Fact or Fiction, Bound for Legned. April 2nd Garda Patrol

national | miscellaneous | news report Friday April 04, 2003 21:34 by [email protected] - Freelance Journalist

A look at Garda ability to police the public.

The events that took place during the peaceful protest outside the Dial on the 2nd of April are to go down in Irish modern day protest legend. Whatever side your on, you'll probably agree that there is a more pressing issue to be dealt with, however the 2nd of April, once again draws attention to the problems within the Gardai, and only further serves the calls for an independent Garda complaints board.

The commanding Garda on the scene was Chief Superintendent Bill Donoghue, from Pearse Street Garda station. This is the second time, in less than a year that Supt. Donoghue has called in the "Public Order Unit" under questionable circumstances.

As I arrived I noted about 90 Gardai on duty at both the front and the back of the Dail. The protestors were contained behind barriers on the street facing the entrance to the Dail. They were not, at that time causing any obstructions to Kildare Street, however the Gardai had closed off the street to traffic from Nassau St.

As more protestors arrived Gardai on the scene appeared happy enough, that protestors (whom at this stage began to arrive up from the Nassau St. direction) march up and down the road chanting. Then, in what has to be considered a questionable judgement by the commanding Garda on scene, protestors from the street opposite the Dail, were allowed to move into Kildare St. by the removing of the barricades erected by the Gardai. Is this the action that may have been the catalyst for the event?

As I was behind the Garda lines, I noticed a considerable amount of riot shields piled up behind the gates of the Dail. Is this normal procedure for members of the "Public Order Unit" to part with their issued equipment and place in a position close to protestors. Surely the carrying of shields acts more as a deterrent
to any protestors intent in causing violence. Secondly, shields are issued to members of the force, as a means of them protecting themselves. Did Chief Supt. Donoghue order members to enter into duty while left exposed to possible injury? or is it an indication of the Gardai's belief that this was indeed a peaceful enough protest and that the shields were not needed to protect the "Public Order Unit"?

The stand off began in earnest, when a car began to drive out the gates of the Dail. As I am sure the public and the Gardai are aware, from the many infamous drink driving TD cases, it is illegal to prevent a TD from coming to or going from the Dail. However if Gardai management had been up to the task, surely it would have been better to move the politians out the front gates of the Dail and avoid a confrontation with the public. Is this down to lack of thought for the people on the TD's part, or is it down to Garda management. Secondly, why did the Gardai move in so quickly? The taxi driver dispute lasted for three days, during which at times there were very angry scenes outside the Dail for its duration, however Garda Management did not deploy the Public Order Unit to clear the street.

I personally myself along with other journalists, was moved from the area behind the Garda lines, quite violently in fact, without any warning via means of a choke hold around my neck. If I was in obstruction of the entrance to the Dail, then they had managed to move it mysteriously behind my back as I was 20ft away and to the right of the entrance with the assembled media. Is it normal practice for Gardai to move the media in such a violent way?, in which case it leaves them wide open to claims of press freedom being compromised by the state. On the other hand, if they were of impression that the protest was one of violence, so much so they needed the Public Order Unit, do they place people who are peacefully doing their job and not hindering their activities in any way, in a potentially dangerous position? Does this not contradict their protective duties?

Continuing the equipment line, Chief Supt. Donoghue claimed he had warned the protestors that they would be removed by force if they blocked the Dail. But as many of us have seen from protests in the UK and mainland Europe, there is always a loud hailer on hand to issue command and directions to the protestors. Why then did the Chief Supt. not address the protestors and advise them of the consequences of the actions. There were after all, many protestors who had joined from the end of the Ireland football match, many of whom were there on an adhoc basis and had not had a chance of hearing his much mumbled warning. Perhaps he left it in is car or in the club house, but it is again another example of his inexperience and ineptitude that could have serious consequences for all involved.

There is also the question of the training ordinary uniformed members of the Gardai obtain. I witnessed a uniformed Garda, deliberately try to provoke several young photographers by moving in front of them when trying to take pictures. While I am sure he was pleased with the little game he was playing with them, had he chosen the wrong persons to do this to, then I think the outcome could have been bloody for him. It was not a site one could be proud of. Especially as earlier I had engaged this Garda in a conversation about the results of the match. He appeared sound and well balanced, they type of guy you'd have no problem having a pint with. But what amazed me were this and other guard’s ability, to maintain the "Them Us" feeling that is common at protests. Rather than trying to disengage the protestors, they actively encouraged the attitude and indeed this probably is at the forefront of many problems associated with protests that end as last Wednesdays did.

Finally, one has to look at Chief Supt Donohue’s role in the entire affair. Did Minister McDowell, who saw this as a win win scenario, set him up? The protestors could have turned violent and then that would have been the PR the government has been so keen to discredit the anti-war movement, or the Gardai could make a mess of things again, furthering his cause of Garda reform. But the biggest mistake still remains with Chief Supt. Donoghue's decision to no issue members of the Public Order Unit with identity numbers. Has this man the capacity to learn from previous mistakes? But it did not stop there. I continually found myself asking guards where the Garda station "all over" was.

Ultimately it was the inability of both Chief Supt. Donoghue and Senior Garda management to read and learn from a situation, coupled with inadequate Garda training and the closing ranks attitude of the Gardai that lead to the scenes and stories destined to be repeated and glorified into legend by both sides as they struggle to have their voices heard and their opinions engaged.