Still little Garda accountability

                                                                                              By Cathal McGovern

Responding to criticism directed against the force in the wake of the May Day anti-globalisation protest in Dublin, Garda Representative Association (GRA) secretary, PJ Stone, proved the personification of arrogance. In reply to criticism from the Irish Council of Civil Liberties (ICCL) Stone suggested the majority of complaints directed at the force were the mischievous rantings of 'subversives' and criminals. As was pointed out in my previous article on the subject of reforming the force, and in particular the complaints procedure, the tactic of deflecting criticism for serious wrongdoing on to the shoulders of 'subversives' and criminals once again received an airing at length on television and in the print media.

However, in contrast to previous incidents the media behaved in a somewhat responsible manner holding the Garda claims of being attacked by anti-globalisation activists up to scrutiny. The force was in essence caught red-handed on the streets of Dublin behaving no better than Hitler's brownshirts, and all claims to the contrary and incredulous comment from the likes of PJ Stone could not change this fact. The pictures told the tale.

From a republican socialist perspective, the Garda are merely the blunt instrument of control wielded to protect the capitalist organisation of the south and, (despite our opposition to the very existence of this state) our view is simply thus; For so long as the state exists the Garda has an obligation to work within the law when attempting to uphold the law. Clearly, in this task the force has failed miserably, and for that reason reform is essential.

Republicans can no doubt recall a litany of far more serious abuses directed against themselves than was manifest on the streets of Dublin on May Day past. The 1981 Hunger-Strike marches in the capital immediately spring to mind. In that instance the media said nothing while hundreds were clubbed senseless by the Garda.

There was no scrutiny of Garda misconduct then. In equal measure, there has never been media scrutiny of other instances of Garda misconduct toward republicans be that related to constant misuse of emergency legislation, to what in effect amounts to state executions as with the cases of John Morris and Ronan MacLoughlin in more recent years. In these and many other instances the media stayed quiet or sided with the Gardai.

The problem for the GRA, PJ Stone and his Garda colleagues is that complaint and criticism in more recent years has not originated from so-called 'subversives' but from revelations cited in court hearings and from members of the public. Were any credence to be attached to Stone's outburst we would be asked to assume the state are now using 'subversive' witnesses in the trial of a Donegal based Garda accused of wrongdoing. Equally, are we to credit republican prompting with inciting Gardai to baton-charge protesters on May Day, or to bug legal interview rooms in Donegal?

Stone's comments do not warrant any degree of respect for they amount to blatant rubbish not only in relation to the May Day fiasco but also in a litany of other instance. For example, republicans did not incite Gardai to purchase drugs in Urlingford or fertiliser in Donegal for it to be split and dumped only to be found through 'good detective work' in order to enhance careers or incite persons attached to the fines department to make off with in excess of 1,000,000 euro, no more than they encouraged the McBrearty family in Donegal to clear their name.

It is way past time that this force faced reality; Gardai have been demonstrated time and time again as corrupt and that is a matter of fact as opposed to the wishful thought of a so-called 'subversive'. The GRA can attempt to deflect this fact through slick public relations management and playing the republican bogeyman card, but it is for everyone of us, politicians, the ICCL and the media etc. to hammer home this fact. It is simply not good enough for anyone to have a police force that is accountable to no one but itself.

I suspect however, that in time (as is usually the case) the furore on the part of some politicians, pressure groups and media elements will blow over. This may prove to be the logic inherent in the strategy pursued by the GRA. But if this strategy succeeds, where will this abuse stop?

This is a question the public needs to ask itself, and a question that should be posed to every elected politician. If people opt to do nothing, matters will get worse and not only for so-called 'subversives' but for anyone, be that a worker or anyone who dares confront the establishment out of a genuine sense of grievance. Do nothing and we will inherit a fully blown police state for all as opposed to one directed at republicans all these years!