Lowry and inaction of Garda/Revenue

THE controversy that has come to be known as The Lowry Tapes tells us much about what passes for democracy in this State.

The issue involves prima facie evidence that at least one crime may have been committed by serving TD and former government minister, Michael Lowry. In a proper democracy, such as in Britain, this would be a matter for the police. The matter would be investigated and a file prepared for the state prosecuting body. Thereafter, charges would either be preferred, or the matter dropped completely on the basis that there was no case to answer.

We don’t do things that way. Instead of a criminal justice process without-fear-or-favour, we have waffle; point scoring; a political culture that is concerned only with what interests the public, rather than the public interest; and a criminal justice system that freezes whenever a politician appears on its radar.