the Minister's
initiative in providing for volunteer members of the force.
In the United Kingdom the local knowledge of constables plays a
significant part in bringing about a direct and local response to
issues. In Japan the force has a local tier which knows every
family in the district and there is no need for continuous re-
education of the force. I ask the Minister in his remaining period
in office to properly resource community garda-. They have
been the Cinderella force for the past eight to ten years. We are
all familiar with members of the force who have done heroic work
in that role but were then sent on Border duty and this was a
problem. They are pulled away from work they are doing very
well, such as meeting young people in youth clubs and football
clubs. I ask the Minister to consider putting a senior Garda officer
in charge of community policing because this would be deeply
appreciated.
Deputy Mitchell and I share the view that a regional police force
should be considered. The idea of having a regional Dublin force
was to provide a level of continuity in order that new members
did not need to become educated about particular districts.
Community policing needs to be strengthened.
I welcome the proposed replacement of the Garda S-ochna
Complaints Board by the independent Garda Ombudsman
Commission. Citizens have complained about the length of time it
takes to deal with complaints. In one case a complaint was made
to the Garda S-ochna Complaints Board by Mr. Kevin Tracey,
11 Park Lane, Chapelizod, Dublin 20. He called to my clinic and
that of the Minister and effectively asked for a complaint he had
made to the board to be dealt with and reported. He made that
complaint approximately two or three years ago. I have a file
containing quite serious allegations which he has made. It is
disappointing that the board did not report on his complaint. It is
unfair that no report is available on serious allegations made. In
the case of Mr. Tracey's complaint, the new Garda Ombudsman
Commission would have the resources and the structures to deal
with it in an efficient manner.
There are some aspects relating to time limits which may require
examination. The Garda S-ochna Complaints Board is an
independent body which does not report to the Minister and
certainly does not report to me, but what happens when it takes
on a case and just sits on it, as is alleged in this case? For the
sake of the family of the complainant, Mr. Tracey, and everybody
else, the complaints made should be dealt with and laid to rest. I
mention this case because I had no other opportunity to do so. I
ask the Minister to ensure the case is addressed.
I welcome the provisions in respect of the accountability of the
Garda Ombudsman Commission, in particular in respect of
offences which may have been committed as a result of the
misbehaviour of a member of the force. I welcome the powers
granted to it, including the power to investigate and examine
records and documents in a Garda station. It is a positive
development that the provisions of the Garda S-ochna
(Complaints) Act 1986 will be replaced by a more accountable
and transparent structure.
The Taoiseach challenged the Labour Party earlier this week on
the type of measures that might be introduced to tackle the
plague of anti-social behaviour. Public representatives have
received much correspondence on this issue. Before Hallowe'en
last year, I asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law
Reform to examine the problems arising in communities during
what should be a wonderful festival for one or two evenings.
However, the Acting Chairman and I are aware that in some
parts of our constituency, it becomes a two or three-month
period of horrific noise and mayhem. On certain nights, some
localities have been compared to the first nights of the US
invasion of Baghdad because of the constant booming noises.
The Minister has told me it would be difficult for this House to
introduce radical measures on fireworks. At his party conference
last weekend, however, he seemed to make a great virtue of
taking difficult decisions. The Progressive Democrats Party has
become caring like the Labour Party and its members seem to be
hedging their bets when it comes to potential partners in a new
Administration. It is time for the Minister to take action on
fireworks bearing in mind that the Hallowe'en period is less than
five months away.
I commend the Minister on the introduction of the Bill and the
examination of some fundamental policing structures. The Labour
Party's 2000 policy document included a proposal for an
independent Garda authority, and this is an issue that should be
considered in regard to the administration of the force. The
Garda S-ochna has served our country and our communities
very well. I commend the men and women of the Garda who
have done their job so well, particularly in my constituency on
the north side of Dublin in recent decades. We must acknowledge
the heroic contribution of many garda-, some of whom lost their
lives in the service of the State. In addition to this Bill, I appeal
to the Minister to provide the funding to ensure that
superintendents have the necessary resources in terms of
manpower, equipment and other support mechanisms, especially
in hard-pressed urban stations throughout the country. In this
context, I wish the Bill well.
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Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent) Link to this: Individually

| In context
I wish to focus on several aspects of the Bill. It is to be generally
welcomed because it consolidates previous legislation dating
back to 1924. At a time when many feel overloaded with
information, it is helpful that the legislative provisions can be
simplified in this manner. A positive development is that the
issue of human rights is built into the Bill in several places. A
significant feature of section 7 is that the Garda S-ochna will
be statutorily obliged to have regard to the importance of
upholding human rights in the performance of its functions. It is
to be hoped that an awareness of this obligation will be
incorporated into Garda training and that there will be
opportunities on an ongoing basis to focus on that aspect. This
obligation will add to the authority of the force.
We can only have confidence in our police service if it performs
to the highest standards. It is not only in the public interest but
in the interest of the Garda itself that this should be the case.
The Bill represents a serious attempt to ensure such standards
prevail. The proposed code of ethics provided for in section 16,
which will be incorporated into the disciplinary framework, is
critical. It grounds the conduct of the Garda within the terms of
the European Convention on Human Rights which represents a
good foundation stone for legislation on this matter.
The Garda human rights audit highlighted the perception of
community members that insufficient resources were devoted to
community policing and that community consultation was
minimal. I support the provisions of section 32 for enhanced co-
operation between the Garda and the local authorities through
the establishment of joint policing committees. However, I have
serious concerns that this measure may be inadequate in
practice. The joint committees must be capable of producing a
response. What is required is not another layer of analysis but
rather a practical response.
The formal relationship between the Garda and local authorities
is positive. As a member of a town council for 17 years, I was
witness to some useful co-operation in this regard. It was clear
people wanted to be reassured that local garda- were aware of
the issues and concerns in the community and to be confident
they would focus on areas of heightened concern. However, it
was difficult to deliver information to the public because garda-
were, understandably in some cases, reluctant to release
information into the public domain. This information might relate
to ongoing issues such as complaints about groups of youngsters
frequenting a particular location, for example. If garda- have
devised a plan of action to counteract such problems, it is not
desirable that it should be outlined in the local newspaper.
Satisfying public expectation in terms of information, therefore,
was not always possible. Notwithstanding the difficulties I have
outlined, there seemed to be a particularly conservative attitude
to the provision of information on the part of the Garda. It would
have been helpful if garda- had been more forthcoming in this
regard. In this context, we should bear in mind that section 45 of
the Local Government Act 2001 provides that the public and
media should normally be permitted to attend local authority
meetings unless such access is not in the public interest. Does
this provision have any bearing in respect of the joint committees
and could difficulties arise in this regard?
The establishment of the joint committees will introduce an
entire layer of additional bureaucracy at local government level,
albeit some of it very productive, including the new county
development boards, strategic policy committees and community
and voluntary fora. It may take some time to see a result from
these new strata of administration because, by their nature, they
represent a focus on the long-term view. They also require a
significant additional level of administration in terms of costs and
staff resources. Such commitment of resources cannot be
bypassed in respect of the functioning of the joint committees.
There must be some transfer of funds to local authorities to
enable the committees to work in practice.
There may be an expectation that the committees will represent
merely a feeding of information to the Garda. However, such
consultation may involve a dialogue in both directions.
For example, I chaired a county development board and noted
that issues were raised by the Garda. Some of its proposals were
resource-dependent. It is difficult to respond if there is not a
transfer of funds to deal with the issues raised, including traffic-
related issues. For example, a very good suggestion to reduce
the time garda- spend addressing traffic back-up, making
reference to filter lanes into housing estates or off major roads,
had resource implications. It had such implications for the Garda
because the necessary infrastructure was not in place; thus it
was investing time doing something that could have been done in
a different way. Unexpected issues with resource implications
may crop up in the context of the relationship between the local
authorities and the Garda. These need to be dealt with.
I know from experience that members of the public raise issues
associated with vandalism and anti-social behaviour. They do so
right across the spectrum, irrespective of the community in which
they live. Often they are reluctant to draw attention to problems
in an area close to where they live because they are seriously
concerned they will be intimidated if they are identified as having
drawn attention to the problems. This is partly why such
problems are under-reported. I have seen people being singled
out for reporting anti-social behaviour. This makes difficult
circumstances very much worse.
The relationship between the local authorities and the Garda
could be of assistance regarding the closure of laneways and
lighting up dark spaces, for example. Often assistance merely
involves moving the problem on and, therefore, the cause is not
dealt with. I know policing is part of the solution but it does not
represent the total solution.
While canvassing for the local elections last year, I had time to
listen to the electorate. Many raised concerns about anti-social
behaviour and vandalism and linked the problem to the
inadequacy of facilities. Over and over, they talked about the
kind of place in which they wanted to live and in which they
wanted their children to grow up. I felt their message was very
hopeful but it will only remain hopeful if it is delivered upon.
Policing is only one aspect of this matter. We must consider the
others.
In the developing county of Kildare the only county of which
I have direct experience there has been a population
increase in the order of 50,000 in the past ten years. This
substantial increase amounts to one third of the population. An
increase in Garda resources has not matched population growth.
There should be a relationship between population growth and
the provision of facilities and services, including garda-. When I
refer to resources, I do not refer solely to personnel but also to
physical infrastructure.
During almost every election campaign the electorate in Leixlip,
the town in which I live, draws attention to the need for a Garda
station in the town. It was promised during the term of the
Government before last but has still not materialised. People
become fairly cynical when promises are made at election time
and not delivered on. There should be accelerated delivery of
such basic facilities as a desk for people to work from and a place
to which people can call to make their complaints and raise
concerns. If such a premises only allowed for form filling, it
would still represent a Garda presence and be important. For
example, there is a Garda office in Leixlip that opens for two
hours a day. I am focusing on Leixlip but the resource issue is
prevalent throughout the constituency. I have no doubt that the
message of the electorate is similar in all other developing areas.
Section 14 of the Bill establishes a basis in law for the resources
of the Garda S-ochna to be supplemented by providing for
the appointment, by the Garda Commissioner, of persons as
volunteer members of the force. I will be amazed if many
volunteer. I have some concerns about this approach to policing.
If one offers a service voluntarily, one can also withdraw it
voluntarily; thus we may not have the continuity we need.
We all know garda- do a difficult job and often put their lives at
risk. Under section 14, we will be asking people to do the same
in a voluntary capacity. I have serious concerns about the
protection they will be offered. What protection will be offered to
their families in the event of their receiving a serious injury, or
worse?
Consider the level of training required and the specific reference
to the need to have regard to human rights which will lead to this
training being further developed. What level of training will the
volunteers in the force receive? Will they be trained to the same
standard as other members of the force? It is difficult to believe
they will be trained to the same standard, given the time it takes
to train an officer to such a standard.
I am concerned there will be disproportionate numbers of
volunteers in certain areas and staffing issues in others. What
impact will this have in the assignment of new garda-? There
could be considerable resistance to the initiative if it is regarded
as too much part of the solution such that the professional full-
time force will not comprise the dominant part of the
organisation. What will be the practical impact of voluntary
policing? I do not believe a significant number will volunteer.
The proposal for a Garda ombudsman represents an
improvement. While it is important to have improvements, the
proposal does not go far enough. We have a tendency in this
country to go 50% of the way in respect of many measures. I
would have preferred if this matter had been dealt with fully
rather than in an incremental way. I am concerned that the
proposal does not represent the whole solution.
The Morris tribunal must be a deep source of concern to
members of the Garda. It is probably of most concern to the
most honourable members of the force which comprise the
dominant group. In recent years I have had an opportunity to
interact with members of the Garda on behalf of constituents. I
have the highest praise for some of the work they do which often
goes unnoticed. Often garda- have interacted positively with
others at flashpoints. They have found imaginative ways to deal
with them.
I understand time is required to train extra garda- but the delay
in deploying the extra 2,000 gardais such that the casualty of
the service has been in the area of community policing. This is a
positive development in which interventions can be imaginative.
In that regard, the quicker those 2,000 garda- are available,
the better. A Garda presence gives people a great deal of
comfort.
Policing is not the only solution to anti-social behaviour. A
societal issue must also be addressed, as must a resourcing issue
in terms of how we construct our communities. It is not just a
question of building more and more houses, one must provide
the necessary facilities and services. If one examines the studies
carried out in prisons, one will note a direct relationship between
anti-social behaviour and prisoners not being members of sports
clubs or other community organisations. These issues must be
dealt with. This will require investment in communities. While the
Bill does not cover this specifically, it will produce the results we
seek only if investment is made in remedying the cause of
problems as well as in policing.
Add your comment
Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael) Link to this: Individually | In

context
I welcome the opportunity to speak on this wide-ranging Bill. The
debate too has been wide-ranging. The Bill replaces all Acts in
this area since 1924 which is a sweeping and courageous
initiative that merits serious discussion. No matter who we are or
where we live we depend on the Garda S-ochna. We need a
well-manned, well-equipped police force to make us secure in our
homes, on the roads and in our daily lives. As our society
develops, problems increase and there is more pressure on the
Garda S-ochna to deliver a better service and inspire
confidence in the community.
The key objective of the Bill is to establish an independent Garda
S-ochna ombudsman commission to replace the existing
complaints board. The current system for dealing with complaints
against members of the force does not command full public
confidence. The complaints board has pointed to the problems of
the current arrangement. A new mechanism is needed to ensure
openness, transparency and public confidence in the
investigation of complaints against members of the Garda
S-ochna and the method of that investigation.
Many people have cited problems with the Garda in their areas
but the number of complaints against the Garda S-ochna in
my clinics and constituency office is small. When I follow these
up I find more often than not that the complaints do not stand
up, and that is a good sign. Transparency, however, is the key to
this Bill because it inspires the public with the confidence that it
has a police force that supports it in its daily life.
I welcome the Minister's decision to dissolve the complaints
board and opt for the ombudsman model which Fine Gael has
advocated for some time. I welcome in particular the power
given the ombudsman in section 94(4) to initiate an
investigation. That is welcome but the scope of such an
investigation should be widened considerably so that the
ombudsman can examine more general policing practices.
We have one national police force, while many countries have
several giving rise to a need for very different structures. Britain,
for example, has over 40 regional police constabularies and
several national law enforcement agencies including its
intelligence services. In addition to being a police force the Garda
S-ochna functions as an intelligence service, which is
important in dealing with the drug culture that has developed
throughout the country and determining its source.
The Bill also provides for a joint policing committee involving
Garda and local authority representation. This year there is a
focus on local authority membership, functions and local
democracy. For the first time committees will provide fora where
the garda- and local authorities can co-operate to address local
policing and other issues under the management of the local
authority. It is important that the Garda representatives put a
strong case for their interests to be taken into account.
The strategic policy committees feed into local authorities and
members of local authorities are active on the ground, thanks to
the abolition of the dual mandate. This increased focus on the
community can add knowledge to meetings of strategic policy
committees, county development boards or county councils.
There is scope for expansion in this area with the knowledge
these local representatives can share with the Garda S-ochna.
The feeding of information between the Garda and the local
authority is a welcome development.
Some years ago, soon after I became a Member of the Seanad,
some concerned business people spoke to me about the crime
level in Tipperary town. It seemed from their account of the
problem that there was very little policing in the area. There was
only one way to address that. I set up a meeting with the local
superintendent. Since then we continue to meet on a regular
basis to keep each other informed. That was one of the best
things I did because bringing together concerned people and the
authorities in the town made an impact. The results have all
been positive. Both sides understood how much work was being
done by the Garda S-ochna as an organisation and the
garda- on the street.
As I go about my daily business I am struck by the lack of police
on the ground. There is a need to get more police officers on the
beat. The presence of garda- walking the street, keeping an eye
on and being involved in communities gives people a sense of
security.
The Garda S-ochna is undergoing serious change to which it
devotes time and effort. Garda- spend a great deal of time at
their desks writing reports. We need more garda- on the street
where their role should be more focused.
The condition of some rural stations throughout the country is
not satisfactory. The Minister should examine the closure of
Garda stations in some of the smaller towns and villages
throughout the country in light of the development which is
taking place in these areas. People are crying out for these
stations to be re-opened. Whatever about the way Garda
resources are divided in different Garda divisions, the local man
on the beat and local stations have stood the test of time. This
brought garda- into contact with the local community and
resulted in mutual respect. I do not think the public has the same
respect for the garda- they had when I was attending school.
The proposal to have garda- in local stations must be discussed.
It will be stated that stations are not being closed. However, the
truth is that most of the Garda stations in my constituency are
either closed or there is no one in them, which is a poor
reflection on the Government. This issue needs to be addressed
so that people can become more integrated with the Garda force.
There are enormous problems with crime in society. Crime
figures have increased. The Minister may say the problem is in
hand and crime figures are decreasing. This is not what I witness
in my constituency. There is also the problem of anti-social
behaviour among young people, and there are not sufficient
garda- to deal with these problems. Now is not the time to be
overly political but the truth is that 2,000 garda- were promised
during the last general election campaign. People expected more
garda- to be put on the streets, which has not happened. The
Minister should deal with this issue in the forthcoming budget,
and not wait until the next general election campaign. It should
be dealt with over a certain timescale. Given the increase in the
population, immigrant figures and problems in society, a genuine
effort should be made to put more garda- on the streets.
If the requests I have made are dealt with, there will be more
confidence in the force. I welcome this broad-ranging Bill. We all
depend on the garda-. The security of the State depends on the
garda-. My party established the Garda S-ochna, of which
we are proud. However, there needs to be improvements and
adjustments to the force. I commend the Minister for bringing
forward the Bill. I ask him to take on board the points I made on
behalf of the public. I spent much of my time in County Meath
during the recent by-election campaign and I witnessed at first
hand the concerns of people living in communities at the lack of
Garda activity throughout the county. There is a need for more
garda- in communities.
I am pleased to have had an opportunity to contribute to this
debate. I ask the Minister to take on board the points I made.
Add your comment
3:00 pm
Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein) Link to this: Individually | In

context
Before speaking on the Bill, I want to deplore comments made by
Deputy Quinn who used this opportunity to make scurrilous
remarks about the contribution of my colleague, Deputy Crowe. I
will defend absolutely my right, and that of each Sinn Fin
Deputy, to speak on the Bill and the issue of policing. The
communities we represent, both North and South, have just as
much right to a proper policing service as those represented by
Deputy Quinn. Sinn Fin has made a constructive contribution
to the policing debate in this House. I commend my colleague,
Deputy Snodaigh, on the work he has done.
Sinn Fin aspires to establishing an all-Ireland police service
which is among the best in the world. It must be fully modern,
efficient and effective, able to respond to evolving challenges,
representative of the population, accountable to local
communities and working in partnership with them, underpinned
by a human rights and community service ethos, meeting or
even exceeding international best practice standards for policing.
We are ambitious to create real security in our communities and
we have positive policy alternatives to offer.
We now have a police force in the Six Counties that has not
severed itself from its legacy of human rights violations and
which is still ultimately controlled by the British Government.
Meanwhile, the Garda S-ochna in this jurisdiction has been
undermined by under-resourcing, lack of proper oversight, lack
of local and public accountability, corruption and a culture of
impunity for misconduct. Present oversight mechanisms in
particular are very poor. It is not acceptable that neither the
Garda Commissioner nor the Minister for Justice, Equality or Law
Reform could answer my colleague, Deputy Snodaigh, when
he asked the total number of serving garda- who have been
charged with or convicted of a criminal offence, and the number
for each type of offence. No wonder an MRBI poll from one year
ago found that more than 50% of young adults had no
confidence in the Garda.
We need to be positive, not negative in our approach to this
issue. What is needed now is comprehensive reform and strong
legislation to change the culture of impunity and the lack of
oversight and accountability in the future. We are committed to
engaging constructively in the process of change until such time
as an all-Ireland service can be established in the future. I am,
therefore, pleased to have the opportunity to comment on this
long overdue Garda reform Bill, to point out some of its
shortcomings and to encourage the Minister for Justice, Equality
and Law Reform to accept the constructive proposals and
amendments that will be tabled by Sinn Fin.
Earlier, my colleague, Deputy Crowe, dealt with the aspects of
the legislation regarding the need for a single Garda
ombudsman, in keeping with the Good Friday Agreement strand
3 commitments to equivalence in human rights protection
between both jurisdictions. I will deal primarily with the need to
establish a policing board for civilian oversight a mechanism
that would provide much stronger accountability and
transparency to the public than the Minister's proposed Garda
inspectorate based on the British model in Part 5 of the Bill.
The Minister will say it is untenable for Sinn Fin to boycott the
policing board in the Six Counties, yet call for the establishment
of an equivalent body to oversee the Garda in this jurisdiction.
Let me clarify this. There is no contradiction whatsoever in our
position. The establishment of a policing board is an essential
element of the Patten police reform package. The Patten model is
widely recognised as representing international best practice in
policing. It is also consistent with UN and Council of Europe
standards on policing. It was developed in the context of the
peace process for application in the Northern context as a
necessary element of conflict resolution. Patten was put together
by a team of international experts, including a Canadian who
helped to guide police reform for post-apartheid South Africa.
The Patten report is still considered by many to be state of the
art and to have international relevance and application. Sinn
Fin believes the Patten package is far from optimal, but we
accept it as representing an appropriate minimum standard. We
could not accept anything less than the full Patten report.
We do not find the Patten's policing board model objectionable,
rather the PSNI. While we maintain that the Garda S-ochna is
in need of comprehensive reform, as both Deputies Snodaigh
and Crowe have previously stated, we also believe it is a
legitimate police service. The same cannot be said about the
PSNI which continues to retain human rights violators on active
duty, block access to the truth about collusion, retains its political
policing arm, the special branch, and plastic bullets.
Sinn Fin recommends the establishment on a statutory basis
of a fully independent civilian policing board, separate from the
Garda S-ochna and the Garda ombudsman's office. Its
purpose would be to hold garda- fully to public account.
The policing board would act as the civilian body to which the
Garda Commissioner was accountable. In this way it would fulfil
the other aspects of the remit of the Minister's proposed
inspectorate, providing management oversight on issues of
recruitment, qualifications, training standards, equipment,
accommodation, organisation methods and best practice.
Sinn Fin proposes the policing board be independent of Garda
management and representative of the population served by the
Garda. We recommend it be composed of one third cross party
elected representatives, one third representatives of statutory
bodies and one third representatives of community and voluntary
sectors. It should have at least 50% female representation and
take into account the need for other social and economic
representatives. Members of the board must be selected by a
transparent, merit-based appointment process independent of
the Garda S-ochna, and members and the chair must be
selected on the same basis as the ombudsman. Elected
representatives should be disqualified from holding the office of
chairperson.
The policing board should be empowered to appoint senior
garda- on the basis of a transparent process to review their
performance and hold them accountable. The board should be
required to meet monthly and in public with the Garda
Commissioner and to receive his reports on operational
management. It should be able to request and receive all manner
of information from the Commissioner. If it is in the public
interest that such information be kept confidential, the board
should be allowed to hold in camera sessions to deal with specific
matters.
The policing board must have the power to request a report from
the Garda Commissioner on any matter pertaining to policing. It
should have the authority to establish short, medium and long-
term strategic priorities and objectives together with the
Commissioner as part of a process of agreement on strategic and
annual policing plans. It should be responsible for monitoring
performances as well as budget management against the agreed
policing plans or any other indicators it regards as suitable.
The board should have the power to make recommendations on
resource allocation and policy change to the Minister who would
be obliged to take due regard of such recommendations. It
should also be able to refer matters as appropriate to the Garda
Ombudsman or Comptroller and Auditor General. It should be
able, if necessary, to establish an independent inquiry into any
matters it regards pertinent. Provisions for such inquiries should
be framed to emphasise the board's independence.
In the interest of full public transparency and accountability, the
board should be required to publish annual reports of its
activities.
We welcome the emerging international consensus regarding a
need for independent, civilian oversight in order to establish full
police accountability. However, the Minister's proposals in this Bill
will not deliver the full independence and civilian oversight the
Irish people deserve and should be revised to include provisions
for an independent, civilian policing board.
We welcome the Minister's recognition that Garda oversight and
investigation functions should be separate, as argued by Sinn
Fin, the Human Rights Commission and others. I also
welcome that the Minister has, in Part 5 of the Bill, altered his
original proposal of a Garda inspectorate which wrongly
combined investigatory and management functions and, in many
ways, replicated flaws of the current system. He has taken
several of our recommendations on board. However, the newly
proposed Garda inspectorate is still not right and is not quite up
to the standard set out in Sinn Fin proposals.
While former members of the Garda will not be allowed sit on the
inspectorate, the Government is still allowed to appoint former
police officers from other states according to section 107. This
means, theoretically, that former RUC members could be
appointed to the board. The appointment process is merit based,
but it is still not transparent. Despite claims in section 109(7),
the inspectorate will not be independent of the Minister, who
retains overall control of its work, according to section 109(2)(a).
Provisions in section 109(5) allow the Minister to suppress the
publication of inspectorate reports at his discretion. Furthermore,
in section 112, the chief inspector shall not "question or express
an opinion on the merits of any policy of the Government or a
Minister of the Government." The inspectorate is also not
required to meet in public.
The Minister's new model has also been criticised by the Human
Rights Commission and the Irish Council for Civil Liberties, which
have raised several concerns which we share. The Human Rights
Commission objects to the retention of the existing system of
political appointment of senior officers within the Garda, the
broad discretionary powers granted to the Minister with regard to
the operation of the force and, in particular, section 23 which
specifically directs the Garda Commissioner to have regard to
Government policy as well as to the law and relevant regulations.
This is not a formula for a policing service that is accountable to
the public it serves, but for a police force that is accountable to
Government parties first and foremost. This is not acceptable.
The ICCL agrees the Bill does not go far enough to address the
management crisis in the Garda S-ochna or the culture of
denial and lack of accountability. It further states that in granting
broader ministerial powers of oversight and direction, the Bill
"runs the risk of overcentralisation and politicising" of the force
and "would ultimately undermine its independence". We would
say it further politicises the force. The ICCL rightly observes that
"no other public body in Ireland composed of more than 10,000
individuals can utilise as broad a range of discretionary powers
with serious implications for human rights ... it is unacceptable to
allow one ministerial position to exert such influence over the
garda-". I welcome the ICCL endorsement of the policing board
model offered by Patten.
Independence is not optional but a fundamental cornerstone of
democratic policing which is why Sinn Fin is concerned about
the Minister's failure to use this opportunity to establish a
policing board for accountability and oversight.
I have issues in my constituency of Kerry North. I refer to a
statement from Deputy Hayes regarding the Garda S-ochna
Complaints Board. He states that very few complaints have been
made. How many successful complaints have gone before the
complaints board? In my experience it is a waste of time, which
is regrettable.
I must also bring to the attention of the Minister that Deputy
Snodaigh wrote to him on four occasions on 13 October 2002, 12
November 2002, 28 February 2003 and 29 May 2003 seeking
that he meet Sinn Fin Deputies concerning a serious injustice
to a person in my constituency, James Sheehan. He was arrested
on the grounds that a gun was allegedly discovered in his car. In
a subsequent search of his house 12 rounds of ammunition were
discovered. A file was sent to the DPP. Seven years later he
received a letter from DPP informing him that the charges
against him had been withdrawn even though he was never
charged.
Many Deputies raised a question on that case with the Minister
and all referrals in that respect were to the Garda Complaints
Board. This case represents a denial of equality of treatment. Is
it because we are Sinn Fin Deputies that we are not entitled
to a response from the Minister? Is it because the man in
question was a Sinn Fin member that we did not receive one?
From 1988 to the present day he has carried the stigma of a gun
having being discovered in his car, which he said was not there.
He was never brought before the courts.
Add your comment
Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats) Link to

this: Individually | In context
Is it a stigma for the Deputy to have a gun in his possession?
Add your comment

context
I am making a point even if the Minister does not want to listen
to it.
Add your comment
The Deputy brought a boatload of guns into this country.
Add your comment
Samus Pattison (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour) Link to this: Individually |
In context
Order, please.
Add your comment

How is it a stigma to have a gun in a car? The Deputy never
apologised for doing that.
Add your comment

context
Deputy Caolin and other Sinn Fin Deputies asked the
Minister to meet them and he denied them that. He has denied
our equality of treatment in this House in terms of a meeting to
raise this issue with him.
Add your comment

Does the Deputy think there is a stigma in having a gun in his
possession? He brought a boatload of guns into this jurisdiction.
Add your comment

context
I bring to the Minister's attention the case of the late John
O'Shea who died tragically when a Garda report influenced an
inquest carried out by Professor Harbison who said that his
judgment was formulated on what he was told by the garda-,
namely, that the man died from hypothermia. Yet under cross-
examination from Michael Finucane he admitted that under oath,
and he also changed his verdict. We and the family of the late
John O'Shea have asked the Minister for a proper independent
investigation into his death. Is it again because he is a member
of Sinn Fin that his family was denied that?
We need accountability not only from the Garda S-ochna but
from the Minister to the people I represent and who
democratically elected me. It is the people who decided to elect
me and the other Sinn Fin Deputies, and the Minister has no
right to treat us as second class citizens.
Add your comment

I have a right to point out that people like the Deputy get elected
under false pretences.
https://www.kildarestreet.com/debates/?id=2005-
04-14.241.0&s=kevin+tracey#g273.0
Garda/political corruption Nothing
will change
The Irish Examiner editorial describes the latest revelations in
the Ian Bailey case as mind boggling.
That Gardai may have considered paying someone in order to

frame a man for murder is described as not only corrupt but
almost unbelievable.
The Irish Times speaks of an appalling vista and grave national

concern that Gardai may have acted illegally in securing
convictions in the courts.
And yet this stuff is old hat, its all happened before. Garda
corruption in Donegal involved a whole range of crimes
including framing a man for murder.
Nobody was charged, some were allowed to retire on full

pension and, to my knowledge, just three gardai were fired.
In other words, major criminal acts carried out by police

officers and confirmed by an Oireachtas inquiry were
effectively ignored.
The political response was exactly the same as the response we

are now witnessing in respect of the latest scandals.
Denial, useless internal reports, full support for the Gardai and
minister, promises to legislate to prevent it happening again
blah, blah, blah.
The then Justice Minister McDowell and his civil servants who
drafted and introduced the this must never be allowed to
happen again legislation must have been complete morons or
they deliberately drafted the law to ensure the minister and
Gardai remained unaccountable.
I suspect most intelligent citizens would opt for the latter

explanation.
So whats happening now?
Well, editorials are expressing shock and outrage, politicians

are expressing their unqualified confidence in the minister and
the Garda and everybody is supremely confident that the
interim Garda Commissioner, Noirin OSullivan, will act
decisively to reform the force.
So lets have a look at what she has done to restored confidence

and clean out the corruption thats obviously rampant within
the force.
She has decided to leave in place the punishment meted out to
completely vindicated Garda Maurice McCabe by her
predecessor.
And shes conducting a survey to ask rank and file members

how the organisation can be improved.
Pathetic and all a bit sad so to finish Ill express the brutal
truth.
Corruption is rampant within the Gardai because our corrupt

political/administrative system, by doing nothing, allowed that
corruption to flourish.
That rotten system will do nothing in this instance. Things will

remain exactly as they are, exactly as they were allowed to
remain following the Morris Tribunal.
New minister for investigative
judges to be appointed
Letter in todays Irish Times regarding the latest Garda scandal.
Sir,
Surely the time has now come to appoint a minister for investigative judges. The said
minister would be responsible for keeping us informed of the progress being made by the
growing legions of such judges and, crucially, would create yet another firewall for
politicians to hide behind.
Otherwise the consequences could be an extremely serious outbreak of democratic

accountability.
Yours etc,
Anthony Sheridan
Cobh, Co Cork.
Revisiting the silence on Garda
corruption
A Garda was fined 16,151 in 2015 for disobeying orders and engaging in corrupt/improper practice, it
has been revealed.
The fine was the largest imposed on a member of the force in a year when 167 officers were
reprimanded for disciplinary breaches.
breaches.
The gardai received a combination of sanctions, cautions, warnings and reprimands and the total cash
penalties imposed on them was 71,934.

A further 130 members were found to be in breach of Garda discipline last year, with penalties of
40,565 imposed.
Since 2012 officers have been fined 316,296.
The highest penalty imposed last year was 4,245.
In relation to the fine of 16,151 in 2015, the member had to pay the penalty due to disobedience of
orders, falsehood/prevarication and corrupt/improper practice.
Details released in response to a Garda Freedom of Information request show another member in 2015
had to fork out 9,690 for neglect of duty and discreditable conduct.
Another received a penalty of 4,000 for discreditable conduct.
Members were also fined for an offence of breach of confidence with one paying a penalty of 1,600
for a breach under that heading.
Eight of the top 15 monetary penalties imposed on members in 2015 involved fines of less than 1,000.
The FOI response confirms there were eight gardai suspended from duty last year for a range of
reasons all of which are under criminal investigation.
That figure refers to members who were suspended last year and not those who remained on leave in
2016 having been who suspended in previous years.
The FOI response stated: Of the eight members suspended, one resigned and one had their
suspension lifted. Six cases are still ongoing.No officers were sacked last year.
In 2014 167 gardai were reprimanded with total fines of 80,360. The year before 153 members to be
found in breach with penalties of 60,920 imposed. A Garda spokesman said the force does not
comment on disciplinary issues.

Mistakes made dealing with subversion in the 1970s should not now be made
in reacting to gangland crime
The Irish police force (styling itself An Garda Siochana) has released statistics
claiming a fall in road deaths of thirty people over the past year.
The supposed reduction in road deaths comes amid an unprecedented
display of aggressivity from police officers towards members of the public
driving about their lawful business.
I would make the following points.
The police have for several years now behaved in a cavalierly thuggish
attitude towards motorists.
It is good for the ordinary public to experience this.
In the past when left wingers told us the police were corrupt, most of us simply
didn't believe them.
Now we have seen it for ourselves and we know it's true.
Road death rate falling?
After a few years of individual and institutional thuggery, the police are
producing figures to show that their thuggery gets results.
Let me be clear.
I don't believe these figures.
The figures the Irish police produce for road deaths are figures they
themselves have compiled.
In the past there have been problems with Garda statistics as compiled by
themselves.
For instance, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights
investigated An Garda Siochana for falsifying the DEATHS IN GARDA
CUSTODY figures which the police are required to publish annually.
The United Nations Special Rapporteur was called in after citizens who had
been killed in Garda custody were not mentioned in the DEATHS IN GARDA
CUSTODY figures.
The excuse the police furnished for their omission of two dead people who
had met their deaths in police custody from their DEATHS IN GARDA
CUSTODY statistics in a given year was that although the two people may
have been assaulted in police custody, they only finally expired after being
removed to a hospital.
Not our fault Guvnor.
Died in an ospital, innit!
Thugs.
Crass murdering thugs.
And the ones who cover up for them are worse.
If the police have been falsifying the DEATHS IN GARDA CUSTODY
statistics, why should we assume they're not capable of falsifying the road
death figures?
I am deeply dissatisfied that we rely on the police for the maintenance and
tabulation of any figures, let alone road death statistics at a time when there
is serious public concern about the way traffic police are behaving towards
citizens at the side of the road.
Near where I live, two years ago at Christmas, a motorist was stopped by
police who claimed the motorist had performed an erratic manoeuvre.
There was a child in the car with the motorist.
The erratic manoeuvre was never specified.
The motorist died at the scene.
The child watched the parent die.
Ah.
Hero cops of the Republic of Ireland.
We must presume the motorist had a heart attack.
This detail was never clarified.
If the police put that motorist in fear as they do regularly with thousands of
other motorists, if they induced a heart attack in that citizen, I would consider
it murder.
The police themselves released a highly prejudicial, (and certainly illegal)
statement to the media, to wit that they were checking the dead person's
blood for illicit substances.
This was an attempt to imply guilt on the dead citizen where there was no a
priori evidence of guilt at all.
There was no further media scrutiny of the death.
The results of the police enquiry, such as it was, were not reported.
The death was not included in the annual DEATHS IN GARDA CUSTODY
statistics.
Of course it wasn't.
The person died at the side of the road.
It doesn't count unless he dies in a Garda station, eh lads.
Thugs.
Murdering thugs.
Here is the news.
Copies to all Irish police officers.
No country on earth empowers its police to kill citizens at the side of the road
for purported traffic infringements.
Not even Robert Mugabe's Zimbabwe.
Not even the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Not even the effin Taliban.
The Irish police force has attained a standard of thuggery that would shame
the Islamists.
It's bloody appalling.
Very bloody.
The Irish police force has replaced the internationally accepted standard of
policing To Protect And Serve with a twisted malign motto of their own To
Harass And Intimidate.
And now they're trumpeting a fall in the number of people dying in traffic
accidents.
Ignore the fact that while the police have been terrorising law
abiding motorists at the side of the road, real crime has been exploding off the
scale all over the country.
Murders, stabbings, drug dealing, rape, child abuse.
Off the scale.
But Garda Hardman claims his thuggery towards the law abiding public has
brought down the road death figures.
Yeah right.
An important, and thus far unreported factor, in the fall in road deaths, has
been a fall in the general population.
According to official figures, half the foreign nationals resident in Ireland left
the country in the last two years.
Half of them.
(I doubt these figures are correct because they were released in order to
assuage public concerns about immigration. Nonetheless they are the official
figures.)
Half the foreign nationals are supposed to have left.
That would mean several hundred thousand less people on the roads.
It would mean in fact that the much trumpeted fall in the road deaths figures
actually amounted to an increase when the fatalities are taken as a
percentage of the number of people using the roads.
And the statistical breakdown is so complicated, that the Guards can be
virtually certain the general public will never figure it out.
Vile.
Vile corrupt bastards.
That is what they are.
That is what they will continue to be until we put a stop to them.
So there was no fall in the road death figures.
The claimed fall in road deaths is a nonsense.
A statistical hiccup downwards that when translated into reality actually
represents an increase.
There you go.
Diabolical, isn't it.
Our police, the present generation of officers in An Garda Siochana, have
repudiated a century of integrity, nobility and public trust towards the law
enforcement officers who came before them.
The present generation of Irish police officers have become fascist scum.
I don't say it lightly.
I say it because it's true.
But let's assume for a moment that I'm wrong in all this.
I've had a few negative experiences with Irish police officers at the side of the
road in the run up to Christmas.
Perhaps I'm not an objective judge.
Let's assume for a moment that the Irish police force, through their high
aggression tactics, genuinely did bring down the road death figures over the
past year.
You know folks, Mussolini made the trains run on time and put a stop to all
Mafia activity in Italy for a period of twenty years.
No one else ever managed the same feat.
Most of us agree it wasn't worth it.
An Garda Sochna: Corruption
in Cork
BY NUMBER1ADMIN on EANIR 5, 2017
Preas Ritheas / Press Release

On the 3/1/17 a member of the community guards in cork was
arrested and charged with 212 accounts relating to robberies
and corruption.
This is further evidence of how the people of this country are
being betrayed by the very people who are supposed to be
protecting them.
We call on the people of Cork and the other 31 counties to

build community relationships and protect each other its
evident we cannot trust our own police force.
ON GARDA CORRUPTION AND THE
TREATMENT OF WHISTLEBLOWERS
blow on corruption, sexual assaults involving senior gardai and the justice department are
being intimidated , harassed, bullied, falsely arrested, falsely accused of trumped up charges
by High Ranking Officers, so as to ruin their reputation and make people believe they are
criminals, when in fact its the high ranking officers that are corrupt. Hundreds of gardai are
suffering appalling intimidation at the hands of these high ranking political appointed
bullies.These whistle blowers are being forced to retire, resign, take a care break etc
Senior gardai get NBCI to investigate and stitch up the members who are whistle blowing so
as to drive them over the edge and drop their complaints of corruption. More then 20
gardai/sergeants have reported corruption and have been bullied and intimidated so badly,
some even contemplated suicide.
Below a few recent bullying cases all of them covered up by the justice departments
Sergeant Brian Hanley of NBCI, to name just one garda who

harasses witnesses and gets witnesses to make false statements
framing innocent people and whistleblowers. . Brian Hanley
coaches people into making false statements and like all Guards
in NBCI carries out a one sided prosecution in cahoots with the
solicitors in the dpps offices. Hiding and destroying evidence in
the disclosure process. Gardai in N.B.C.I and the dpp's office who
frame whistleblowers and innocent people keep getting truthful
posts removed from the internet to cover up the intimidation and
the truth about how corrupt the justice departments really are.
Gardai who whistle blow on corruption, sexual assaults involving
senior gardai and the justice department are being intimidated ,
harassed, bullied, falsely arrested, falsely accused of trumped up
charges by High Ranking Officers, so as to ruin their reputation
and make people believe they are criminals, when in fact its the
high ranking officers that are corrupt. Hundreds of gardai are
suffering appalling intimidation at the hands of these high ranking
political appointed bullies. These whistle blowers are being forced
to retire, resign, take a care break etc
Senior gardai get NBCI to investigate and stitch up the members
who are whistle blowing so as to drive them over the edge and
drop their complaints of corruption. More than 20
gardai/sergeants have reported corruption and have been bullied
and intimidated so badly, some even contemplated suicide.
Below a few recent bullying cases all of them covered up by the
justice departments
A webpage in Germany called pressnet.com run by an accountant
called Machelvich exposing all this and corruption by the gardai in
NBCI and the dpps office has been brought down by NBCI and
the dpps office but we have a copy of it all.
Malicious senior garda management exposed , Gardai in NBCI are
tasked with framing innocent people and whistleblowers, all
exposed now. People like Ian Bailey , Joe Doocey, water
protestors are all being set up the same way by this section, its
not just whistleblowers they frame like this, leaking false stories to
the media, getting people to make false vindictive statements,
destroying evidence proving your innocence, planting evidence
etc is what this section does.
"Two senior garda have made statements under whistleblower
legislation alleging that senior garda management conducted a
major campaign to destroy a whistleblower within the force.
The protected disclosures of the two officers reference a
campaign that included spreading false, scandalous, and
damaging allegations against the whistleblower in question.
These include:
Generating hundreds of text messages which were disseminated
among a large group of officers with the instructions to attack the
whistleblowers character;
The creation of an intelligence file on the whistleblower;
The deployment of an officer to monitor the activity of the
whistleblower on Pulse, the Garda computer system;
The briefing of elements of the media about the whistleblower,
laying emphasis on entirely false allegations about the
whistleblowers character;
The briefing of selected politicians in a similar vein."
Garda Brian Hanley who is attached to N.B.C.I Harcourt Square ,
who was involved in the death in garda custody of a man, soon
after this death in garda custody Brian Hanley was promoted to
sergeant rank . Brian Hanley is well known for his crafting and
inventing statements, intimidating and harassing witnesses into
giving false statements so as to frame innocent people. While
leaking false statements, smearing innocent peoples good name
in the media, in their work place and in the area they live in,
perverting the course of justice, something that is being exposed
on a daily basis now.
NBCI is the main section involved in the smear campaign against
people, The section is headed by Noirin O Sullivans husband Jim
Mc Gowan who she appointed there.
This Garda section that is called National Bureau of Criminal
Investigation (N.B.C.I) Harcourt Square keeps changing its name
like other criminal organisations/institutions in Ireland.
The same section (N.B.C.I) is also called by the following names

to cover up their corruption:
DOCB: THEIR NEW NAME
OCU: Organised Crime Unit
SCRT: Serious crime review team
SCB: Serious Crime Bureau
SCS: Serious Crime squad
Murder squad
CCU:Cold case unit
Serious crime squad
GNPSB: Garda National Protection Services Bureau
Trace Unit
DVSA: Domestic Violence Section
WACU: Women and child Unit
Paedophile Unit.
NBCI are combined now with GNDU, Garda National Drugs Unit.
NBCI is well known for framing innocent people and
whistleblowers . This section is yet another political section
working for the justice department and its the main section
involved in the smearing campaign, which will be revealed.
http://www.breakingnews.ie//garda-was-following-orders-
whe
Nirn O'Sullivan talked yesterday of a campaign of false
accusations against her. Is she saying that Maurice McCabe was
lying? Is she saying that David Taylor, Keith Harrison, Nick Keogh,
Sinad Killian, Eve Doherty, Dermot O'Connell and others are all
liars?
If she genuinely did not know how whistleblowers were treated,
she is not fit for the job
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6a_x9D91CJY
Garda Whistle blower who reported a murder abused while senior
gardai cover it up
http://www.breakingnews.ie//daly-tells-dail-of-garda-order
There are concerns that a judge-led inquiry into allegations of
bullying and intimidation within the Garda will not go far enough.
Two senior officers claim they were directly involved in the
smearing of a whistleblower.
Fianna Fil TD and former chairman of the Public Accounts
Committee John McGuinness says he has reservations about the
scope of the review.
"In order to deal with this comprehensively, you need somebody
from outside the State," he said, "who will not be afraid of any
vested interest and will tell it as it is, disclose everything warts and
all so that we can five a solution to these problems once and for
all."
http://www.irishexaminer.com//mcguinness-we-need-
someone-f
He said the phones contained chains of text messages outlining
the plot to target McCabe by spreading vicious lies about the
whistleblower and his family.
The texts were sent to senior gardai, members of the media, and
prominent politicians.
The allegations could never be printed due to the defamatory
nature of the claims, but they spread like wildfire in political and
garda circles.
He claimed an intelligence file was created on McCabe in Garda
Headquarters under the name Oisin and details of the gardas
private and professional life were collated.
http://www.independent.ie//im-going-to-hit-this-guy-tense-
Garda whistleblower Keith Harrison's solicitor has said his client
has had to endure a campaign to undermine his credibility that he
believes was orchestrated by senior members of An Garda
Sochna since he made a protected disclosure over two years
ago.
http://www.rte.ie/news/2016/1010/822785-garda-whistleblower/
Gardai in NBCI took down this page for exposing the truth about
how corrupt they really are
One of the garda whistleblowers alleging unfair treatment by the
force claimed that he was followed by an unmarked garda car
after leaving a confidential meeting earlier this year.
It adds Gda Harrison has been subjected to unwarranted and
prolonged covert surveillance by gardai, victimisation, bullying,
intimidation and harassment which is levelled at him and his
family. It is understood a member of the media has come forward
and told Gda Harrison they were given malicious intel in a bid to
blacken his name.
http://www.irishmirror.ie//whistleblower-followed-unmarked
The only communication they are getting is bullying and
intimidation. I am not saying it is the Ministers fault. I am saying
the system is not working. I am sorry but it appears to me that the
Minister is not being kept accurately informed by An Garda
Sochna. These people are in a bad place, and they need help
and protection, he said.
http://www.irishtimes.com//miriam-lord-champions-of-garda-
David Taylor He has been named as the man who has made
allegations that there was an organised campaign in senior Garda
management to destroy the reputation of another whistleblower
within the force. Significantly, Supt Taylor is admitting his own
role in the campaign, but also implicating other senior managers,
including the current commissioner, Nirn OSullivan.
http://www.businesspost.ie/whistleblower-probe-to-be-cripp/
http://www.breakingnews.ie//six-more-garda-whisleblowers-
a
https://www.irishtimes.com//garda-whistleblowers-not-conta
http://www.broadsheet.ie//word-came-down-from-the-top-
tha/
http://www.thetimes.co.uk//angry-garda-sent-threat-to-coll
http://www.irishexaminer.com//when-speaking-out-is-near-
im
http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk//Irish_/article1407115.ece
http://www.irishexaminer.com//court-order-for-gsoc-to-see-
http://www.breakingnews.ie//gsocs-maurice-mccabe-inquiry-
h
http://www.independent.ie//garda-commissioners-14000-
spend
http://www.irishtimes.com//what-is-really-wrong-with-garda
http://www.irishexaminer.com//just-7-of-foi-requests-to-an
http://www.irishtimes.com//almost-one-fifth-of-people-rate
The gardai should take a cold hard look at this ruling in Britain
https://twitter.com/gemmaod1/status/788281790901415936
http://www.irishmirror.ie//mick-wallace-garda-whistleblowe
https://www.businesspost.ie//garda-inquiry-branded-myopic-
http://www.thetimes.co.uk//garda-whistleblower-monitored-b
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyte7w1wYno
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqdRx07ialo&feature=youtu.
be
https://www.rte.ie/ne/2016/1016/824479-garda-whistleblower/
tha/
http://www.irishtimes.com//the-garda-whisteblowers-who-
are
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=301227400256266&s
et=a.155181611527513.1073741832.100011070254271&type=3&
theater
If a sustained campaign against a whistleblower was, as alleged,
perpetrated by senior management, then the extent of
whistleblower reprisal is much worse than ever imagined.
http://www.irishexaminer.com//claims-suggest-worse-than-
im
http://www.fairsociety.ie/gardai-who-whistle-blow-being-in/
http://www.independent.ie//gardai-covered-up-murder-of-civ
https://www.sundayworld.com//gardai-covered-up-murder-of-
c
Anyone who exposes the corrupt people in justice gets their
character assassinated and ruined, no matter who they are.
Nirn OSullivan is understood to have accepted she got texts
from Dave Taylor, a former garda press officer who is suspended
http://www.thetimes.co.uk//osullivan-texts-examined-by-mcc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEWW1gALQZA&feature=sh
are
http://www.broadsheet.ie/2016/05/28/disgusting/
http://www.breakingnews.ie//whistleblower-maurice-mccabe-
n
Whistle blower assaulted and falsely imprisoned by Ass Comm
Derek Byrne
http://www.rabble.ie///silencing-the-garda-whistleblowers/
Gardai have no where to turn to, to report sexual assaults,
harassment by corrupt senior gardai, their last resort is to send
letters and emails around.
A witch hunt was set up by NBCI and senior gardai to catch the
gardai who were reporting the true corruption being committed by
commissioner Fintan Fanning , Derek Byrne and John O
Mahoney.
http://www.sundayworld.com//poison-pen-letter-rocks-garda-
A number of gardai have committed suicide as a result of senior

garda bullying and it is not getting any better for garda whistle
blowers. The continued abuse of garda whistle blowers has to
stop by corrupt political appointed senior gardai.
Garda whistle blower John Wilson
http://www.rte.ie//647599-documentary-podcast-garda-
limpe/
http://www.irishexaminer.com//gardai-took-action-against-u
http://www.northernsound.ie//claims-that-judge-pressured-/
https://soundcloud.com//i-have-no-regrets-garda-whistleblo
Every garda and sergeant that reported senior garda corruption to
Oliver Connelly was warned off or ignored and then isolated and
bullied/intimidated/harassed on the orders of senior garda
management.
"John Wilson said he made a formal complaint on April 4th, 2012
to the then confidential recipient, Oliver Connolly, but he received
no response" ignored just like a numerous other gardai.
http://www.irishtimes.com//john-wilson-found-high-number-o
http://www.irishmirror.ie//whistleblower-john-wilson-revea
http://www.thejournal.ie/garda-whisteblower-john-wilson-al/
http://www.herald.ie//gardai-got-rid-of-100k-penalty-point
http://www.breakingnews.ie//some-whistleblowers-claims-
not
Dont forget my proximity to the minister, and dont think I didnt
have a word in his ear.
He said Mr Connolly told her to play the political game and she
might get preferential treatment elsewhere.
http://www.irishexaminer.com//garda-warned-to-drop-her-
sex
Whistle blower Garda Keith Harrison
His allegations are serious, including a cover up of an original file
which was stolen, with the original incident being removed from
the PULSE system; the creation of new statements and
appearance of new original information; non-compliance by the
Garda with the court order for disclosure and at least one of the
accused being threatened by a garda to plead guilty on the day of
the court case, Flanagan told the Dil in May 2014 regarding
Keogh.
Trying to frame him, this is what NBCI do
Those claims include: the suggestion that people Harrison had
arrested previously had been asked whether or not they wished to
make complaints about him, Garda surveillance being placed on
him with minimal justification, and information regarding a Garda
inquiry into him being deliberately leaked."
http://www.thejournal.ie/garda-whistleblowers-2-2783879-Ma/
http://www.irishtimes.com//garda-whistleblower-claims-disc
http://www.independent.ie//new-garda-whistleblower-claims-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rtBuKzDtmM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUUNX9wIC0k
https://www.irishtimes.com//garda-inquiries-were-an-insult
https://www.rte.ie//20/0830/724497-garda-internal-inquiry/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drv5ZDtyN-8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlwbCq51LfY
http://www.irishexaminer.com//garda-sexual-harassment-clai
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApCNE0puIG0
http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk//irela/article1644634.ece
http://www.irishmirror.ie//garda-whistleblower-keith-harri
http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk//ireland/article1641711.ece
refusing to co-operate and would not supply documents he was
looking for, or comply with his requests.
Trying to shut him up and hide corruption
http://www.rte.ie/news/2016/0410/780791-gsco-whistleblower/
Management needs reform
http://www.breakingnews.ie//recommendations-to-be-made-
reg
Whistle blower Garda Nicky Keogh
http://www.irishexaminer.com//flanagan-claims-whistleblowe
http://www.irishmirror.ie//pat-flanagan-whistleblower-scan
Sergeant whistle blower Michael Buckley
http://www.independent.ie//gardai-face-probe-over-allowanc
http://www.irishexaminer.com//probe-into-fraudulent-pay-cl
http://www.thejournal.ie/gardai-overtime-1211823-Dec2013/
http://www.independent.ie//cold-case-unit-garda-gets-injun
https://www.irishtimes.com//woman-admits-sending-
valentine
http://www.independent.ie//retired-garda-found-guilty-of-l
Sergeant whistle blower Christopher Power
http://www.independent.ie//garda-i-was-bullied-after-expos
Sergeant whistle blower Maurice Mc Cabe
http://www.irishexaminer.com//maurice-mccabes-noble-
attemp
http://www.irishexaminer.com//whistle-blower-harassed-by-f
http://www.irishexaminer.com//mccabe-gardai-falsified-hund
http://www.irishmirror.ie//garda-whistleblower-maurice-mcc
http://www.independent.ie//garda-whistleblower-destroyed-2
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SED9UH9j5BM
"The treatment of Sergeant Maurice McCabe shows us that the
Ireland of 2016 remains a cold house for whistleblowers and truth-
telling." Character assassination.
http://www.thejournal.ie//tom-clonan-whistleblower-report/
http://www.breakingnews.ie//gardai-are-allegedly-illegally
Garda whistle blowers who reported more illegal phone Taps
http://www.irishexaminer.com//ex-gardaiacute-claim-they-sa
http://www.independent.ie//garda-commissioner-noirin-osull
http://www.thejournal.ie/state-surveillance-ireland-gardai/
http://www.thejournal.ie/ireland-state-surveillance-wireta/
GSOC Bugged by senior gardai
http://www.irishexaminer.com//gsoc-controversy-highlights-
http://www.breakingnews.ie//ombudsman-investigates-claim-
t
Garda whistle blower John Kelly
http://www.irishexaminer.com//supreme-court-overturns-
gard
Garda whistle blower William Browne
http://www.independent.ie//leading-garda-awarded-85000-
dam
Garda whistle blower Jack Doyle
http://www.irishexaminer.com//whistleblower-senior-garda-b
http://www.missingpersons-ireland.freepress-freespeech.com/
http://www.rabble.ie/2014/05/16/serpico/
Garda whistle blower Andrea Fitzharris
http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-288575327.html
Garda Whistle blower Christine Kehoe
http://www.wexfordpeople.ie//former-wexford-garda-brings-
b
Garda whistle blower Kieran Jackson
http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie//former-garda-claims-
dismiss
http://www.derryjournal.com//garda-claims-bullied-and-hara
Garda whistle blowers reported embezzlement
http://www.irishmirror.ie//two-gardai-embezzled-hundreds-t
http://www.irishtimes.com//clare-daly-alleges-garda-embezz
A number of female Gardai/sergeants whistle blowers e.g Mary T
O Connor, reported false arrests, corruption, sexual
assaults,perjury, forgeries, fraud,destruction of evidence, theft,
perverting the course of justice and conspiracy within the justice
departments, all by senior garda officers and DPP officials.
http://www.irishmirror.ie//garda-whistle-blower-claims-suf
Sergeant whistle blower Eve Doherty
She wrote to the confidential recipient and TD s reporting serious
garda corruption and fraud by senior garda management and
instead of investigating them they raided her house. This witch
hunt against her as with all garda whistle blowers, by Top senior
management has been going for years. While falsely accusing her
of harassment .
Dublin Garda Roisin Farrell
Reported bullying, harassment and intimidation, she had a
number of miscarriages as a result of it, she
was paid off by senior garda management and resigned on
medical grounds.
http://www.irishexaminer.com//whistleblowers-garda-warned-
http://www.irishmirror.ie//dail-hears-female-cop-told-3187
http://wellbeingfoundation.com/bgarda.html
Garda whistle blower Maire O Reilly
https://thepeninsulairelandblog.wordpress.com//behaviour-/
http://www.breakingnews.ie//garda-quits-force-because-of-b
http://article.wn.com///05/14/Garda_claims_he_was_bullied/
Garda whistle blowers in Athlone
http://www.irishtimes.com//serious-garda-malpractice-in-at
Garda whistle blower
http://www.breakingnews.ie//mick-wallace-claims-fg-
backben
http://www.broadsheet.ie/2016/05/23/shoulder-to-shoulder-4/
This is what corrupt senior gardai cause and get away with it
http://www.independent.ie//ombudsman-probes-suicide-of-
you ;
"Garda Brian Canavan, stationed at Pearse Street in Dublin, was
suspended from duty on May 23, 2014, for allegedly failing to
prosecute cases in 2012 and 2013, two days after he had
informed a Garda Inspector he wished initiate a grievance
procedure against two other superior officers."
http://www.independent.ie//garda-under-investigation-suspe
Another whistleblower Framed
"The garda also faces disciplinary action - which could lead to
dismissal - for failing to have informed senior management before
searching the field where the bomb was located.
The whistleblower claims gardai received complaints about the
same suspect being in possession of a firearm but the allegations
were never followed up.
It is also alleged the individual was twice caught in possession of
drugs while awaiting trial."
http://www.independent.ie//garda-whistleblower-is-discipli
http://www.irishtimes.com//rogue-garda%C3%AD-using-
crimina
Joe Doocey and others like Ian Bailey,Pascal Dolan, Stephen
Manning, Mc Brearties Stephen Kerr, Cathriona Barker, John
McDonald intimidated , harassed, bullied, falsely arrested, falsely
imprisoned by corrupt detectives from NBCI Harcourt square for
exposing corruption in the justice departments.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVGEFsBlbEQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1ELHruY7hg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVH678HEQTc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p848CPN0VWs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GJdxegjtM8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLecGywCcpU&spfreload=10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntdyh3CL25o
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPM7eT16-wM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOrKZSEIgIk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVC6OSi2VW0
http://www.thejournal.ie/teenager-whipped-1464799-May2014/
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=425_1434573501&comments=1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXZttLqEehI
www.irishinjustice.com
http://www.independent.ie//11m-in-payouts-for-55-victims-o
"Ian Bailey considered suicide after arrest over murder"
"High Court hears claim death threat made to journalist by
Garda as he was driven to station"
http://www.irishtimes.com//ian-bailey-considered-suicide-a
http://www.irishtimes.com//farrell-says-garda-asked-her-to
http://www.irishtimes.com//marie-farrell-family-left-schul
http://www.irishtimes.com//wallace-in-new-claims-of-garda-
http://www.irishtimes.com//farrell-says-garda-asked-her-to
http://irishinjustice.com/index.htm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uB5wCjL-Sl8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sizTnK4MGig
http://www.irishtimes.com//mick-wallace-claims-
garda%C3%AD
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/104668
http://www.swp.ie//new-garda-allegations-expose-rotten-sys
https://foolscrow.wordpress.com//cops-charge-irish-govern/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=58&v=B5ItE4B5rWQ
Hundreds of people assaulted, raped and abused while in Garda
custody even a young disabled boy
http://www.irishmirror.ie//outrage-politicians-hear-specia
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3K1ZTnszNY
http://www.swp.ie//new-garda-allegations-expose-rotten-sys
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZ4_TZQTj3Y
http://www.irishexaminer.com//brendan-smyth-victims-to-tak
http://www.thejournal.ie/gsoc-garda-rape-2212171-Jul2015/
Senior gardai Commissioner Derek Byrne, John O Mahony and
Fintan Fanning try to shut gardai up, with assaults, intimidation,
harassment, bullying and ruining their character by reporting a
false allegation to their drinking buddy journalist Paul Williams to
publish.
http://www.irishexaminer.com//end-leaks-to-media-judge-tel
http://www.irishexaminer.com//graham-dwyer-trail-informati
http://www.breakingnews.ie//dwyer-defence-claims-gardai-
we
http://www.irishexaminer.com//bailey-asks-for-garda-malice
http://www.irishstatutebook.ie///act/pub/0020/sec0062.html
http://www.independent.ie//judge-received-garda-leaks-on-p
Nothing has changed in 10 years for whistle blowers
http://www.breakingnews.ie//garda-corruption-laws-useless-
Corruption at the Top being ignored because they are all political
appointments
http://www.anarkismo.net/article/1006
http://www.irishexaminer.com//strange-tale-of-shatter-and-
http://article.wn.com///05/14/Garda_claims_he_was_bullied/
Gardai have no where to turn to, to report corrupt senior gardai,
their last resort is to send letters and emails around.
A witch hunt was set up by NBCI and senior gardai to catch the
gardai who were reporting the true corruption being committed by
commissioner Fintan Fanning , Derek Byrne and John O
Mahoney.
http://www.breakingnews.ie//garda-quits-force-because-of-b
How whistle blowers are treated by this corrupt justice system
http://www.tv3.ie/3player/show/276/90644/1/Specials
The area of procurement corruption in AGS is so rotten with
cronyism, its unbelievable, this is just one there are hundreds
of cases like this in the same situation.
http://www.independent.ie//translation-service-brings-lega
The People of Ireland and whistle blowers need a public inquiry
into corruption .
Every serving, retired,gardai on career breaks, resigned and
suspended Garda member needs to be asked to talk about the
corruption that is epidemic in the force, but it needs to be totally
independent of senior gardai.
https://justiceforpanelreviewvictims.wordpress.com//a-num/
No reform for senior gardai who are corrupt they are just moved
to another area, just like the priests that were moved. Corruption
continues in the top ranks of the garda force.
http://www.villagemagazine.ie/index.php//04/get-on-with-it/
How many more suicides does this justice system want on its
hands?
http://awaken-longford.com//i-believe-the-irish-public-ha/
"Six people in the garda have died by suicide in the past 12
months alone."
https://www.thejournal.ie/gardai-pay-and-conditions-254755/
Stephen O'Sullivan, from Co Clare, is the fourth garda to die using
an officially-issued weapon in just over two years.
In July last year, 53-year-old retired detective garda Peter
O'Donnell took an Uzi sub-machine gun from a locker in Carrick-
on-Shannon Garda Station and shot himself
In April 2008, a 48-year-old detective garda, Paul Gilton, shot
himself in an office in the Dublin Metropolitan Headquarters at
Harcourt Square.
Garda Joseph O'Keeffe, 48, shot himself in the public office of
Enniscorthy Garda Station, Co Wexford, in July 2008.
http://www.independent.ie//ombudsman-probes-suicide-of-
you
"Gardai doctor their electronic records in a bid to hide their
failure to prosecute people suspected to have committed
offences and this is not corruption "
"The reason for this Garda harassment is most likely Deputies
Daly and Wallace highlighting the case of whistleblower Sgt
Maurice McCabe and the efforts by the force to discredit him."
"Most of the shocking incidents highlighted by Sgt McCabe took
place within the Cavan/Monaghan division what would emerge if
the other 27 Garda divisions were investigated?" This is what
whistelblowers and the people of Ireland want.
http://www.irishmirror.ie//pat-flanagan-whistleblower-scan
http://www.irishexaminer.com//protection-of-institution-tr
https://www.thejournal.ie//tom-clonan-whistleblower-repor/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEWW1gALQZA&feature=sh
are
http://www.irishmirror.ie//td-mick-wallace-claims-whistleb
https://web.archive.org//htt//goodpointsite.wordpress.com/
https://goodpointsite.wordpress.com/articles/d-ring-block/
web page goodpointsite removed because it exposed corruption,
web archive above it.
tha/
http://www.thetimes.co.uk//angry-garda-sent-threat-to-coll
http://www.irishexaminer.com//when-speaking-out-is-near-
im
http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk//Irish_/article1407115.ece
http://www.irishexaminer.com//court-order-for-gsoc-to-see-
There are concerns that a judge-led inquiry into allegations of
bullying and intimidation within the Garda will not go far enough.
Two senior officers claim they were directly involved in the
smearing of a whistleblower.
Fianna Fil TD and former chairman of the Public Accounts
Committee John McGuinness says he has reservations about the
scope of the review.
"In order to deal with this comprehensively, you need somebody
from outside the State," he said, "who will not be afraid of any
vested interest and will tell it as it is, disclose everything warts and
all so that we can five a solution to these problems once and for
all."
http://www.irishexaminer.com//mcguinness-we-need-
someone-f
http://www.breakingnews.ie//gsocs-maurice-mccabe-inquiry-
h
http://www.independent.ie//garda-commissioners-14000-
spend
http://www.irishtimes.com//what-is-really-wrong-with-garda
http://www.irishexaminer.com//just-7-of-foi-requests-to-an
http://www.irishtimes.com//almost-one-fifth-of-people-rate
The gardai should take a cold hard look at this ruling in Britain
https://www.businesspost.ie//garda-inquiry-branded-myopic-
One of the garda whistleblowers alleging unfair treatment by the
force claimed that he was followed by an unmarked garda car
after leaving a confidential meeting earlier this year.
It adds Gda Harrison has been subjected to unwarranted and
prolonged covert surveillance by gardai, victimisation, bullying,
intimidation and harassment which is levelled at him and his
family. It is understood a member of the media has come forward
and told Gda Harrison they were given malicious intel in a bid to
blacken his name.
http://www.thetimes.co.uk//garda-whistleblower-monitored-b
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyte7w1wYno
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqdRx07ialo&feature=youtu.
be
https://www.rte.ie/ne/2016/1016/824479-garda-whistleblower/
tha/
http://www.irishtimes.com//the-garda-whisteblowers-who-
are
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=301227400256266&s
et=a.155181611527513.1073741832.100011070254271&type=3&
theater
http://www.irishtimes.com//high-ranking-garda-to-demand-in
http://www.irishexaminer.com//senior-garda-bid-to-destroy-
http://www.independent.ie//alleged-targeting-of-informant-
Weve been aware for some time now people making protected
disclosures have been subjected to bullying and harassment.
http://www.irishmirror.ie//garda-whistleblowers-wont-co-op
The only communication they are getting is bullying and
intimidation. I am not saying it is the Ministers fault. I am saying
the system is not working. I am sorry but it appears to me that the
Minister is not being kept accurately informed by An Garda
Sochna. These people are in a bad place, and they need help
and protection, he said.
http://www.irishtimes.com//miriam-lord-champions-of-garda-
http://www.independent.ie//garda-chief-personally-told-of-
http://www.irishexaminer.com//call-for-political-appointme#!
http://www.thejournal.ie/gardai-in-crisis-3012986-Oct2016/
He has been named as the man who has made allegations that
there was an organised campaign in senior Garda management to
destroy the reputation of another whistleblower within the force.
Significantly, Supt Taylor is admitting his own role in the
campaign, but also implicating other senior managers, including
the current commissioner, Nirn OSullivan.
http://www.irishexaminer.com//blowing-the-whistle-on-garda
http://www.irishtimes.com//judge-to-run-rule-over-garda-wh
http://www.thetimes.co.uk//dpp-pulled-drugs-charges-amid-f
http://www.thetimes.co.uk//bullied-garda-calls-for-review-
http://www.businesspost.ie/whistleblower-probe-to-be-cripp/
garda circles.
He claimed an intelligence file was created on McCabe in Garda
Headquarters under the name Oisin and details of the gardas
private and professional life were collated.
http://www.independent.ie//im-going-to-hit-this-guy-tense-
Garda whistleblower Keith Harrison's solicitor has said his client
has had to endure a campaign to undermine his credibility that he
believes was orchestrated by senior members of An Garda
Sochna since he made a protected disclosure over two years
ago.
http://www.rte.ie/news/2016/1010/822785-garda-whistleblower/
http://www.irishtimes.com//martin-callinan-s-sim-card-shou
My questioning of Commissioner O'Sullivan this morning in the
Justice Ctte on Whistleblowers and their intimidation
https://twitter.com/JOBrien_SF/status/786175742862295040
http://www.irishexaminer.com//whistleblower-problem-lies-w
http://www.independent.ie//highranking-garda-to-make-prote
http://cf.broadsheet.ie/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/idm-6.jpg
http://www.irishexaminer.com//judge-and-wife-granted-injun
"Myself and Deputy (Mick) Wallace have met with a further six
serving members of An Garda Sochna who have all either made
protected disclosures or are on the verge of doing so," she said.
She added others who had made protected disclosures, including
but not limited to names in the public domain had experienced a
"horrendous nightmare" since speaking up.
That view has been strengthened when we find, with a week to
go to the issuing of his report, the former judge has not requested
any material from either of the two whistleblowers, she added.
http://www.irishtimes.com//garda-whistleblowers-not-contac
Attempts made by other whistleblowers to have their cases also
heard, as they too are the victims of bullying and harassment
since making protected disclosures, were ignored. Despite the
fact that their testimony and their experiences are current, they
get to the very heart of the systemic problems inside An Garda
Siochana, that whats said in public and done privately are two
entirely different things.
weve had the Garda Commissioner appear at the justice
committee, with senior officers who are at the heart of many of
the protected disclosure complaints.
http://www.broadsheet.ie//11/10/six-new-garda-whistleblow/
Taylor said three phones, which are currently in garda custody as
part of the investigation into leaks, held the evidence to back up
his claims.
garda circles.
http://www.broadsheet.ie//a-flawed-inquiry-from-the-very-/
Mr Wallace had asked in the Dil if she had examined the full
transcripts and questioned how she could leave Garda
Commissioner Nirn OSullivan in place when serious questions
remained unanswered.
When the whistleblower s legal team asked the Commissioners
legal team to check if the Commissioner wanted to stick with that
story, the response was right the way through.
When Sgt McCabe produced a recording of the encounter the
whole thing was dropped.
http://www.irishtimes.com//fitzgerald-refuses-to-be-drawn-
The senior garda who contacted Mr Brett about the speaking on
his phone at that time did so unsolicited and in what is believed to
have been an attempt to warn him about the risks, and how
intensely senior garda management was dealing with the leaking
of certain information into the public domain.
https://www.rte.ie/news/2016/1113/831360-rsa/
And as senior manager I certainly looked for a local inquiry to be
carried out.
https://www.irishexaminer.com//probe-into-alleged-gift-off
A large-scale internal investigation is under way at Killarney
Garda Station following an allegation of alleged corruption.
He has complained that a colleague or colleagues were being
offered gifts which could be seen as bribes by the owner of a
licensed premises.
http://www.irishexaminer.com//corruption-alleged-in-kerry-
He said before the complainants came to him, they went to the
Garda Commissioner at the time and the then-minister for justice
Alan Shatter but nothing was looked into.
https://www.rte.ie/news/2016/1114/831487-garda/
http://www.irishtimes.com//garda-whistleblowers-not-encour
That view has been strengthened when we find, with a week to
go to the issuing of his report, the former judge has not requested
any material from either of the two whistleblowers, she added.
http://www.irishtimes.com//garda-whistleblowers-not-contac
http://www.digplanet.com/wiki/Garda_whistleblower_scandal
SPEAKING truth to power is a challenge. It is a civic duty not
without consequences or personal costs.
http://www.irishexaminer.com//gardai-attacking-in-full-for
http://www.irishtimes.com//high-ranking-garda-to-demand-in
http://www.irishexaminer.com//senior-garda-bid-to-destroy-
http://www.independent.ie//alleged-targeting-of-informant-
Weve been aware for some time now people making protected
disclosures have been subjected to bullying and harassment.
http://www.irishmirror.ie//garda-whistleblowers-wont-co-op
http://www.southernstar.ie//4136491-report-alleges-improp/
http://www.independent.ie//garda-chief-personally-told-of-
http://www.irishexaminer.com//call-for-political-appointme#!
http://www.thejournal.ie/gardai-in-crisis-3012986-Oct2016/
http://www.irishexaminer.com//blowing-the-whistle-on-garda
http://www.irishtimes.com//judge-to-run-rule-over-garda-wh
http://www.thetimes.co.uk//dpp-pulled-drugs-charges-amid-f
http://www.thetimes.co.uk//bullied-garda-calls-for-review-
http://www.irishtimes.com//martin-callinan-s-sim-card-shou
My questioning of Commissioner O'Sullivan this morning in the
Justice Ctte on Whistleblowers and their intimidation
https://twitter.com/JOBrien_SF/status/786175742862295040
http://www.irishexaminer.com//whistleblower-problem-lies-w
http://www.independent.ie//highranking-garda-to-make-prote
http://cf.broadsheet.ie/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/idm-6.jpg
Gardai in NBCI took down this page for exposing the truth about
how corrupt they really are. pressnet,com
http://www.fairsociety.ie/gardai-who-whistle-blow-being-in/
Garda Whistle blower who reported a murder abused while senior gardai cover it up
http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/daly-tells-dail-of-garda-ordered-to-claim-he-did-not-
witness- shooting-671968.html
http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/gardai-covered-up-murder-of-civilian-by-
member- of-force-claims-independent-td-31146559.html
https://www.sundayworld.com/news/gardai-covered-up-murder-of-civilian-by-member-of-
the- force-says-td
Anyone who exposes the corrupt people in justice gets their character assassinated and
ruined, no matter who they are.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEWW1gALQZA&feature=share
Whistle blower assaulted and falsely imprisoned by Ass Comm Derek Byrne
http://www.rabble.ie/2014/02/18/silencing-the-garda-whistleblowers/
Gardai have no where to turn to, to report sexual assaults, harassment by corrupt senior
gardai, their last resort is to send letters and emails around.
A witch hunt was set up by NBCI and senior gardai to catch the gardai who were reporting
the true corruption being committed by commissioner Fintan Fanning , Derek Byrne and
John O Mahoney.
http://www.sundayworld.com/news/crimedesk/poison-pen-letter-rocks-garda-siochana
A number of gardai have committed suicide as a result of senior garda bullying and it is not
getting any better for garda whistle blowers. The continued abuse of garda whistle blowers
has to stop by corrupt political appointed senior gardai.
Garda whistle blower John Wilson
http://www.rte.ie/radio1/doconone/2014/0110/647599-documentary-podcast-garda-
limped- whistleblower-john-wilson/
http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/gardai-took-action-against-us-because-we-spoke-
out-say- whistleblowers-255832.html
http://www.northernsound.ie/news/claims-that-judge-pressured-whistleblower-to-drop-
complaint/
https://soundcloud.com/oceanfm/i-have-no-regrets-garda-whistleblower-john-wilson-nwt-
tues- 10th-
nov?utm_source=soundcloud&utm_campaign=wtshare&utm_medium=Twitter&utm_conte
nt=https %3A%2F%2Fsoundcloud.com%2Foceanfm%2Fi-have-no-regrets-garda-
whistleblower-john-wilson- nwt-tues-10th-nov
Every garda and sergeant that reported senior garda corruption to Oliver Connelly was
warned off or ignored and then isolated and bullied/intimidated/harassed on the orders of
senior garda management.
John Wilson said he made a formal complaint on April 4th, 2012 to the then confidential
recipient, Oliver Connolly, but he received no response ignored just like a numerous other
gardai.
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/john-wilson-found-high-number-of-
pulse- entries-on-ian-bailey-1.2041434
http://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/crime/whistleblower-john-wilson-reveals-hes-
3412696
http://www.thejournal.ie/garda-whisteblower-john-wilson-allegations-corruption-1413664-
Apr2014/
http://www.herald.ie/news/gardai-got-rid-of-100k-penalty-points-for-pals-28963540.html
Dont forget my proximity to the minister, and dont think I didnt have a word in his ear.
He said Mr Connolly told her to play the political game and she might get preferential
treatment elsewhere. http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/garda-warned-to-drop-her-
sex-attack-complaint- 260225.html
Whistle blower Garda Keith Harrison
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/high-court/garda-whistleblower-
claims- disciplinary-inquiry-malicious-1.2038725
http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/new-garda-whistleblower-claims-drinkdrive-
coverup- 30278877.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rtBuKzDtmM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUUNX9wIC0k
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/garda-inquiries-were-an-insult-to-
whistleblowers- td-says-1.2334231
https://www.rte.ie/news/2015/0830/724497-garda-internal-inquiry/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drv5ZDtyN-8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlwbCq51LfY
http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/garda-sexual-harassment-claims-investigated-by-
force- 369164.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApCNE0puIG0
http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/ireland/article1644634.ece?CMP=OTH-gnws-
standard- 2015_12_12
http://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/garda-whistleblower-keith-harrison-left-
8028893
http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/ireland/article1641711.ece
refusing to co-operate and would not supply documents he was looking for, or comply with
his requests.
Trying to shut him up and hide corruption
Management needs reform
http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/recommendations-to-be-made-regarding-the-
management-of- an-garda-siochana-709997.html
Whistle blower Garda Nicky Keogh
http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/flanagan-claims-whistleblower-links-high-ranking-
gardai-to- heroin-dealing-268000.html
http://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/politics/mick-wallace-garda-whistleblower-
being- 4701691
http://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/pat-flanagan-whistleblower-scandal-shows-
8012139
Sergeant whistle blower Michael Buckley
http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/gardai-face-probe-over-allowances-29821078.html
http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/probe-into-fraudulent-pay-claims-by-gardai-
252070.html
http://www.thejournal.ie/gardai-overtime-1211823-Dec2013/
http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/cold-case-unit-garda-gets-injunction-
blocking- transfer-29208727.html
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/woman-admits-sending-valentine-
s-card- and-g-string-to-garda-1.1924464
http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/retired-garda-found-guilty-of-lying-in-gsoc-
investigation-into-valentines-day-card-containing-bullet-and-thong-34665690.html
Sergeant whistle blower Christopher Power
http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/garda-i-was-bullied-after-exposing-phonetape-
abuse- 30147067.html
Sergeant whistle blower Maurice Mc Cabe
http://www.irishexaminer.com/viewpoints/columnists/michael-clifford/maurice-mccabes-
noble- attempt-to-police-gardai-256419.html
http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/whistle-blower-harassed-by-fellow-gardai-
265174.html
http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/mccabe-gardai-falsified-hundreds-of-crime-records-
266638.html
http://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/garda-whistleblower-maurice-mccabe-makes-
3496288
http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/garda-whistleblower-destroyed-29944120.html
The treatment of Sergeant Maurice McCabe shows us that the Ireland of 2016 remains a
cold house for whistleblowers and truth-telling. Character assassination.
http://www.thejournal.ie/readme/tom-clonan-whistleblower-report-2776726-May2016/
http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/gardai-are-allegedly-illegally-wiping-penalty-points-
from-their- work-and-personal-cars-711631.html
Garda whistle blowers who reported more illegal phone Taps
http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/ex-gardaiacute-claim-they-saw-bugging-
315445.html
http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/politics/garda-commissioner-noirin-osullivan-sends-
bugging- allegations-to-gsoc-31031531.html
http://www.thejournal.ie/state-surveillance-ireland-gardai-wiretapping-email-monitoring-
gardai- 2099537-May2015/
http://www.thejournal.ie/ireland-state-surveillance-wiretapping-gardai-crime-transparency-
2105584-May2015/
GSOC Bugged by senior gardai
http://www.irishexaminer.com/viewpoints/analysis/gsoc-controversy-highlights-the-joke-
of-a- democratic-ireland-258710.html
http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/ombudsman-investigates-claim-that-gardai-sought-
sundayworld-reporters-phone-records-626137.html
Garda whistle blower John Kelly
http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/supreme-court-overturns-gardas-dismissal-
248647.html
Garda whistle blower William Browne
http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/leading-garda-awarded-85000-damages-
after- intimidation-and-harassment-28943262.html
Garda whistle blower Jack Doyle
http://www.irishexaminer.com/election2014/election2014-news/whistleblower-senior-
garda- beefed-up-finds-268885.html
http://www.missingpersons-ireland.freepress-
freespeech.com/primetimeonurlingforddrugs.html
http://www.rabble.ie/2014/05/16/serpico/
Garda whistle blower Andrea Fitzharris
http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-288575327.html
Garda Whistle blower Christine Kehoe
http://www.wexfordpeople.ie/news/former-wexford-garda-brings-bullying-case-to-the-
high-court- 27709132.html
Garda whistle blower Kieran Jackson
http://www.donegaldemocrat.ie/news/donegal-news/former-garda-claims-dismissed-
superintendent-bullied-him-1-2004797
http://www.derryjournal.com/news/garda-claims-bullied-and-harassed-by-senior-officer-1-
2146058
Garda whistle blowers reported embezzlement
http://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/two-gardai-embezzled-hundreds-thousands-
5113437
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/oireachtas/clare-daly-alleges-garda-
embezzlement-case- not-investigated-1.2093184
A number of female Gardai/sergeants whistle blowers e.g Mary T O Connor, reported false
arrests, corruption, sexual assaults,perjury, forgeries, fraud,destruction of evidence, theft,
perverting the course of justice and conspiracy within the justice departments, all by senior
garda officers and DPP officials.
http://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/garda-whistle-blower-claims-suffered-7192798
Sergeant whistle blower Eve Doherty
She wrote to the confidential recipient and TD s reporting serious garda corruption and
fraud by senior garda management and instead of investigating them they raided her house.
This witch hunt against her as with all garda whistle blowers, by Top senior management has
been going for years. While falsely accusing her of harassment .
Dublin Garda Roisin Farrell
Reported bullying, harassment and intimidation, she had a number of miscarriages as a

result of it, she
was paid off by senior garda management and resigned on medical grounds.
http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/whistleblowers-garda-warned-off-pursuing-claim-of-
sexual- harassment-260251.html
http://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/dail-hears-female-cop-told-3187770
http://wellbeingfoundation.com/bgarda.html
Garda whistle blower Maire O Reilly
https://thepeninsulairelandblog.wordpress.com/2012/09/13/behaviour-in-tribunals-an-
garda- siochana-v-ms-marie-oreilly/
http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/garda-quits-force-because-of-bullying-campaign-
235653.html
http://article.wn.com/view/2006/05/14/Garda_claims_he_was_bullied/
Garda whistle blowers in Athlone
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/oireachtas/serious-garda-malpractice-in-athlone-
claims- td-mick-wallace-1.2160333
Garda whistle blower
http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/mick-wallace-claims-fg-backbencher-has-penalty-
points- quashed-669835.html
This is what corrupt senior gardai cause and get away with it
http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/ombudsman-probes-suicide-of-young-garda-
26674123.html ;
Garda Brian Canavan, stationed at Pearse Street in Dublin, was suspended from duty on
May 23, 2014, for allegedly failing to prosecute cases in 2012 and 2013, two days after he
had informed a Garda Inspector he wished initiate a grievance procedure against two other
superior officers.
http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/garda-under-investigation-suspended-from-
duty- two-days-after-indicating-he-wanted-to-make-complaint-against-superiors-court-
hears- 34183814.html
Another whistleblower Framed
The garda also faces disciplinary action which could lead to dismissal for failing to have
informed senior management before searching the field where the bomb was located.
The whistleblower claims gardai received complaints about the same suspect being in
possession of a firearm but the allegations were never followed up.
It is also alleged the individual was twice caught in possession of drugs while awaiting trial.
http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/garda-whistleblower-is-disciplined-over-pipebomb-
find- 34674605.html
Joe Doocey and others like Ian Bailey,Pascal Dolan, Stephen Manning, Mc Brearties Stephen
Kerr, Cathriona Barker, John McDonald intimidated , harassed, bullied, falsely arrested,
falsely imprisoned by corrupt detectives from NBCI Harcourt square for exposing corruption
in the justice departments.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVGEFsBlbEQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1ELHruY7hg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVH678HEQTc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p848CPN0VWs
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GJdxegjtM8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLecGywCcpU&spfreload=10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntdyh3CL25o
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPM7eT16-wM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOrKZSEIgIk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVC6OSi2VW0 http://www.thejournal.ie/teenager-
whipped-1464799-May2014/
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=425_1434573501&comments=1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXZttLqEehI
www.irishinjustice.com
http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/11m-in-payouts-for-55-victims-of-donegal-garda-
corruption- 26469346.html
https://thepressnet.com/2015/03/19/allegations-of-police-brutality-made-by-dr-richard-
oflaherty/ ;
Ian Bailey considered suicide after arrest over murder High Court hears claim death
threat made to journalist by Garda as he was driven to station
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/ian-bailey-considered-suicide-after-
arrest- over-murder-1.1990707
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/high-court/farrell-says-garda-
asked-her-to- accuse-ian-bailey-of-harassment-1.2025602
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/high-court/marie-farrell-family-left-
schull- after-garda-bullied-children-1.2027087
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/oireachtas/wallace-in-new-claims-of-garda-
harassment- over-kilkenny-pub-1.1950976
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/courts/high-court/farrell-says-garda-
asked-her-to- accuse-ian-bailey-of-harassment-1.2025602
http://irishinjustice.com/index.htm
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uB5wCjL-Sl8
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sizTnK4MGig
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/mick-wallace-claims-garda%C3%AD-
involved-in- drugs-trade-1.2034029
http://www.swp.ie/content/new-garda-allegations-expose-rotten-system
https://foolscrow.wordpress.com/2010/07/22/cops-charge-irish-government-with-treason/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=58&v=B5ItE4B5rWQ
Hundreds of people assaulted, raped and abused while in Garda custody even a young
disabled boy
http://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/health-news/outrage-politicians-hear-special-
needs- 3540134
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3K1ZTnszNY
http://www.swp.ie/content/new-garda-allegations-expose-rotten-system
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZ4_TZQTj3Y
http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/brendan-smyth-victims-to-take-
gardai-to- court-683754.html
http://www.thejournal.ie/gsoc-garda-rape-2212171-Jul2015/
Senior gardai Commissioner Derek Byrne, John O Mahony and Fintan Fanning try to shut
gardai up, with assaults, intimidation, harassment, bullying and ruining their character by
reporting a false allegation to their drinking buddy journalist Paul Williams to publish.
http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/end-leaks-to-media-judge-tells-gardai-317684.html
http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/graham-dwyer-trail-information-was-leaked-like-a-
sieve-by- gardaiacute-318372.html
http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/dwyer-defence-claims-gardai-were-leaking-like-a-
sieve- 667433.html
http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/bailey-asks-for-garda-malice-documents-
224717.html http://www.irishstatutebook.ie/2005/en/act/pub/0020/sec0062.html
http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/judge-received-garda-leaks-on-private-citizens-
30136859.html
Nothing has changed in 10 years for whistle blowers

http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/garda-corruption-laws-useless-says-whistleblower-
316065.html
Corruption at the Top being ignored because they are all political appointments
http://www.anarkismo.net/article/1006
http://www.irishexaminer.com/viewpoints/columnists/michael-clifford/strange-tale-of-
shatter-and- whistleblower-258830.html
http://article.wn.com/view/2006/05/14/Garda_claims_he_was_bullied/
Gardai have no where to turn to, to report corrupt senior gardai, their last resort is to send
letters and emails around.
A witch hunt was set up by NBCI and senior gardai to catch the gardai who were reporting
the true corruption being committed by commissioner Fintan Fanning , Derek Byrne and
John O Mahoney.
http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/garda-quits-force-because-of-bullying-campaign-
235653.html
How whistle blowers are treated by this corrupt justice system
http://www.tv3.ie/3player/show/276/90644/1/Specials
The area of procurement corruption in AGS is so rotten with cronyism, its unbelievable, this
is just one there are hundreds
of cases like this in the same situation.
http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/translation-service-brings-legal-action-
against-garda- commisioners-after-interpreter-contract-awarded-to-rivals-31138930.html
The People of Ireland and whistle blowers need a public inquiry into corruption .
Every serving, retired,gardai on career breaks, resigned and suspended Garda member
needs to be asked to talk about the corruption that is epidemic in the force, but it needs to
be totally independent of senior gardai.
https://justiceforpanelreviewvictims.wordpress.com/2015/02/14/a-number-of-gardai-have-
committed-suicide-as-a-result-of-senior-garda-bullying-and-it-is-not-getting-any-better-for-
garda- whistle-blowers-please-share-and-help-expose-this/
No reform for senior gardai who are corrupt they are just moved to another area, just like
the priests that were moved. Corruption continues in the top ranks of the garda force.
http://www.villagemagazine.ie/index.php/2015/04/get-on-with-it/
How many more suicides does this justice system want on its hands?
http://awaken-longford.com/2015/07/30/i-believe-the-irish-public-have-shown-huge-
restraint-in- the-face-of-all-this-hypocrisy-letter-to-the-irish-times/
Six people in the garda have died by suicide in the past 12 months alone.
https://www.thejournal.ie/gardai-pay-and-conditions-2547557-Jan2016/
Gardai doctor their electronic records in a bid to hide their failure to prosecute people
suspected to have committed offences and this is not corruption
The reason for this Garda harassment is most likely Deputies Daly and Wallace highlighting
the case of whistleblower Sgt Maurice McCabe and the efforts by the force to discredit him.
Most of the shocking incidents highlighted by Sgt McCabe took place within the
Cavan/Monaghan division what would emerge if the other 27 Garda divisions were
investigated? This is what whistelblowers and the people of Ireland want.
http://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/pat-flanagan-whistleblower-scandal-shows-
8012139
http://www.irishexaminer.com/viewpoints/columnists/alison-oconnor/protection-of-
institution- trumps-a-properly-run-an-garda-siochana-400550.html
https://www.thejournal.ie/readme/tom-clonan-whistleblower-report-2776726-May2016/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEWW1gALQZA&feature=share
http://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/politics/td-mick-wallace-claims-whistleblower-
7987406
https://web.archive.org/web/20160305084023/https://goodpointsite.wordpress.com/
https://goodpointsite.wordpress.com/articles/d-ring-block/
The motto emblazoned across the entrance to Templemore Garda
College reads In Scientia Securitas, Latin for In knowledge, safety.
The appalling treatment by that force of one lone member who tried
to shine a light into the impenetrable darkness which has steadily
corroded the force from within over the years, leading many to
resign, reveals that the lofty Garda motto has been honoured by
management more in the breach than the observation.
In the aftermath of this event (variations of which are manifest in

every Garda district throughout the country) a colleague (James)
and I spoke at length about how the job had been misrepresented to
us when we joined.
Gloomily we both noted our lack of patronage but this realisation
must have been especially difficult to bear for James, for he had
excelled academically in Templemore and was a rigorously hard
worker.
The following year I transferred to another station where I noted the
same bare-faced cronyism and patronage flourishing within the job
and similar levels of apathy and disenchantment amongst the rank
and file.
The disillusionment was especially marked amongst young members,
garda with less than three years of service whom I frequently
overheard talking about the pensionand the promised land of
retirement.
All this after three years in the job. I began studying law by night. At
the same moment James began studying to become a barrister.
Seeing no future for myself I resigned from An Garda Sochna and
became a solicitor. James also resigned. He is now one of the leading
trial barristers in the country.
An Garda Sochna, an organisation for which I retain great affection
and in which I have many good friends, has a darkness at its heart.
The atrocious allegations made to Tusla about Sgt McCabe are a
case in point, but they are merely representative of the blight at the
core of an organisation which allows such behaviour to flourish.
The fact that someone felt this scandalous allegation would
somehow please his bosses higher up is indicative not only of a
contempt for the rule of law and a determination to silence a brave
dissenter, but is evidence of a wider, much more dangerous culture
of contempt for the public, a culture where somebody felt this was
acceptable and not, as any rational human being would, as being
utterly abhorrent to contemplate, much less act upon.
As Justice Morris remarked all those years ago, this is a breakdown of
command leadership.
It is an immutable fact of life within the force that only people who
do what they are told, dont ask questions and undertake actions
solely designed to please management will succeed within the job.
These are the only criteria that matter.
Loyalty blind, subservient loyalty is utterly paramount.
Attributes such as ability or intelligence are not only not required or
deemed desirable, they are regarded by management as positively
hostile traits in a candidate because anyone demonstrating either is
not likely to follow orders without question.
Somebody within the force was likely involved in the atrocious
complaint about Sgt McCabe. There is little public doubt about this.
This person undoubtedly did so because they knew or perceived that
damaging Sgt McCabe was precisely what management wanted to
see happen and there is no more morally reprehensible allegation to
level at any citizen than the ruinous slur of child-abuse.
The motto emblazoned across the entrance to Templemore Garda
College reads In Scientia Securitas, Latin for In knowledge, safety.
The appalling treatment by that force of one lone member who tried
to shine a light into the impenetrable darkness which has steadily
corroded the force from within over the years, leading many to
resign, reveals that the lofty Garda motto has been honoured by
management more in the breach than the observation.
Demanding the appointment of an outside commissioner is pointless
as can be evidenced by experience. In 2006, the Government
appointed a former commissioner of the Boston Police Department
to the Garda Inspectorate. This did not stop the scandals.
What is required is a complete dismantling of the process by which
promotions are granted right across the country and the
appointment of independent persons, impervious to the invidious
hand of Garda management and the cliques which it fosters and
protects, to oversee all interviews and promotion criteria.
Only in this way can one ensure that candidates of merit and
morality succeed. Shattering the self-perpetuating system of power
elites who have dragged the force, about which I care deeply,
through the mud over the last few years to the detriment of us all
must finally be made a priority.
My understanding of the Policing Authority is that they will deal with
bringing an element of corporate governance to the running of the
force.
This is all very well but it means that they will necessarily be
interacting with men and women who themselves were elevated to
positions of power within the force due to cronyism further down the
ranks. So the people that the Policing Authority will deal with are
the beneficiaries of the very nepotism about which I write.
The Morris Tribunal cost the State 80m. The Smithwick Tribunal
cost us 15m. Have these stopped the scandals? Of course not. If the
furore occasioned by the Morris Tribunal could not affect massive
changes, that tells you something about the strength of the power
elites at the top.
Understanding the nature of these elites is therefore vital. These are
people who all think alike, for if they did not they would not be
where they are.
They are also profoundly anti-democratic in outlook. In their eyes
the public is little more than an annoyance which has to be either
tolerated or managed, but never consulted and certainly never
listened to.
But even though the public pays managements lavish salaries this
does not mean that management regards themselves as the publics
servants.
Quite the opposite. To top management, the public has absolutely no
business getting involved in the running of Garda affairs. In their
eyes, the publics role is that of a passive bystander, never an active
participant.
There are no circumstances under which management will tolerate
the public being active participants in what they regard as their
exclusive domain. The public is therefore relegated to the sidelines
and are only consulted when an enormous scandal erupts and the
public chequebook is required to pay for it.
But management realises that the appearance of change must be
created. Therefore elaborate ruses are concocted (Policing Authority,
Garda Inspectorate, Garda Ombudsman) to allay public fears that
there is no accountability in our police.
Meanwhile the nepotism goes on unchecked, resulting in periodic
scandals in the same vein as the present one, which are fairly
predictable.
So what can we conclude? I conclude that the authority, inspectorate
and ombudsman are ineffective because they cannot head off major
scandals. Are they incompetent? Are they staffed with people who
cannot do their jobs properly? Hardly.
I think it is far more likely that they have discovered that they simply
cannot penetrate the brass circle at the top of the organisation
which is utterly resistant to all change and all outsiders and that
there is little political will to assist these bodies in tackling the
problem in the first place.
Insanity, warned Albert Einstein, is doing the same thing over and
over and expecting different results.
The public, from whom all powers of government derive, have a
choice to make. We can demand root and branch reform in the
manner outlined above and witness a truly revolutionary change in
how our maligned national police force operates.
If we do not, if we remain passive bystanders whose only job is to
pay through the nose for the costs of endless tribunals, we will, as a
nation, have collectively lapsed into our own peculiar form of
insanity.
In such an eventuality we will only have ourselves to blame.
Gardai Corruption
A Dublin-based garda has complained about internal
corruption within the force and the Garda
Representative Association (GRA) has backed up the
officers assertion that garda can be promoted
through nepotism rather than ability.
Similar to political dynasties, there is a history within
An Garda Sochna of members of the same families
joining the force. Because of this, it has been claimed
young officers with family connections can gain
promotions and transfers unfairly.
A young garda said there is low morale within the
force because of officers using family connections to
gain promotions and transfers.
Those with connections have gained detective spots
before those with more experience and expertise.
Those with connections have gained indoor or office
jobs. Those with connections have ridden roughshod
over disciplinary regulations due to their pull, he
said.
Michael OBoyce, president of the GRA, said young
officers using their family connections to get ahead
was an ongoing issue.
Its something we have to always be aware of and
keep an eye on it. It is covered under the Garda code
of ethics. Im aware of one case where a young garda
got promoted to a position because of another garda.
The young garda wasnt making an issue of who his
relation was. This other officer saw to it that he got
promoted to try and ingratiate himself with this young
gardas relation, who was senior to him.
The young garda in question was just used in this
case, he said.
Theres always been suspicion over the years about
people getting promoted because of their family
connections. What were more concerned about is
that theres always been a strong suggestion that
people can get transferred because of friendships
more so than family connections.
I would have a view that would be more prevalent
than nepotism, OBoyce added.
The rules state that when garda are sworn into the
force, they cannot transfer from the first station where
they are assigned for two years save for exceptional
circumstances. In practice, this rule has been flaunted
by young officers with connections, said the garda
source.
When training at the garda college, were told that all
transfers depend on work return the amount of
summons, tickets, arrests, pieces of criminal
intelligence and charge sheets accrued over time and
your sick record.
In practice, this is a nonsense to the extent that when
a garda hears of a colleague submitting a transfer
request, their first question is not as regards the
desired division but do you have any pull?
OBoyce said he was not aware of the practice of
garda being authorised for transfers before their two-
year probationary period was complete without just
cause.
The garda source added: What vexes me more than
anything else is the extent to which such corrupt
practices lead to a denigration of morale. How can
garda be expected to remain self-motivated and
productive if the level of internal corruption is of such
pandemic proportions?
OINK OINK
GREEDY LYING PIGS ARE
MILKING THE TAX PAYERS
EVERY DAY
July 3, 17
Garda Dermot Byrne, with an address in Arklow, Co Wicklow,

pictured leaving the Four Courts after he was awarded over
25,000 damages following a High Court Garda Compensation
hearing (Picture: Collins Courts)
A garda, who suffered injuries to his thumbs in an assault 11 years ago, had to
have his wife knot his tie this morning before attending a Garda
Compensation hearing in the High Court, a judge heard.
Garda Dermot Byrne, of Ballyrahan, Tinahely, Arklow, Co Wicklow, told Mr

Justice Bernard Barton that he still suffered pain today as a result of both his
thumbs having been forced back over his wrists while making an arrest in
August 2006.
He told his barrister Brid OFlaherty that he and a colleague were patrolling
the Camden Street area of Dublin at a time when the night clubs were
emptying onto the streets and a young man twice struck the garda car.
Garda Byrne said he had given chase and was arresting the man on a public
order offence when he was attacked from behind by a second man. His had
been grabbed in a neck-lock and his head pulled backwards.
He told Ms OFlaherty, who appeared with Hughes Murphy Solicitors, that as

he was handcuffing the first man his assailant grabbed his thumbs and
forcefully hyper-extended them.
Garda Byrne, who was attached to Kevin Street Garda Station at the time,
stated that the second man was screaming get off my fucking friend you pig I
am going to kill you. He had then aimed a kick at the gardas head shouting:
I will kick your fucking head in you bastard.
The court heard that Garda Byrne, now aged 40, had also suffered neck,
shoulder and back injuries but, while these had cleared up after a matter of
months, the pain symptoms in his thumbs had lasted until this day.
Even lifting and using a remote can be painful, he said. When I was
dressing this morning my wife had to knot my tie for me. I couldnt do it
myself.
Garda Byrne said that while he had not been disabled as a result of the
incident in 2006 the pain continues to make life difficult for him. He had
been medicated by doctors and had undergone a series of physiotherapy
sessions.
Judge Barton awarded Garda Byrne 25,000 compensation for his injuries.
I absolutely accept that this officer did sustain soft tissue injuries directly
related to the incident in August 2006, Judge Barton said. He has not made
the case that he is disabled but that he does have pain and ongoing
difficulties.
Judge Barton said Garda Byrne had to prove on the balance of probability that
his current problems and difficulties with his thumbs were connected with the
assault and he felt he had fallen short of that proof.
The judge said Garda Byrne had suffered injuries to both his thumbs which,
for a significant period afterwards, would have been very painful as well as
having suffered soft tissue injuries to his neck, shoulders and back.
I dont know what the cause of his present troubles are. I have to be satisfied
there is a direct correlation with the incident and I cannot say I am, Judge
Barton said.
Garda Byrne was awarded his costs as well as just over 400 for expenses.
op Senior garda cannot be trusted , still no change
The corrupt section garda section N.B.C.I involved in deception of
murder crime statistics as well as fraud, embezzlement and
framing of innocent people.
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) has suspended the publication
of any further crime figures for the Republic until a Garda review
into homicide cases is completed.

Perjury, fraud, embezzlement and cover ups by corrupt Top Gardai
Solicitor Ken Ruane, the force's head of legal affairs, has said he "cannot agree" with
remarks Ms O'Sullivan made to TDs last week about the role of a working group set up to
deal with issues at Templemore in informing other State agencies of the issues there.

June 28 2017

A senior Garda official has disputed evidence given to the Dil's Public
Accounts Committee (PAC) by Commissioner Nirn O'Sullivan in relation to
the controversy over the finances at Templemore Training College.
Ken Ruane, the force's head of legal affairs, has said he "cannot agree" with
remarks Ms O'Sullivan made to TDs last week about the role of a working
group set up to deal with issues at Templemore in informing other State
agencies of the issues there.
The latest contradiction between Ms O'Sullivan and her officials came in a

letter sent by Mr Ruane to the PAC.
TDs have previously heard differing versions over when Ms O'Sullivan first
learned the details of concerns over finances at the college.
In his letter, Mr Ruane disputes a section of Ms O'Sullivan's evidence to the

PAC last week. Her remarks were in response to questions from Sinn Fin TD
David Cullinane over why she didn't inform State spending watchdog the
Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) of issues at Templemore as soon as
she learned of concerns over finances there.
Ms O'Sullivan has insisted that she first learned the detail of the issues at the
college at a meeting on July 27, 2015, and that she immediately set up a
working group to deal with the concerns there.
The C&AG was not told about Templemore until August 2016.
During last week's appearance at the PAC, Ms O'Sullivan said: "The fact is this
[working] group was established and it was to go through the process of
informing all the relevant parties, keeping the Department [of Justice] and
everyone else informed of that.
"I entrusted the job, and the sequence with which that was done, to the group
as it was established. It is my understanding that it is accepted practice that
the Accounting Officer cannot have oversight and responsibility for absolutely
everything."
In his letter, Mr Ruane quoted this section of Ms O'Sullivan's evidence.
He wrote: "In my personal capacity as an individual who was asked to be a

member of this group, I do not accept and cannot agree with the statement
made above by the Commissioner in the context of the process of 'informing
all the relevant parties'."
Last night, a Garda spokesman said: "We cannot comment on any matter that
may be subject to examination by the PAC", when asked about the
contradiction between the pair.
Ms O'Sullivan last week told TDs that "complex issues had been identified in
respect of the college" and she wanted more information before informing the
C&AG. She said: "I was not aware of precisely what had been done and what
the precise state of all of those issues was.
"If I knew then what I know now, having completed all of that work, of course
I would have contacted the Comptroller and Auditor General."
The PAC is examining an interim report by the Garda internal audit unit that
found financial irregularities at the college. Members will meet in private
session tomorrow to discuss a draft of their Templemore report.
Jun 27, 2017,
Senior gardai and finance officers involved here should be sacked

for fraud
Corrupt senior gardai and corrupt Finance officer should have
disclosed any investments it held to the Garda and the
Department of Justice prior to this.

An internal Garda audit has identified 24,000 worth of shares in an
insurance company in the name of Templemore Garda college.
Chief administrative officer at An Garda Sochna Joseph Nugent has
informed the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the existence
of shares in Aviva.
Mr Nugent said he learned of the investments when conducting an
examination of the existing bank accounts in the Garda college.
The Aviva shares were held in the name of Garda Mess Committee, a
name now associated with the Templemore College restaurant and had
been open for more than 16 years.
Mr Nugent wrote in his correspondence to the committee: The issue came
to light on the recent receipt of a dividend from the shares. The shares were
free shares generated from a Hibernian Norwich Union Policy which was
commenced on 12/03/99 and subsequently closed on 17/11/15.
Although the policy was encashed, the shares were not sold. The value of
the shares is currently in the order of 24,000.
The value of the shares have fluctuated over time but its current value is
24,000.
Fintan OToole: Nirn OSullivan fluent in Wyssn and Mangleish
Diarmaid Ferriter: Wanted independent civilian Garda chief
Minister says Nirn OSullivan may well have to resign
It is unknown if there were previous dividends paid out over the past 16
years and if they were it is unclear if the monies were returned to the
college or given elsewhere.
The college should have disclosed any investments it held to the Garda and
the Department of Justice prior to this.
Returned to State
Mr Nugent said An Garda Sochna is having the shares immediately sold
with the income generated returned to the State.
He confirmed an examination of all financial investments associated with
the various Templemore entities is now being conducted and is being
treated as a priority.
The PAC is to consider a draft of its final report on financial
mismanagement at Templemore Garda College this week. However,
documentation from the Garda is still emerging.

The documentation released to the committee on Monday night also
includes notes of a meeting held on July 29th, 2015 between the Garda
head of human resources John Barrett and the head of legal affairs Ken
Ruane.
This followed a letter sent from Mr Ruane to the Garda commissioner
Noirn OSullivan three days previously urging the commissioner to issue a
Section 41 to the Minister for Justice making her aware of the financial
irregularities. She did not do so for a further 15 months.
Conflicting evidence
The latest notes given to the committee allege deputy commissioner Donal
OCualain was critical of Mr Ruanes decision to send the letter.
Mr Barrett claimed Mr OCualain believed the head of legal affairs had
pushed the nuclear button and a Section 41 was not required due to a
lack of information.
Mr Ruane told the meeting the Garda should not be examining this
malpractice internally and believed it was a matter for the Comptroller and
Auditor General, the Public Accounts Committee and the Minister for
Justice.
The PAC is due to receive more correspondence this week from the
commissioner, Mr Ruane and Mr Barrett.
All three have provided conflicting evidence to the committee and have
been asked to clarify their testimony.
An interim audit of the finances of the Garda College at Templemore
released in March 2017 outlined the existence of 50 bank accounts, and
taxpayers money being used to fit privately owned shops.
Garda reps body spends thousands on holiday gifts
The Garda Representative Association (GRA) has used members funds to
pay for holiday vouchers, dinners and hospitality for its executives, according
to internal files obtained by The Sunday Times.
THETIMES.CO.UK
June 26th 2017
GRA as corrupt as senior gardai ,

All auditors and accountants need to be stripped of their
qualification for not reporting corrupt gardai. Its auditors duty to
report this.
Garda reps body spends thousands on holiday gifts
GRA files reveal huge hospitality and expenses bill
""The Garda Representative Association (GRA) has used
members funds to pay for holiday vouchers, dinners and
hospitality for its executives, according to internal files obtained
by The Sunday Times.
The documents show Pat Ennis, the GRA general secretary since
last year, got a holiday voucher for 1,500 in 2012. PJ Stone, then
the general secretary, has denied ever getting a holiday voucher
worth 5,000 which was issued in his name that year. The
organisation also made a payment of 145,000 into Stones
pension fund in 2012.
The GRA also bought holiday vouchers for others, including
Declan Merry, an auditor; and Martin Sheehan, who advises on
pensions. A voucher worth 1,000 was issued in Merrys name
and one for 3,000 in Sheehans name.
The organisation represents 10,500 rank-and-file gardai, and is
largely funded by their weekly subscriptions. Last year it
threatened a strike in support of a pay claim, a move described by
Public Service Pay Commission chairman Kevin Duffy as
tantamount to mutiny.
The accounts show the high cost of the GRAs two-day annual
conference. It spent 172,060 on its annual meeting at a golf
resort in Carlow in 2015. The bill for the previous years
conference in Killarney, which included accommodation and
hospitality, was 201,633.
The files show the GRA spends heavily on travel and subsistence
payments to officials and representatives. The bill was 1,039,396
in 2015, and 1,048,714 in 2014.
Some receipts show members of its central executive committee
ran up hefty bar tabs on GRA business. There is no suggestion of
anything improper in the submission of expenses or in the
purchase or receipt of the vouchers.
The GRA gets almost 2.5m a year in subscriptions from
members. It also gets annual state funding of about 125,000.
This weekend Ennis confirmed he had a holiday voucher from the
GRA but was not aware if others got similar tokens from Killester
Travel in Dublin. I did receive a voucher, said Ennis. It was an
acknowledgement for work that I had done in negotiations at the
time. I wasnt a salaried member of the GRA and I had made a
significant contribution to the negotiations about pay. I didnt ask
for it.
I dont have any issue with this as it was processed and dealt
with appropriately. To be honest, I was humbled when it was
presented to me. I neither sought nor solicited it.
A solicitor instructed by Merry said his client could not comment
for reasons of confidentiality. The Sunday Times could not contact
Sheehan and other recipients.
Catherine Murphy, the Social Democrat TD for Kildare North, said
that as well as being in receipt of public money, the GRA had a
duty to its members. Why are they buying holiday vouchers for
anyone? This raises all sorts of questions, she said. I have no
problem with people having their expenses covered but it should
never go beyond that.
This organisation has told us that young garda officers are
financially hard pressed. The GRA should be using their members
money as if it were their own.
Some GRA sources want a full review of expenses paid to officials
to establish how much is claimed on expenses and how much is
spent on gifts and vouchers.
This weekend the GRA said rigorous procedures were in place to
account for all expenditure. It said all GRA subsistence
allowances and mileage expenses were in accordance with
reduced public sector rates, and all payments were made by
cheque and never in cash.
The garda body declined to comment on the holiday vouchers or
if it permitted purchases of alcohol for hospitality to be claimed as
expenses. It said its trustees, finance committee and treasurer
had specific responsibilities under the rules for oversight and
accountability.
Full annual audited accounts for the previous financial year are
presented to the GRA central executive committee each year and
made available to delegates at conference, it said. These
include a breakdown of the administrative expenses for the
previous year. All delegates have the opportunity to comment on
these accounts or to question the treasurer.""
https://www.thetimes.co.uk//garda-reps-body-spends-
thousan
Garda civil servant and GP

charged over fake sick notes
Mark Tighe, Ireland Legal Correspondent
June 23 2017, 12:01am,
The Times
Tony Margiotta, 56, a GP, of Hollystown Park in Hollystown, Dublin 15,

is charged with 36 offences.
BRENDAN LYON/IMAGEBUREAU
A civil servant employed by the garda, along with

her brother who is a doctor, have been charged with
fraud offences in relation to fake sickness
certificates (Mark Tighe writes).
Lynn Margiotta, 48, based at Store Street garda
station in Dublin, was charged with 14 offences in
Dublin district court on June 10, in a case that was
not reported at the time.
She is accused of seven charges of using a medical
certificate that purported to be from named doctors
although not her brother which she knew or
believed to be false instruments.
Ms Margiotta, who has an address in Mellows
Avenue in Finglas, allegedly used the certificates
with the intention of inducing another person to
accept the certificates as genuine. If
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/garda-civil-servant-and-gp-charged-over-
fake-sick-notes-h73fqf859
Garda college fraud referral is
conveniently timed, say TDs
Sen McCrthaigh, Senior Ireland News Reporter
June 21 2017, 12:01am,
The Times
Nirn OSullivan was accused of putting details of alleged financial

irregularities at the garda training college out of bounds
LEAH FARRELL/ROLLINGNEWS
The garda commissioner has been accused of

referring suspected fraud at the garda training
college to a watchdog to avoid further public
scrutiny of financial irregularities.
Nirn OSullivan, who denied the claim, revealed
yesterday that details of suspicious activity related
to a bank account linked to the garda college in
Templemore, Co Tipperary, was passed to the
Garda Sochna Ombudsman Commission (Gsoc)
this week.
She told the Dil public accounts committee (PAC)
that the Department of Justice, the Policing
Authority and the Comptroller & Auditor General
(C&AG) had also been notified, as well as Olaf, the
European Anti-Fraud Office.
Several TDs said the timing of the referral was
convenient as it limited examination of the case by
the PAC. Catherine Murphy, co-leader of the
Social
Fresh controversy has enveloped Garda Commissioner Nirn
OSullivan after she was criticised by the States financial watchdog
for failing to mention possible financial irregularities at Templemore
Garda College in a formal accounting notification to him.
Nirn again
The intervention by Comptroller and Auditor General Seamus

McCarthy at the Public Accounts Committee emerged as one
member, Fianna Fils Marc MacSharry, revealed that a 2010 email
purportedly from Garda finance boss Michael Culhane to the
Department of Justice allegedly referred to an attempt to muddy
things up regarding taxation matters in correspondence with
Revenue.
In another dramatic day at the PAC, Ms OSullivan said she had
referred a report by the Garda internal auditor Niall Kelly to the
Garda Ombudsman in which he raised suspicions that fraud may
have been committed involving a secret garda bank account, which
at its height held 90,000-plus.
The Ombudsman said the matter was sent to it late on Monday and
that it was now under consideration.
The Irish Examiner understands that Gsoc, which has not conducted
a major fraud investigation before, may have to contract in a forensic
accountant or consider leading a multi-agency investigation as
matters may also involve revenue or corporate issues.
It is thought Gsoc is seeking clarity from An Garda Sochna on the
exact scale and scope of the investigation, but that a decision on
the inquiry is expected to be made fairly quickly given the level of
public interest.
PAC heard that a formal accounting letter sent by Ms OSullivan to
Mr McCarthy on July 31, 2015, in which she is required to disclose
any issues of loss, fraud, or irregularities, did not mention the
emerging financial concerns surrounding Templemore.
The commissioner, questioned yesterday for more than six hours,
said she was first informed of these issues on July 27, 2015.
Mr McCarthy said that any question about potential irregularities was
something that should have been made known to me so he could
independently carry out his own function.
The commissioner said she did not have full information and to get a
complete picture she set up a working group on July 28 to gather
all the information.
However, Mr McCarthy said he should still have been informed, even
if the commissioner only had basic or partial information, and
added: Im quite clear it should have been brought to my attention.
The commissioner said that she would have reported it if I knew
then what I know now.
Sinn Fins David Cullinane said it called into question whether the
commissioners letter to the C&AG was accurate or inaccurate and
added: That, for me, is quite serious.
His partys deputy leader, Mary Lou McDonald, accused the
commissioner of misleading the C&AG which Ms OSullivan
rejected.
In a dramatic development, Mr MacSharry referred to a July 2010
email purportedly from Garda finance director Michael Culhane to
the Department of Justices garda division in which he allegedly said
that in correspondence on tax matters with Revenue he had included
a reference to charity status to muddy things up. He said this
referred to another email from auditors PwC to Mr Culhane which
said garda could argue charity status for all investment income.
Ms OSullivan said she was disadvantaged as she was only seeing
the emails now, but said the language was unusual.
Mr MacSharry said he got the documentation from Garda chief
administrative officer Joe Nugent, who accompanied Ms OSullivan,
during the lunch break.
Meanwhile, the chair of the Policing Authority, Josephine Feehily, has
said she is disappointed and alarmed with the widespread failures
in practices within An Garda Siochana.
GSOC has been granted permission to hire four more

investigators and a support staff member to deal with its
growing workload.
The commission, responsible for dealing with incidents
involving Garda, said it has seen a surge in whistleblower
disclosures since the start of this year.
It said despite a strengthening of the legislation governing its
role in recent years, it has not yet been given the resources to
deal with it.
The commission said in a statement: "The 2014 Act promised
more structure and protections than previously provided to
garda and their civilian colleagues in An Garda Sochna.
"In passing the 2014 Act there appears to have been no
regard for the provisions of Part 4 of the Garda Sochna Act
2005 and this has led to investigative complexities which have
been challenging to reconcile.
"Following from the 2014 Act, GSOC began receiving
disclosures under the Protected Disclosures Act 2014. In early
2017 in particular we saw an increase in such disclosures."
They said that so far there have been 24 disclosures under
the 2014 Act made to them since 2014.
GSOC said: "In the almost three years since the legislation
was passed GSOC has not received any additional personnel
or accompanying resources to carry out the necessary
investigations. GSOC has had to 'add on' this important work
to an already congested workload.
"The allocation of five staff members is welcomed by GSOC
and the steps are already underway to fill the posts."
GSOC said it will pursue the Tnaiste commitment to address
the shortfall in this Autumn's budget.
Rampant corruption involving senior gardai and St Raphaels
Garda Credit union, Naas being covered up by Noirin O Sullivan at
the PAC because her husbands staff. Superintendent John O
Driscol and Garda Sean O Brien are running it as directors. The
PAC has directed the central Bank to investigate the garda credit
Union.
The Garda College ending up in more than 40 bank accounts and
surplus funds some of which should have been returned to the
State being used to purchase assets or put into private bank or
Garda credit union accounts (St Raphaels) or private Garda
sporting facilities instead
Garda Internal Audit Section (GIAS) found large sums of public
money were routed to secret Garda credit union (St Raphaels) and
bank accounts in Dublin, opened and controlled by gardai.
The investigation is examining the transfer of funds to a current
account opened at the AIB Cabra branch in Dublin.
An investigation has discovered that some payments initially
lodged into the AIB account were subsequently transferred to an
account opened at Saint Raphaels garda credit union.
It also has a cash reserve of 555,892 500,000 of which was
invested in St Raphaels Credit Union on May 2, 2007.
October 1, 2010: The Garda Internal Audit Section (GIAS) finds
that, as of October 1, 2010, St Raphael (Garda Credit Union) Bar
Account had a balance of 417,068 but this dropped over years
with large amounts
The Central Bank has a regulatory role in respect of credit unions.
Is the bank engaged with St. Raphaels Garda credit union? Has it
examined any of this?
In response, Ms OSullivan says:
St. Raphaels Garda credit union is an independent entity and,
therefore, it does not come under An Garda Sochna. (NOT)
Mr Mooney Sunday Times reported:
The investigation is examining the transfer of funds to a current
account opened at the AIB Cabra branch in Dublin. An
investigation has discovered that some payments initially lodged
into the AIB account were subsequently transferred to an account
opened at Saint Raphaels garda credit union.
PAC has called in the central bank to investigate St Raphaels Garda Credit Union for it
involvement in money Laundering, corruption etc. in which serving Senior Gardai from NBCI
Supt John O Driscol and Sean O Brien are directors of. Noirin O Sullivans husbands staff.
Noirin tried stating its independent , more lies from her mouth.
@CathMurphyTD q's to #garda commissioner on why referral to #gsoc of Cabra a/cs just
yesterday? Avoiding #PAC scrutiny?
Corruption, corruption exposed, finally EU auditors involved.

The European Court of Auditors has opened an internal investigation into the use of
European Union funds at the Garda training college.
The inquiry follows reports by The Irish Times that 5 per cent of the money from Cepol, an
EU agency for law enforcement, may have been diverted to a bank account in Cabra and
used for entertainment for garda.
Garda Commissioner Nirn O Sullivan claims she's not a liar.
PAC hears account of Templemore timing that contradicts Commissioner O'Sullivan's

dates
The Garda Commissioner's testimony to the Public Accounts
Committee about financial irregularities at Templemore has
been contradicted again.
Cyril Dunne, who was the highest-ranking civilian in the force
until 2015, has told the committee Noirn O'Sullivan knew
about the Templemore issues several weeks before the date
she has given.
Ms O'Sullivan is due before the PAC next Tuesday to deal
with the contradictions over her account of affairs.
Former chief administrative officer Cyril Dunne has told
Labour's Alan Kelly he brought matters to Commissioner
O'Sullivan's attention in early July.
He said: "Roundabout the first week in July, I told her John
Barrett had identified issues in Templemore, that I needed to
get a lot more information. I told her I would be going down to
(Templemore) college myself and that I would brief her when I
had more detail."
Mr Kelly pointed out this was a "direct contradiction of
evidence given by two witnesses here the last day".
Earlier:
The Public Accounts Committee will hear from more senior
Garda today, as it continues its probe into financial
irregularities at the Garda Training College in Templemore.
Deputy Commissioner Donal O'Cualain, and Assistant
Commissioner Anne-Marie McMahon are among those facing
questions from TDs and Senators this morning.
Previous evidence from some civilian Garda officials has seen
them contradicting the Garda Commissioner Nirn O'Sullivan
about when she was informed about financial issues at the
college.
Leo Varadkar has issued a thinly veiled threat at Garda Commissioner
Nirn OSullivan, saying people losing their jobs over scandals
needs to happen a little bit more in the public sector.
Garda Commissioner Nirn O'Sullivan
He said that while he still supports Irelands most senior garda, there
is a need for individual accountability when controversies emerge.
Asked specifically about whether he still has confidence in Ms
OSullivan amid a flurry of fresh garda college revelations
including a 2008 audit revealed in todays Irish Examiner showing
the facilitys laundry account was used for loans, donations and
entertainment costs for officers Mr Varadkar said: I do.
However, when questioned directly over whether he would remove
her if he became taoiseach, Mr Varadkar who is widely predicted
to win todays Fine Gael leadership contest strongly hinted to
Newstalks Drive programme that this was a possibility.
advertisement
Its important we have those [Dil public accounts committee]

investigations, but what I will demand is accountability, and thats
not just in the gardai, its across the board, he said.
There isnt enough individual accountability, its always lack of
resources, systems failure and all those things we hear too much of.
What we need a little bit more of in this country is individual
accountability. And, you know, politicians are held to account,
ministers do lose their jobs, and politicians lose their seats.
It happens, and it needs to happen a little bit more in the public
sector.
While Mr Varadkar referenced the entire public sector in his
comments, the fact he was responding to a specific question on Ms
OSullivans future has raised fresh questions over what action he
would take as Taoiseach.
The comments were made as further revelations emerged over the
Garda College scandal, including a 2008 audit leaked last night
which found the facilitys laundry account was used for officer
loans, bonuses, and entertainment costs over an unknown period.
The 53-page McGee report, which has been seen by the Irish
Examiner, first highlighted the Garda College issues nine years ago,
and at the time specifically warned internal controls were lax and
potentially illegal.
In addition, this newspaper can today reveal the garda internal audit
unit is examining serious concerns significant amounts of money
were transferred from the Garda College account to the personal
account of a top-ranking garda linked to the college who left the
force some years ago.
Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy, who raised the matter with
garda internal auditor Niall Kelly during Wednesdays PAC meeting,
said last night that she received the information from an impeccable
source and that if the money was transferred by the way or for the
purpose we understand, I think there is the possibility of fraud.
During a 10-hour meeting with garda civilian officers key to
uncovering the scandal on Wednesday, the PAC also found:
The tax compliance issue, which is due to be clarified today, poses
significant liability risks;
Senior garda in the Sportsfield Garda College company may have
breached SIPO company rules;
Hundreds of cheques may have been given to garda for unknown
reasons from the Garda College funds;
A previously unknown AIB bank account in Cabra, Dublin, may be
linked to the college and EU grants dating back two decades;
Two whistleblowers who attempted to highlight the scandals were
blocked from accessing information, with one threatened with
a criminal case because his notes may have broken the Official
Secrets Act.
At a closed meeting yesterday, the PAC agreed to question a number
of officials on June 14, before meeting the commissioner with
department and Policing Authority officials on June 21.
EU opens inquiry on
Templemore Garda college
money
European Court of Auditors move follows complaints of
misuse of EU funds
Sat, Jun 17, 2017
Sarah Bardon
The Garda training college in Templemore, Co Tipperary. Photograph: Bryan

OBrien
The European Court of Auditors has opened an internal
investigation into the use of European Union funds at
the Garda training college.
The court, which is based in Luxembourg, has initiated
an inquiry into the use of European funding at the
college in Templemore.
The Irish Times understands the court has asked its
internal audit unit to investigate the allocation of
funding by the EU to the Garda authorities.
The inquiry follows reports by The Irish Times that 5 per
cent of the money from Cepol, an EU agency for law
enforcement, may have been diverted to a bank account
in Cabra and used for entertainment for garda.
The allegations were originally contained in an audit of
spending at the training college conducted in 2008, and
are also the subject of investigations by the head of the
Garda internal audit unit, Niall Kelly.
The Irish Times understands such claims were later
forwarded to the European court by a member of An
Garda Sochna.
Possible irregularities
The court has since responded to that individual Garda
stating that the report indicates the possibility of
irregularities of EU spending, or poor financial
management.
In correspondence with that Garda, the court said it had
forwarded the submission to our audit department
responsible for this area.
The court is now due to analyse the information and,
where appropriate, use it for planning future audit
tasks.
The same report has been forwarded to the European
Anti-Fraud Office, the agency responsible for
investigating serious misconduct within the European
institutions.
While that agency has not formally accepted any
responsibility for investigating the claims, it
acknowledged reports of how Cepol funds had been
diverted into the laundry account of the Garda training
college.
The money given by Cepol had been designated for
training courses.
Mr Kelly told the Public Accounts Committee last month
he was investigating the allocation of that money as part
of an audit of EU-funded projects programmes going
back to 1998.
An internal audit completed in 2008 showed money was
being transferred from the Cepol bank account to the
laundry account in the Garda college.
The money was then used to pay for the accommodation
costs of delegates involved in the courses.
Mr Kellys audit reads: It is difficult to ascertain the
reason why these charges are being allocated and lodged
to the laundry a/c. In certain circumstances these
payments have been paid to the college restaurant
initially and then paid subsequently to the laundry
account. The financial regulatory practices governing
this account are poor.
Once monies are lodged to this account, the controls
placed on the authorising process of expenditure
through this account are lax.
The audit recommends that the bank account for Cepol
is reconciled and all surplus funds credited back to the
Department of Justice.
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/eu-opens-inquiry-on-
templemore-garda-college-money-1.3123031
Varadkar is 'not happy' with pace
of garda reform but backs
O'Sullivan
Cormac McQuinn 22 June 2017
Leo Varadkar
Leo Varadkar has said he is "not happy"
with the pace of reform in the Garda but
insisted he has confidence in Commissioner
Noirin O'Sullivan.
Sinn Fein TD Mary Lou McDonald called on the Taoiseach to dismiss Ms O'Sullivan in the
wake of the controversies to hit the force, including the latest revelations about
finances at Templemore Training College.
Speaking in the Dail, Ms McDonald argued that public confidence in the Commissioner
was "in tatters".
She also claimed Ms O'Sullivan "misled" the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) by
providing an assurance about the integrity of gardai finances in a letter sent on July
31, 2015, days after she learnt about the finances at Templemore.
Untenable
At a meeting of the Public Accounts Committee, Ms O'Sullivan said that at the time she
wanted more information about the "complex" issues involved but that if she knew then
what she knew now, she would have contacted the C&AG at that point.
The committee is examining financial irregularities at the Garda college.
Ms McDonald claimed that Ms O'Sullivan's position was "untenable" and asked Mr

Vardakar if he had confidence in Ms O'Sullivan.
Mr Varadkar replied: "Yes I do have confidence in the Garda Commissioner and the
Government does, too.
"Most, if not all of the problems that beset the gardai, pre-date her becoming Garda
Commissioner and I believe that she is fighting many battles on many fronts in an effort
to put things right."
Mr Varadkar conceded that public trust in the force had been "strained" due to
revelations about the gardai in recent times. He said the Government had a duty to
restore that trust and the best way to do that is to "ensure there is a thorough
investigation of all the allegations that have been made".
"That is now under way," said Mr Varadkar, who stressed the importance of allowing
separate investigations by the PAC and the Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission
(GSOC) into finances at Templemore to run their course.
"We also need to accelerate the pace of reform in the gardai and I'm not happy with
the pace at which reform is occurring.
"I think it is very important over the next number of months and years that we build on
the reforms that have taken place but we also accelerate those so that we can do what
is most important which is to restore confidence and trust by the people in the Garda."
Ms McDonald described his remarks as "uninspiring".
She said that if Mr Varadkar's comments on reform were "more than rhetoric" and if he
was "serious about a new era in policing then accountability had to start at the very,
very top" and he had to "come off the fence".
Kangaroo
"You have to call things for what they are and you have to ensure that the
Commissioner goes in the interests of An Garda Siochana and in the interests of public
confidence," she said.
Mr Vardkar rejected the suggestion that he was "on the fence", saying he had been
"clear" he had confidence in Ms O'Sullivan.
The Taoiseach said Ms McDonald was contending that various ongoing investigations,
including the Charleton Tribunal examining the treatment of Garda whistleblowers,
should be bypassed with a "rush to judgement".
"I don't believe in summary justice or kangaroo courts," he said.
http://www.herald.ie/news/varadkar-is-not-happy-with-pace-of-garda-reform-
but-backs-osullivan-35853548.html

After Jobstown Not Guilty Verdict

July 5, 2017
I don't know whether they know it or not but it seems some of the "brightest" minds in Ireland
have signed a petition wishing for another inquiry and/or tribunal sort of scenario into the
events of Jobstown.
FACT: Legally, what ever is uncovered in one of these many, many, many, to many to count
tribunals/inquiries cannot then be admissible in a Court of Law later. So not only does it not
serve for the greater good of offering accountability, these people feed back to the system
they want to be outed for corruption and gives whatever evidence away and renders it
useless.
I truly despair for this country....truly
Welcome to the land of tribunals that are set up so no one can be held criminally responsible. Costs millions,
but what the hell, it's only tax payers money.
In the past hour.
At the Buswells Hotel, Westmoreland Street, Dublin 2.
A press conference is held to call for a public inquiry into the Garda
investigation into the Jobstown protest.
At the conference, the names of close to 100 TDs, Senators and
academics who support this action are listed on a statement.
A press conference is held to call for a public inquiry into the Garda investigation into the
Jobstown protest.
At the conference, the names of close to 100 TDs, Senators and academics who support this
action are listed on a statement
Counsellor's 'panic' over false

report on whistleblower
Shane Phelan
July 5 2017
The psychologist and counsellor who mistakenly created a report containing a
false sexual abuse allegation against whistleblower Sgt Maurice McCabe has
said she is unable to clearly explain how the error was made.
Laura Brophy told the Disclosures Tribunal she felt "a wave of panic" when
she discovered she had wrongly drafted the report.
It was initially thought a cut and paste error was to blame for the false
allegation being included in a file passed from the HSE to garda.
However, Ms Brophy said yesterday it was "just not clear" what had occurred.
She was among the first witnesses to give evidence at the tribunal, which is
investigating the circumstances surrounding a false allegation of sexual abuse
against Sgt McCabe and whether it was subsequently used by senior garda to
smear him.
Ms Brophy, an employee at Rian in Cavan, which is part of the HSE

counselling service, told the tribunal she works with adults who may have
been the victims of physical or psychological abuse in the past.
In 2013, a woman known as Ms D contacted the service seeking an

appointment due to "everyday coping difficulties" and difficulties with
relationships. Ms D's father was a garda colleague of Sgt McCabe.
Ms Brophy said she had two meetings with her. According to notes she made
of the first meeting, Ms D said she had been abused by a colleague of her
father during a game of hide and seek when she was six or seven. She alleged
this involved "molesting and dry humping me". Ms D said she only recollected
the incident when she was 12 or 13 years of age.
According to the note, Ms D said her abuser was a garda in Bailieborough, Co

Cavan, who was "forced out" when the allegations were made.
Sgt McCabe's name was not given to Ms Brophy at the first meeting, but was
given to her at the second one.
According to her notes Ms D felt angry after the DPP directed there be no
prosecution.
Sgt McCabe has always denied the allegations.
Ms Brophy told counsel for the tribunal, Diarmaid McGuinness SC, she was
obliged under Children First guidelines to file a report with HSE social
services when an alleged perpetrator of abuse is identified to her.
However, the report filed by her in August 2013 contained incorrect

information in a section where the alleged abuse was supposed to be
described.
Mr McGuinness said the account was actually that of another woman, Ms Y,

who had suffered abuse in childhood, involving digital penetration, both
vaginal and anal.
Ms Brophy told Mr McGuinness this was a mistake and Ms D never said

anything of the sort to her at any stage.
She told the barrister that there were a number of templates on her computer
and presumed she had opened one when making her report on Ms D, but she
could not offer a clear explanation. "This has been an issue I have had to think
a lot about in trying to understand how the error occurred. I can't say
definitively how I inputted the data," she said.
Ms Brophy said she had originally thought the mistake may have occurred due
to Ms D's report being filled out immediately after Ms Y.
However, she discovered last week there were actually three other reports
filled out between Ms Y's and Ms D's.
Asked by Mr McGuinness if the incorrect information appeared in one of the

templates open at the time on her computer, Ms Brophy said: "I can't be
definitive about it unfortunately. I have been trying to think since I discovered
the error."
The mistake came to her attention in May 2014 when Ms D contacted her in
an "emotional, angry and upset" state.
She had discovered that the report with the incorrect information was in
Bailieborough garda station.
"She said words to the effect: 'You said I was raped'," Ms Brophy told the
tribunal.
Asked if Ms D had been informed by her father of the report received about
her in Bailieborough, Ms Brophy said: "That is not 100pc clear."
She also said she didn't know whether Ms D had direct access to the file.
Mr McGuinness said Ms Brophy told the tribunal she had always accepted
responsibility for the mistake and had never attempted to shirk or conceal it.
http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/counsellors-panic-over-false-
report-on-whistleblower-35896864.html
Girl who made sex abuse
allegation was daughter
of McCabe colleague
Main: Sgt Maurice McCabe and his wife Lorraine at the the
tribunal.
Shane Phelan
July 5 2017
The young girl who made an allegation of sexual abuse against whistleblower
Sgt Maurice McCabe was the daughter of his garda colleague, the Disclosures
Tribunal heard.
The tribunal was told that the officer had named Sgt McCabe, in a meeting
with a social worker, shortly after his daughter filed a criminal complaint.
Tusla social worker Rhona Murphy described how she met the girl, known as
Ms D, in 2005 when she was working as an intake social worker in the HSE's
child protection team in Cavan.
The girl's parents were concerned about the then-14-year-old as she had been
running away from home and engaging in sexual activity.
Under examination from tribunal counsel Kathleen Leader BL, Ms Murphy

said Ms D's mother had called, saying her daughter had made a complaint
about "a man", alleging that during a game he had held her over the sofa.
Everyone was fully clothed, but there was an allegation "humping" occurred.
The incident was said to have happened when Ms D was six or seven.
Ms D subsequently made a statement to garda on December 6, 2006.
Ms Murphy said a meeting of a HSE social worker team was convened and it
was agreed to refer Ms D's case to the HSE's child sexual abuse (CSA) team.
During the course of a subsequent meeting with Ms D and her parents, the
girl's father identified Sgt McCabe as the person against whom the allegation
had been made, Ms Murphy said.
Sgt McCabe's wife and children's names were recorded during this meeting.
Ms D was asked at the meeting if she would be happy for a copy of her
statement to go to the CSA team so she would not have to go through the
detail again. She agreed.
Ms Murphy told the tribunal that Noel Cunningham, a garda inspector in the
Cavan/Monaghan division, would have provided the team with a copy
directly.
Ms Murphy said that on December 14, 2006, she sent handwritten notes to
members of the CSA team.
Ms Leader said it appeared that the notes were intended to be shared with
Insp Cunningham, as there was a note attached saying: "FAO Noel
Cunningham".
But Ms Murphy said she had no recollection of sending any documentation

herself to the inspector. The tribunal heard documents show that the same
month, Ms D informed the CSA team that Sgt McCabe had inappropriately
touched her.
There was also a note that a file had been sent to the DPP, but a prosecution
was not recommended.
Ms Murphy said she closed the file on Ms D in October 2007, on the

instruction of the CSA team, and sent letters to two of her superiors about this
decision.
The letters noted that Sgt McCabe had not been met by the social worker
team.
She told the tribunal it was intended he would be met by social workers from
Meath, as Sgt McCabe acted as a liaison officer with the HSE in
Cavan/Monaghan.
She said it was "fair procedure" for an alleged perpetrator to be made aware of
an allegation of sexual abuse against them.
Such meetings would also be arranged in the context of making a child
protection risk assessment.
However, Michael McDowell SC, counsel for Sgt McCabe, said no such
meeting ever took place.
He also said that Sgt McCabe was not a designated liaison officer.
Under questioning, Ms Murphy confirmed no assessment of Ms D's credibility

was ever made by the CSA team.
Ms Murphy said this was "because they felt that putting the young person
through the finer detail of that allegation would be to the detriment of the
young person".
http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/girl-who-made-sex-abuse-
allegation-was-daughter-of-mccabe-colleague-35896842.html
Charleton Tribunal: father
of Ms D shocked when
shown erroneous report
Counsellor Laura Brophy being asked about error she
made over allegation against Sgt McCabe
July 5 2017
Colm Keena
Laura Brophy at the Disclosures Tribunal in Dublin Castle, Dublin.

Photograph: Gareth Chaney Collins
The father of Ms D was shocked when shown an

erroneous report detailing an alleged serious sexual
assault on his daughter by whistleblower Sgt Maurice
McCabe, the Charleton Tribunal has heard.
Mr D told investigators acting for the tribunal that he
was called into the office of Supt Leo McGinn at
Bailieboro Garda station and shown a HSE report of the
purported allegations made by his daughter of digital
anal and vaginal penetration by Sgt McCabe.
Psychologist and counsellor Laura Brophy told the
tribunal of an error she made in 2013 which saw the
details of alleged sexual abuse of Ms D by Sgt McCabe
being mistakenly replaced with details of another, much
more serious case she was dealing with. That case
involved a different client and a different alleged
perpetrator.
The allegation by Ms D was of dry humping during a
game of hide and seek in 1998, an allegation that was
investigated by garda in 2006 and which the DPP
decided did not merit charges.
Smear campaign
The tribunal is investigating a number of matters
including an alleged smear campaign against Sgt
McCabe by senior Garda management, including a false
allegation of child sexual abuse.
Michel OHiggins SC, for Garda Commissioner Nirn
OSullivan and other senior officers, read out a passage
from a statement made by the father of Ms D, a Garda,
to investigators acting for the tribunal.
Mr D said he was invited by Supt McGinn into his office
and handed a HSE referral form and asked if this
concerned his daughter. He said he read the detail in the
report and got a fierce shock.
He was wondering if his daughter had told the
counsellor these details and not her parents.
The Garda did not say anything to the superintendent
about the discrepancy between what was in the
statement and the complaint he knew had been made by
his daughter against Sgt McCabe in 2006.
I didnt know what was going on, he said.
Mr OHiggins told Ms Brophy that Ms D had said she
was contacted by her father and told about the incorrect
referral form and the false information about alleged
digital penetration.
Ms Brophy said Ms D subsequently contacted her and
told her that the Garda in Bailieboro had been given
false information about the alleged assault she
mentioned to Ms Brophy when she sought counselling
the previous year. It was as a result of this contact that
she realised she had made a mistake and included
incorrect details as to the assault being alleged.
Reputation
Ms Brophy told the tribunal chairman, Mr Justice Peter
Charleton, that she would never be complicit in
deliberately filing false information so as to damage Sgt
McCabes reputation.
The chairman said there was a coincidence of
circumstances in that Ms D had approached the Rian
service, where Ms Brophy worked, in July 13th, 2013,
and Ms Brophy had first met with her on July 23rd.
Meanwhile, the tribunal heard Sgt McCabe was party to
a disciplinary tribunal arising from what was known as
the Molloy case, which involved the disappearance from
Bailieboro station of a computer linked to a sexual abuse
case.
On the same day that Ms D met with Ms Brophy for the
first time, Sgt McCabe was told the disciplinary
investigation had been resolved in his favour.
If you were so minded to think so, the judge said, by
making this error an enormous amount of trouble was
being caused, which perhaps supported those in the
Garda who were opposed to Sgt McCabe.
Asked if she would countenance being party to such a
thing deliberately, Ms Brophy said there was no way I
would consider doing something like that.
It would be defamation of character and catastrophic
and she would never be complicit in something like
that. It is the only thing I can say. She said she had
never heard of the Molloy case.
The tribunal heard that when the child and family
agency, Tusla, subsequently sought to right the
information in the incorrect report concerning Ms D
and Sgt McCabe, it left in one part of the false claim to
the effect that the alleged abuser threatened to kill the
abused persons father, or words to that effect, if she
revealed what had happened.
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/charleton-tribunal-father-of-
ms-d-shocked-when-shown-erroneous-report-1.3144153

Charleton Tribunal:
Counsellor felt panic over
mistaken Sgt McCabe report
Error discovered when emotional, angry and upset client
contacted Rian service in Cavan
Tue, Jul 4, 2017,
Colm Keena
Psychologist and counsellor Laura Brophy: When typing in details of the

allegation against Sgt McCabe, Ms Brophy left details belonging to another
client, Ms Y, on the Microsoft Word document. Photograph: Gareth
Chaney/Collins
A psychologist and counsellor has spoken of her panic
when she discovered she had wrongly drafted a report
alleging serious child sex abuse against Garda
whistleblower, Sgt Maurice McCabe.
She said she discovered her error when contacted by Ms
D, a client who had made an allegation of sexual assault
against Sgt McCabe, and told that a much more serious
allegation had been notified to Garda than the one she
had made.
While Ms D had said she had been subjected to dry
humping by the sergeant while playing hide and seek
when approximately six years old, the report drafted by
counsellor Laura Brophy referred to digital vaginal and
anal penetration.
Ms Brophy told the tribunal that Ms D called her on May
14th, 2014 and was emotional, angry and upset. Ms D
said she had been described as having been raped and
a report to that effect was now with Baileboro Garda
station.
The witness told Diarmuid McGuinness SC, for the
tribunal, that she felt panic when she discovered her
mistake and acknowledged it was a complete mistake
on my behalf.
Charleton Tribunal: father of Ms D shocked when shown
erroneous report
Charleton Tribunal: credibility of claims against McCabe not
tested
Callinan told Shatter about abuse allegation against
McCabe
She said she was contacted by Ms D again that afternoon
and asked if the more serious allegation concerned
another person who was making an allegation against
Sgt McCabe. She told Ms D the allegation had nothing to
do with her case in any way.
Allegation of abuse
The tribunal heard that Ms Brophy works with the Rian
service in Cavan for adults who have suffered childhood
abuse and that she met with Ms D on July 24th, 2013.
Ms D told her of an allegation of abuse against Sgt
McCabe which had been reported to the Garda in 2007
and did not lead to any prosecution.
Ms D had everyday coping difficulties and difficulties
with relationships. By the time there was a counselling
place available for Ms D, she had moved to the south
east.
Meanwhile Ms Brophy had contacted the social worker
service in Cavan and asked if theyd received a report
concerning the allegation. She knew Ms D had made a
complaint to the Garda.
Upon being told that the social worker service had no
record of the allegation against Sgt McCabe, Ms Brophy
made a retrospective report.
However when typing in the details, she left details
belonging to another client, Ms Y, on the Microsoft Word
document. These referred to digital penetration and a
threat to Ms Ys father in the case that Ms Y told anyone
of the abuse. It appeared that this report was then
forwarded to the Garda.
The witness said that once she had discovered the
mistake, she apologised to Ms D, and set about getting
the return of the report she had sent to Cavan and also to
the service in the south east to which Ms D had been
referred. She was later told later that Supt Leo McGinn
had said the case had been transferred to a Garda
commissioner, outside the region.
The tribunal resumes on Wednesday.
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/charleton-tribunal-
counsellor-felt-panic-over-mistaken-sgt-mccabe-report-1.3143305

Callinan told Shatter about
abuse allegation against
McCabe
Former Garda commissioner tells tribunal minister asked
about whistleblowers background
Sun, Jun 18, 2017, 16:03
Conor Lally
Former minister for justice Alan Shatter with former Garda commissioner
Martin Callinan. File photograph: Brenda Fitzsimons
Former Garda commissioner Martin Callinan has told the
Charleton tribunal he informed then minister for justice
Alan Shatter of an historical allegation of child sexual
assault against Garda whistleblower Sgt Maurice McCabe.
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/callinan-told-shatter-about-
abuse-allegation-against-mccabe-1.3124228?mode=sample&auth-failed=1&pw-
origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.irishtimes.com%2Fnews%2Fcrime-and-
law%2Fcallinan-told-shatter-about-abuse-allegation-against-mccabe-1.3124228

Garda whistleblower Sgt Maurice McCabe arrives for the first day of the
Charleton Tribunal at Dublin Castle on Wednesday.
One of the States top officials has told the Charleton
Tribunal that former Garda commissioner Martin Callinan
told him in 2014 that Garda whistleblower Maurice
McCabe faced sexual offences allegations
Judge suggests error caused
'maximum trouble' for garda
whistleblower McCabe
Updated / Wednesday, 5 Jul 2017
Laura Brophy is continuing to give evidence

The chairman of the Disclosures Tribunal has
suggested to a witness that an error she made could
be regarded as causing maximum trouble for a garda
whistleblower who was the subject of a disciplinary
investigation at the time.
Mr Justice Peter Charleton said to Laura Brophy that
in 2013, when she incorrectly inflated a historic
abuse complaint made against Sergeant Maurice
McCabe, it could have the effect of escalating
something that was happening elsewhere.
He said the error would have supported those in the
Garda who were against Sgt McCabe.
The tribunal is investigating allegations of a smear
campaign against Sgt McCabe by senior members of
An Garda Sochna.
It is initially examining child and family agency

Tusla's files containing a false sexual abuse
complaint against Sgt McCabe.
Ms Brophy denied that she had made the error
deliberately and said there was no way she would
consider doing that.
She said she could appreciate the magnitude and
that it would be catastrophic. She said she would
never be complicit in something like that.
Mr Charleton said Sgt McCabe had been cleared
in the internal Garda investigation which was in
relation to a missing computer in a sexual abuse
case.
She said she was not aware of any newspaper
reports about Sgt McCabe in relation to
whistleblowing or PULSE records.
She said she only became aware of this when she
went to resolve the error in May 2014.
Ms Brophy, of the Health Service Executive's Rian

Counselling Service, is continuing to give evidence
about her contact with Ms D in 2013 when Ms D
referred herself for counselling.
Earlier, Ms Brophy was asked about how she
attempted to rectify her error of inflating the historic
sexual abuse allegation to a more serious one when
Ms D told her about the mistake in May 2014 and she
became aware that Sgt McCabe was in the media.
Michael McDowell SC, for Sgt McCabe, said she had
set in train an appalling injustice by making a
"catastrophic mistake".
Ms Brophy said she told her supervisor and the head
of social services in Cavan.
She also sent a letter by registered post to the
Superintendent in Bailieborough.
Mr McDowell asked if anyone had suggested she
should apologise to Sgt McCabe? She said not that
she could recall and Mr McDowell said he was left
completely in the dark
Counsel for An Garda Sochna and the Garda
Commissioner, Mchel O'Higgins, put it to
Ms Brophy that when she spoke to Superintendent
Leo McGinn on 16 May 2014, it may have been
another Garda.
Ms Brophy agreed.
She was told by that Garda that the updated
correction had not been received and that the case
had been sent on to a commissioner.
Mr O'Higgins said that Garda records indicated that
this was an assistant commissioner and not the
commissioner.
Six years earlier, the DPP had dismissed the
allegation made by Ms D and directed no
prosecution.
Earlier, under cross examination, Ms Brophy said
that a reference to Sgt McCabe as a whistleblower
came from the client and she passed this detail on to
her supervisor.
Ms Brophy said the term "whistleblower" did not
register with her as she did not know what was going
on internally in An Garda Sochna.
She said she was not really a newspaper reader and
did not know about the penalty points controversy.
Ms Brophy was also asked by Mr McDowell SC why
she passed on details of the historical allegation
when she knew it had been investigated by garda.
Ms Brophy said her concern was not about garda,
her concern was that she might not have been dealt
with from a child protection point of view.
She said she did not know that garda were obliged
at the time to report cases to the HSE.
Ms Brophy said she was told by a senior social
worker, Briege Timony, that there was no file on the
original complaint. However, Mr McDowell said that it
was relied upon a week later.
He said Ms Brophy was making a "retrospective
justification" for her action in passing on the
complaint even though she knew it had already been
investigated.
Mr McDowell also asked her about Ms D's assertion
that Sgt McCabe had been "forced out" of
Bailieborough Garda Station on the basis of Ms D's
allegations.
He said this was totally untrue. Ms Brophy said she
understood that was Ms D's opinion and she did not
have knowledge of it.
Mr McDowell also said that Ms D is proposing to give
evidence.
Outrage as politicians hear special needs boy
'stripped and whipped with a belt in Garda
custody'
Dr Richard O'Flaherty details catalogue of horrific mistreatment
including a woman left in vegetative state after cops let her go into
a diabetic coma
BYSARAH BARDON
08:30, 15 MAY 2014
Child victim
A doctor yesterday blew the lid on a damning new dossier
of alleged Garda abuse within stations.
TDs were told by Dr Richard OFlaherty of a catalogue of
horrific assaults and mistreatment of people in custody.
The claims are set to heap more pressure on the
embattled force, already bruised by corruption revelations.
Most disturbing in yesterdays new raft of claims is the
treatment of a 17-year-old Special Needs teenager
allegedly beaten and whipped in Garda custody.
He was later found with a rope, intending to kill himself
because cops told him his dad would suffer the same
treatment.
Retired Dr OFlaherty, a member of Justice4All, also told
the Dails Justice Committee:
A diabetic was denied food, stopped from using a toilet
and allowed to go into a coma
A cancer sufferer was interrogated by detectives for over
12 hours in front of a blinding light, and
He was threatened not to make his claims public or he
would regret it.
Mr Flaherty, a GP in Limerick for 40 years, said he was
harassed and intimidated by cops as he tried to bring the
brutality cases to light.
Dr Richard O'Flaherty
He told the committee: It is my work as a GP that brought

me into contact with horrific problems.
Working for the people of Limerick, part of my job is to
attend Garda stations. What I have seen is horrific.
The doctor told of one 45-year-old diabetic woman who
went to a Garda station in 2003 to visit her sons but was
arrested.
He said she was denied food and wasnt allowed to go to
the toilet, forcing her to wet herself.
Dr OFlaherty added: I advised her to immediately go to
the hospital and they [gardai] said no, they wanted to
interrogate her and get information about her sons.
I said this lady was going into a diabetic coma, she needs
medication and is unstable. They said, No, you are
interfering with course of justice.
The doctor said he went home and was telephoned to
return because the woman had fallen ill.
He told the Justice Committee she is now a vegetable in
a city home.
Dr OFlaherty also wanted to describe the horrendous case of a 17-year-old
Special Needs boy who was stripped and whipped with his own belt by gardai.
But this was blocked by the chairman David Stanton who said the aim of the
meeting was to focus on the reforms needed to the Garda Siochana Act.
TDs Finian McGrath and Niall Collins argued he should be allowed continue
with his statement as the committee needed to hear human stories.
They were overruled by Deputy Stanton but in his full written submission
seen by the Irish Mirror, Dr OFlaherty said: According to himself he was
whipped with the buckle of his belt and laughed at by male and female gardai.
A small packet was left in front of him and he was told it fell out of his pocket.
He was released. The next day his father found him with rope his intention
was to hang himself.
The boy said he was afraid because he was told the father would be arrested
and that he thought he wouldnt be if he was dead.
Last night, Paddy Connolly, chief executive of Inclusion Ireland, said people
with intellectual disabilities should never be held in custody alone.He told the
Irish Mirror: In a general sense any abuse of a person in Garda custody is a
cause for concern.
Someone with an intellectual disability should have someone with them at all
times if taken into custody.
They need a parent or guardian as an advocate under no condition should

they be interrogated by themselves.
There is a significant dearth of knowledge for gardai when it comes to Special

Needs. Support systems need to be put in place to support gardai, should
they come into contact with a special needs individual in the course of their
work.
Earlier, Dr OFlaherty told of a cancer patient interrogated by police.

He said: She suffered from migraine and had an injection from a local doctor
but continued to be interviewed for 12 hours with a bright light shining in her
eyes, making her migraine intolerable.
She asked for permission for the hood of her jacket to be placed over her
eyes but was refused. There was no heat in her cell. She told me there were
only two worn blankets and a mattress. A female garda on duty told me that
they could not get a heater into the cell.
Dr OFlaherty also claimed he has been asked by cops to change statements

and that he was warned by a superintendent in 2003 he would regret it if he
did not.
Months later, he was arrested for drink-driving but maintains he was set up.
The GP sent former Justice Minister Alan Shatter pictures of beatings of
people in custody. Mr Shatter told him CCTV in cells would increase because
of his intervention.
The Irish Council of Civil Liberties said 11 reports and reviews into the Garda
were under way and the drip-drip revelations were destroying morale.
http://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/health-news/outrage-politicians-
hear-special-needs-3540134#ICID=sharebar_facebook
Allegations of police
brutality made by Dr
Richard O'Flaherty will shock and appall
people
An independent inquiry must be launched and any garda
found to be involved must face the full rigours of the law
The allegations of police brutality made by Dr Richard

OFlaherty will shock and appal people.
Claims that a Special Needs boy was stripped naked and
whipped with his own belt are absolutely stomach-
churning.
Equally disturbing is Dr OFlahertys story about a diabetic
woman who went into a coma after she was denied
medication in custody.
Its claimed that woman is now in a vegetative state in a
care home in Limerick.
Dr Richard O'Flaherty
The allegations come after several major scandals have

rocked the force to its core but these claims are by far
the most disturbing to date.
They describe a kind of police brutality many people would
not believe existed in a functioning democracy.
The horrific abuses described are the kind of horror stories
that we expect to hear from somewhere like Iraq but never
dreamed could happen here.
It's utterly unacceptable that the Oireachtas Justice
Committee chairman David Stanton refused to allow Dr
OFlaherty to fully outline his shocking case.
Mr Stanton said the aim of the meeting was to focus on
garda reforms but what can be more important than
getting to the bottom of these allegations?
These claims cannot be simply swept under the carpet.
The doctor said he sent pictures of injuries sustained by people while in garda
custody to former Justice Minister Alan Shatter.
We need to find out if he took any action on foot of such serious allegations.
An independent inquiry must be launched and any garda involved in such

brutality must face the full rigours of the law.
http://www.irishmirror.ie/news/news-opinion/aine-hegarty-column-
allegations-garda-3543480
Candidate files perjury complaint

with gardai
Fiach Kelly Political Correspondent
February 19 2010
A GREEN local election candidate yesterday lodged an official complaint with
gardai over alleged perjury by former Defence Minister Willie O'Dea.
However, gardai would not comment last night on whether they were
launching a full investigation.
The complaint was lodged at the Bridewell station in Dublin city centre by
Green Dublin City Council candidate Gary Fitzgerald, who failed to win a seat
in the local elections last year in the Cabra-Glasnevin ward.
As an ordinary citizen, he said he wanted to report a "potential criminal

misconduct" of perjury.
"If your car got stolen, you would go to the garda station and you would report
what you consider to be a crime," he said.
"You may be wrong, it may not be a crime but you would go in and you would
report it. They would take a statement and go and investigate it."
He said the same procedures should be followed for more unusual complaints.
"So I popped in on my lunch break into the Bridewell," Mr Fitzgerald added.

"I had Willie O'Dea's affidavit and a copy of the article where the transcripts
(of his interview) are.
"I made a complaint to the gardai about a potential criminal misconduct,

which was perjury.
"They took my statement and they said they would get back to me in due
course after they have decided what to do with it, as they have done when my
bike got stolen before. We'll see what happens.
"He should have had the decency, first of all, not to slander a political
opponent, and when he did slander and got caught, he should have had the
decency to own up. When he lied under oath, he should have had the decency
to resign. When he didn't have the decency to resign, his party should have
sacked him.
Backbone
"When his party didn't sack him, my party should have had the backbone to
force his resignation and we should not have voted in favour of the confidence
motion."
He said he lodged his complaint because of his anger "at that whole chain of
events".
"What can I do? This is all I can do," he said.
"It's not in the Fianna Fail psyche (to resign). If he does resign and my party is
responsible for it, it does look a lot better politically than before."
Earlier yesterday Mr O'Dea said: "I am not a perjurer. Neither I nor any
members of my family ever committed perjury. I never did that. I'm a victim
here as well. Everybody's a victim. I'm being accused of something I didn't do,
which is perjury, so from that point of view I'm a victim."
http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/candidate-files-perjury-complaint-with-
gardai-26633637.html
Drop ALL charges against
Jobstown protesters
July 5th 2017
After two and a half years living under the threat of life in
prison, the Jobstown 7 have been found NOT GUILTY.
However, charges still hang over 11 other Jobstown
protesters, and a 17 year old has already been
sentenced using evidence now completely disproven. How
much more time and money must be wasted on this attempt
to criminalise peaceful protest? Demand that all the charges
are dropped.
This petition will be delivered to:
An Taoiseach
Leo Varadkar
Minister
Charlie Flanagan
Labour Party
Share this petition

3,006 supporters
1,994 needed to reach 5,000
https://www.change.org/p/taoiseach-varadkar-drop-all-charges-against-
jobstown-
protesters?recruiter=48172046&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=fa
cebook&utm_campaign=share_petition
Letter to
An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar
Minister Charlie Flanagan
Labour Party
Brendan Howlin
The finding of all defendants to be not guilty today is a victory democratic
rights. These seven people have had this hanging over them for over two
years and have spent nine weeks in court. They are now vindicated and walk
out of court proven to be protesters rather than the kidnappers Joan Burton
and the Gardai said they were.
What was exposed in court was as Sean Guerin SC said 'a conspiracy to
pervert the course of justice'. It involved high-ranking Gardai telling lies in an
attempt to present a protest as a kidnapping. This was a politically driven
investigation vindictively designed to punish those who fought against water
charges and wounded the political vanity of Joan Burton. It was an attempt
to criminalise the largest movement of people power in decades, by
presenting sit-down protests as false imprisonment.
This is not over. Millions of euros were spent by the state in attempting to
stand up the false charges of false imprisonment. A 17-year old was found
guilty of false imprisonment on the same evidence in a judge-only court. That
conviction should be overturned.
Eleven other defendants face further charges including trumped-up charges

of violent disorder in the coming months. Millions more will be wasted on
pursuing them. All of these charges should now immediately be dropped and
the attempts to criminalise protest should be stopped.
Serious questions now need to be asked about the Garda conspiracy which
saw Garda after Garda take the stand and tell blatant lies designed to
incriminate protesters. Numerous Gardai took the stand to say they heard
things that they couldn't possibly have heard, because they weren't said. The
same Gardai failed to see things that did happen. It so happened that every
false recollection served to bolster the prosecution case. Some of the lies
were only shown up because of the existence of video footage that the
Gardai didn't uncover. How high did this conspiracy go in Noirin O'Sullivan's
Gardai?
Large sections of the media effectively convicted the protesters before our
trial. Biased coverage continued in the course of the trial. Will those
commentators who said they were guilty of false imprisonment now
apologise and correct the record? Will the Labour Party apologise for its
former leader attempting to criminalise a working class community and
protest?
NUJ asks Minister Doherty to
clarify role in Tweet
investigation
Wednesday, 5th July, 2017
Minister Regina Doherty.
The National Union of Journalists has called on the

Minister for Employment and Social Protection, Regina
Doherty, to clarify her role in the decision of members of
An Garda Sochna to interview a freelance blogger and
academic about comments written by the blogger about
Ms Doherty.
Acting General Secretary of the NUJ in UK and Ireland,
Samus Dooley, also called on the Garda Commissioner
to urgently clarify the circumstances in which Catherine
Kelly was approached by Gardai from Pearse Street
Garda Station and interviewed about tweets which it is
understood referred to Ms Doherty. He was responding to
a report on thejournal.ie.
Samus Dooley said: Freedom of expression is a core
value in democracy and we would be concerned if a
cabinet member or TD were to act in a way which sought
to undermine that right. It is open to all citizens, including
public representatives to defend their reputation through
defamation proceedings and to use due judicial process,
as appropriate. In my experience it is highly unusual for An
Garda Sochna to become involved in cases of this type
and we need urgent clarification of what has happened in
this case. Viewed against the backdrop of threats of new
contempt laws this development is deeply worrying.
NUJ asks Minister Doherty to clarify role in Tweet
investigation Wednesday, 5th July, 2017 6:12pm
Share Minister Regina Doherty. The National Union
of Journalists has called on the Minister for
Employment and Social Protection, Regina Doherty,
to clarify her role in the decision of members of An
Garda Sochna to interview a freelance blogger
and academic about comments written by the
blogger about Ms Doherty. Acting General
Secretary of the NUJ in UK and Ireland, Samus
Dooley, also called on the Garda Commissioner to
urgently clarify the circumstances in which
Catherine Kelly was approached by Gardai from
Pearse Street Garda Station and interviewed about
tweets which it is understood referred to Ms
Doherty. He was responding to a report on
thejournal.ie. Samus Dooley said: Freedom of
expression is a core value in democracy and we
would be concerned if a cabinet member or TD
were to act in a way which sought to undermine that
right. It is open to all citizens, including public
representatives to defend their reputation through
defamation proceedings and to use due judicial
process, as appropriate. In my experience it is
highly unusual for An Garda Sochna to become
involved in cases of this type and we need urgent
clarification of what has happened in this case.
Viewed against the backdrop of threats of new
contempt laws this development is deeply
worrying.

Political Policing
http://www.meathchronicle.ie/news/roundup/articles/2017/07/05/4142627-
nuj-asks-minister-doherty-to-clarify-role-in-tweet-investigation/
JAYSUS they are still dragging this out....

NOT a mention of #JoanBurtons daughter Aoife, The Barrister,
regularly Tweeting during the trial?? :-( :(
#JobstownNOTGuilty
Catherine Kelly, The #ReginaCops And
The Rot At The Heart Of The
#PotatoRepublic
US Academic claiming false imprisonment.
July 6th 17

Catherine Kelly, the tweeter and occasional blogger at the centre of the
#ReginaCops scandal has written to Charlie Flanagan, Minister for Justice
and Equality, alleging false imprisonment in relation to her recent detention at
Dublin Airport. Catherine, a Professor of Political Science at a US university,
was in transit through Dublin Airport on June 27th when she was stopped by
two men who identified themselves as Gardai and questioned her about her
use of social media. They enquired whether she used the name
@sanepolitico on Twitter and whether she was the author of a blog post about
Minister for Social Welfare, Regina Doherty, both of which she confirmed.
She was advised that she was being cautioned and that she was to make no
further reference to Minister Doherty on social media. A page of handwritten
notes was produced and she was told shed have to sign this before
proceeding to her gate. She signed it, as she had very urgent business to attend
to in New York. Her letter to Minister Flanagan advises him that her legal advice
is that this constitutes a false detention and may amount to false imprisonment
under Section 15 of the Non-Fatal Offences Against The Person Act of 1997.
This section refers to taking or detaining a person or otherwise restricting their
personal liberty, without their consent and Section 15 (2) goes on to state
that "a person acts without the consent of another if the person obtains the
others consent by force or threat of force, or by deception causing the other
to believe that he or she is under legal compulsion to consent.
Catherine is quite clear that she was told that she was being cautioned, but there are
requirements to be met before a caution can be administered under the Adult Cautioning
Scheme. These are: there must be prima facie evidence of the offenders guilt; the
offender must admit the offence; the offender must understand the significance of a
caution and the offender must give an informed consent to being cautioned. None of these
appear to have been met in Catherines case. No particular offence was specified. She
was asked to confirm her Twitter name, @sanepolitico, but no issue was raised with her
tweets and no indication given of what offence she was alleged to have committed. The
only evidence cited was a blog post regarding Minister Dohertys financial affairs, based
on information already in the public domain. Catherine did not admit any offence, did not
understand the significance of a caution and certainly didnt give informed consent or
have any opportunity to seek advice on the matter.
If there were grounds for a caution and if the Gardai had sufficient intelligence on her
movements to intercept her at the airport, surely they could have done so when she was
entering the country, when she would have had the chance to get legal advice and
consider giving the required "informed consent? The decision to delay someone under
time pressure to catch a flight seems almost calculated to undermine the giving of
meaningful consent. When the offender has admitted the offence and agreed to be
cautioned (remember neither of those happened in this case) they are asked to sign
Section E of a form thats supposed to have been filled out in advance by the Garda.
Catherine was not asked to sign any form, but the fact that she was pushed, under threat
of missing her flight, to provide a copy of her signature on what seems to have been a
page in an ordinary Garda notebook seems frankly sinister.
Its worth taking a look also at the procedure around the issuing of a caution. A caution is
administered by the District Officer or an Inspector acting on behalf of the District
Officer. A caution is normally (other than in an exceptional situation) administered in
a Garda Station, having been explained to the offender by the member in charge of the
station. Most importantly an Adult Caution is only an available option for a short list of
offences under specified Acts. These are:
Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act, 1994 (public drunkenness, disorderly conduct,
etc)
Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act, 2001 (theft under the value of 1000,
making off without paying, handling stolen goods)
Intoxicating Liquor Act (offences by a drunken person)
Non-Fatal Offences Against The Person Act 1997 (Section 2 assaults)
Criminal Damage Act, 1991 (damage to property under 1000 or threat to damage
property)
Dublin Police Act, 1842 (nuisances in public thoroughfares, in Dublin only)
Intoxicating Liquor Act, 1927 (on licensed premises after hours)
Licensing Act, 1872 (public drunkenness again)
Summary Jurisdiction (Ireland) Amendment Act, 1871 (offensive or riotous conduct in
a theatre or place of public amusement.)
Thats it. Thats the entire list. Im no lawyer, but I cant for the life of me see how any of
those could be broken on Twitter or in a blog post. Whatever occurred at Dublin Airport,
it was not a properly administered Adult Caution. It smacks rather of an attempt to
deceive a person under duress (as everybody travelling through airports in these high-
security days is under duress) that something legally momentous is happening to her
when really it is not. Shes supposed to believe that if she doesnt do as shes told, she
will suffer consequences - miss her flight, forfeit the cost of her flight, have to reschedule
her engagements in New York, perhaps even be arrested and face protracted questioning
in relation to an unknown offence. She is supposed to be frightened. She is supposed to,
in the parlance of social media, STFU.
It looks a lot like an act of coercion and intimidation. The intention seems to be to
persuade somebody that if she continues to comment on the public affairs of her country,
she will face criminal charges when something - a family illness perhaps - forces her to
return. It seems intended to silence her, to deprive her of her constitutional right to free
expression - and no reason is offered for this action, other than a Ministers displeasure at
her words. It really does look a lot like false imprisonment, like detaining a person by
deception and without their consent.
Its the action of a corrupt #PotatoRepublic, where the police force misappropriate public
money, fabricate roadside breath tests and use the journalists who should be keeping them
accountable to smear a whistleblowing Garda colleague as a paedophile. Tribunals and
enquiries are ordered by the dozen, but nothing really changes People retire in their own
time on their full pensions and the show goes onAnd now our police force (that should
be a police service, for the protection of all) is to be co-opted as private muscle to
prevent, without legal authority, a citizen going about her business, in order to tell her
that a Minister doesnt like her opinions and she should keep them to herself in future?
We have to draw the line somewhere folks, and I suggest it is here! (In truth I think we
passed it long ago, but better late than never)
One of the most positive moments in this story up to now has been the intervention of
Seamus Dooley of the National Union of Journalists, who has called on the Garda
Commissioner to explain why Catherine Kellys freedom was interfered with in this way.
A country that interrogates people at airports for holding inconvenient opinions will never
be a good country for journalism. This is already not a good country for journalism - a
near monopoly ownership of the media and excessive cosiness with the parties of
government has seen to that and, day after day, good journalists who ask all the right
questions of all the right people have their stories spiked or mangled out of all
recognition. MSM (mainstream media) has become almost a dirty word on social
media, seen as a corrupt purveyor of Establishment lies - and all too often this is true. The
journalists who do not ask the tough questions are the ones that rise to the top of the pile
and the ones who risk it all for a tough story struggle throughout their careers or give up
the fight. But they are out there. And by challenging this horrible act, Seamus Dooley is
defending them.
We need decent journalists more than ever and they are out there, resisting political
interference, resisting the push to create clickbait, attempting over and over again over
long careers to get attention for the stories that need to be told, the stories that set them on
fire - and getting knocked back over and over again. They do not hate social media, most
of them use it. Its where their stories come from these days, where they meet their
sources, hear whats going on. The good ones try to get these stories more traction, apply
the fact-checking that social media lacks and bring those stories to a wider audience.
Where do they go when their stories fail to get through the gatekeepers of their vested
interest proprietors? Often they drip them back out to social media again. Often its all
they can do.
Good journalists do not hate social media. Journalism cant and wont survive without
people who ask questions and people who try to alert the public to abuses of power.
Seamus Dooley does us all a great service when he speaks out for enquiring minds,
whether those minds are paid for enquiring or not. Good journalists will be grateful to
him for doing this, but the ones who have the Garda Commissioner on speed dial for
conversations about which whistleblowers should be smeared next will be out for his
blood. Its a brave move and one he should be thanked and supported for.
Catherines interrogation at the airport did not come out of nowhere. A smear campaign
has been rolling against Catherine and a number of others (including myself, as it
happens) for several years now. This smear campaign is about to step up a gear. More
than one false story was planted in mainstream media last year to be spread around now -
an insurance policy against the day when the bigger story might threaten to be heard. One
of these is being circulated right now to discredit Catherine. Its based on a single tweet, a
long time ago, taken out of context and twisted to mean something that it just did not
mean. Another story, a fortnight later in the same outlet, suggested obliquely that I had
been involved in the harassment of a person I had never even heard of. This is what we
are up against - what a lot of people are up against - and its important to see through the
smokescreen. What is the truth they are trying to distract you from now?
The truth is there was no legal authority to stop Catherine at the airport. The truth is that
the only matter raised with her was her posts on social media about a government
minister. The truth is that the only evidence cited was a blog post containing matters
already in the public domain which the minister doesnt like people talking about. The
truth is free speech is a right guaranteed in the constitution. It is not a commodity to be
parceled out only to people whose views you agree with or support. To attempt to deprive
somebody of free speech on the basis that they (or their partner, or their family members
or their friends) are members of a particular political party is McCarthyism. Everybody
should be able to comment on public affairs without fear. Free speech is far too important
a thing to deprive people of because you dont like their politics, or even because they
may have said one or two things in conversation with friends that you might consider
inappropriate or tasteless. They are still entitled to comment on the people elected to
govern us and if that right falls, you might as well lock yourself up right now and throw
away the key.
(Disclosure: I know Catherine Kelly a little. I have met her once in real life and I liked
her. I have interacted with her often on Twitter and frequently disagreed with her, often
quite vigorously - but Ive never wanted her, or any of the many people Ive disagreed
with on Twitter, silenced in the name of the State.) Catherine Kelly was falsely
imprisoned, albeit briefly, at Dublin Airport, charged with no crime other than the
invented one of saying things a government minister didnt like. I swear I will stand
beside anybody that this ever happens to and Im calling on all freedom lovers to do the
same. Catherine has written to the Minister for Justice to raise the matter. Hes your
Minister for the Justice and Equality thats supposed to belong equally to us all.
Maybe you should let him know what you think? The Minister charged with
making Ireland a fair, safe and inclusive place to live and work is Charlie
Flanagan. His email address is charles.flanagan@oireachtas.ie
PS As I was writing this piece, Ruth Coppinger raised Catherines detention in the Dail.
She deserves great credit for doing so.
Regina Doherty defends transparency to stop fraud.

http://izzykamikaze.tumblr.com/post/162671305591/catherine-kelly-the-
reginacops-and-the-rot-at
Once again we learn what An Garda will do to their very own who
dare question their methods.
Well i am proud that i did question them a i am prepared to take a
lot more punishment from them. Even though i have never
committed a crime in my entire life these so called pillars of
society have criminalised me, so really i have nothing to lose, they
have destroyed the remaining years of my life.
Anyone who destroys life is a murder. You see when someone
murders you that is it you cannot suffer anymore, but when
someone destroys your life takes your character turns your family
and friends against you and leave you with no one to turn to, you
are now suffering unseen pain, isolation, now it does not matter
what group of people that practice character assassination they
actually are unfit to be classed as human beings, they are
certainly not pillars of society.
And even though when the guards got a search warrant for my
home they must have thought i was a total idiot my information on
certain guards and their filthy backgrounds was not stored in my
home i was already warned and advised about this when i began
receiving information.
The new logo on the garda stations and uniforms will read, The
Scandal Outfit
DPP missed chance to

clamp down on
irresponsible social media
Shane Phelan
July 6 2017
A week on from the Jobstown trial verdict it remains unclear why the Director of Public Prosecutions
did not take a firmer stance against the use of social media by parties with an interest in the case.
One of the defendants, Solidarity TD Paul Murphy, was warned by the DPP
about tweets and retweets towards the end of the trial.
One of the retweets was of a message accusing garda of being liars.
It would have been open to the judge to hold him in contempt of court, but she
didn't after learning he had given an assurance the material was being deleted
from his Twitter account.
Counsel for the DPP did not press the issue, even though they would have
been well within their rights to do so.
Others who sailed close to the wind escaped without any sort of reprimand.
In a social media post, Solidarity TD Ruth Coppinger said the defence legal
teams were challenging what the judge had said in her charge to the jury, even
though it is forbidden to report anything that happens in the absence of the
jury. Had similar behaviour been engaged in by a newspaper or television
channel, they could have expected the DPP to come down on them like a tonne
of bricks.
One only has to look at the collapsed trial of Clare GP Patrick Carmody to see
the tough penalties meted out when a contempt occurs.
Two newspapers were hit with the 480,000 cost of the trial after publishing
articles containing matters discussed in the absence of the jury. A judge found
the articles presented a potential risk of Dr Carmody not getting a fair trial.
During the Jobstown trial, a number of people tweeted evidence heard in the
absence of the jury. They have faced no penalty.
It could be argued social media does not have the same reach or influence as
traditional media, but it still amounts to publication and its reach can still be
considerable. Mr Murphy, for example, has over 14,500 followers on Twitter.
Debate has raged in recent days as to whether new laws are needed to deal
with contempt of court through social media. In reality, though, the DPP had
the tools at her disposal to act.
It is a common law offence to deliberately disrupt court proceedings, make

untrue allegations about a court or judge, or publish prejudicial material
about a pending court case.
Some believe the DPP did not act in a firmer fashion out of fear the trial could
be thrown off course or, worse still, collapse. But no official reason has been
given.
If punitive action had been taken it would have sent out a clear message and
would have acted to discourage irresponsible use of social media in
connection with future trials.
http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/dpp-missed-chance-to-clamp-down-on-irresponsible-
social-media-35900711.html
McCabe colleague felt 'sick to the
stomach' over report on daughter
Shane Phelan
July 6 2017
The father of Ms D, the woman who claimed she was molested as a child by
Sergeant Maurice McCabe, was shown a HSE report relating to his daughter
by a Garda superintendent.
The man, who was a garda colleague of Sgt McCabe, said he got a "fierce
shock" when he read the report as it contained an allegation he had not been
aware of. It later transpired the allegation, relating to digital penetration, both
vaginal and anal, had ended up in the report due to a mistake by the woman's
counsellor, Laura Brophy.
Ms D had never made such an allegation. She had claimed Sgt McCabe "dry
humped" her when she was six or seven during a game of hide and seek.
This claim was investigated by garda but the DPP directed there be no
prosecution.
In a statement to the Disclosures Tribunal, Ms D's father said he didn't alert

the superintendent there was an issue with the allegation on the file as he was
in shock and didn't know what was going on.
Part of the statement was read out at the tribunal by Michal P O'Higgins SC,
counsel for the Garda Commissioner.
In the statement the garda said he was shown the file in Bailieborough garda
station, Co Cavan, by Superintendent Leo McGinn in May 2014.
"He handed me a HSE referral form and asked: 'Is that your lassie?'," the
garda said.
"I said: 'Yes, that's her'.
"I saw the detail of the allegation of digital penetration. I couldn't believe it. I
got a fierce shock. I couldn't think straight."
The garda said he began asking himself if this was an allegation his daughter
had made to her counsellor but had not told her parents about.
"I was sick to my stomach. I couldn't wait to get out of the office. I didn't say
anything to Leo McGinn as I didn't know what was going on," he said.
The garda went home and asked his daughter about the HSE referral form. Ms
D subsequently contacted Ms Brophy about the mistake.
http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/mccabe-colleague-felt-sick-to-the-stomach-over-report-
on-daughter-35900700.html
It's a pile of nonsense Tina. What these hacks don't seem to realise is how much worst off the government would be if
there was a conviction for this stupidity. It was a protest against the privatisation of water. People who have been treated
like dirt all their lives by a government that just dosen't care about them are going to be angry and they have a right to be.
Many probably voted Labour and felt betrayed and cheated by Burton and her ilk. There were some moments that
shouldn't have happened but by the same token what did she expect? Why did she go there in the first place? False
imprisonment? It wasn't a fucking tiger kidnapping. The whole charge was just plain stupid.,
Seeing through the Jobstown spin

Has Ireland always been such a divided, class-based
society?
Protesting against Irish Water in

Galway city centre two years ago
Or is it only in recent times that people are beginning to

wake up to divisions and prejudices which have existed for
generations?
For centuries, our people were united by colonisation. It was

far easier to band together when we had a common enemy
as subjects of the British Empire, when virtually all of our
ancestors were treated as second class citizens in their own
land.
Its easier to unite against your rulers when they bind you
into a life of poverty, persecute you for your religious beliefs,
kill your language, deny you land ownership rights or force
you into exile.
Far more difficult if the enemy is within.
A century has passed since the martyr James Connolly

warned the Irish people that their struggle for freedom would
be in vain if they replaced the British Empire with a new set
of landlords, financiers, and capitalists.
God knows what he would make of the Irish Labour Party in

2017.
Its far more difficult to unite when the corrupt politician up

the road is securing jobs for the boys, the dodgy Garda
Sergeant is deleting penalty points for the chosen few, or
your local banker throws money around like confetti
because hes on a massive bonus for handing out
unsustainable mortgages.
Its the double standards people find most sickening.
We didnt see bankers being hauled out of their beds at

dawn for bankrupting the country or teams of Gardai raiding
their homes and offices to find evidence of illegal or immoral
practices which cost the country billions less than a decade
ago.
It took a protest movement over water of all things,

specifically the privatisation of water, to open peoples eyes
to the divisions among us.
People asked, rightly, why it took Irish Water to mobilise so

many people to take to the streets after years of witnessing
the bank bailout, the IMF-EU troika, cuts to health and
mental health services, a rise in homelessness, or the
imposition of the unjust Universal Social Charge.
Celebrating the Jobstown acquittals in Dublin on Saturday

For many, though, Irish Water came as the final straw. They
were sickened to see the people at the top on such massive
pay scales, the perception that metering contracts were
being allocated to the golden circle, and that yet another
unfair tax was being imposed on ordinary people who just
couldnt take it any more.
It was amazing to attend the huge Irish Water

demonstrations across the country, even in conservative
Galway, and to see people who had never been galvanised
before come together at street protests for the first time.
Nobody expected the campaign against water charges to

attract such huge support and, clearly, it was troubling to the
people at the top of Irish society to see so many people
travel from all over Ireland to bring our capital to a standstill.
By the time a group of protesters sat down in front of a

Ministers car at Jobstown, in West Dublin, the State had
become alarmed. Irish Water was in a mess, the State
wanted a way out, and the Government was looking for
ways to smear the protest campaign.
By blocking a Ministers car or hurling abuse at the

President, protesters could be denigrated and labelled as
the sinister fringe.
And theres no doubt that some of the abuse directed at

politicians damaged the protest campaign as well as scaring
more moderate protesters away.
Videos were circulated of people using foul language

against politicians which should have no place in the
political sphere. Tensions were high, as people accused the
Irish Labour Party of betraying the working class in a way
which would have had James Connolly spinning in his
grave.
There was no excuse for personalised abuse against the

then Tanaiste, Joan Burton, but did Gardai really need to
raid the home of a democratically elected politician in the
dark of night?
No matter what people think of Paul Murphy, he has a

mandate to serve the people who elected him and he could
easily have been called in for questioning as he made his
way to the Dail. Its not like the Gardai didnt know where he
worked.
A stark warning from James Connolly,
heroic leader of the Easter Rising
Did the Gardai really need arrive in a fleet of cars to haul a
15-year old boy out of his bed at dawn?
They could have talked to him on his way home from

school, but they wanted to make some sort of statement in
front of his family, neighbours, and friends.
That boy spoke brilliantly about his right to protest

afterwards and about the perception among his neighbours
after witnessing the blue flashing lights descend upon his
home.
Did Gardai really need to hype up the evidence, when it was

clearly contradicted by so many people who had video
cameras at the scene?
Did they really need to charge people with false

imprisonment when in fact they just sat down on a road in
front of a Ministers car and caused her some inconvenience
for a few hours?
Much has been made since of the fear experienced by Joan

Burton and her adviser Karen OConnelly when they were
allegedly trapped in two Garda cars for three hours in
Jobstown in November 2014.
People talked of the terror they experienced, which

seemed to be in stark contrast with the reality captured on
photos and videos at the scene.
With some honourable exceptions, few people in the media

have asked about the fear experienced by people who took
part in a sit down protest and ended up facing a charge
which had a possible penalty of life imprisonment.
Few have asked about the inconvenience and cost involved

in a ten week trial when the evidence seen by the jury was
clearly so at odds with the claims of some witnesses on
behalf of the prosecution.
With Chas Jewett, one of the leaders of the

Standing Rock protest in the United States
Few have defended the legitimate right of people like Paul
Murphy TD to protest against what they saw as an unjust
charge, even though there was no excuse for banging on
the Tanaiste's windows or the foul language used.
There are lots of ordinary people around the country who
are delighted by the verdict, said Deputy Murphy at a
meeting in Galway this week. The establishment cannot
take it when they are beaten by ordinary people.
Ordinary people have been able to see through the lies.

There has been no reference to us as victims, the fact that
ordinary people were arrested and handcuffed at dawn in
front of their own children.
He pointed out that the defendants were fortunate others

had filmed the protest, because it was video evidence which
undermined the prosecution case.
I think the mainstream media response to the Jobstown trial

has been helpful because it shows how out of touch they
are. Its a case of them against us and we live in a
completely divided society.
There clearly were some unsavoury elements to the protest

which caused Ms Burton and her adviser to be detained
against their will for three hours.
But charging people with false imprisonment and

threatening them with life in prison was so out of kilter with
what really happened that afternoon at Jobstown that the
jury did not need to be swayed by social media or anything
else to see through the smoke and mirrors.
Had James Connolly been around to accompany Joan

Burton to Jobstown, there is little doubt as to which side
hed have been on.
Burying Irish Water during a protest in Galway city centre
a couple of years ago
I thought the Brits were bad but, Ill tell you what, that lot in
the Dail are worse, said Paddy Hill of the Birmingham Six
when the Jobstown defendants celebrated their acquittals
with a rally in Dublin on Saturday afternoon.
A simplistic slogan, perhaps, from a man who knows far too

much about injustice, but doubtless he is not the only Irish
person to feel like the impoverished animals looking in on
the pigs at the end of Animal Farm.
Have Connollys dire warnings come true, a century on from

Irelands uprising against our own version of Farmer Jones?
Blog post from 2015: Protest has a vital place in a

healthy democracy
https://ciarantierney.blogspot.ie/2017/07/seeing-through-
jobstown-spin.html?m=1

OMG. The poor fella. RIP. That;s not righ
Today July 5th 2017

Did the poor kid puke?

Just hope and pray he was brought to a healthcare facility as opposed to a SECRET (irrespect of how they
endeavour to portrey theese "suites" i believe that he he s
wallowed the evidence and they werent happy !dont know if the young cop is red due to anger or
embarassment?why is his elbow bleeding??
See Coppers Elbow Bleeding he must of Beat the Crap out of this young man, He is Still Handcuffed while he
is Vomiting this is illegal, he is pretty beaten up nd very bloody i would say severe head injury from a blow to
the head with two coppers batton beat the guy to death
Disclosures And Non-Disclosures

June 16, 2017
Sergeant Maurice McCabe; Former Garda Commissioner Martin
Callinan and Garda Commissioner Noirin OSullivan
On Wednesday.
At the Disclosures Tribunal.
In Georges Hall, Dublin Castle.
Diarmuid McGuinness SC, counsel for the tribunal, read out an opening
statement outlining the progress the tribunal is making and an overview
of the evidence gathered to date.
Readers will recall how the tribunal is examining claims that a smear
campaign was conducted against Sgt Maurice McCabe by former Garda
Commissioner Martin Callinan with the knowledge of Garda
Commissioner Nirn OSullivan as alleged by the former head of the
Garda Press Office, Superintendent David Taylor.
Both Mr Callinan and Ms OSullivan deny the allegations.

In reading out the opening statement, Diarmuid McGuinness SC
explained that Fianna Fil TD John McGuinness, RT journalist
Philip Boucher-Hayes andComptroller and Auditor General
Seamus McCarthy have all told the tribunal about claims former Garda
Commissioner Martin Callinan made to them directly about Sgt Maurice
McCabe.
He also read out statements made by former Sunday

Independent editor Anne Harris, journalist Gemma ODoherty, and
Labour TD Brendan Howlin, about a conversation he had with
former Irish Mail on Sunday journalist Alison OReilly and a follow-up
statement from Ms OReilly.
He also explained how the tribunal wrote letters to almost 30 journalists

but with a few exceptions many of these letters have
gone unanswered (more below). Diarmuid McGuinness SC didnt
specify who responded and who didnt respond.
The Comptroller and Auditor General Seamus McCarthy said he and

former Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan met at a meeting of the
Public Accounts Committee [PAC] on January 23, 2014. It was at this
meeting that Mr Callinan, who sat next to Noirin OSullivan, referred to
former Garda John Wilson and Sgt Maurice McCabe as disgusting.
Mr McCarthy told the tribunal:
Commissioner Callinan referred to Sergeant McCabe by name and

made statements to the effect that Sergeant McCabe was not to be
trusted, that he had questions to answer, and that there were
allegations of sexual offences against him.
In his response, Mr Callinan said:
I did not at any point state that Sergeant McCabe was not to be trusted
nor that he had questions to answer. I did not state that there were any
allegations of sexual offences against him.
Mr McGuinness told the tribunal a meeting took place between him and
former Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan on the 24th of January,
2014 the day after the PAC meeting in the carpark of Bewleys
Hotel, Newlands Cross, Co. Dublin. Mr McGuinness told the tribunal:
Mr Callinan asked if I was aware of issues surrounding Mr McCabes

personal life. I stated that I had heard vague rumours and
gossip that Mr McCabe had abused someone and that he was
a paedophile but that I had been assured by Mr McCabe that
these rumours were lies, that he had heard them before and that
they were malicious falsehoods.
Mr Callinan stated to me that the rumours were true, that

Mr McCabe had sexually abused someone and that he was
not a credible person. Mr Callinan stated that an investigation into
Mr McCabes activities was underway. Mr Callinan then asked me
was I aware that Mr McCabe had sexually abused family
members. I was shocked and extremely troubled by what Mr Callinan
was telling me because the allegations being made were extreme and
the person relaying them to me, as well as the fact that an
investigation had commenced, was the Commissioner of An Garda
Sochna.
When he left my car, Mr Callinan put his hand on my arm

and stated that Mr McCabe was not reliable and could not be
trusted and suggested that I had gotten myself and the
Public Accounts Committee into a lot of trouble by pursuing the
penalty points issue.
In addition, Deputy McGuinnesss statement to the tribunal states that

he kept a handwritten note of the meeting. Part of that note reads:
Callinan
McCabe
Sexual abuse!
Individual + family
Dont trust him
Story not credible
Investigations ongoing
Hes not credible
In his response, former Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan told the

tribunal:
I did not at any time state to Mr McGuinness that Mr McCabe had

sexually abused anyone or that he was not a credible person I never
at any stage indicated to Mr McGuinness that Sergeant McCabe had
sexually abused family members.
Mr Boucher-Hayes told the tribunal of a conversation he had with Mr

Callinan outside an RTE studio on December 17, 2013, as part of
Crimecall programme. There had been a disagreement about whether
Mr Boucher-Hayes could ask Mr Callinan about the penalty points
allegations made by Sgt Maurice McCabe.
Mr Boucher-Hayes said:
He offered me background information on the penalty point story. But
the majority of his information related solely to the two
whistleblowers, John Wilson and Maurice McCabe, not to the
substance of the story. He offered a negative but cursory
impression of John Wilson, before speaking at some length
on Maurice McCabes character. I had not asked any questions to
elicit this information.
He told me that McCabe was a troubled individual and that

he had a lot of psychological issues and psychiatric issues.
He claimed that McCabe was motivated by a set of grievances against
Garda management and that he was famous with An Garda Sochna
for this. He warned me that McCabe was not to be trusted and
went onto add that there were other things he could tell me
about him horrific things, the worst kind of thing but he did
not elaborate further.
In his response, Mr Callinan said:
I did not speak at some length on Sergeant McCabes character

as indicated. I did not state that Sergeant McCabe had a lot of
psychological issues and psychiatric issues, and was
motivated by a set of grievances against Garda management and that
he was famous within An Garda Sochna for this.
I did not indicate to Philip Boucher Hayes that Sergeant

McCabe was not to be trusted, nor did I state there were
other things I could tell him about horrific things, the worst
kind of thing. I do not know what Philip Boucher-Hayes is referring
to.
In addition, Superintendent Dave Taylor has told the tribunal that, in the
company of now Garda Commissioner Noirin OSullivan, Garda
communications director Andrew McLindon, Assistant Commissioner
John OMahoney and Fianna Fil TD John McGuinness that Mr Callinan
called Sgt Maurice McCabe a kiddie fiddler.
This took place after the PAC meeting in January 2014, in which Martin
Callinan referred to former Garda John Wilson and Sgt Maurice
McCabe as disgusting.
Meanwhile
Superintendent Dave Taylor has provided the tribunal with a waiver of

any journalistic privilege and is not claiming privilege over his
identification as the source of any information to journalists relating to
Sgt Maurice McCabe.
Similar waivers have been signed by Garda Commissioner Noirin

OSullivan and former Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan.
However
Diarmuid McGuinness SC notes:
This waiver, and the similar waivers signed by Commissioner Nirn

OSullivan and former Commissioner Callinan, have been notified to
several journalists. The journalists named by Superintendent
Taylor are Paul Williams, Paul Reynolds, Conor Lally, John
Mooney, Michael OToole, Cormac OKeefe, John Burke,
Daniel McConnell, and Juno McEnroe.
In particular Superintendent Taylor reiterated in his

statement to tribunal investigators that Paul Reynolds and
Conor Lally would have received negative briefings by him
about Sergeant McCabe.
Sir, the tribunal has also identified from telephone data other
journalists that Superintendent Taylor contacted during the relevant
period.
Arising out of its investigations to date the tribunal has now written to
the following journalists: Sarah Bardon, Ali Bracken, Tom
Brady, Jennifer Bray, Stephen Breen, John Burke, Paul
Connolly, Dyanne Connor, Ken Foy, Fran Greany, Mark
Hilliard, Mick McCaffrey, Juno McEnroe, Cathal McMahon,
Emma McMenamey, John Mooney, Eavan Murray, Niall
OConnor formerly of the Irish Sun, Niall OConnor currently
of the Irish Independent, Mick OToole, Paul Reynolds, Joe
Walsh, Debbie McCann, Alison OReilly, Paul Williams, and at
a later date, Conor Lally, Daniel McConnell and Cormac
OKeefe.
In the first instance, the tribunal wrote to most of these

journalists on the 15th of March 2017 and requested
statements from anyone who may have information relevant
to the terms of reference. Regrettably, many of these letters
went unanswered.
Five weeks later on the 21st of April 2017, the tribunal wrote again to
these journalists, informing them of the waivers referred to earlier and
asking the following series of questions:
1. Can you confirm your mobile phone number and work phone
number?
2. Was this number your mobile phone number in the years from July
2012 until Feb 2017?
3. Were you briefed negatively about Sergeant McCabe by anyone?
And if so, by whom?
4. Have you any information or evidence about an orchestrated
campaign directed by senior officers of the Garda Sochna, to
discredit Sergeant Maurice McCabe by spreading rumours about his
professional and personal life?
5. Were you contacted by Superintendent David Taylor in relation to
Sergeant Maurice McCabe?
6. Were you briefed negatively by Superintendent David Taylor in
relation to Sergeant Maurice McCabe?
relation to Sergeant Maurice McCabe to the effect that his complaints
had no substance?
relation to Sgt McCabe to the effect that the Garda had fully
investigated complaints and had found no substance to his allegations
and that he was driven by agendas?
9. Was your attention drawn by Superintendent Taylor to an
allegation or suggestion of criminal misconduct made against
Sergeant McCabe in any respect?
10. Was your attention drawn by Superintendent Taylor to an
allegation that the root cause of Sergeant Maurice McCabes agenda
was revenge against an Garda Sochna?
11. Were you informed by Superintendent David Taylor that he was
instructed/directed by former Commissioner Callinan and /or (then)
Deputy Commissioner Nirn OSullivan to contact the media to brief
the media negatively against Sgt Maurice McCabe?
12. Are you aware and have you any evidence of any attempt made by
former Commissioner Callinan or Commissioner OSullivan or any
other senior member of an Garda Sochna to discredit Sergeant
Maurice McCabe by reference to an allegation of criminal misconduct
made against him ?
13. Were you informed by a journalist or any other person of any
matters referred to in the questions above?
14. Have you any knowledge, information or evidence relating to any
of the matters above? 15. Have you any knowledge, information or
evidence relating to any matters within the Terms of Reference of the
Tribunal?
16. Have you any records (however made, wherever stored) of any
communications from or with Superintendent Taylor or former
Commissioner Callinan, Commissioner OSullivan or any other senior
Garda relating to any of the above matters?
With a few exceptions, the journalists have either ignored
these letters, or refused to answer these questions, citing
journalistic privilege. Many of them nonetheless wish to make
generalised academic arguments about the nature of journalistic
privilege to the tribunal.
In addition
Former editor of the Sunday Independent, Anne Harris told the tribunal:
In the years 2013 and 2014, matters raised by whistleblower Sergeant

Maurice McCabe, such as the termination by senior garda of fixed
penalty points, as well as allegations of murder and abductions not
properly investigated, came to prominence. From the first instance
that the Sunday Independent began to report on these
matters, certain journalists came to my office to warn me off
Sergeant McCabe.
I was given varying accounts of an alleged case of child sex

abuse by him, which was apparently being investigated. This
was repeated several times by a very reputable journalist,
one who had shown great courage in exposing incidents of
corruption and terrorism. I made enquiries and was satisfied that
the matter had been investigated by the DPP, and the complaint found
to be without grounds.
The Sunday Independent continued to report on Sergeant McCabes

concerns and the consequent treatment of him. In 2013, the
allegation that Sergeant McCabe as a paedophile was
stated in my office by senior executive from the wider
Group editorial hierarchy of Independent Newspapers.
I am certain that a whispering smear campaign was being conducted

and that the media were being used. The pressure on me was less
about publishing the sex abuse allegation it would have
been difficult within the laws of libel but had the clear
purpose of discrediting him, and therefore censoring the
issues he was raising.
Labour leader and TD Brendan Howlin also made a statement to the

tribunal about a conversation he had with journalist Alison OReilly, then
of the Irish Mail on Sunday.
Diarmuid McGuinness SC writes:
According to Mr Howlin, Ms OReilly informed him that another

journalist, Ms Debbie McCann, had told her that the
Commissioner had given information to her claiming serious
sexual misconduct on the part of Sergeant McCabe.
Ms OReilly then informed Mr Howlin that Ms McCann

described Sergeant McCabe in very derogatory terms
following a conversation with Commissioner OSullivan and
that these matters were being discussed generally in the Mail on
Sunday office. Ms OReilly also told Mr Howlin that
Superintendent Taylor and Commissioner OSullivan had
both provided this type of information to Ms McCann.
Obviously some of what Ms OReilly recounted to Mr Howlin was
hearsay evidence.
In response to Mr Howlins statement, Ms Alison OReilly sent a

very helpful and detailed statement to the Tribunal which
covers not only her account of her conversation with Mr
Howlin, but also her knowledge of events from 2013 until the
present as seen from the perspective of the media. This
statement is of great assistance to the Tribunal and has opened
up a number of avenues of enquiry. Some of the information is
hearsay but is nevertheless helpful in identifying journalists who
it appears have first-hand knowledge of who may have been
behind a campaign to blacken Sergeant McCabes good
name.
Journalist Gemma ODoherty told the tribunal that she was:
Well aware of the whispering campaign against Sergeant McCabe

and when I was informed about the allegations of child
sexual assault against him, I put them to him. He
immediately informed me as to what happened and when I
did some further investigation into the allegations, I found
them to lack credibility entirely.
It was in 2013 that I first became aware that Sergeant McCabe was
being associated with an allegation of child sexual assault. Rumours
about this were circulating in a number of Dublin newsrooms at the
time. It is my understanding that a copy of the garda file
concerning the allegations had been provided to Mr Paul
Williams (Special Correspondent) by senior garda in Garda
Headquarters and that was how the word got out.
The fact that a Garda investigation file was said to exist and that it
contained damaging details concerning Sergeant McCabe, gave the
story certain credibility but knowing Sergeant McCabe, I was in no
doubt that this was a malicious campaign against him orchestrated by
certain people who wanted to silence him and knew they couldnt.
I spoke to Garda Wilson about the allegations that I had heard
concerning Sergeant McCabe. He was aware of them. He said that a
number of journalists were on the story but that it was untrue. One
such individual was Paul Williams. Paul Williams has significant
garda connections which both he and [Independent News and Media]
rely upon for exclusive information It is my understanding that the
same firm of solicitors represents Paul Williams, [Independent News
and Media] and the woman who was purportedly behind the
allegations of sexual abuse concerning Sergeant McCabe
Rumours circulated that a copy of the garda file had been given to Paul
Williams and that it revealed that Sergeant McCabe was under
investigation for child sexual abuse Garda Wilson also informed me
that a reporter named Debbie McCann, who worked for the Irish Daily
Mail and whose father was a senior garda, was allegedly one of the
journalists that was putting the word out that Sergeant McCabe was a
child sex abuser. He said that she called him a paedo.
Readers will recall how Paul Williams, in the Irish Independent, wrote a
series of articles in April 2014 concerning the woman referred to in the
tribunal as Ms D who was at the centre of an allegation made in 2006
against Sgt Maurice McCabe.
This allegation, readers will recall, was investigated and a file was sent
to the DPP with the DPP subsequently directing that no prosecution be
taken with the observation that it was doubtful the allegation should
constitute a crime at all.
In relation to this
Diarmuid McGuinness SC writes:
Sir, in early 2014, some journalists sought to contact Ms D, at

whose instigation is not yet entirely clear. However, Ms D
engaged in contact with a journalist in relation to her initial complaint
in 2006. This appears to have been as a result of an inquiry made
by her father of her as to whether shed be prepared to speak
to a Mr Paul Williams. He in turn appears to have been
nominated to her father by a friend of his, who is a Detective
Superintendent in the garda.
Meanwhile
Diarmuid McGuinness SC told the tribunal that of the 15 phones that

are of interest to the tribunal six granted to Garda Commissioner
Noirin OSullivan; six to former Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan
and three to Superintendent Dave Taylor just four have been
located.
http://disclosuretribunal.ie/en/DIS/Final%20Opening%20statement%20of%2
0counsel%20for%20the%20tribunal,%2014%20June%202017.pdf/Files/Final
%20Opening%20statement%20of%20counsel%20for%20the%20tribunal,%20
14%20June%202017.pdf

Fianna Fil and Solidarity

clash over judge
appointment Bill
Paul Murphy accuses Darragh OBrien of making
ignorant comments on Jobstown trial
July 5, 17
Michael O'Regan
Darragh OBrien withdrew a reference to intimidation
The Solidarity party organised campaigns about the
jury selection process in the recent Jobstown trial,
Fianna Fil TD Darragh OBrien has claimed in the Dil.
That happened, the Dublin Fingal deputy said.
Mr OBrien had said the campaigns were about the
intimidation of jury members but later withdrew this
claim after the intervention of Independent TD
Catherine Connolly, who was standing in for the Ceann
Comhairle.
Solidarity TD Paul Murphy was last week acquitted,
along with with five other men, of the false
imprisonment of the then tnaiste Joan Burton and her
assistant Karen OConnell during a water charges protest
in November 2014 at Jobstown in west Dublin.
Mr OBrien made his remarks on Wednesday during the
resumed debate on the judicial appointments Bill, which
is being supported by Solidarity and Sinn Fin and
opposed by Fianna Fil.
The Bill provides for the selection of judges by a
commission with a lay majority.
Mr OBrien said Solidarity were the people supporting
changes to the judicial appointments system proposed
by the Government.
Carol Coulter: Jobstown trial underlines Garda failures
Taoiseach says Burton and adviser were terrorised in
Jobstown protest
Paul Murphy to raise issues about trial with Leo Varadkar
Addressing the Government benches, he said: That is
the group of people you are depending on to actually get
this flawed legislation through the Dil.
Mr OBrien said this was seriously worrying.
What this Government is doing is taking a wrecking ball
to the judicial system here on the basis of a personal
crusade by Shane Ross, he added.
Overhaul
He said the Minister for Transport who was seeking the
legislation to overhaul judicial appointments, was being
supported by Sinn Fin and the Solidarity party.
He challenged Government speakers to list judicial
appointments which they thought were incorrect.
I believe the judiciary has served this State very well,
he added.
Others may not because of the DNA within their own
political movements who have late in the day maybe
come round to recognising the courts and the State.
Speaking later in the debate, Mr Murphy described Mr
OBriens remarks were an incredibly ignorant
contribution.
The reality, he said, was the Jobstown Not Guilty
Campaign had campaigned against an attempt to stack
the jury against those charged.
That would have included excluding people from the
Jobstown, Tallaght area, people who were active in
groups for and against water charges, and those who had
expressed themselves in public or in social media on
water charges, said Mr Murphy.
He said the public campaign was necessary and in
advance of any jury or juror being chosen in the case.
The jury system was robust and had seen the evidence
over 10 weeks, he said.
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/oireachtas/fianna-fil-and-
solidarity-clash-over-judge-appointment-bill-1.3144160

Garda Ombudsman to hire outside experts in Garda
account fraud probe
Wednesday, July 05, 2017

The Garda Ombudsman (Gsoc) is set to bring in outside financial
investigators and take on more staff to carry out a probe into
suspected fraudulent activity involving a secret Garda account, writes
Cormac O'Keeffe.
The moves follow a decision by Gsoc to launch a public interest

investigation after it was sent a report by Garda Commissioner Nirn
OSullivan on June 19.
The commissioner told the Oireachtas Public Accounts Committee

the following morning that she took the action after the Garda
internal auditor, Niall Kelly, submitted a report to her saying he
suspected that fraud may have been carried out involving a bank
account in Cabra, north Dublin.
It related to the movement of monies from an EU police training

programme into an account at the Garda Templemore Training
College and then out to the mystery Cabra account.
Gsoc said on June 20 that it was considering whether or not to set

up an inquiry.
It emerged at the time that the ombudsman had never conducted a

fraud investigation and that it might have to bring in forensic
accountants to assist.
In response to a series of questions, the ombudsman yesterday said:

Gsoc has decided to commence a public interest investigation
pursuant to S. 102 (4) of the Garda Sochna Act 2005 on the basis of
the information as set out in the Draft Audit Report on EU-Funded
Training Programmes/Projects dated 19 June 2017.
At this early stage issues of personnel with the relevant skills are
being considered to enable the investigation to progress, it said.
This investigation will include personnel from outside Gsoc along

with additions to Gsoc staff.
The Templemore probe is the 28th public interest inquiry being

conducted by Gsoc, which are often lengthy investigations.
It related to the movement of monies from an EU police training programme into an account
at the Garda Templemore Training College and then out to the mystery Cabra account.
Gsoc said on June 20 that it was considering whether or not to set up an inquiry.
It emerged at the time that the ombudsman had never conducted a fraud investigation and
that it might have to bring in forensic accountants to assist.
In response to a series of questions, the ombudsman yesterday said: Gsoc has decided to commence a
public interest investigation pursuant to S. 102 (4) of the Garda Sochna Act 2005 on the basis of the
information as set out in the Draft Audit Report on EU-Funded Training Programmes/Projects dated 19
June 2017.
At this early stage issues of personnel with the relevant skills are being considered to enable the
investigation to progress, it said.
http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/garda-ombudsman-to-
hire-outside-experts-in-garda-account-fraud-probe-796414.html
Paul Murphy Corruptly shutdown by Fianna Fail Dail
Chairman
Jul 5, 2017
Disgraceful. Earlier Fianna Fail made a personal attack on Paul Murphy TD and never
withdrew the lies told. Paul Murphy attempted to respond to these vicious remarks and was
shut down by the Fianna Fail Dail Chairman..... Blatant dishonest Biased behaviour.
Paul Murphy Corruptly shutdown by the Fianna Fail Dail Chairman
Absolutely Disgraceful.
Earlier Fianna Fail TD Darragh Murphy made a personal attack on Paul Murphy TD and
never withdrew some of the lies told. Paul Murphy attempted to respond to these vicious
remarks and was shut down by the Fianna Fail Dail Chairman..... Blatant dishonest Biased
behaviour.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SyuLnbezzR8&feature=youtu.be&platform
=hootsuite
Labour Party is now too posh to push for

working class as Jobstown verdict capped its
extraordinary fall from grace
Critical wounded after the Jobstown trial, Irish Sun's columnist Oliver Callan ponders
what's left to save of the 'worker's party'
WHERE did it all go wrong for Labour?

Its difficult to pinpoint how the former left-wing party lost
the faith of the people but its easier to say exactly
when.
The Jobstown trial reached a unanimous not-guilty verdict
OLIVER CALLAN Labour Party is now too posh to push for working class as Jobstown
verdict capped its extraordinary fall from grace
Critical wounded after the Jobstown trial, Irish Sun's columnist Oliver Callan ponders what's
left to save of the 'worker's party'
This day last week, the verdict in the Jobstown trial

capped what has been an extraordinary fall from grace for
James Connollys movement.
The unanimous not-guilty decision meant that a jury of
citizens did not fully accept the prosecutions case
involving the alleged unlawful detention of a former
Tanaiste.
In the media coverage afterwards, commentators were at
pains to stress that Joan Burton had indeed suffered
outrageous and despicable abuse that day in Jobstown,
Tallaght in south Dublin. But this was now irrelevant.
The six defendants were proved innocent and had never

themselves been accused of shouting sexist expletives at
the Tanaiste.
Whats clear now is that from late 2014, there was a
concerted effort to portray the anti-water movement as
thugs.
TIMES NEWSPAPERS LTD
Former labour leader and Tanaiste Joan Burton
Sinister fringe, was how Leo Varadkar described them.
The demonising campaign, carried widely in the media,
had the effect of reducing the protest to radical left
supporters only, repelling centrist voters. Once the
protests were whittled down to the angry left, the Labour
Party had severed itself completely from its origins and
became centre-right.
Its now the gentrified left. The window might display
socialism but the trade inside is strictly capitalist.
In the row over the judicial appointments bill, Brendan
Howlin aligned himself with the right wing of Fianna Fail in
opposing reforms to the most elite branch of society.
The Labour leaders primary concern is the same one
shared by judges, that Minister Shane Rosss reform
would mean no judge or practising lawyer could have any
role in assessing the qualifications of the candidates.
The proposed body would have a lay majority and chair,
the source of Labours alarm.
It was yet more proof that it has developed a morbid fear
of ordinary people in establishment positions.
Looking back at the Fine Gael-Labour coalition of the
austerity years that caused such rage in poor
communities, it is easy now to mark out two defining
moments for the party.
Looking back at the Fine Gael-Labour coalition of the
austerity years that caused such rage in poor
communities, it is easy now to mark out two defining
moments for the party.
The first was in October 2014, a month before the
Jobstown incident.
Speaking in the Dail, Burton said all of the protesters Ive
seen seem to have extremely expensive phones, tablets
(and) video cameras. The inference was clear if these
people are truly poor, they shouldnt be entitled to the
same luxuries and aspirations as their betters.
It was a belittling gaffe and precipitated the rage she
would face a month later.
The second moment occurred that spring, April 2014,
when President Michael D Higgins was hosted by the
Queen at a white-tie dinner in Windsor Castle. Eamon
Gilmore and Pat Rabbitte, the two Labour stalwarts from
Demo-cratic Left origins, were present at the banquet in
full regalia.
Neither of the men looked even the slightest bit
uncomfortable in the colonial uber-capitalist surroundings
of the royal residence. The sight of the pair of ex-socialists
bulging out of their white-tie dress suits was reminiscent of
the moment in Animal Farm, when some animals more
equal than others first begin to look like their human
masters.
Thousands protested against the water charges
It perfectly encapsulated Labour in power. They arrived on
promises of resisting austerity but implemented it with
enthusiasm. They posed as socialists but behaved as
capitalists.
Once they emerged from five years in power that savaged
those at the bottom, squeezed the middle and profited the
top earners, they expected praise and gratitude for
rescuing the economy.
Ah yes, doing good for the economy that most
unnuanced term that can mean whatever you like. The
good Labour did for the economy certainly does not mean
a scenario that was good for all citizens, or even most of
them.
The legacy of Labour for some time will remain its betrayal
over the water issue. Howlin abolished water charges as a
minister in 1996.
And in the 2011 election, he said: We are not in favour of
water charges, we dont believe in a flat rate and you
couldnt meter everybody within years.
Just months later, Labour caved in to Fine Gaels demand
to begin the process of water charges.
Still, there was no angry reaction until January 2014 when
it emerged 86million was being spent on consultants. It
was a lightning rod moment.
While citizens had endured cuts and hardship, the party
was still continuing for big-money consultants,
accountants, lawyers and lobbyists.
The cohort seen as having caused the crash were profiting
from its clean-up and Labour let them.
Labour were swept to power in 2011 on a slogan of
Frankfurts Way or Labours Way. Frankly, they lost their
way.
Twelfth one big parade for DUP
NEXT week is the famed Twelfth Fortnight in the North
when unionists celebrate their culture by remembering a
1690 sectarian war used to justify pogroms against
Catholics for 300 years.
Its a perfectly acceptable form of identity reaffirmation,
just like how Protestant communities in America fondly
recall the Ku Klux Klan.
Its also a period when Arlene Foster, and her DUP,
below, do little work getting the Stormont Assembly back
up and running so they can improve the lives of people.
The DUP and Sinn Fein have broken more deadlines than
an arts student and are still no closer to getting back into
their bad marriage to fight over trivial issues like Irish and
wood burners.
The impasse means lots of Tommie Gorman, above, on
our televisions every night.
RTEs Correspondent for Always Sounding on the Verge
of Tears is running out of ways to fake the importance of
this latest squalid row between two communities who
obsess over an identity no one else identifies with.
For most Irish people, Gaeilge is a compulsory nuisance
used to justify spending millions on documents and radio
stations that few bother with.
And for most British people, dressing up in sashes and
bowler hats, condemning homos and admiring horrible
murals sounds a teeny weeny bit 1930s Germany.
No wonder the DUP wants out of the EU, they dont
believe in anything that happened post-1951.
Ryan in sin bin over his rubbish
THERE is only one way to upstage a pair of socks, Green
leader Eamon Ryan thought, and that was to bring his own
bag of rubbish into the Dail. Windbags are a common site
in the lower house but a bin bag is something new.
However, the Ceann Comhairle steamed like the waste
burner in Sandymount, fuming, You are in the House, as
he ordered Ryan to remove his bag of rubbish.
Put a sock in it might have been more fitting for the week
thats in it.
Ryan, above, held up plastics from his bin that cant be
recycled, like, say, a political gimmick involving socks or
jogging.
He added: We are drowning in rubbish.
Just 24 hours earlier they were swooning in Trudeau, now,
it appears, they were drowning in rubbish.
The camera quickly cut away when Ryan went to display
his wares. It seems Oireachtas TV is loathe to show
Ryans bits on live streaming. If it were Canadian PM
Justin Trudeaus now, that would be different.
That is not allowed, cried the Leas-Cheann Comhairle,
who shut down the Green, adding that advertisements
are not allowed.
As if the packaging of Ryans hummus might be seen as
product placement.
LEO'S DIARY
TRUDEAU, madly, deeply, diary.

It has been such a great week. My bro Justin came in from
Canada on Tuesday and distracted everybody from the
fact I havent done anything after three weeks in charge.
Imagine, Im Taoiseach but all anyone talks about is my
socks!I rocks!
Of course, there was some totes important Ireland-
Canada business done.
I thanked him for taking in all our young people during six
years of cray cray cutbacks.
He thanked me for squeezing all the hope out of them, so
that when they arrive they drink like The Dubliners at a wake, earning Canada
millions in excise duty.
He so LOLed when I said we slashed dole for under 25-yearolds, raised the age for
full dole to 26 and when youngsters started emigrating en masse, called it a lifestyle
choice.
LOLcano! Then we exchanged gifts. I gave him a pair of socks and he gave me a full
day of fawning media coverage where everyone forgot about social housing.
I was sad to see him go, cos hes off to meet Queen Liz and attend the G20 summit,
while I have to deal with sodding bin charges.
From Justin to a dustbin. Bit of a downer after such an amazeballs week being a
statesman. Still, time to get back to my vision of working for people who get up early
in the morning.
Of course, when youre a TD, early in the morning means working from 11.30am,
three days a week, six months a year.
Thinking of which, its almost time to take our summer break, which is so long it
makes Marian Finucane look like a workaholic.
https://www.thesun.ie/news/1230218/labour-party-is-now-too-posh-to-push-
for-working-class-as-jobstown-verdict-capped-its-extraordinary-fall-from-
grace/amp/

Statement from European Commission confirming "unannounced raids" and
investigation into suspected "anti-competitive practices".
Wow! just how low can the Sunday Times get?
( sorry we are outspoken Sunday Times??!!)
Calling supporters of Jobstown a " mob".
Wonder what the Sunday Times think of the jury then? .
Well 6 defendants were found not guilty and another had their charges dropped so if the gutter press don't like this they
need to suck it up.
Drop the Charges of all defendants.
Pompous want to be up market rag. Trying to keep with its clientele. I suppose the saying is true. Paper never
refuses ink. Talking about people's behaviour when political police beat 7 layers of shite out of protesters.
Thank god for social media. Otherwise people would still get their tripe news from a chip wrapper like this!!
" what ever is to be done about these poor people and thinking they have rights
Any mention of the statements made by senior members of our police force. Those that were found to be, not
only, contradictory to their own video evidence, but described as fabrications. Is this not of far more worthy of
headlines today than whether the protesters were guilty or not?
Why is that shit paper giving people a hard time for standing up for their
rights what about the Garda, bankers and government that started all
this,they don't like working class people standing up for them selves.
there's a good reason things are slow to change in this country why FF/FG keep getting re-elected. just so
you don't read this wrong let me point out right now I HATE FF/FG.
In the last election, the Electorate was 3,298,827, that's the number of us registered to vote.
ONLY 2,151,293 actually voted. 1,147,534 did not
(figures from independent.ie)
in another post on the politicians should cut their own pay
(an article from the examiner.com) it points out that the top 10% ( top only in terms of the figures in their bank account,
there no better than me or you ) own 54 % of the countries wealth. ( let's use the figures from the electorate, just cause
they're in front of me and I'll use a calculator to get this right (stay with me) 3 million 298 thousand 827 divided by 100
and X by ten will give you 10 % = 329,882 the top ten percent comes to just below 330 thousand. YOU KNOW THOSE
RICH FUCKERS ARE VOTING, THERE VOTING 'CAUSE THEY DONT WANT THINGS TO CHANGE THEIR
VOTING FOR FF/FG WHO ARE RIGHT WING AND FAVOUR THE RICH.
Of those who are sick of the system / who don't vote how many do you reckon are millionaires. those of US that are sick
of the system need to unite need to vote en mass vote for change vote for TRUE INDEPENDENTS VOTE FOR
PEOPLE BEFORE PROFIT VOTE FOR ANTI AUSTERITY ALLIANCE / SOLIDARITY.
THE WEALTHY WILL VOTE

THE RIGHT WINGERS WILL VOTE
SO WE NEED TO
he justice system is doing a fine job on its own , of mocking the intelligence of the country....the vast majority
of the public support the verdict. What about the collision of the guards and the total dismissal of their
evidence by a judge ?? .I think your having a problem seeing the forest for the trees .
Garda Jobstown trial evidence should be

'looked into'
Updated / Thursday, 6 Jul 2017

Leo Varadkar was speaking in an interview with RT's Prime Time programme
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said Garda Commissioner Nirn O'Sullivan and her senior
management should "look into" the evidence given by members of the force in the Jobstown
trial.
Last week, six men on trial for the false imprisonment of former tnaiste Joan Burton and her
advisor were found not guilty by a jury at the Circuit Criminal Court.
After an eight-week trial the 11-member jury returned unanimous verdicts having deliberated
for more than three hours.
There have been repeated calls by left wing TDs, including Solidarity TD Paul Murphy, who
was one of the men on trial, for a public inquiry into how the garda investigation was
conducted.
In an interview with RTs Prime Time, Mr Varadkar said people needed to be able to trust
that when garda stand up in court and say something happened, that it did happen, and it
should not conflict with video evidence for instance.
He said if it did, then "that is a problem".
Mr Varadkar said he understood that in a situation where there were lots of things happening
quickly and people get caught up in the heat of the moment, that they might have a
recollection that is not exactly as things happened, but he would be very concerned if it was
the case that garda gave evidence in court that was not in line with the facts.
Mr Varadkar said he did not think a public inquiry was required, but there should be
consideration given to why the prosecution was unsuccessful in cases like this and the trial of
San Fitzpatrick.
Mr Murphy has described the Taoiseach's comments as "significant".
He said they had been met by a wall of opposition from the Government regarding their calls
to look at the evidence.
He told RT News that Mr Varadkars comments represented the first crack in the wall, and
he also questioned whether garda should be investigating garda.
https://www.rte.ie/news/ireland/2017/0706/888320-leo-varadkar/
An Garda Siochana Policing Plan 2012

English
http://www.garda.ie/Documents/User/A
n%20Garda%20S%C3%ADochna%2
0Policing%20Plan%202012%20English
%20.pdf
national model of community policing -
jan 26th 2009
http://www.garda.ie/Documents/User/na
tional%20model%20of%20community
%20policing%20-
%20jan%2026th%202009.pdf
Garda Ombudsman's bias & spin in 'rape tape ...
http://www.shelltosea.com/sites/default/files/images/GSOC_Corrib2012.pdf
GARDA SIOCHANA ACT 2005 JOINT POLICING
COMMITTEES GUIDELINES
http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/JointPolicingCommitt
eeGuidelines.pdf/Files/JointPolicingCommitteeGuidel
ines.pdf
The Blue Wall of Silence: The Morris Tribunal ...

thorough review and analysis of the Irish
Governments Morris Tribunal to
investigate police ... in Ireland
http://petermoskos.com/files/moskos/moskos_2011_co
nway.pdf
REPORT OF THE TRIBUNAL OF INQUIRY Set up
Pursuant to the Tribunal of Inquiry (Evidence) Acts 1921-
2002 into Certain Gardai in the Donegal Division
http://justice.ie/en/JELR/Morris1stRpt.pdf/Files/Morris1stR
pt.pdf
REPORT OF THE TRIBUNAL OF I

Progress of the Morris Tribunal: Statement of May 10th,
... Quotations from documents are boxed and
grammatical errors have not been corrected.
http://www.morristribunal.ie/SITECONTENT_172.pdf
REPORT OF THE RIBUNAL OF

INQUIRY - Morris Tribunal
http://www.morristribunal.ie/19031973.pdf
GARDA SOCHNA POLICY ON THE INVESTIGATION OF SEXUAL CRIME ...
ON THE INVESTIGATION OF SEXUAL CRIME CRIMES ... people must report it to
An Garda ... An Garda Sochna Crime Investigation Techniques Manual; Rape .
Community Policing- a Review of the Evidence MacKenzie,

Simon & Henry, Alistair (2009), Community Policing- a
Review of the Evidence, Scottish Government Social
Research,
http://www.gov.scot/Resource/Doc/292465/0090209.pdf
Statement from former garda John Wilson
http://static.rasset.ie/documents/news/statement-from-former-garda-john-
wilson.pdf

CRIMINAL JUSTICE (VICTIMS OF CRIME) BILL 2016 delete of the Garda
Sochna or an officer of ... Clare Daly, Jim OCallaghan ... investigationof the
alleged offence or following any subsequent
http://www.oireachtas.ie/documents/bills28/bills/2016/12116/B12116d-
DCN.pdf
Fennelly Report: Kenny in eye of the storm

Wednesday, September 02, 2015
Taoiseach Enda Kenny is facing a political storm after the former
Garda commissioner, Martin Callinan, said he felt he had been left
with no option but to resign after Mr Kenny dispatched a top official
to his house over a phone recording scandal.
While the Fennelly Commission report ruled Mr Kenny did not sack
the police chief or pressure him into quitting, his orders left him no
choice but, as Mr Callinan said, to walk off the pitch.
Mr Kennys claims the report vindicated him were quickly rubbished
by the opposition. Fianna Fil leader Michel Martin said the
Taoiseachs version of events were neither credible nor tenable.
Michel Martin
Coalition partners Labour are standing by Mr Kenny, stating that the
report makes clear the ultimate decision to retire lay with the then
Garda commissioner and that there was no directive issued by the
Taoiseach.
However, that will do little to quell the political fallout that is likely
to envelop the Government.
Mr Callinan announced his retirement last year on the morning of
Tuesday, March 25, after a string of controversies dogged the force,
the last involving revelations of widespread taping of phone calls at
Garda stations.
However, the inquiry found the catalyst for his shock departure came
in the final 36 hours, when the Taoiseach held high-level meetings
and sent a senior civil servant to visit his top Garda.
Judge Niall Fennellys long-running investigation found Mr Callinan
was shocked and could not understand why Brian Purcell, the head
of the Department of Justice, asked to see him in his family home at
11pm on a Monday night the day before he stepped down.
Brian Purcell
Mr Justice Fennelly described this visit made on the orders of Mr
Kenny as an event without precedent.
The report said that Mr Purcell made the following clear to Mr
Callinan:
The Taoiseach had sent him;
The Taoiseach had grave concerns at the revelations over the
taping of phone calls at stations;
The matter was going to be in the public domain;
The Taoiseach was bringing the matter to cabinet the following
morning;
He intended to appoint a commission of investigation into the
matter;
The Taoiseach was unsure how the matter would be received in
cabinet;
The Taoiseachs grave concern was he might not be able to express
confidence in the commissioner.
The report said that Mr Callinans views or response were not sought
by Mr Purcell, and the Taoiseach had not requested him to seek it.
The Garda commissioner interpreted the message delivered to him
by Mr Purcell on behalf of the Taoiseach, with all its attendant
circumstances, as an indication that he should consider his position;
in the view of the commission, that was a reasonable conclusion for
the commissioner to reach, said Mr Justice Fennelly.
He quoted Mr Callinans evidence: I was very clear in my own mind
that I didnt have options.
Mr Justice Fennelly said that then justice minister Alan Shatter
who was called to attend the meeting in the Taoiseachs office on
March 24 was firmly of the view the commissioner was expected
by the Taoiseach to consider his position.
Alan Shatter
The inquiry also uncovered a communication meltdown involving
the Taoiseachs office, the attorney general, and the Department of
Justice over who knew what and when about the Garda taping of
phone calls.
Mr Kenny said he was first made aware of recorded phone calls in
Garda district headquarters, going back to the 1980s in some cases,
on March 23.
The inquiry found a letter had been sent by former commissioner Mr
Callinan to the Department of Justice alerting officials and Mr
Shatter to the scandal two weeks earlier, but it was not acted on.
The Fennelly report said that, had Mr Callinans letter of March 10
been made known to Mr Kenny and others, things would not have
unfolded the way they did.
He said had Mr Shatter not been excluded from the decision-making
an action of the Taoiseach things would have been
significantly different.
He said no one contacted either Mr Shatter or Mr Callinan about the
matter before making the decision to send Mr Purcell to the
commissioners home.
Fianna Fil, Sinn Fin, and other Opposition parties accused Mr
Kenny of spinning the reports findings and called for him to resign.
Mr Martin said the Governments response to the findings was
scandalous and outrageous and that Mr Kennys claim that the
document cleared his name was untenable.
Sinn Fin social protection spokesman, Aengus Snodaigh, said Mr
Kenny should now consider his position.
Independent TD Clare Daly said that while the Taoiseach thinks he
has ridden the storm, it is only just beginning.
https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/2325124/fennelly-report.pdf
Callfor a Public Inquiry into the Policing ofthe Shell/Corrib
http://royaldutchshellplc.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Doc403-2.pdf
PAC Hears Claims Full Confidence In Garda
Management Cant Be Expressed
31st May 2017
Photo Pat Flynn
Two senior civilians in the Garda have told the Public

Accounts Committee they cannot express full confidence in
all senior management of the force.
Head of internal audit, Niall Kelly and head of human resources
John Barrett are among a number of witnesses before the
committee on financial irregularities at the Garda training college.
The executive director of finance today withdrew his previous
assertion that the draft audit report was unprofessional,
misleading and mischievous
Mr Kelly and Mr Barrett then told Labours Alan Kelly they could not express full confidence in
the senior management team:
Meanwhile, a TD says she has new evidence proving that Gardai must have known about the true
number of roadside breath tests three years ago.
Clare Daly says shes obtained new documents under the Freedom of Information Act to prove the
way in which breath tests were counted.
A review is ongoing into why Gardai claimed to have performed nearly two million breath tests
over five years, when the true figure was just over one million.
In the Dail this lunchtime, Clare Daly says the information must have been known by 2014 at the
latest.
Garda station at Belmullet, where ... The investigation team did ... Clare Daly, who received 2013
http://shellnews.net/documents/Observer11Aug2013.pdf
COMMUNITIES INTEGRATION FUND OPEN FOR

APPLICATIONS
http://www.integration.ie/website/omi/omiwebv6.nsf/page/JWKY-
AJCEPB1048277-en/$File/Communities%20Integration%20Fund%20-
%20Newspaper%20Ad.pdf
Publications of the Office for the Promotion of Migrant Integration

AJEE6A1021139-en/$File/Migrant_Integration_Strategy_English.pdf
United Nations International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
Racial Discrimination COMBINED THIRD AND FOURTH REPORTS BY IRELAND
http://www.integration.ie/website/omi/omiwebv6.nsf/page/AXBN-
7ZLJ9Z13515711-
en/$File/Combined%20Third%20and%20Fourth%20Report%20to%20the%20
UNCERD%20Committee%20latest.pdf
Minister Varadkar welcomes the announcement of the disbursement of 2.96m
from the Dormant Accounts Fund
4.5.2016
7RXJ3X14421211-
en/$File/An%20Action%20Strategy%20to%20Support%20Integrated%20Workplace
s.pdf
Minister Varadkar welcomes the announcement of the disbursement of 2.96m from the
Dormant Accounts Fund to support a wide range of marginalised service users and
community based models of support for people with dementia.
The Minister for Health, Leo Varadkar today (4th May, 2016) welcomed the announcement from the
Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government that a new round of funding is
being made available under the Dormant Accounts Fund. The funding to the Department of Health will
be used to support a wide range of marginalised service users and community based supports for
people with dementia.
The following three health-related projects have been approved.
Mobile Health Screening Unit

The objective of this measure is to provide an accessible, targeted screening and primary care service
to a wide range of marginalised service users in settings such as hostels, prisons, Direct Provision
Centres and Refugee Reception and Orientation Centres. The measure will benefit a diverse cohort of
marginalised groups including those affected by homelessness, migrants and asylum seekers, ROMA,
Travellers, those who suffer from addiction and refugees. These groups are at higher risk than the
general population of serious medical conditions, communicable diseases and psychiatric illnesses
and/or substance use disorders. The measure is expected to contribute to improved health outcomes for
the target groups.
The funding allocation for this measure is 1,460,000.
Intercultural Health Project for Refugees

This measure will support the delivery of a range of health services to meet the emerging needs of the
new residents of the Emergency Reception and Orientation Centres (EROCs) established in Clonea and
Monasterevin. The main objectives of the programme, which will be run over two years, are to identify
the health needs of residents of the EROCs, provide health service information and access routes,
deliver intercultural awareness training to health and social care staff and to provide a mental health
support service as part of an outreach/satellite service. The services provided will include screening
and public health services, interpreting services, GP services and out of hours, dental services, mental
health including post-traumatic stress and transport to hospital appointments.
The funding allocation for this measure is 450,000.
Community Based Supports for People with Dementia

This measure will support pilot projects providing new models of care to support people with dementia
to continue living well in their own homes and communities. The projects provide individualised
supports, emergency and planned respite, carer support, assistive technology, inclusive community-
based activities and information and awareness training. The measure will also provide for the roll out
of a successful assistive technology show house concept to other Community Healthcare
Organisations.
People with dementia and their carers are often both socially and economically disadvantaged and this
allocation will allow people with dementia to continue to live well at home; it will inform the public
about dementia, reduce the stigma associated with the disease, and provide people and communities
with the know how to become dementia friendly. It will help carers to sustain their caring role and
promote and facilitate the use of assistive technologies to support people with dementia and their
carers.
The funding allocation for this measure is 1,050,000.
The allocations were welcomed by the Minister Varadkar and Minister Lynch. Minister Varadkar
said: I welcome this latest allocation of funding from the Dormant Accounts Fund. The funding
will be used to assist those marginalised service users in our society who are at higher risk than
the general population of serious medical conditions, communicable diseases and psychiatric
illnesses and/or substance use disorders. These measures are expected to contribute to improved
health outcomes for the target groups.
Commenting on the funding for dementia, Minister Lynch added: The funding allocated for
dementia supports will allow people with dementia to continue to live in and actively participate
in their own communities. This is in line with the National Dementia Strategy.
http://health.gov.ie/blog/press-release/minister-varadkar-welcomes-the-
announcement-of-the-disbursement-of-e2-96m-from-the-dormant-accounts-
fund/
Summer jobs are hard to come by
9AEMPH1747109-
en/$File/Summer%20jobs%20are%20hard%20to%20come%20by.pdf
The told me- I will stay in my home and die there, I cant be a refugee in my own
country
98SF391273318-en/$File/Syrian%20family%20reunification.pdf
Migrant Integration Strategy - A Blueprint for the Future

AJEE6A1021139-en/$File/Migrant_Integration_Strategy_English.pdf

Government agrees comprehensive
response to Guerin Report Statement by
the Minister for Justice and Equality,
Frances Fitzgerald TD

Decision to establish Commission of Investigation as proposed in the Guerin Report
Garda Inspectorate to carry out a comprehensive inquiry into serious crime
investigation, management, operational and procedural issues
Cabinet agree to urgently bring forward new legislation to strengthen the operation
of the Garda Sochna Ombudsman Commission
Independent expert review of performance, management and administration of
Department of Justice
Independent Garda Authority to be up and running by the end of the year;
New Garda Commissioner to be recruited by open competition in parallel with
establishment of authority.
Minister says spectrum of complex and deep-rooted issues requires comprehensive

and sustained corrective action.
The Government has today agreed a set of measures in response to the Guerin Report
on foot of proposals brought to todays Government meeting by the Minister for
Justice & Equality, Frances Fitzgerald TD.
Todays decisions by Government represent a comprehensive response to the serious

and varied spectrum of issues raised in the Guerin Report, said Minister Fitzgerald.
The Minister noted that many of the grave issues now being debated, raised in the
Guerin Report and beyond, were the subject of previous reports, particularly that of
the Morris Tribunal. This spectrum of issues is complex and deep-rooted ranging
from high-level issues such as oversight, change management and the role of whistle-
blowers; to local administration and internal communication; to matters of basic
policing, performance and human resources. It requires comprehensive and sustained
corrective action. And thats what will happen.
The Government today decided to establish a Commission of Investigation to

investigate the issues identified in the report by Mr. Sen Guerin SC. The terms of
reference have yet to be finalised but will be in line with those proposed by Mr.
Guerin.
Minister Fitzgerald confirmed that she is to ask the Garda Inspectorate to carry out a
comprehensive inquiry into serious crime investigation, management, operational and
procedural issues arising from the findings of the report by Mr Guerin, taking into
account the implementation of recommendations already made by the Inspectorate in
earlier reports and also work currently under way by the Inspectorate.
The Minister stated: The Guerin Report raises many serious concerns in relation to
professional standards, training, supervision of probationary Garda, local
management of the force and many more issues.
It is absolutely essential that we need to act on the findings of the Guerin Report in
relation to basic policing and day-to-day management of the force at district level.
With all the focus on high level matters, we must not lose sight of the need to
address these basic policing matters. I am committed that we will learn and change in
response to the Guerin findings and I am further committed to ensuring that the men
and women of An Garda Sochna have the support they need to carry out their duties
and responsibilities professionally and effectively.
I am committed to the implementation of the reforms of police practice

recommended by Guerin and I will be having further discussions with the Garda
Commissioner on this matter.
However I see the Garda Inspectorate as having an increasingly pro-active role in

delivering a standards-led approach to better policing in Ireland.
The Government today agreed to urgently bring forward new legislation to strengthen
the operation of the Garda Sochna Ombudsman Commission. This will be advised
by the work of the Joint Oireachtas Committee.
The Government had agreed to the Ministers proposals for an independent expert
review of the performance, management and administration of Department of Justice.
This will be undertaken and completed before the Summer recess. Further details of
this independent expert review will be announced shortly.
I have committed to root and branch reform of the administration of justice in this
country and this includes the Government Department responsible for this area.
The measures agreed today build on recent Government decisions, including:

Independent Garda Authority to be established, to be up and running by the end of
the year;
New Garda Commissioner to be recruited by open competition.
The Cabinet Committee on Justice Reform, chaired by An Taoiseach Enda Kenny

TD, will meet next week to progress work on the matters discussed by and agreed by
Government and to set out a timeframe for implementation.
https://www.finegael.ie/government-agrees-comprehensive-response-to-
guerin-report-statement-by-the-minister-for-justice-and-equality-frances-
fitzgerald-td/
Minister Shatter publishes 2010 Report on the Garda Diversion

Programme and announces appointments to the Programmes
Monitoring Committee
http://www.iyjs.ie/en/IYJS/Press%20Release%20-
%202010%20Report%20on%20the%20Garda%20Diversion%20Programme.p
df/Files/Press%20Release%20-
%202010%20Report%20on%20the%20Garda%20Diversion%20Programme.p
df
Submission to the Department of Justice on the Review of Firearms Licensing
http://10point9.ie/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/DepartmentSubmission.pdf
Is it a weapon or a firearm?
Jan 23, 2015
From the January 21st meeting of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice regarding
proposed changes to Irish Firearms legislation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yt45mXPCy3g
Why Santa would be put in jail under the Firearms Act in
Ireland
Jan 23, 2015
A lighter moment from the January 21st meeting of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on
Justice regarding proposed changes to Irish Firearms legislation.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrWq1mvxxDk
The Joint Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality will meet on
Wednesday 21 January 2015 in CR2 LH2000 at 10 a.m. to consider the
following:
Mr. Chairman,
Id like to thank the Committee for their invitation to speak here today. Its good to
see those being impacted upon directly by the proposed changes in the working
groups review document are being afforded this opportunity. Youve read my
submission which contains more detailed notes, and Im happy to answer any
questions on that, but I wanted to open by trying to explain what we want from the
law, why we want it and why you want it too.
As I said in my submission, what I, and many other shooters, would wish to see in the
Firearms Act is:
A clear and unambiguous set of rules regarding firearms licencing which are
readily readable by everyone and which are enforced equally in all Garda
districts.
In my submission Ive gone into some detail on some of the technical problems that
prevent that being the case at present, such as the layered nature of the Firearms Act
(and the other Acts that make up the body of firearms law in Ireland), and others will
no doubt present other aspects to this problem and I expect that the national governing
bodies will present the details of their respective sports; but there is a fundamental
perspective to this problem which I suspect may not be obvious to those outside of the
shooting community and which would assist the Committee in understanding our
viewpoint.
In our sport, everything is measurable. The size, shape and weight of our firearms, the
calibre of the rounds used, the weight and thickness and tailoring of the clothing used,
the distance and shape and nature of the targets, our scores and where our shots land
and how they were fired and so on. Our sports coaching is built on this fact; our
rulebooks are based on it; and it permeates every single aspect of what we do and the
culture that surrounds that. Were in a sport unique for its brutal honesty. You aim the
shotgun, rifle or pistol, and you pull the trigger. Then either you hit the target or you
dont. And everyone sees. You cant hide from it. You cant say some judge gave you
low marks for unsporting reasons. You cant say that you had a great game but your
teammates let you down. You cant say that the referee was blind. You cant say that
anything, other than your own skill, was responsible for the good or bad score from
that shot. Its entirely down to you. Thats the beauty of this sport, its a fundamental
part of the attraction to it, and to me its one of the highest ideals of the sport. Its why
I love it its why, after twenty years, I still enjoy every moment on the range as
much as I did on that first day when Dr.Jordan walked up to me and said Okay, so
this is a rifle. To answer a question that was asked repeatedly in the December
meeting, this is why someone would want to do this. There is nothing else like it in
sport and very little like it in life.
And it has the side effect that we are used to clear, objective rules which make
judgements based on physical features or events that can be measured in the real
world with instruments and so the judgements are mathematical in their objectivity.
For example, an ISSF air rifle must weigh 5.5 kilogrammes or less according to
the rulebook. At the start of a competition, my rifle is weighed and if the scales say
5.5, I can enter the competition and if they say 5.6, I cannot. The judge running
Equipment Control does not have to make a subjective decision: he or she just reads
the scale. The rule is clear and easy to read and everyone can look at a single rulebook
and see what that rule is, and competitors can check that they pass that rule ahead of
time using the same equipment the judge will use and be confident that they will pass
on the day.
In contrast to this, the Firearms Act is frustratingly complex to read (and there is no
single rulebook for everyone to look at), and the judgements it calls for are highly
subjective, and how they are reached is opaque to the applicant; and the decisions
which affect us vary from issuing officer to issuing officer so what is allowed and
what isnt under the Act is often a function of your address, with no way to tell ahead
of time what that might be.
And Im not even touching on the problem of those parts of Irish firearms law that are
plainly daft.
This might sound like a niche problem affecting a small number of sportspeople in a
minority sport, but it is not. It has an affect on the public in general. We have seen
hundreds of District, High and Supreme Court cases over the last decade or so, many
of which have as a fundamental cause a Firearms Act that is effectively unreadable to
the average person. These cases not only represent enormous amounts of time and
money and stress to shooters the equivalent of building and
equipping several badly-needed national-level shooting ranges but they also
represent thousands of Garda manhours and millions of euros of public money, most
of which could have been saved if we had a clear and easy to read Firearms Act
whose rules were the same everywhere. And we only have a certain number of Garda
manhours and they are badly needed elsewhere, not arguing in a court over fiddly
points of badly written law with people who frankly, would rather be on the range
taking part in our sport.
Myself, I have spent years involved in the legislative side of our sport. And bluntly, I
regard that as time wasted and sporting opportunities lost. We had no choice but to be
involved; even from the first days our sports were at risk of being crippled purely by
oversights or misunderstandings in the drafting process; but there are far better uses in
our sports for our resources. If we had clear, universal rules in the Act, that would be
possible.
The only way I know of to get to that happy scenario from where we are now is, as I
recommended in my submission, to undertake a restatement of the Firearms Act.
Once we have the Act written clearly in one place, we can consider correcting some
of its more obvious anomalies; but until then if we apply more patches to an already
over-patched body of law, we will simply be confusing the situation even more than it
currently is and we will in all likelihood create more problems than we solve. If we go
down that road, we will be right back here again in a few years, with even more Garda
manhours and public money and sporting resources lost as a result.
And in the meantime, the average voter is even more in the dark about what
protections the law provides them and given how the media portray problems like gun
crime, this can be nothing but a source of fear. Good law should reassure people by
showing that a potential risk is understood and a fair system exists to govern it. The
Firearms Act at present fails woefully in this task because almost nobody really
knows what is in it.
I would urge the Committee therefore to reject the reviews proposals in their current
form; to recommend that the Firearms Act be restated to give us a known baseline to
work from; and that the changes whose necessity will have by then become clear and
obvious to everyone, be worked on by all the stakeholders together, to produce a
clear, readable, boringly consistent law which everybody understands and can follow.
The first Firearms Act stood unamended for almost forty years because it had those
characteristics so while it is a privilege to appear before the Committee today, I
would hope that its decision would be one that means we dont meet again until at
least 2055!
(Funny side note, Dr. Albert Jordan is the guy who first taught me how to
shoot twenty-odd years ago. Small world)
Hearings on submissions received in relation to the review of firearms
licensing
Session A: 10 a.m.
[Mr. Nicholas Flood; Mr. KJE Balinski-Jvndzill; Representatives from the Wild
Deer Association of Ireland; Harbour House Sports Club; National Target
Shooting Association and National Association of Regional Game Councils
(NARGC) will be in attendance];
Session B: 2.30 p.m.
[Mr. Phillip Slattery; Mr. Mark Dennehy; Mr. Jeff McCann; Dr. Albert Jordan
followed by representatives from the Irish Firearms Dealers Association;
National Rifle Association of Ireland; and National Association of Sporting,
Rifle and Pistol Club will be in attendance]
(Funny side note, Dr. Albert Jordan is the guy who first
taught me how to shoot twenty-odd years ago. Small
world).
Would have mentioned all this earlier, but I had to
prepare an opening statement with a short deadline (of
about forty hours, including the time lost by not seeing
the invite, the will-I-wont-I decision making time and
trying to talk to a few of the other groups about what they
were covering to avoid duplicating effort, and , you know,
sleeping, eating, working and toddler-related stuff). So,
sortof a rush. And apparently the powerpoint system in
there doesnt work so well, so my original plan to just
show this image wasnt a runner
Oh well. It would have been memorable. (And given them

a break from the 200+ submissions theyve received).
So heres my actual opening statement (and heres the
pdf in case the formatting is mangled by the whole
document->blog post conversion again):
I and many other licenced firearms owners observed with horrified frustration the
Committee meeting of December 17. As a result of what we witnessed, much of
which we found offensive and baseless, many of us chose to make submissions to the
Committee as individuals in addition to those submissions made on our behalf by our
sports national governing bodies. It is our collective belief that the current proposed
review of the Firearms Act was not examined correctly in that meeting, and we wish
to address that.
I am a licenced firearms owner and have been for fourteen years now. For seven years
before that, I shot with club-owned firearms as a member of an authorised target
shooting range in Trinity College. I have acted as range officer, chief range officer
and secretary for two target shooting clubs, and have trained several hundred people
to shoot safely over the last two decades. I have represented my country
internationally both as a team manager and a team member and have medalled doing
so. I am also an ISSF-qualified judge and have acted as such at international
competitions. I served on the committee of the national governing body for several
years as PRO and secretary and as a general member of the committee, and
consequently was involved in the legislative process for the Firearms Act
amendments contained in the 2004 Criminal Justice Bill and the 2008 Criminal
Justice (Misc. Provisions) Bill, working with Ms.Walshs predecessor in the Firearms
Unit as well as several others and as part of the supporting team behind our
representative on the Firearms Consultation Panel established by Minister Ahern. I
have studied the Firearms Act for approximately ten years now as a consequence of
this, have authored a clause in it, and have contributed edits and corrections to other
sections of it relating to firearms licencing.
Based on two decades of experience with firearms in Ireland and a decade of study of
the law under review, I wish to make the following submission for the Committees
consideration. I do so as a private individual.
Summary
The proposals put forward by the working group seek to introduce unwarranted
restrictions to what are already the most restrictive firearms laws in the EU. The
supporting data for these proposals contains mathematical errors, has been presented
in a biased manner and without any context by which to gauge the data, and much of
the supporting data does not actually have anything to do with licenced firearms
ownership and so does not support the proposals. A large amount of information was
not adequately or correctly presented to the December 17 meeting of this Committee,
and the decisionmaking process has been skewed by this and by the choice of
language that has been used throughout that meeting.
In this submission, I wish to address these points and present to the Committee the
errors in the data, the context that data should have been presented in, some
legislative anomalies these proposals would create, a number of legal points which
these proposals have not addressed and which were never revealed to the Committee,
and suggest a means by which these problems could be addressed.
Desired outcomes
I feel perhaps that it would be helpful to the Committees understanding if I were to
state at the outset what I, and many other shooters, would wish to see in the Firearms
Act. It is quite simple:
A clear and unambiguous set of rules regarding firearms licencing
which are readily readable by everyone and which are enforced equally
in all Garda districts.
At present we do not have this, and despite decades of experience, the only available
answer to many basic questions posed by newcomers to our sports is you have to ask
your local Superintendent (a prospect which most right-thinking members of society
tend to find intimidating). This situation has arisen because the Firearms Act, instead
of being a clear and universal law, is instead at present a legal morass that takes
expertise to read and whose enforcement varies from Garda district to Garda district.
As such, the Firearms Act in practice is not so much a law in Ireland at present as it is
a collection of mostly undocumented whims which varies from place to place.
This is an intolerable situation, and one which these proposed changes does not
resolve, but exacerbates.
Recommendations
My recommendations to the Committee are simple and straightforward.
1. I recommend that the review be rejected in its present form on the
grounds that it requires further consideration and that it be submitted
to the Firearms Consultation Panel under the aegis of the Minister for
that consideration in an open and transparent manner.
2. I recommend that before any further changes are made to the
Firearms Act, a restatement under the 2002 Statute Law
(Restatement) Act is prepared and enacted as called for by Justice
Charleton and the Law Reform Commission, thus allowing us to see
clearly, in one document, what the actual and complete state of the
Firearms Act is and where any errors or deficiencies lie.
Factual Information for the attention of the
Committee
Detailed observation of the video footage of the December 17 meeting of the
Committee led to a list of over sixty non-trivial problematic statements made by
various Members and Witnesses at the meeting. A full treatment of these would be
too extensive to include in a concise submission but in many cases the response to
these statements contains important information. Therefore I have addressed some of
the more important problems within the submission and the remainder are attached to
this submission as Appendix A which I urge the Committee to examine.
1. Language Shapes Thought
I wish to begin by highlighting a serious problem with the incorrect and inaccurate
language the Committees Members and Witnesses used in the December 17
discussions. This language introduces unconscious biases and prejudices to the
Committees decision-making process, and should not be used if the Committee
wishes to remain fair and balanced in its deliberations.
Most illustratively of this, the Committee Members and Witnesses continually used
the word weapon in the December 17 meeting. An Garda Sochna do not issue
weapons licences. Such licences do not, in fact, exist anywhere in Irish law. This is
logical since a weapon is something that has been used to harm another person.
Anyone presenting themselves to a member of the Garda seeking such a licence is
therefore confessing to at least assault causing actual bodily harm. The term is
inaccurate and highly prejudicial against law-abiding members of society. Target
shooters and hunters and vets and sports officials and farmers do not have weapons
licences. We have firearms certificates. These firearms certificates are issued by the
Garda in respect of sports equipment, or farming equipment, or veterinary equipment
or airport safety equipment. These items are not weapons. Referring to them as
weapons is to imply a context which is defamatory and offensive to all firearms
owners in Ireland, a point noted by Garda Superintendent Aidan Glackan in 2009
when addressing the Firearms Consultation Panels public meeting on the range
standards Statutory Instrument.
Weapons do not get licences. They get evidence tags.
This was not the only example of such problematic and prejudicial language. Briefly:
Firearm in Irish law has a very broad and loose definition and does not
merely include what is conventionally thought of by the average member of
the public as a gun. It does indeed include rifles, pistols and shotguns; but it
also includes:
o paintball markers;
o birdscarers;
o crossbows;
o stun guns;
o blank starting pistols;
o flare guns;
o any firearm (including all of the items on this list) which has been
broken or decommissioned;
o airguns which are not legally firearms anywhere else in the EU (our
limit on muzzle energy is 1 joule throughout the EU the limit varies
from 7.5 joules to 17 joules); and
o all component parts of a firearm (in other words, under the law, the
wooden cheekpiece on my air rifle is a firearm in and of itself, as is
every nut and bolt contained within the air rifle).
This broad definition has enormous impact on the accuracy of statistical data as what
is referred to in Ireland as a firearm may not be a firearm anywhere else in the world;
and also any firearm which is decommissioned and kept as a family heirloom may
still be counted in statistical reports as a firearm even though it can never again
function as one. Minister McDowells answer to Written Question 617 of June 28
2005 (which asked about the statistics for stolen firearms) is illustrative see page 21
of this submission.
Lost when referring to firearms should be noted to mean beyond
recovery, as in lost in a house fire or lost overboard (such as in the case
of an Army Steyr Aug which was lost overboard from the LE Ashling in
2006). To not take note of this meaning gives the misleading and prejudicial
impression that firearms owners have a habit of putting down a firearm and
forgetting where they left it. The sheer cost of such a piece of equipment alone
would preclude such a habit, let alone the seriousness of a missing and
unaccounted-for firearm and the legally mandatory reporting of such an error
to the Garda should lead to a vigorously enforced search for the firearm
followed by the mandatory rescinding of all the owners firearms certificates
on the grounds that Section 4(2)(b) of the Firearms Act does not permit the
Garda to allow any firearms certificate to remain issued to the owner of the
firearm under such circumstances. It should also be verified when speaking of
statistical data in this regard whether the numbers being given refer only to
lost firearms or to both lost and stolen firearms. Breakdowns of what exactly
constitute firearms in this data should also be sought as this is vital
information (see page 21).
Assault Rifle is one of the more troublesome terms used on December 17

because nobody using it appeared to understand what it meant. Given that it is
a term which causes enormous and prejudicial concern to the general public,
and because it was at least once hinted that such firearms are used in the
Olympics, this term warrants specific comment.
Assault Rifle has two meanings in Ireland; the first is the meaning it has had
in reality since the development of assault rifles in 1945, and that meaning is
a rifle firing a cartridge intermediate in power between a pistol and a rifle
and capable of firing automatically for at least short periods of time. Firing
automatically here means that when the trigger is depressed, the rifle fires shot
after shot until the trigger is released or the ammunition is expended. Such
firearms are classed as Category A firearms in the EU, and under EU law
(Section 6 of EU Directive 91/477/EEC) are banned from ownership by any
private citizen without special permission from their government, which
effectively restricts their use to Police and Military forces. That law applies in
Ireland as a Member State; therefore without direct permission from the
Minister for Justice, no Irish citizen can licence such a firearm (and as far as I
am aware, a change to this law has never been seriously suggested it
certainly is not being suggested at the moment). Therefore the concerns
expressed that Irish people are licencing M16 assault rifles for use in the
Olympic Games are utterly incorrect and without any foundation.The second
meaning for assault rifle in Ireland is the legal definition set forth in
Statutory Instrument 21 of 2008 (the initial Firearms (Restricted Firearms and
Ammunition) Order 2008), which creates a definition not related to the
original meaning of the term, namely: rifles capable of functioning as semi-
automatic firearms and as automatic firearms and firearms that resemble
such rifles. At the time of the drafting of this Statutory Instrument, objections
were raised to this definition on the grounds that:
o it was incorrect;
o it confusingly redefined an existing and well-known term;
o it was overly inclusive as it covered a vast number of rifles which were
nothing like what the drafters had in mind; and
o the second clause in the definition required a subjective judgement be
made on the cosmetic appearance of a firearm to determine whether or
not that firearm was restricted.
This last concern was not a trivial one because if one Garda felt it did resemble such a
rifle and another did not, then a question arose over the validity of issued firearms
certificates for the firearm. Further, any law which requires a subjective decision to be
made on a case by case basis prohibits a clear understanding of what the law is by any
member of the general public. In one Garda district, a firearm might be unrestricted; a
mile down the road in a neighbouring district - or even at night when that Garda
station closes and the district is subsumed into a larger district the firearm might
become restricted and the owner would be in breach of the Firearms Act. As a
restricted firearms certificate is legally separate from an unrestricted firearms
certificate - as opposed to being an unrestricted firearms certificate with additional
permissions attached it would not be possible to simply apply for the harder
certificate to solve this problem as that concept doesnt exist in the Act.
1. I wish to point out that Chief Superintendent Healys assertion that the
subjective nature of this test is dealt with in the act is simply wrong the issue
is the word resemble in the Act, which requires a subjective decision be
made, and such decisions can never be consistent; merely asserting as he did
that the Act says resemble only describes the problem, it is not a solution to
it.
If the Committee is to use the term assault rifle, it should be fully aware of the two
separate definitions of the term and the serious legislative and practical issues
associated with the legal term.
The phrase why would anyone want this and its many variants were used
several times by several Members during the December 17 meeting. This is
worrying because it strongly indicates that these Members have already
arrived at conclusions before hearing the presented evidence in the Committee
meetings. It further indicates that these conclusions are that anyone who owns
a firearm in Ireland is in some way suspect of criminal behaviour or criminal
tendencies; that they cannot be right-thinking members of society but must be
deserving of deep scrutiny and suspicion; and that the purposes for which they
own these firearms must be nefarious or at least frivolous and
unnecessary.These Members rightly would not for a moment entertain
the notion that Katie Taylor or Paddy Barnes or other Irish Olympic boxers
should be viewed with suspicion on the grounds that boxing is just practicing
for street brawling. Such statements would seem obviously false, even
ridiculous to these Members. They nevertheless did not blink at making these
statements in regard to target shooting. One can only assume they did so in
ignorance of the incredible sporting achievements of the last few decades by
target shooters in Ireland and one can only hope that once they are informed of
those achievements they would reassess their positions. After all, the Irish
Chef de Mission at the Rio Olympic Games is a clay pigeon shooter. It would
be unfortunate and embarrassing for Ireland if several members of the Dail
and Seanad publicly held the view that the Irish Olympic team was being led
by someone whose sport automatically made them a nefarious character.If the
Committee wishes to know why someone would want to take part in an
international sport and represent their country, to try to reach the limits of their
sporting ability and push beyond them, to achieve a goal they did not think
they could reach when they started;if they wish, in other words, to know why
would anyone want this, then they can call in the head of the Irish Sport
Council, the head of the Olympic Council of Ireland or indeed any high level
athlete from any sport in the world to speak with them, because the answer is
always going to be the same. It hasnt changed since George Mallory was
asked why he wanted to climb Everest.
Lastly, the general assumption made in most statements on December 17
seemed to give the impression that the Members thought of target shooters,
hunters, farmers, vets and other firearms owners as being in some way
separate from the general public. I wish to explicitly state that we are not. We
are the public. We are your family, your friends, your coworkers and your
constituents. We are engineers, doctors, solicitors, Garda, postmen, nurses,
teachers and parents. When you state that you are concerned about public
safety, you are stating that you are concerned for our safety, and while we
appreciate it, we would also appreciate it if you did not unconsciously imagine
us as some separate group, distinct from the rest of the population. Too often
that unconscious assumption creeps in at the edges of thought, sometimes
even to the point of appearing explicitly in language in the debates in the Dail
and Seanad on each of the bills relating to the Firearms Act and in the many,
many committee hearings and written questions and other such
correspondence and statements made over the decades. It would be greatly
reassuring if this Committee set the standard for all future Committees in this
regard.
2. Data Quality
In this second section, I would like to discuss the nature of the data being used by the
Committee in its deliberations. Much was made on December 17 of the statistics with
relation to firearms held, lost, stolen and so forth. It is pleasing to see that the
Committee places sufficient value on data to seek it out; but it is troubling that so
little critical analysis of that data and its sources took place and that what little there
was, was prompted externally. The only source of statistical data so far has been
PULSE, and the Garda Inspectorate reports criticism of the data quality in the
PULSE system, and the subsequent establishment of a new Data Quality Team and
the statements regarding this by the Minister on November 11 2014 would strongly
suggest that the data being presented from PULSE in regard to firearms requires at a
minimum a degree of auditing that does not appear to be happening and which should
be reported upon to the Committee publicly.
I can, for example, point out that I have noted errors in my own firearms
certificates to the Garda for many years but they have never been rectified.
These errors include missing digits in serial numbers and an incorrect calibre
recorded on one of my rifles. These errors are not due to incompetence, but
obvious errors in the design of the PULSE system (as a software engineer I
recognise the cause of some of these errors, which appear to be due to the
data entry program treating serial numbers and calibres as numeric data
instead of text data). I have also observed errors in other shooters certificates
and the national governing bodies have entire catalogs compared to my
small personal experience of this which range from the same errors I have
encountered to errors like missing certificates, certificates issued in error for
firearms not held by the named people, and other such problems. In the
context of day to day policing, the local Garda know the licenced owners in
their district and such problems are practically inconsequential; but in the
context of considering national law, they raise concerns as to the reliability
and quality of our national level statistical data.
To give an illustrative example, over the years requests have been made in
Written Questions in the Dail for the number of licenced firearms owners in
Ireland. This question has never been satisfactorily answered. Phrases such
as disproportionate amount of Garda time required have often been returned,
and on the occasion of an answer being promised at a later date to a deputy,
the answer has been in the form of how many firearms are licenced in Ireland,
which is not what was asked for. The problem lies in the practice, unique to
our country and chosen in 1925 one suspects for purposes of differentiation
from the UK rather than practicality, of issuing firearms certificates for
every firearm, instead of licencing the owner of the firearms as is the norm in
the EU and elsewhere. Because of this, and the fact that one firearm can have
certificates issued to several people; and the fact that one person might have
certificates for several firearms; not to mention issues regarding data quality
such as minor typographical errors; it would require a detailed and critical
analysis of PULSE data to arrive at an exact and dependable answer to the
very simple question of How many people in Ireland have firearms?
If we cannot readily answer even this basic question without an inordinate amount of
effort, then it seems inconceivable that we would accept statistical data at face value
from this source without even a cursory auditing of that data. And this does not even
touch upon the effect of the exceptionally broad meaning of the term firearm in
Ireland that I mentioned earlier.
To give further examples from the December 17 meeting, it was at one point stated by
Chief Superintendent Healy that there were 200,000 firearms in Ireland, composed of
145,000 shotguns and 70,000 rifles. Granted he was speaking in approximations, but
that remains an error of approximately 15,000 firearms which is quite excessive and
nobody sought to clarify the figures being presented.
I wish to discuss the figure of 1,683 handguns for two reasons firstly, Chief
Superintendent Healy stated that it comprised 639 restricted handguns and 1,044 non-
restricted handguns of .22 calibre. My handgun is a .177 calibre unrestricted air pistol
(air pistols are legally in the same class as .22 calibre unrestricted handguns). Its
existence alone mean that figure of 1,044 .22 calibre handguns is incorrect at most
it could only be 1,043 .22 pistols. However, there are hundreds of similar licenced air
pistols in the country; therefore the number of .22 pistols must be much lower than
this.
The second reason I wish to mention this figure relates to its perception by the
Members of the Committee, which was universally that it was a shockingly high
number. However, handguns have been licenced in the State since 1925. From 1972
to 2004, under a Ministerial and Garda policy which was later found to be unlawful
by the Supreme Court in McVeigh and in Brophy, applications for certificates for
handguns were not considered. In 1972, Minister OMalley reported to
Dr.ODonovan in Oral Questions in the Dail that 1,565 handguns were licenced.
Therefore in 43 years we have seen an increase of 118 handguns. A breakdown of
how many of those are air pistols, smallbore pistols, fullbore pistols, starter pistols
and how many were decommissioned pistols was unavailable to me, but I do feel that
terms such as proliferation are not justified by an increase of less than 3 pistols per
year, especially when it must be considered that a large number of the 1,683 pistols
currently licenced, and the 1,565 pistols handed in under the 1972 Temporary
Custody Order, are in fact the same firearm. Indeed, when you consider that the
Central Statistics Office figures show that the population has risen by 1.6 million
people since 1971, the number of licenced handguns per capita has actually fallen by
approximately 28%, from 0.5 per thousand people to 0.36 per thousand people, and
thus terms like decline are more appropriate.
In a related note, the same perception amongst the Committee applied to the overall
total figure of 200,436 firearms. Despite the stated alarm (even from those Members
whose Written Questions had elicited these figures over the last year), this figure
represents a decline in the total number of licenced firearms in Ireland since 2008,
which Garda statistics reported by Minister Ahern on October 24, 2008 in the Dail
puts at 233,120.
While the 2008 figures do represent an increase over the status quo for firearms
licencing in Ireland, it should be noted that this increase was triggered by the
economic boom and the resultant development of new firearms ranges along with new
facilities in all other sports in the country. Prior to this, as Minister Noonan reported
to the Dail on February 4 1986, the number of firearms certificates in 1985 was
176,173 though at the time the definition of firearm was different and less
inclusive, and several thousand firearms were still in storage following the 1972
Temporary Custody Order, so direct comparisons are difficult at best.
We can reasonably assert, however, that no pattern exists which justifies either the
term proliferation or the public alarm such loaded terms which are normally
reserved for discussing nuclear weapons could cause. I would strongly urge the
Committee to consider the figures in their context and observe that the changes we
have witnessed are (a) gradual and occurring over the course of many years; (b)
caused by several factors including the legal redefinition of what a firearm is, which
has increased the count artificially; and (c) not excessive when seen as a percentage of
the total.
Further to this point, I wish to address the figure cited by Ms.Walsh of the
Departments Firearms Unit of 8.6 firearms per 100 people and her statement that
this places us in the middle range of firearms ownership rates in the EU. Chief
Superintendent Healy stated that the latest information is that there are 200,436
firearms in Ireland and the Central Statistics Offices most recent population estimate
from April 2014 is 4,609,600. This puts our firearms ownership rate at 4.34 firearms
per 100 people, just over half the figure cited by Ms.Walsh. In order to reach 8.6, we
would require a total number of licenced firearms of 396,425 almost double the
number currently licenced.
I can only account for this figure of 8.6 if it has been taken from Annexe 4 of the
Small Arms Survey 2007(which indeed incorrectly lists Ireland as having 358,644
privately owned firearms in 2005 by including an estimate of 150,000 illegally held
firearms in that total, see page 44 of that report), and calculates the ownership level
for 2005 accordingly). It is plainly invalid to calculate the number of licenced
firearms per capita using such an approach, and Minister Burke commented on such
estimates in the Dail on October 22 1991 stating that The very fact that [illegally
held] firearms are held illegally precludes statistics being available of the number of
such firearms.
Furthermore, figures from the EU15 member states in 2003 show an average firearms
ownership rate of 17.4firearms per 100 population. So even if we doubled our
current number of licenced firearms we would still have only half the average
ownership level in the EU, and even then that would owe much of that rate to our
counting as firearms a range of objects (such as sub-seven-joule airguns, crossbows,
paintball markers, deactivated or broken firearms and component parts of firearms)
which are not counted as firearms in the rest of the EU.
Along with a more critical approach to sources of data, it would be comforting to
those of us observing the business of the Committee if a greater degree of awareness
of the current Firearms Act was displayed. It is accepted without hesitation that this is
very difficult due to the exceptionally awkward nature of the Firearms Act, which is
comprised now of the 1925 Firearms Act and over twenty other Acts layered upon it
or contributing to it in a palimpsest fashion complicated by the introduction of a
quasi-separate Act by the 1990 Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act which was then
itself amended by several subsequent acts; all of which layering is governed by
dozens of statutory instruments laying out the commencement dates of various
portions of the Act, and the additional attendant statutory instruments which contain
secondary regulations, some of which have themselves been amended by subsequent
statutory instruments. Two EU directives also feed into this legal morass along with
the Commissioners guidelines and case law from several hundred Supreme, High and
District Court cases, and all of these sources must be read together to gain a picture of
the existing Firearms Act, as amended and rarely in Irish law do the words as
amended contain so much hidden work for the reader.
In 2004, before some of the most significant and intricate of these palimpsest
layers were drafted, the Law Reform Commission called for a legal
restatement of the Firearms Act under the Statute Law (Restatement) Act
2002. To date this has not happened. In 2008, before the 2009 Act added even
more complexity to the Firearms Act, Justice Peter Charleton further called for
such an action in the High Court, saying in McCarron that the piecemeal
spreading over multiple pieces of legislation of the statutory rules for the control of
firearms is undesirable. Codification in that area is almost as pressing a need as it is
in the area of sexual violence. This is not by any means a modern concern. I
quote Fine Gael TD Michael OHiggins from November 6, 1963 on the 1963
Firearms Bill (later the 1964 Act) during the second stage of the Dail debate:
At the close of his remarks, the Minister referred to a point I had intended urging on
himthe question of the consolidation of his Bill and the earlier Firearms Act. I
agree with the Minister that in view of the size of the 1925 Act, which was very
considerable and the additions proposed by this Bill, the resultant Act would be a
bulky volume. However, I should like the Minister to consider in future legislation of
this type that it is well worth while consolidating from a number of different points of
view. Certainly, from the point of view of anyone in the legal profession who has
occasion to examine these Acts and advise on them, it is obviously more convenient
that the law should be contained in one Act, if possible, rather than that it should be
necessary to thumb through a number of different Acts. From the point of view also of
the occupants of the benches, particularly the District Court bench, it would be a
matter of convenience to consolidate as far as possible. The ordinary district justice
has not got so readily available to him the services of a legal library as the people
sitting on the Circuit Court and High Court benches.
This was in 1963, when it was proposed to have a single Act amend the 1925 Act.
Today, some 21 Acts amend or contribute to the 1925 Act. The end result of this
awful legislative situation is that despite a basic structure which was sufficiently
sound to last through seventy years without significant alteration thirty of them
during the Troubles we now have a law in which we arguably have no true experts
in the entire country and only a few dozen people with a sound working knowledge of
the Act (indeed, Heads 11 & 12 stem from this). It is little wonder that so much
contention has arisen in recent years over the fine detail of the Act and its
enforcement.
And we know there are deficiencies in the legislation caused by accidental oversight
in the current Act. To give one example, crossbows and paintball markers are now
designated as restricted firearms, not because they were seen as warranting such
classification, but because the Statutory Instruments setting forth what is a restricted
firearm and what is not was drafted in the form of a whitelist of unrestricted firearms
and all firearms not on that whitelist were designated as being restricted and nobody
in the drafting process remembered crossbows and paintball markers until after the
second Statutory Instrument had been signed. In the case of paintball the situation is
doubly ridiculous as most paintball markers are classified legally as restricted short
firearms and therefore are governed by the same regulations that apply to centerfire
handguns and this in effect means that any stag party taking part in a game of
paintball before the wedding celebrations is strictly speaking committing an offence
under the Firearms Act that carries a penalty of up to seven years imprisonment and
twenty thousand euros in fines for each participant, along with the employees of the
company that operates the facility.
We have, in other words, a law where everyone can see the lines, but nobody is
completely certain about where exactly they are, and everyone has spent the last six
years arguing about where they should go.
Despite this complexity and confusion, and the difficulty it imposes, it would be
comforting if the Members of the Committee were aware of at least the basics of the
current Firearms Act, as amended. Even familiarity with the nature of the application
process for a firearms certificate and the controls currently in place there would be
reassuring and useful as it would have highlighted the errors made in the testimony of
the Witnesses on December 17 (which I have noted in Appendix A). I have attached
as Appendix B a guide written to this process for Olympic target shooters applying
for a licence; it is not the most generic of guides nor the most extensive, but it does at
least convey some sense of the controls currently in place. Should the Committee
wish for a more complete guide, I can recommend the sole textbook on this section of
law in Ireland, The Law of Firearms and Offensive Weapons by McDonnell (ISBN
978-1-905536-54-2). It is worthy of note that this sole textbook was only published
for the first time in 2014, 89 years after the first Firearms Act was passed this
further indicates how difficult it is for the average layman to acquaint themselves with
this area of law.
Finally, I wish to state for the record that nobody demands that the Members of the
Committee be experts in firearms. After more than twenty years of shooting, I would
only claim expertise in certain areas regarding firearms and am keenly aware of the
many areas in which I do not have any expertise. It would be deeply unrealistic to
expect the Members to have an expert level of knowledge in all areas of firearms
themselves. However, it should be expected that the Members would keep in mind the
limits of their knowledge and the fear, uncertainty and doubt regarding firearms such
limits induce; as well as the scientifically studied and understood effect that such
uncertainty has on the accurate perception and evaluation of risk.
It is well worth remembering that the technical nature of firearms and the detailed
knowledge required to draft useful and enforcable firearms legislation is such an
onerous set of requirements that previous Ministers created and maintained the
Firearms Consultation Panel, a body which gathered stakeholders and experts
including not only the Garda and Department of Justice, but also the Irish Sports
Council, several shooting sports bodies, insurance providers, range operators, the Irish
Farmers Association, firearms dealers and other concerned parties.
This panel, and the unprecedented cooperation between stakeholders and the Minister
with regard to legislation that it represented, contributed enormously to the
legislation, detecting and correcting some truly appalling mistakes in draft legislation
caused by a lack of technical knowledge in one form or another by various drafters.
Having more than proven itself as an effective technique for addressing legislative
shortcomings, It would seem unusual to many including myself to abandon it at a time
when it could do so much badly needed work repairing the morass of legislation that
the Firearms Act has become over the decades.
3. Legal Concerns
I wish to touch upon some disturbing points pertaining to the current law and the
review.
It has been repeatedly stated that the driving motivation behind the proposed changes
to the Firearms Act in this review is public safety. This is deeply troubling. Section
4(2)(b) of the Firearms Act clearly says and has clearly said since 1925 that if the
issuing person thinks the issuing of a firearms certificate to an applicant would pose a
danger to the public safety or the peace, then they may not issue a firearms
certificate.
4. (1) An issuing person shall not grant a firearm certificate unless he or she is
satisfied that the applicant complies with the conditions referred to in subsection (2)
and will continue to comply with them during the currency of the certificate.
(2) The conditions subject to which a firearm certificate may be granted are that, in
the opinion of the issuing person, the applicant
(b) can be permitted to possess, use and carry the firearm and ammunition without
danger to the public safety or security or the peace,
Legally, the licencing official has no choice in the matter. If a danger exists or will
come to exist, they cannot legally choose to ignore it. The only legally permitted
question is whether or not that danger is real.
Further, under Section 5(1)(b), the firearms certificate may be revoked at any time if
the issuing person feels the condition of 4(2)(b) has changed:
5.(1) An issuing person may at any time revoke a firearm certificate granted by the
person if satisfied that the holder of the certificate
(b) is a person who cannot, without danger to the public safety or security or the
peace, be permitted to possess a firearm,
In short, it is not legally possible for a valid threat to public safety to arise and remain
extant unless the issuing person ignores the law or is incompetent at judging threats to
public safety.
Therefore, if the Garda feel that the current licencing laws have resulted in a
danger to the public safety, some very hard questions arise, first amongst
which are why sections four and five have not been adhered to. Stating that
this is due to District Court judgements merely poses that same question to
the District Court Justices, who are as bound by the Act as the Garda and
who can no more legally issue a firearms certificate if they believe a real
danger exists than the Garda can. It is hard for a member of the public who
has read sections four and five to hear a Garda Chief Superintendent make
these statements and not ponder the ramifications of those statements and to
query who is asking hard questions of whom by making them. It is beyond
the ability of a member of the public to find answers to these questions; but it
should be within the remit of the Committee to at least consider them.
Separately, it has been stated that applicants have been appealing decisions of
Superintendents and Chief Superintendents to the Courts. It has been stated in a
manner suggesting that such action is undesirable, even troubling. This is itself
worrying, because if availing of the Courts even though most people including
myself regard this as a last resort is seen as suspect, then we have arrived in a rather
dystopic place indeed. And while it is true that not every applicants case has been
successful, it should be noted that in every case where an applicant was successful, it
was because a District, High or Supreme Court Judge found that the Garda involved
or indeed the Minister had not properly followed the law in his or her
decisionmaking process. It is a worrying state of affairs to see that conclusion arrived
at independently in so many Courts in hundreds of cases.
Personally I have always felt this was well explained by the conjunction of the
complexity of the Firearms Act as amended; an insufficient training budget for the
Garda that successive Ministers have not addressed; and a degree of defensive
thinking brought on by the prospect of legal action. This does not, however, mean that
the situation is an acceptable one, nor does it render acceptable the mindset that those
who disagree with a Superintendents decision on legal grounds are troublemakers.
These court cases have both caused and been caused by an undesirable degree of
division between the Garda and firearms owners. It would be cheering if more efforts
to address this unnecessary and undesirable division were made.
Instead, because in contrast to how legislation was prepared under the Firearms
Consultative Panel wider consultation did not occur until after the review was
drafted and submitted to this Committee, this review appears to many to be an attempt
to win an argument that was lost several hundred times in court at a cost to the state
estimated to be in the region of five million euros. This has widened the division
unnecessarily, which is in nobodys best interests. It would be infinitely preferable if
Garda manhours were not being consumed by disputes over sports equipment but
instead spent on the prosecution of those who commit crimes with illegally held
firearms.
On a related note, it has also been stated that at the present time, an applicant can
force the Garda to issue a firearms certificate for any firearm they so desire. This is a
preposterous assertion, and is simply not backed up even by Chief Superintendent
Healys own statement, Our experience from chief superintendents and
superintendents giving evidence before the District Court is some decisions to refuse
a licence were upheld while others were overturned, which is in direct contradiction
to the assertion made in the Chief Superintendents previous sentence. Perhaps the
Committee might call on Judges from the District, High or Supreme Courts to clarify
the situation.
Finally, I wish to note that I do not understand how, upon learning that in six hundred
and fifty cases the Garda were found by the District, High and Supreme Courts to not
have carried out licencing decisionmaking in accordance with the law, the Committee
could accept the idea that these court judgements were grounds to change the law.
Any reasonable person might think that if a Judge finds fault on the part of the Garda
over six hundred times, then the possibility should be considered that the problem is
not with the applicants.
The last point I wish to raise with the Committee in this section is one of a slightly
more fundamental nature. Irish law is by nature ex post law. It sets forth what citizens
may not do and lists punishments which will be applied if the law is broken and then
applies them if someone breaks that law.
What is being recommended by these proposals is a departure from this
philosophy for an ex ante philosophy; namely that firearms currently held
legally for legitimate purposes by people strictly vetted by the Garda should
be banned on the grounds that in the future some or even one of those people
may choose to break the law. It is, in other words, imposing a punishment on
a group of people who have not broken the law using the justification that it
would be mathematically possible for one of them to break the law at some
unknown indeterminate future date.
This is unethical and dangerous territory for legislators to enter lightly. What
applies today to a small, technical piece of law which primarily applies only
to an easily derided minority of the population nonetheless sets a precedent
whose unintended consequences are enormously far-reaching.
To give a practical analogy, I own an ordinary everyday car. Ive never had a
penalty point, never a fine for speeding, not so much as a parking ticket in
fifteen years of driving. But:
My car doesnt have a speed limiter. I could, in theory, drive at 120kph down
the M50, breaking the law in the process.
It doesnt have any system or device to stop me driving at 60 kph down a
crowded pedestrian street at lethal speeds with horrific results.
It doesnt have a 24-hour guard watching it to stop someone else stealing it
from me and doing either of those things or worse.
And every year, cars like mine kill several hundred people on the roads of this
country, and maim and cripple hundreds more, even when driven by
upstanding members of society like former members of the Oireachtas.
When can I expect the Garda to come round to my house and take the car away from
me for the good of society?
Many will say in response to this that cars are not designed to kill people; I have
never understood or accepted this argument, which says that hundreds of deaths and
thousands of injuries are acceptable because they were accidental. Apart from the
depraved indifference to human life that this implies, it also assumes that the point of
the analogy is that we should be banning cars; when instead the point is that we do not
punish innocent people on the off-chance that they might in the future break a law.
We leave that sort of thing to Hollywood summer films which enjoy fancy special
effects and a suspension of disbelief.
I respectfully submit that those who draft legislation in our country ought to
be adhering to a higher standard than Steven Spielberg.
4. The Working Groups Report

Before commenting directly upon the Working Groups proposals, I wish to again
stress that these proposals were prepared in secret, without wider consultation with
any stakeholder groups. This has been proven on many occasions in the last decade to
be an error-prone approach which has led to many legislative anomalies, and it is an
approach which should not have been taken and which has damaged severely the
relationship between the Garda, the Department and the stakeholder groups.
It must also be stressed that the same language problems which I described in the first
section of my submission are present in the Working Groups Report. Throughout the
Report, data is provided in regard to criminal activities, in such a manner as to imply
a relationship to the legitimate ownership of firearms for sporting or other purposes.
For example, in the Executive Summary, the number of criminal incidents involving a
firearm between 2009 and 2014 is cited in a manner that misleads the reader into
associating that statistic with certified firearms owners despite a complete lack of
proof that any such link exists.
The Report makes mention of statements by then Minister Ahern, including the
statement I am determined to ensure that a gun culture is not allowed to form in this
State. This statement did not account for the presence of target shooting as a sport in
Ireland since at least 1850; nor did it allow for the possibility that an Irish gun culture
might be one in which positive traits are reinforced and negative ones discouraged;
and yet that accurately describes the club-based gun culture which has existed in this
State for many decades now and which continues to exist to this day. It is a culture
that stands in stark contrast to the American approach to firearms ownership and has
much in common with the European model. This should be borne in mind when using
such terms.
In section five of the report, the following assertion is made:
Under the Temporary Custody Order of 1972, holders of specified firearms (pistols,
revolvers, and rifles exceeding .22 inches) were directed to surrender their firearms
to the Garda. Following a series of judicial decisions, firstly the Judicial Review case
of Frank Brophy V Kehoe in 2004, approximately 1,800
handguns were licensed between 2004 and 2008. This situation did not come to pass
as a result of a decision of the Oireachtas and therefore in 2008 the then Minister for
Justice announced his plans regarding the licensing of handguns
The assertion that this situation did not come to pass as a result of a decision of the
Oireachtas is incorrect. The relevant decisions of the Oireachtas took place in 1925,
1964, 1971 and 1990 when the Oireachtas passed Firearms Acts which did not ban the
ownership of pistols. The policy of not issuing firearms certificates for pistols, which
extended from 1972 to 2004, was found to be unlawful by Justice Fennelly et al in the
Supreme Court in McVeigh:
70. The present case does not present any such difficult problems of judgment. There
are two obvious problems about the Ministers decision, as communicated to the
appellant. The first is that he refers to the policy, clearly referring to some single
policy concerning the criteria for the grant of firearms certificates. However, the
Minister had no function in the grant of firearms certificates and, a fortiori, in
formulating such policies. Moreover, there could not, at that time, be a single policy.
The function was allotted to Garda Superintendents in their own individual districts. I
do not say that it was impermissible for the Minister to have regard to the need for
any person possessing or using a firearm to have a firearms certificate, granted by his
local superintendent. If the Minister had formulated the matter differently by
referring, for example, to the unlikelihood of a particular firearm being granted a
certificate, his decision might have been defensible. Since that situation did not arise,
it is unnecessary to decide a hypothetical case.
71. The second problem with the Ministers decision is that it clearly does
communicate a rigid inflexible policy. The Minister offered the applicant no
opportunity to address the possibility of any exception to the policy or the merits of
the particular firearm.
.
73. In any event, it is quite clear that the Ministers decision as communicated was
infected by the vice of inflexibility. I do not think the matter can be rescued from the
Ministers point of view by Mr. Kellys belated attempt to portray it as otherwise than
inflexible. The decision has then been made. According to the case-law, especially
Dunne v. Donohoe, it was not a lawful decision. In my view, it was such as should
have been quashed on judicial review. However, it is difficult to discern, at this stage,
any advantage to be gained by quashing the decision of the Minister made more than
seven years ago. I would simply make a declaration that the Minister had made an
unlawful decision by basing it on an inflexible policy.
Therefore the reissuing of licences in 2004 for pistols which had been in Garda
custody since 1972 is not a situation that came about without a decision of the
Oireachtas; but is instead a situation that came about because of the ending of the
unlawful defiance of the Oireachtas and as I have already pointed out in section 3
above, the number of pistols so licenced represented a fall of 28% per capita from the
level of handgun licencing prior to the institution of that unlawful policy. The sense
conveyed by the Reports assertion in section five is one of the arrival of a new,
unpredicted and possibly threatening state of affairs in firearms licencing, but in fact
the situation is that of a return from an unlawful state of affairs to the law the
Oireachtas passed on four separate occasions, and the level of risk implied is not
supported by the statistical data and many of the firearms in question were in fact the
same firearms that had been in the State prior to 1972.
A large proportion of the remainder of section five of the Report is devoted to
explaining that An Garda Sochna, as a result of statistics pertaining to illegal crimes,
wishes to prevent the licencing of certain classes of firearms by people who by law
are required not to be a threat to the public safety or the peace should a firearms
certificate be issued to them. There is a complete lack of a logical connection here
between the axioms and the results of the Gardas argument. If criminals were
licencing the firearms they use in crimes, perhaps there would be merit in considering
the abuses of illegal guns by drug gangs, but insofar as I am aware, there is a Garda
policy against granting firearms certificates for smuggled handguns to be used by
drug dealers in the murder of competing drug dealers.
If this belief is in error, I would strongly urge the Committee to advise the Garda to
immediately institute such a policy.
Given that there is no connection between the axioms and results of the arguments of
the Garda in section five, I am at a loss to provide a counterargument, for how can
one provide a counterargument when no argument has been advanced?
I wish instead to move on to section seven in the Report, and point out the following
statement from the first paragraph:
The particular issues pertinent to this Review were not raised by DOJE or An Garda
Sochna at these meetings; neither have the recommendations of this draft Report
been the subject of consultation with these groups
The fact that despite meeting with several stakeholder groups on several occasions
during the course of this working groups review, and despite many requests for
clarification about the nature and subject of the review, none of these groups were
informed as to the issues being examined nor shown the proposed recommendations,
despite being acknowledged as possessing significant expertise in the area of firearms
legislation and having been involved in the legislative process for the 2006 and 2009
Acts, speaks volumes as to the manner in which this review was conducted and
should leave the Committee in no doubt as to the nature of, and justification for, the
concerns and objections of these stakeholder groups who have found themselves the
subject of offensive implications regarding their sports and the character of their
members as a result of this review and while the Ministers assurances that no final
decision will be taken without consultation have been given, the manner in which this
review has been carried out does not prejudice a reasonable person to accept these
assurances without qualms.
The entirety of section eleven of the Report is personally offensive. Comparing
certified Irish firearms owners with mass shootings carried out by mentally unstable
individuals in jurisdictions where firearms ownership by the mentally unstable is
prohibited is not only unjustifiable, but also seeks to absolve the police forces of these
jurisdictions and this one of the duty of enforcing firearms legislation.
As the Cullen Inquiry into the Dunblane shooting demonstrated, often the failing
which leads to such atrocities is a failing of the police force, who in the case of the
Dunblane atrocity not only ignored a serious breach of the firearms laws by Hamilton
as early as the 1970s when he illegally purchased a pistol he had no licence for and
was caught doing so by the police; but who also ignored several other investigations
from 1976 to 1995 and who overruled the formal written report of Detective Sergeant
Paul Hughes in which he stated:
During the course of my investigation I discovered that Hamilton was no stranger to
controversy and similar investigations had been undertaken by this and Strathclyde
Police Forces in the past. Hamilton also features in local criminal Intelligence files.
Throughout my investigation I met and spoke with Hamilton on a number of
occasions. It is as a result of the impressions left with me by this man that I feel
compelled to make this report. I have recently discovered that Hamilton possesses a
firearms certificate This concerns me. I am firmly of the opinion that Hamilton is
an unsavoury character and an unstable personality. I would contend that Mr.
Hamilton will be a risk to children whenever he has access to them and that he
appears to me to be an unsuitable person to possess a firearms certificate in view of
the number of occasions he has come to the adverse attention of the police and his
apparent instability. The Procurator-Fiscal at Stirling has not yet decided on whether
or not he will proceed with the case against Hamilton but at the moment it appears in
all likelihood that he will not. I respectfully request that serious consideration is given
to withdrawing this mans firearms certificate as a precautionary measure as it is my
opinion that he is a scheming, devious and deceitful individual who is not to be
trusted.
Despite this damning report, which was supported by the local Child Protection
Officer, the Scottish police renewed Hamiltons firearms licences and following the
subsequent horrific events, sought to have all police files on this topic sealed for a
century under the Official Secrets Act, something not overturned until 2005.
The obvious conclusion that should have been drawn from Dunblane, and one which
was obstructed by these actions of the Scottish police, was that the existing firearms
legislation was more than adequate to prevent the atrocity, had it been enforced
by the police. Instead this lesson was not learned, the legislation was changed, and
the underlying problem remained unaddressed. How much this error contributed to
the subsequent shooting in Cumbria cannot be readily quantified but must be
considered as a contributing factor.
It should also be noted that instituting bans on classes of firearms to prevent this sort
of atrocity is a much studied topic and the practice has been shown to be ineffectual.
In Australia after the 1996 Port Arthur shooting mentioned in section eleven, several
scientific studies have shown that the ban instituted there in 1997 had no effect on the
rate of gun crime, and it did not prevent the mass shooting in Monash University in
2002. The head of the Australian Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, Doctor
Don Weatherburn, said in 2005:
There has been a drop in firearm-related crime, particularly in homicide, but it
began long before the new laws and has continued on afterwards. I dont think
anyone really understands why. A lot of people assume that the tougher laws did it,
but I would need more specific, convincing evidence.
There has been a more specific problem with handguns, which rose up quite rapidly
and then declined. The decline appears to have more to do with the arrest of those
responsible than the new laws. As soon as the heroin shortage hit, the armed robbery
rate came down. I dont think it was anything to do with the tougher firearm laws.
This view aligns with the scientific studies into the ban in the British Journal of
Criminology in 2006 and the Justice Policy Journal in 2011. Even the rate of suicide
by firearm in Australia was shown not to have been effected by the 1997 ban in a
2009 study in Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology. In short, this approach
has been found to be one which sounds effective, intuitive and simple; but in practice
has had no effect, and only well-funded, properly-directed police prosecution of
criminals has shown proven results.
It does bear noting, however, that when statistical data from the UK shows that after a
firearms ban the level of firearms crime rose until more police resources were tasked
to prevent that crime, the Report has taken the position that the extra police resources
were insignificant and the ban was the reason for the subsequent fall in firearms
crime. This position is at odds with the long-term data on gun crime in the UK as
reported by the Home Office, which shows that the overall trend of a rise in gun crime
from 1980 to 2006 was not affected by the 1997 handgun ban (the noticeable drop in
handgun crime having begun three years earlier in 1994) and until a focused, funded
police effort was put in place, the crime rate had climbed to a rate double that at the
time of the ban.
I wish to make it very clear and to stress in the strongest possible terms
that this data does not suggest that gun crime is kept in check by
licenced firearms ownership. Correlation is not causation.
Rather, it demonstrates that gun crime and licenced firearms
ownership are not linked. Gun crime rates are unaffected by bans that
by definition only apply to law-abiding people.
There is nothing to suggest that the Irish experience would differ in any way from that
of other jurisdictions which have enacted gun bans and our experiences with gun
crime from 1972 to 2004, and our more recent experience since the partial handgun
ban in 2009, both demonstrate this as gun crime rates were unaffected by the bans in
place during these periods.
It must be asked, if the data from this jurisdiction and others, and the scientific study
of that data, show that the approach of banning licenced firearms ownership has no
effect on gun crime, why is the Working Group proposing a ban on licenced firearms
ownership based on gun crime statistics instead of proposing increased numbers of
Garda and funding to fight drug crime?
At the end of section 12 of the Report, mention is made of issuing officers consulting
with either the Firearms Policy Unit or the Ballistics Section. It would seem far more
sensible that the Firearms Policy Unit should be consulted on matters regarding
certified firearms ownership. Having two contact points whose advice may differ can
only exacerbate situations where confusion arises.
Mention is also made in this part of the Report of the persona designata status of the
deciding officer as being a bar to an internal review process for licencing decisions,
which would presumably serve as a welcome first step before availing of the District
Court, whose time is already hard pressed. The reports conclusion that this status is a
bar does not acknowledge two points:
Firstly, if the deciding officer errs in his decisionmaking process and this is
indicated by an internal review, this does not constitute an order to make a
decision one way or another; but is instead a finding that the decisionmaking
process was flawed and the decision should be reexamined. It ought to be
recognised that this is precisely the same kind of finding that resulted from
High Court Judicial Reviews of licencing decisions prior to the 2006 Firearms
Acts introduction of the District Court appeals process. If the persona
designata status was not a bar to High Court Judicial Reviews, then it is not
clear how it could be a bar to internal reviews so long as those reviews do not
issue orders to grant or refuse a certificate application, but restrict themselves
to examining the decisionmaking process for possible errors of law.
Secondly, the introduction of the District Court appeals process in the 2006
Act empowered the District Court to direct a Garda Superintendent or Chief
Superintendent to grant or refuse a certificate as well as to direct them to
reexamine their decision. Therefore the previous persona designata status
enjoyed by the deciding officer no longer exists as their ultimate discretion
in making a decision on firearms licencing may be fettered in fact it may be
overridden directly by the District Court should that Court deem it warranted.
Section 13 contemplates the confiscation of a large amount of expensive privately
owned sports equipment from law-abiding people without compensation and
concludes no legal case would be successful in pursuing compensation. I find myself
unsure as to whether or not the Working Group was serious in this conclusion, or
whether they were just kidding around. Im hoping as a taxpayer whose taxes would
be used to pay for the inevitable Supreme Court cases that theyre just joking.
Section 15 considers the issue of applications not processed in the three month
timeframe set forth by section 15A of the Firearms Act. The tone of this consideration
is one suited to considering the satisfaction of customers in a retail outlet. It is not
suited to the nature of the three month timeframe set forth in 15A, because at the end
of that three month period, the applicant is legally deemed to have been refused by the
deciding officer and notified of said refusal. However, many licences have been
granted after this deadline. This raises a question of the validity of a firearms
certificate issued for an application that has legally already been deemed to be
refused. This is a confusing situation and requires addressing; the approach of stating
that it only applies in a small number of cases is basically stating that it is considered
acceptable to the Garda to ignore a section of the Firearms Act so long as it only
happens in a small number of cases (even when small number refers to almost ten
thousand incidents). This is (thankfully) highly inconsistent with the approach of the
Garda to noncompliances with the Firearms Acts by non-Garda.
I would like to make a specific comment about the whitelisting of pistols mentioned
throughout the report. There are purely technical problems with whitelisting as
envisaged, and the experiences in California where such a whitelist is used have
demonstrated these problems.
The first problem is that someone has to maintain such a list. This is not a simple task.
Pistols are like any other manufactured good in that new designs come out and old
designs retire. Maintaining a whitelist will therefore not be a one-off job, and keeping
track of every smallbore pistol design and judging which meet the criteria and which
do not would be almost a fulltime job. Im a fully qualified ISSF judge whos been
target shooting for twenty years, Ive run equipment control for a few international
pistol matches, and I certainly
couldnt perform such an evaluation merely by looking at a brochure from the
manufacturer, I cannot in good faith see how an untrained civil servant whose
expertise does not lie in firearms will be able to perform such evaluations adequately
unless the Department of Justice purchased test firearms for that purpose, which
would be enormously expensive and time-consuming and which would require
facilities they do not currently possess.
Further, the whitelist is envisaged as being pistols designed for use in the Olympics,
but most pistols are designed for use in a lot of other sports as well because of the
nature of manufacturing economics. Like any popular car, you can get a pistol like the
Hammerli Xesse in several different variants, mostly with cosmetic changes between
them. For a beginner in the sport, this is perfect the pistol costs six or seven hundred
euro instead of the three to five thousand euro the pistols used by Olympic medallists
cost, and they can try several Olympic and non-Olympic shooting sports to find out
which theyre best at. Ban those beginner pistols and youre banning not only a dozen
non-Olympic sports, but youre strangling the Olympic sports as well. This is at
variance with the stated Garda and Departmental policy to facilitate Olympic sports.
Such a bias against recreational entry-level target shooting of this kind is also at odds
with the stated intent of the Firearms Act, which was not envisaged as allowing
certificates only in the case of international level shooters. Beginners in the sport were
explicitly mentioned in the Dail by the Minister during the 2004 Bills debates. This is
why the Act requires proof of competency, rather than proof of proficiency, in section
four.
Also such, a whitelist is as was pointed out in objections during the drafting of the
original Restricted List not an appropriate mechanism to use in legislation, and if
restrictions are required, they should as they currently are in the legislation be
based on physical characteristics of the firearm which may be objectively and
independently measured to determine the legal classification of the firearm. Such an
approach is infinitely more flexible, open and transparent.
The notes in the above four sections from pages 3 through 18 constitute my objections
to Heads 1, 2, 4 and 5.
I also wish to point out that Head 13 implies that a certificate issued in contravention
of the Firearms Act would not be null and void but would have to be explicitly
revoked; this would imply that any private individual could issue such a certificate
and it would require a Garda Superintendent to revoke this obviously invalid
certificate. Therefore Head 13 is obviously a ridiculous suggestion. Invalidly issued
certificates are simply invalid and do not need to be explicitly revoked.
Appearance before the Joint Committee on Justice,
Defence and Equality
on the review of firearms licencing.
Shortcomings of regulator in FitzPatrick trial
unacceptable, says Fitzgerald
by Gensec on June 30, 2017 in News
The shortcomings and investigative practices of the Office of the Director of Corporate
Enforcement (ODCE) in the trial of former Anglo Irish Bank chairman Sen Fitzpatrick are
completely unacceptable, Tnaiste Frances Fitzgerald has said.
In her first Dil question time as Minister for Enterprise and Innovation, Ms Fitzgerald
sharply criticised the ODCE. They fell far short of the standard impartial, unbiased and
thorough investigation we expect and demand.
She pledged that action will be taken to address any shortcomings and this could
include changes in procedure, organisational restructure, enhanced powers and possibly
new legislation. Her predecessor as minister, Mary Mitchell OConnor, had sought a
report from director of the ODCE Ian Drennan on the facts in the case and the issues
involved in the investigation of the bank since 2008.
Investigation
The Tnaiste received the report two days ago on the day it was due and has
referred it to the Attorney General for legal advice. It is her intention to publish the
document.
The report sets out the facts relating to the case and does not purport to be an
investigation or an inquiry but is solely a review of the facts and will prove very helpful.
Ms Fitzgerald pointed out that Ms Mitchell OConnor sought an explanation of issues

including the coaching of witness statements, the shredding of documents, a perceived
bias by ODCE investigators and late disclosure of documents.
The Tnaiste said she would be in a better position to determine the next steps to take
when she receives the Attorney Generals advice.
White-collar crime
Fianna Fil enterprise spokesman Niall Collins, who raised the issue, pointed to it being
the longest-running criminal trial in the history of the State and it showed all and sundry
how inept the State is in terms of investigating and prosecuting white-collar crime. He
said most blame was rightly placed at the door of the ODCE. But equally an eye must be
kept on the actions or inactions of An Garda Sochna and the office of the DPP. He
said trials were going on every day of the week.
Mr Collins believed this House will have to consider who holds the office of the DPP to
account in terms of its quality control and throughput, much of which is questionable.
The Tnaiste said that while Mr Collins mentioned the DPP and An Garda, the director of
the ODCE was asked for a factual report which is what I have received.
He said the public was entitled to see the report and to know how such a serious case
dealing with events which impacted on the lives of so many people, failed abysmally.
Ms Fitzgerald told him there was some legal work to be done on the report and then she
would like to publish it.
Frances Fitzgerald has become the new Justice Minister, Taoiseach Enda Kenny has
told the Dail.
Making the announcement in the Dail at around 10.50am today, Mr Kenny said that
Charlie Flanagan would fill her role as Minister for Children.
Frances Fitzgerald replaces Alan Shatter as Justice Minister

He said TD Fitzgerald had made the protection of children
a "top priority" in her capacity as Children's Minister.
Making the appointment, Mr Kenny said: "As the States
first Cabinet level Minister for Children, Frances
Fitzgerald, had inherited a system that was failing to
adequately protect our young people.
"In just three years, she has transformed the
constitutional, legislative and administrative systems to
make the welfare and protection of children the top
priority.
"She has overseen a constitutional referendum on
childrens rights; the enactment of the Children First
guidelines on a statutory basis; and the creation of the
Child and Family Agency.
"I know that she will bring the same energy, commitment
and reforming zeal to her new role as Minister for Justice
and Equality."
Mr Kenny also paid tribute to the outgoing Justice Minister
and Dublin South TD, Mr Shatter, noting his record of work
in the department.
Former Justice Minister Alan Shatter withF rances Fitzgerald

in January 2014 (Image: Stephen Collins/Collins Photos)
The Taoiseach said: "During his three years as minister,
he implemented huge reform right across his areas of
responsibility, from the creation of the personal insolvency
system, to the referendum on a court of appeal to the
reform of the legal profession.
"His work in opposition on private members legislation will
also leave a great legacy on the statute books.
"One relatively minor reform that really stuck a chord with
many people was the way in which new Irish citizens are
confirmed.
"When Alan Shatter took office, he inherited a degrading
system in which people had to make their declarations
before sittings of the District Court.
"He personally changed that system to create proper,
dignified ceremonies in which our new citizens can be
confirmed in a dignified and appropriate setting, in the
presence of their families.
"I have met many new citizens who have been deeply
moved by the dignity of the new process. I wish Deputy
Shatter and his family well for the future."
Mr Kenny said new Children's Minister Charlie Flanagan
was "vastly experienced" and is "eminently qualified to
continue the hugely important work of this Government in
the area of the welfare and protection of children".
He said: "I commend his name to the House and look
forward to his contribution as a member of the
Government."
TD Flanagan's appointment to the Cabinet was approved
by a margin of 80 to 35.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny and new Justice Minister Frances
Fitzgerald TD (Image: Stephen Collins/Collins Photos)
New Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald was elected as a
TD in the Dublin Mid-West constituency in 2011.
The Croom, Co Limerick-born politician was first elected in
1992 and also entered the Seanad in 2007, serving as
Leader of the Opposition.
She has previously held prominent roles in women's
politics, chairing the National Women's Council and
holding the position of Vice President of the European
Women's Lobby.
The likes of Leo Varadkar, Paschal Donohue and Simon
Coveney were all in the running for the post of Justice
Minister, vacant after Alan Shatter quit yesterday evening.
The shock news of Mr Shatter's resignation from the he
had no choice but to go.
The Taoiseach himself will take up responsibility for the
Department of Defence.
Last night it emerged that Mr Kenny made a crunch call to
Mr Shatter yesterday morning after reading a damning
report into his handling of allegations made by garda
whistleblowers.
The Taoiseach called the Attorney General at 6am after
reading Sean Guerin's report and then contacted Mr
Shatter.
The Guerin report, due to be published tomorrow, found
that Mr Shatter failed in his ministerial duties.
It is believed the Taoiseach made it clear to his Justice
Minister that he had no choice but to resign.
John Wilson
Retired cop and whistleblower John Wilson said he took
no pleasure in the demise of any human being losing their
job but he [Shatter] had to go.
He said: He [Shatter] couldnt have remained in his
position and should have gone a long time ago.
"If it was in the North or the UK, he would have been gone
within days.
"He minimised our allegations and was forced to correct
himself and Dail record about incorrect statements about
Maurice McCabe and myself not co-operating with the
OMahony investigation. He had to go.

Varadkar says garda
management should 'look
into' evidence given by
garda in the Jobstown
trial
Independent.ie Newsdesk
July 6 2017
Leo Varadkar
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said senior garda management should "look into"
evidence given by garda in the Jobstown trial, RTE reports.
The trial, which saw six men acquitted on charges of falsely imprisoning
former Tanaiste Joan Burton and her advisor Karen O'Connell during a 2014
protest, concluded last week.
Following the verdict a number of TDs have called for an investigation into a
public inquiry into the garda investigation.
Solidarity TD Paul Murphy, who was one of the men on trial, has been leading
the call for a review.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said there are no plans for a public inquiry into
the issue, telling the Dil on Tuesday "it appears to me that Deputy Murphy
and his co-defendants got a fair trial".
However, in a new interview with RTE's Prime Time program Mr Varadkar

said people need to be able to trust evidence given bygarda in court.
"People need to trust what the gardai say on the stand and I can understand
that perhaps in a scenario whereby lots of things are happening quickly and
people are caught up in the heat of the moment, they may have a recollection
that isn't exactly as things happened," he said in a portion of the interview
broadcast by RTE on the Six-One news.
"But I would be very concerned if it's the case that we would ever have garda
on the stand in the court giving evidence that is not in line with the facts, that
is not in line, for example, with the video evidence.
"I think there is something there that needs to be looked at by the garda
commissioner and by senior garda management because we need to be able to
trust that when the gardai stand up in court and they say something happened
that that did happen.
"And it shouldn't conflict with the video evidence and if it does that is a
problem.
http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/varadkar-says-garda-management-
should-look-into-evidence-given-by-garda-in-the-jobstown-trial-
35903487.html?utm_content=buffer20ece&utm_medium=social&utm_source=t
witter.com&utm_campaign=buffer
LEO says...
" lots of things are happening quickly and people are caught up in the heat of the moment,
they may have a recollection that isn't exactly as things happened,"
They lied LEO . simple.
ARTICLE
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said the public should be able to trust evidence given by garda in court.
In a new interview with RTE's Prime Time program Mr Varadkar said he understood that there were
some scenarios where recollections may not match up.
"People need to trust what the gardai say on the stand and I can understand that perhaps in a scenario
whereby lots of things are happening quickly and people are caught up in the heat of the moment, they
may have a recollection that isn't exactly as things happened," he said in a portion of the interview
"But I would be very concerned if it's the case that we would ever have garda on the stand in the court
giving evidence that is not in line with the facts, that is not in line, for example, with the video
evidence.
"I think there is something there that needs to be looked at by the garda commissioner and by senior
garda management because we need to be able to trust that when the gardai stand up in court and they
say something happened that that did happen.
"And it shouldn't conflict with the video evidence and if it does that is a problem.
Internal review into garda

handling of Jobstown
investigation underway,
as Taoiseach says
evidence given by officers
should be 'looked into'
1
Defendants in the Jobstown trial (Males from left) Kieran Mahon,
Michael Banks, Frank Donaghy, Paul Murphy TD, Scott Masterson
and Michael Murphy arrive at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
where they appeared on charges of the false imprisonment of then
Tanaiste Joan Burton at a water protest in Jobstown in 2014.
Photo: Collins Courts
Garda management have launched a "lessons learnt" review of the garda
response and investigation into a 2014 protest in Jobstown which resulted in
six men going on trial on false imprisonment charges.
Six men, including Solidarity TD Paul Murphy, were acquitted on charges of

falsely imprisoning former Tnaiste Joan Burton and her adviser Karen
O'Connell during the protest in West Dublin.
Following the verdict a number of TDs have called for an investigation into a
public inquiry into the garda investigation, which Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has
said the Government has no plans for.
However an internal garda review is underway.
A spokesperson for An Garda Sochan told Independent.ie the review was

commenced on June 30 "into the policing response and the subsequent
investigation into the incident that occurred at An Cosn, Kiltalawn, Tallaght
on 15th November, 2014 from a lessons-learnt perspective".
News of the review comes after Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said garda
management should look into evidence given by garda during the trial.
Speaking on Prime Time Mr Varadkar said:
"People need to trust what the gardai say on the stand and I can understand
that perhaps in a scenario whereby lots of things are happening quickly and
people are caught up in the heat of the moment, they may have a recollection
that isn't exactly as things happened," he said in a portion of the interview
"But I would be very concerned if it's the case that we would ever have garda
on the stand in the court giving evidence that is not in line with the facts, that
is not in line, for example, with the video evidence.
"I think there is something there that needs to be looked at by the garda
commissioner and by senior garda management because we need to be able to
trust that when the gardai stand up in court and they say something happened
that that did happen.
"And it shouldn't conflict with the video evidence and if it does that is a
problem.
The garda spokesman said the review will be conducted by Assistant

Commissioner Barry O'Brien and will examine the following areas:
Key learning points
Identification of organisational practices/policies which require improvement.
Training
Any other issues of note
http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/internal-review-into-garda-handling-of-
jobstown-investigation-underway-as-taoiseach-says-evidence-given-by-officers-
should-be-looked-into-35903608.html
THE CHAIRMAN OF the Charleton tribunal has said that he needs to know when garda
discovered that a false allegation of sexual abuse containing incorrect information was a silly
error that was a denigration of someones reputation.
The tribunal is examining claims that allegations of sexual abuse were used as part of a
campaign to smear and undermine the reputation of garda whistleblower Sergeant Maurice
McCabe.""
I need to know how the garda

reacted to this matter' -
Tribunal chair wants answers
on McCabe child sexual abuse
allegation
Mr Justice Peter Charleton said he also needed to find out how
information about the false allegation was passed on.
5 hours ago 10,054 Views 19 Comments
Share11 Tweet Email1
Pictured is Fiona Ward after giving evidence on the second day of
public hearing at the Disclosures Tribunal in Dublin Castle.
Image: Leah Farrell
THE CHAIRMAN OF the Charleton tribunal has said that he
needs to know when garda discovered that a false allegation
of sexual abuse containing incorrect information was a silly
error that was a denigration of someones reputation.
The tribunal is examining claims that allegations of sexual
abuse were used as part of a campaign to smear and
undermine the reputation of garda whistleblower Sergeant
Maurice McCabe.
Mr Justice Peter Charleton said he also needed to find out
how information about the false allegation was passed on
from Bailieboro garda station in Co Cavan to senior officers
in Sligo and in Dublin.
And he needed to hear how an idiotic follow-up occurred
in September 2015 where Tusla, the child and family agency,
wrote to Sergeant McCabe telling him his children were at
risk.
The tribunal chairman said: I need to know how the garda
reacted to this matter. Did they say oh hes at it again. Did
they say its absolute nonsense?
Mr Conor Dignam SC, for the Garda Commissioner, said
that in 2013 Supt Leo McGinn, believing it to be a new
allegation, felt the report warranted investigation by a unit
external to the division.
However, he said ultimately no external investigation was
carried out. Mr Dignam said the evidence would show that
quite rapidly in June and July it became apparent to Chief
Supt James Sheridan, the senior garda in the division, that
there was an error, and in fact the allegation was a repeat of
the 2006 matter which had already been investigated, and
that it required no further investigation.
Ms Fiona Ward, a director of counselling with RIAN, a free
counselling service under the remit of the HSE, continued
her evidence before the tribunal for a second day.
She outlined how after incorrect records were sent to garda
by HSE Child & Family Services in error in 2013, she wrote
to the chief superintendent of the Cavan-Monaghan division
where Sergeant McCabe was based asking that the incorrect
records be returned for destruction.
On behalf of Sergeant McCabe, Michael McDowell SC asked
if anyone in the agency discussed whether Sergeant McCabe
was owed the small civility of telling him that his reputation
was being shredded in private as a result of gross
incompetence.
Contact
Ms Ward said that because they had not been in touch with
Sergeant McCabe about the allegations, they did not need to
contact him.
I absolutely can see the gravity and severity of the error for
Mr McCabe and apologise, Ms Ward said.
Mr McDowell said it appeared that the Tnaiste had been
informed in 2015 about the allegations, but nobody
bothered to tell Sergeant McCabe about it.
I wasnt aware of that, said Ms Ward.
My understanding was that the information was corrected.

I had no information that the incorrect information was still
in circulation. I was shocked to learn that.
Mr McDowell also said that the description of the original
allegation had been characterised in a number of ways over
time, from humping in an original statement, and
subsequently to molestation and inappropriate touching,
and then to dry humping.
Report
On 9 June 2014, Chief Supt James Sheridan wrote to Ms
Ward to ask for clarification on whether the allegation was
new or related to a previous report, and how the error had
occurred and was discovered.
Ms Ward said that while the information was new to Child
Protection Services, it had already been reported to gardai in
2006.
The tribunal heard that Insp Pat OConnell spoke with Ms
Ward later in June 2014 seeking clarification, and had asked
if it was a typographical error /cut and paste which led to
the incorrect
information being sent out.
Ms Ward said she confirmed this was the case. She agreed
with tribunal barrister Pat Marrinan SC that this was the
first time the cut and paste explanation was suggested.
I was using the words he was using. It was an easy way to
explain it but it wasnt accurate, she said.
She said she was aware of who Sergeant Maurice McCabe
was from news reports at the time.
But she said she was not suspicious that something maybe
was a bit amiss here, that it was a coincidence that these
errors had happened.
You didnt get the impression that improper use was being
made of this material? Mr Marrinan asked.
On the basis of the interactions that I had, no, said Ms
Ward.
If procedures put in place for face to face meetings in 2012
had been followed, the catastrophic error would have been
identified at a much earlier time, Mr McDowell said.
He said someone would have noticed the allegation had
escalated from rubbing during a game of hide and seek to a
criminal offence which carried a sentence of life
imprisonment, he said.
Guidelines recommending regular face to face meetings
between the Child Protection Service, Social Work Teams
and gardai to clarify all ongoing cases were issued by the
HSE in December 2012.
Ms Ward said volume of work and the difficulty arranging
meetings between different agencies meant that meetings
were heard on a case by case basis instead.
This was a message to

working-class communities
Call for inquiry into Jobstown
investigation
At a press conference today, Murphy and Solidarity colleagues were
heavily critical of the garda.
Jun 30th 2017
Image: Leah Farrell/Rollingnews.ie

PAUL MURPHY HAS made a call for a public inquiry into
how the Jobstown protest investigation was conducted.
Yesterday, Murphy and five other men were found not guilty
of falsely imprisoning Joan Burton and her adviser Karen
OConnell at the water charges protest in 2014.
Speaking at a press conference in Dublin today, Murphy and
other Solidarity party members went on the attack,
criticising the garda for evidence given in the trial and
calling for a public inquiry into the investigation.
This was a politically-driven investigation, Murphy
claimed, designed to send a message to working class
communities.
Follow
Sean Murray @SeanMJourno
Paul Murphy: "This was a politically driven investigation"
2:22 PM - 30 Jun 2017
Source: Sean Murray/Twitter
He said that it was not clear to him where the impetus for
the investigation had come from, and it was important now
to answer that question.
Its clear now that we need a public inquiry to find out why it
happened.
Judge Melanie Greally drew attention to the Garda
testimony as being inconsistent with what was seen in the
video footage of the event in her final remarks to the jury
earlier this week. She said that on a number of instances,
there was Garda testimony describing events that were not
borne out by the footage.
Murphy rejected the claim that the contradictions in Garda
testimony and what was seen in the video footage were as a
result of the frailties of human memory.
He wasnt as critical of the Director of Public Prosecutions,
but claimed that the investigation was flawed.
When asked about his use of social media during the trial,
he said that he tweeted mostly innocuous stuff that he
didnt feel prejudiced the case. Murphy also said that staff in
his office retweeted some messages of support, but deleted
them when the prosecution requested that he did so.
I dont think this is the story here, he said. It is a
distraction. The story here is that people were found not
guilty.
In a statement yesterday, the garda said: An Garda
Siochana do not comment on matters which are or have
been before the courts.
Ireland is ripe for the Left
Paul Murphy on left-wing movements gaining
momentum
<div class="player-unavailable"><h1 class="message">An error occurred.</h1><div

class="submessage"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOrQRcM8UAk"
target="_blank">Try watching this video on www.youtube.com</a>, or enable
JavaScript if it is disabled in your browser.</div></div>
Source: TheJournal.ie/YouTube
His party colleague, Ruth Coppinger TD, said an important

question to ask would be why charges of false imprisonment
were laid against the men.
Mick Barry TD said that the verdicts in the Jobstown trial
may be seen as having a significant impact in the future, and
said that the appeal of left-wing ideas was growing in the
country.
In the next few months, well be stepping up the Lefts
opposition to Leo Varadkars government, he said.
Murphy said that he and other Solidarity representatives
would stand together to present a challenge at the next
election based on the anti-austerity principles the party
stands for.
Ireland is absolutely ripe for it, he said.
Barry added: The French have a saying: what the
parliament does, the street can undo.
People power is becoming a significant factor in the politics
of this country.
http://www.thejournal.ie/paul-murphy-public-inquiry-call-3471872-Jun2017/
Leo Varadkar says 'it's a
problem' that garda evidence
conflicted with video footage in
Jobstown trial
Varadkar discussed Paul Murphy, the Eighth Amendment and women in
the Dil in a wide-ranging RT interview.
July 7, 17
TAOISEACH LEO VARADKAR has said that the issue of

evidence given by garda in the Jobstown trial conflicting
with video evidence is something that should be looked at by
the garda commissioner and senior garda management.
Paul Murphy, who was one of the men on trial accused of
falsely imprisoning Joan Burton, has led the calls for a
public inquiry into the garda investigation after all men were
acquitted last week.
In an interview with RTs Prime Time, the Taoiseach said
that he didnt think a public inquiry into the Jobstown
investigation would actually serve any purpose.
In a wide-ranging interview, Varadkar also discussed the
recent furore over a blogger approached by garda after
criticising Regina Doherty on social media and female
representation at cabinet level.
People need to trust the garda
When asked about the Jobstown trial, and the role that Paul
Murphy played in it, Varadkar discussed the role of garda
evidence on the stand. He said:
We need to be able to trust that when the Gardai stand up in
court and they say something happened that it did happen
and it shouldnt conflict with video evidence and if it does
then that is a problem.
The Taoiseach said that he would be very concerned if its
the case that we would ever have garda on a stand in the
court giving evidence that is not in line with the facts.
He said it was something that needed to be looked at by both
garda commissioner Nirn OSullivan and senior garda
management.
While he did not think a public inquiry was warranted, he
said that these issues need to be looked at. He said:
I dont think a public inquiry would actually serve any
purpose, you know weve had a trial. Theres been a trial,
went on for nine weeks, the jury heard the evidence from
both sides, and they decided to acquit and nobody is
disputing that.
As has been the case with other things, you know for
example the trial of Sean Fitzpatrick, I do think we need to
consider why the prosecutions werent successful. I dont
think this necessarily requires a public inquiry but we do
need to obviously examine these things.
In a statement this evening, Paul Murphy said that

Varadkars comments were the first crack in the wall of
opposition to a public inquiry.
He said that the admission from the Taoiseach that the
evidence from some garda was contradictory to the video
evidence reaffirms the need for an independent public
inquiry.
Women in politics
Varadkar again defended the female representation in his
cabinet and said 10 of 12 female TDs that support the
government are in paid promotional positions.
The difficulty is that we dont have women members of
parliament, TDs in the Dil, he said.
He said that we have a long way to go, and that he was
determined to ensure that representation of women is
increased in the next Dil.
Speaking about the recent controversy involving a blogger
being cautioned by garda after a complaint was made based
on criticism of Social Protection Minister Regina Doherty,
Varadkar said that he didnt know the details of it.
He added: I would imagine that if anyone was cautioned by
the Gardai it would be done for legitimate reason. You know,
Gardai dont caution people because of interpersonal
disputes or a civil offence.
On the issue of the Eighth Amendment, Varadkar said that
he believed Irelands abortion laws are too restrictive but
wouldnt be drawn on how these laws should change.
The Taoiseach also said that he was a little bit surprised
that the Citizens Assembly recommended unlimited access
to abortion, but wasnt surprised that that it suggested
repealing or replacing the Eighth.
Some fooking Mandate?
A thief and a liar
No way is she 36, she look a 54 marker not 38
Problem is their wealthy friends will vote them in we need to make our vote count too there is more of us
dregs
Not one vote are the getting from this household ever and the same with the flip flop party and the traitors
labour
Hard to fathom if The Second Coming is Jesus Christ returning to earth or Regina getting re-elected, of
course the backdrop is accidental.

New forensics laboratory 'will help future-proof Ireland's
justice infrastructure'
10/05/2017
One in five crimes will now be solvable as a result of the DNA
database, which is managed by Forensic Science Ireland
(FSI), writes Joyce Fegan.
Tnaiste and Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald turned the
sod on the FSI's state-of-the-art 60m facility this morning in
Cellbridge, Co Kildare.
The new laboratory will serve to enhance the analysis of crime
scene evidence.
"In 2015, the much-awaited DNA database was established.
It's fair to say that is has been way more successful than we
could have imagined. The take-up has been phenomenal,"
said Dr Sheila Willis, the director general of the FSI.
"We have a one-in-five chance of an unsolved crime matching
a person on the database and that will even change and grow
as we go along," she added.
The Tnaiste said the facility, which is now starting one year
ahead of schedule, will help to "future proof" Ireland's "justice
infrastructure".
"This new much-needed facility will help to future proof an
essential part of our justice infrastructure," said the Tnaiste.
FSI currently has a staff of just over 100 people working out of
laboratories at Garda headquarters in the Phoenix Park.
The new laboratory, at 9,550 square metres, is on the
Backweston campus and is due for completion in 2020/2021.
http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/new-forensics-laboratory-will-help-
future-proof-irelands-justice-infrastructure-789054.html

ALL LAWS FOR US, NO LAWS FOR THEM!
How many times have you despondently used the term one law for them and another law for
the rest of us? Those of us who are awake in Ireland are sick to the teeth of watching justice
being subverted by the very people who are meant to make justice, administer justice and
enforce justice.
We have witnessed ridiculously lenient sentences given to bankers for billion euro fraud
which bankrupted our nation, where a judge stated that prison would be a very upsetting
experience for such bankers and only two weeks ago, another 3 banking criminals were sent
to the cushy semi open prison at Mountjoys Training Unit only hours into their 2 and 3 year
sentences. Not even a prisoner beginning a 3 month sentence for non payment of fines
would have such luck. We are sick to the teeth of learning about penalty points being
unlawfully removed for judges, TDs, state solicitors, well connected wealthy people, corrupt
journalists and sainted celebrities. When a journalist attempted to write an article in the public
interest highlighting a serving Garda Commissioner having penalty points removed, she was
promptly dismissed from her long serving employment. This is just a taste of what corruption
is like in Ireland and it has now reached dangerous totalitarian levels.
But the time for talking is now over. The time for giving out down in the pub has long past.
The time for shrugging our shoulders with defeatist phrases of ah well sure what can we
do? is certainly long past its sell by date and the time for writing silly, meaningless and
grumpy letters to the Irish Times is now gone forever. THE TIME FOR DIRECT ACTION IS
NOW!
As a result of the states criminally corrupt actions against a number of people in different
parts of Ireland in recent and not so recent times, this organisation ACT Anti Corruption
Taskforce has emerged. There are now a rapidly growing number of people throughout this
land who are no longer prepared to shrug their shoulders and allow criminals masquerading
as lawyers, politicians, judges, Gardai or other senior civil servants to run roughshod over the
ordinary people of Ireland. We mean business this time and here is why.
There will be no more silent assemblies outside Leinster House in the downpours of rain,
while the political establishment laugh their heads off at us while they stagger around the
subsidised Dail Bar. THIS TIME WE WILL TURN UP AT THE HOMES OF CORRUPT
POLITICIANS AND SEE IF THEY LAUGH THEN?
There will be no more complaints to the Law Society, which means being driven around in
circles for 5 and 10years while they laugh their heads off at us at the annual Rotary Club
dinner. THIS TIME WE WILL TURN UP AT THE HOMES OF CORRUPT LAWYERS AND
JUDGES AND SEE IF THEY LAUGH THEN.
There will be no more complaints to the Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission (GSOC)
where such complaints will be the subject of practical office jokes in the company of Paul
Williams at the Garda annual dinner. THIS TIME WE WILL TURN UP AT THE HOMES OF
CORRUPT SENIOR GARDAI AND SEE IF THEY LAUGH THEN.
There will be no more complaints to the Press Council or the Broadcasting Complaints
Authority, where such complaints will ignite rapturous laughter and sneering from the likes of
Mick Clifford and Miriam O Callaghan. THIS TIME WE WILL TURN UP AT THE HOMES OF
CORRUPT JOURNALISTS AND BROADCASTERS AND SEE IF THEY LAUGH THEN.
There will be no more controlled opposition style protests and marches against the corruption
which is destroying our nations spirit, because that is what the corrupt establishment want us
to do and that is why they are having a laugh at us the ordinary people of Ireland. Instead,
WE WILL TURN UP AT THE HOMES OF THOSE CORRUPT IN SOCIETY AND SEE IF
THEY LAUGH THEN.
If you want to be involved in a hands-on approach to fighting corruption in our society please
join with us. We meet each Saturday in Athlone, Co. Westmeath for the purposes of planning
strategy and we intend taking that fight against corruption to a higher level than what was
ever attempted before. There will be regular actions undertaken over the next few months, all
of which will be lawful, legal but effective. We need to get the word out that some of the most
powerful people in our society, those who make decisions that affect our every day lives, are
corrupt to the core and are nothing less than criminals.
If you want to do your bit to help end the situation of ONE LAW FOR THEM AND ONE LAW
FOR US then please share this post far and wide and join with us at ACT Anti Corruption
Taskforce.

Our Mission Statement will be an important item for discussion at our Next Meeting Prince of
Wales Hotel Athlone Saturday August 6th 4pm to 6pm
Thank you to Niall Doyle for proposing these 12 points
ACT - Anti Corruption Taskforce
Mission Statement, August 2016 - What we are campaigning for!
1. Introduction of 3 Judge Courts in ALL Courts, from District Court to High Court and in ALL
Court proceedings i.e. Criminal, Civil, and Family Courts.
2. All Court proceedings to be recorded by video with good sound quality. Such recordings to
be made freely available on demand to ALL parties to proceedings.
3. The complete abolition of the In Camera Rule in Family courts. At present the appearance
of the media in such court rooms is at the total discretion of the presiding Judge and anyone
breaking the In Camera Rule now faces a maximum of 5 years in prison which is a gagging
order.
4. Complete abolition of political appointments to positions of power and influence, including

but not limited to, ALL of the Judiciary, Senior Gardai, DPP, State Solicitors, Central Bank
Governor, Director General of RTE. This system to be replaced by 'Citizens Selection
Boards', members of which will be randomly picked in the same manner as Jury Service.
If we the people are considered competent and capable enough to decide the innocence or
guilt of a murder suspect in the Central Criminal Court, or competent and capable enough to
select our TDs or President, then we are competent and capable enough to decide who can
be Judges, Garda Commissioners, Chief prosecutors, State Solicitors or Central Bank
Governors.
5. At least 50% of staff in all grades within the oversight/regulatory bodies must be citizens
randomly chosen in the same manner as Jury Service.
6. Corruption and Malfeasance on the part of state employees to be made an OFFENCE

AGAINST THE STATE, punishable by sentences ranging up to life imprisonment, depending
on the severity of the corruption.
7. Any state employee proven to have engaged in a corrupt act to be removed from office
and prohibited from being on the state's payroll for life. This must also apply to elected
politicians. The 'Citizens Selection Boards' will be responsible for such dismissals.
8. Charities and quangos that receive public funding must have audited accounts made
available on line each year. Failure to do so must result in a permanent withdrawal of public
funding to that charity/quango.
9. ALL state employees and ALL those indirectly salaried by the state to be precluded from
membership of secret societies, including but not limited to: Opus Dei, Knights Of
Columbanus and Freemasons. Any state employee or anyone salaried indirectly by the state
who is proven to be a member of such a secret society to be prosecuted under new
legislation which will govern standards in the public service.
10.Law Society and the Bar Council complaints mechanism to be taken out of the hands of
the legal profession and made subject to an independent 'Citizens Complaints Board'. This
board to be selected in the same manner as Jury service.
11. Lay Litigants to be entitled to appoint any person of their choosing to represent them in
any court proceedings, irrespective of that person's legal training or qualifications and that
person to be afforded the same rights in court as a lawyer i.e. to address the court and to
cross examine witnesses.
The present McKenzie Friend system is ineffective because it is at the Judge's discretion. It is
also an impediment to fair and due process to the lay litigant in the court room. If the
McKenzie Friend system was of benefit to the lay litigant, then the legal profession would not
allow it.
12.Every person to be entitled to free legal representation by a private legal firm relating to
ANY LEGAL MATTER, be it criminal or civil and relevant legal fees paid for by the state
through a 'Citizens Legal Assistance Fund'. This will entitle any person who is wronged by
any other person, corporate entity or state body to instigate proceedings for damages. At
present justice in this regard is only available to those who can afford to pay for it. This
mechanism will also negate the necessity for the Legal Aid Board, which is a state body and
which could never be trusted to represent the interests of a person engaged in litigation
against a fellow state body. The savings made by the total abolition of the Legal Aid Board
can be transferred to the 'Citizens Legal Assistance Fund'.
Next Meeting Prince of Wales Hotel Athlone Saturday August 6th 4pm to 6pm bring a friend!
This is a group which will campaign for many things such as cameras in court,
No less than 3 judges presiding in a court,
Impeachment of corrupt judges ,
Removal of corrupt people from public office , .

You get the picture!
We are however a direct action group also that will follow to the ends of the earth corrupt individuals
and will make their work follow them home to their families and neighbours .
No more will we be the victims .
Next Meeting Sheraton Hotel Athlone Saturday August 6th 4pm to 6pm bring a friend!
(with weekly meetings thereafter)
If you want to be part of the team which will make history in bringing down corruption in Ireland we
suggest you be there.
We will win and we will save our country.
People power will rule . Be there .
No matter who you are Corruption affects You in some form or another.
Its the common denominator for all thats Wrong with society today in Ireland.
Whether its Suicide, Evictions, Homelessness, Emigration, Broken families, Drugs, Mental
breakdowns, Government, Garda. Legal, judicial and in so many other areas,
We are all Victims.

Thanks to the SLIGO CHAMPION for getting on board with the ANTI CORRUPTION
TASKFORCE and to all the people who are joining us in our noble quest .Together we will stop
corruption in Ireland !!

A special thanks to Korena O Hara for organising and taking the chair in Sligo.

Mick Walace TD ~ Time for the Garda Commissioner to go...

Remember in May 2015 all four civil servants were sacked from their positions.

A.C.T., Anti Corruption Taskforce, Dublin branch meeting Sunday 19th Mar. in The Celt Bar,
Talbot Street, Dublin. 4-6 pm. Come along.
Join A.C.T. and play your part in fighting corruption lawfully.

Under the Freedom of Information Act
Shell paid 158,746 for private policing to An Garda Siochana.
MCD Productions (concerts) paid the gardai 568,500 in 2013.
(Example - Slane castle the concert had 500 Gardai + 800 private security)
FAI paid 185,855, while smaller clubs paid 14,800 and 4,000.
That is absolutely disgraceful............not to mention the 35,000 euro worth of alcohol which the garda got in
bribes to beat the living daylights of their own Irish people who were trying to defend their land. Hang your
heads in shame!
Irish people need to get off their arses before they are no longer allowed to! Sick of hearing moany bastards crying about
injustice but can't be arsed reading what's put in front of them. Where are all the "fighting Irish"? They're watching shite
that Denis O'Brien puts out there to dumb them down! The workhouse will be back in operation here again soon and then
you'll hear the cries of how did this happen? If it's not at their door.... well the knocks a comin real soon!
Batons well if they werent such chicken shits with trembling hands goes to show ya their leaving der trails
behind dem and we are going to have the last laugh wen justice will be severed apon these dirty corrupt
bastards only a matter of time before the whole justice system is and will be brought down so ppl get up of ur
arse and start showing ur fight for corruption in the lovely ireland as they say it is

This Sunday 12th of March 2017 at 5 pm A.C.T. DUBLIN will be hosting a Peaceful
Assembly outside Frances Fitzgerald's Home .
We are a "Non-Political Peoples Movement" highlighting corruption within the Irish state . All
Non-Political support welcome .

So called Justice Minister Fitzgerald approved a multi million euro campaign against a family
using illegal surveillance because the parents reported paedophilia involving powerful
people.
Two days after the father complained about illegal surveillance to Kenny and Fitzgerald the
children were forcibly removed by 8 armed garda and 5 social workers.

Samus Fruitloops Hughes (born 1 September 1952)
Assistant solicitor Nooney and Dowdall solicitor 1975-1978 mullingar
Own practice in westport co. mayo 1978-2009
Appointed district court judge 2009,Precided in district no.1 north donegal and now district
no.9 longford westmeath
Public representative on westport urban council and mayo county council for 16 years
Elected to Dail Eireann 1992-1997
State solicitor for Co.Mayo 2001-2009
Corrupt District Court Judge 2010-2017
He bought the Corner Bar pub on the Mall Westport Co. MAYO nd sold off the liecens so that he could
convery the premises in his solicitors office in the late 1970,s and he sold a block of offices accross from
Westport court house in 2016.

Dublin A.C.T. Will Be Hosting 2 Peaceful Assemblies @
(1) TUSLA H.Q.
(2) POLICING AUTHORITY H.Q.
Tomorrow the 24 Feb at 2.30pm we are gathering outside heuston station in Dublin and then
heading to the main Tusla HQ in St Johns road , Kilmainham to highlight them and their
incompetence and punishment of garda whistle blowers as well as many other individuals .
Please be there and make a stand . After we are going to the policing authorities office to
highlight their corruption . A C T WILL LEAVE NO STONE UNTURNED
POLICING AUTHORITY H.Q.
Tomorrow the 24 Feb at 2.30pm we are gathering outside heuston station in Dublin and then
heading to the main Tusla HQ in St Johns road , Kilmainham to highlight them and their
incompetence and punishment of garda whistle blowers as well as many other individuals .
Please be there and make a stand . After we are going to the policing authorities office to
highlight their corruption .

Support The Garda Whistleblowers Nick Keogh & Keith Harrison.
Saturday 18th feb. A.C.T. will be hitting the streets of Athlone Town to distribute Leaflets to
raise local awareness on corrupt Gardai, Solicitors, and Judges. We will also be showing our
support for the Two Garda Whistleblowers who are based in Athlone Garda Station.
Assembly point will be outside the prince of wales hotel at midday.

This is District Court Judge Seamus Hughes. He is a native of and still lives in Westport,
County Mayo. He was once a Fianna Fail TD in the 1980s. Judge Hughes loves to send
people to prison. He gets a kick out of the power he enjoyes in District Court Number 9,
which basically comprises of Counties Longford and Westmeath. That power was given to
him by his neighbour and most corrupt politician in Irish history Padraig Flynn of Fianna Fail
fame. But this is NOT a probem which is confined to County Mayo. This is a problem which
manifests itself in EVERY county in Ireland

SACKED GARDA COMMISSIONER CALLINAN'S HOME TO BE TARGETTED: Anti

Corruption Taskforce will never forget the corruption and state criminality perpetrated by
disgraced ex Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan upon the Irish nation and it's people. This
is a once politically appointed public servant, who is presently enjoying 'retirement' on a
handsome pension paid for by the taxpayers of Ireland. ACT intend placing a picket at this
man's home in Lucan, County Dublin in the not so distant future. This picket will not be pre
announced, so he and his minders will not know the day or the hour when we arrive.
Likewise, we intend picketing the Glasnevin, North Dublin home of present corrupt Garda
Commissioner Norin O' Sullivan. That picket will not be pre announced either. And before the
state snouts, trolls and Garda Internet Surveillance Unit in Harcourt Street start getting their
keyboards and mice ready, our plans in this regard will NOT be discussed on the internet
either publicly, privately or electronically. ACT have got our act together (excuse the pun)
regarding state surveillance. There will be no hiding place for corrupt authority figures in
Ireland so long as ACT exists.

Irish democracy and Irish justice. Today in the High Court, (Courtroom Number 3 in the Four Courts)
at 10.30am, James Faughnan, who is employed by this state as a District Court Judge, is seeking an
injunction against a number of individuals who are supporters of ACT, and other individuals who are
involved with other anti corruption campaigns. He is effectively asking the High Court to ban a lawful
peaceful assembly which ACT has scheduled for this coming Saturday in Carrick On Shannon. But
even more worrying is the fact that Mr. Faughnan is asking the High Court to BAN the social media
pages of ACT and other named anti corruption groups, which includes this facebook page. Please try to
attend with ACT in solidarity in the Four Courts today. This is an attempt to outlaw free speech and
lawful assembly in our society and as a nation we must resist such a move with our last breath and with
our last drop of blood.
Members of the Garda Representative Association conveying their grievances on RTE Six One news
earlier this evening. ACT Anti Corruption Taskforce have a bit of advice for the GRA, which will
almost QUARANTEE that the Government will give in to their demands. Our advice is as follows:
The GRA to instruct it's members not to turn up at water metre installations and not to turn up for
march or protest patrol. The government will soon listen to them then.
We will counter protest their bullshit on 4th!
Laugh at Scumbags!
Gerry Adams talking for those with disabilities in Dail, Wed. "Real people with real potential." Edna stated "I'm sure U
don't expect us to deal with virtual people, that fine minister Finian McGrath is taking care of it." Typical smart arse,
uncaring reply from most hated ever 'leader' of our country! He dismissed his fellow Idiot, Mad Mary Mitchell
O'Connor's 30% Emigrant Tax as "discriminatory." He 'spoke to people at Pro Choice rally, Sat', he wasn't there! Vince
had Lisa Chambers, FF & her teeth on again, allowed bullshit! He talked over Kathleen Funchion, SF! Justine McCarthy,
Sunday Times, no hero! "I see merits of Citizens Assembly." Simon Coveney re Water Charges 'no rush, another 6
months.' Our Left wing politicians, do not allow smart remarks & bias! Donald 'microphone was bad but maybe it could
pick up my breathing.' Rumours FG, FF, Liebour all want him! Protest at Political Police HQ, Phoenix Park, 3pm+, Sun!!
we will advance on garda hq to deliver a demand for the immediate resignation of noirin o
sullivan .We will also be placing white crosses outside the garda hq building for all the people
who died in garda custody or mysteriously under garda surveillance . Also the crosses are for
those who disappeared and who s deaths were never investigated . We invite anyone who
wants to join us and leave a cross there to come along and we invite the mary boyle camp,
shane tuohy camp, brian rossiter camp , john kelly camp and so many many other victims of
a corrupt rotten system . Please be there and make the difference . the crosses are white and
names on them in black and do not have to be big as they are a symbolic gesture . Please
bring one for your own victim of garda murder or cover up . Please share this and see you
there next sunday 2nd october at garda hq , phoenix park dublin at 3.30pm . Park entrance
nearest heuston station at parkgate street

PROTESTS, MARCHES, ASSEMBLIES & ACTIONS. ACT Anti Corruption Taskforce will
diversify our methods to maximum effect, in order to let the corrupt elites know that Ireland is
rising again. We will plan and carry out marches, occupations, protests, disruptions, peoples
assemblies and general civil disobedience on a continuing basis until corruption is erased
from our society. One method which ACT Anti Corruption Taskforce favours is the 'HOME
PROTEST' aka 'PICKET AT THE HOME OF A CORRUPT INDIVIDUAL'. This genre of
protest will not meet with everyone's approval. If that be the case, then ACT Anti Corruption
Taskforce is NOT the organisation for such people and such people are welcome to move
along, as there is nothing further to see here. Pictured is the ACT Anti Corruption Taskforce
HOME PROTEST, outside the home of District Court Judge Seamus Hughes in Westport,
Co. Mayo on 4th September last.

Jobstown Acquittals, Jury Trials Under Strain Cont

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Jobstown acquittals, jury

trials under strain

By harnessing social media on such a scale,

The Jobstown trial and the

A video was introduced by Solidarity reporter Dave Murphy.

Garda want ban on people

Antoinette Cunningham, of the Association of Garda Sergeant

The 39th AGSI Annual Delegate Conference begins in Killarney this

Speaking to RTE Radio One's Morning Ireland, Association president

"It can bring significant risk and stress," she added.

Association president Antoinette Cunningham said this finding was

Mr Justice Peter Charleton.

According to correspondence seen by this newspaper, the whistleblower

The whistleblower was attached to a highly sensitive section known as the

A serving garda was arrested based on false information being submitted as

In February, he agreed an out-of-court settlement with An Garda Sochna

A Garda spokesman last night said the allegations will be examined by a

"The original allegations referred to have been referred to the designated

"An Garda Sochna is committed to co-operating fully with the Disclosures

On June 29th 2017, the verdict was delivered in the Jobstown

Was this a lot of tweets from a very

What did people share? What were

Is their any other measure of

Cllr. Enda Fanning

5:54 AM - 14 Apr 2017

What does this mean for social

For further information, email info@olytico.com

Jobstown: Six cleared

Defendants in the Jobstown trial Paul Murphy TD (left) and Cllr

Fitzgerald denies that

Tnaiste Frances Fitzgerald.

The Solidarity TD called upon Ms Fitzgerald, who was replying to Dil

Water protest case: Action ill-advised

As six men were found not guilty of falsely imprisoning former

Mick Caul @caulmick

The vote on Fortunestown Road

Joan Burtons evidence

No Garda investigation. Larry Goodman must have a dog capable of biting .

Its as simple as that.

The jury has asked to rewatch the helicopter video evidence.

This wont be reported in the media - so everyone needs to share this.

Minister Zappone caught out in her lies

Garda denies conspiracy to

A Garda superintendent has denied being part of a

Supt Flavin denied that this statement was in effect

However, he accepted that there was a lot more said in

THIS IS LOOKING VERRY BAD FOR OUR JUSTICE

Ken Purcell leaves the court with his wife

The remaining six defendants have pleaded not guilty

The defendants are Solidarity TD, Paul Murphy, 34,

Joan Burton had a damn cheek to go anywhere near Tallaght on

Judiciary are under siege again at the behest of a

The Government is to press ahead with controversial reforms of the

Can yes not just do what is right

Remember this and do a bit of research

Can yes not just do what is right

Remember this and do a bit of research

What a pack of Cunts!

PERJURY IS PROSECUTABLE IN IRELAND

Bar Councils unconstitutional attempt

The 'haphazard state' of perjury law

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THE IMMIGRATION PROCESS IN

PENAL CODE. TITLE 8. OFFENSES ... OFFENSES AGAINST PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION.