Gardaí warned to act appropriately on May Day

THE head of the Garda Complaints Board (GCB) yesterday said he would be “very disappointed” if gardaí did not act appropriately at this weekend’s May Day protests.

Gordon Holmes also warned demonstrators that gardaí would be obliged to intervene if protestors did not behave lawfully.

The GCB chairman said there should be no repeat of the garda’s handling of the Reclaim the Streets protests of May 2002.

“I’d be very disappointed indeed if we had any problems created this time, because the guards are on notice this time that something could happen.”

Mr Holmes said he was confident garda management had learned from the events of May 2002.

“Historically, the gardaí normally plan things well. Sometimes, things happen that they have no experience dealing with.

“That may have happened in the last Reclaim the Streets row. They are aware of it now. They are well led and when they make a plan it’s usually a good plan.”

He said after Reclaim the Streets 2002, there was criticism of the lack of garda supervision on the ground.

“I have no doubt they have learnt. One thing about the guards, they do learn from things.

“There were a lot of questions last time. They were probably not prepared for it, they were probably under-equipped for it, they’re on more notice this time.”

Mr Holmes said protestors had every right to demonstrate, but added they must do so legally.

“They have a right to protest, but it isn’t an open chequebook to protest. They have to protest within the law and if they do that there should be no problem whatever.”

He said other people, not engaged in protests, had an equal right to use the streets if they wished.

“The protestors mustn’t provoke gardaí and they shouldn’t try to be confrontational. If they are confrontational and they do provoke and there is a reaction, what can one do?

“If the protest is not peaceful, the guards not only have a right, but a duty, to respond if the people are not keeping the peace.”

Michael Kirby, president of the Garda Representative Association (GRA) said none of his members were looking for a confrontation this weekend.

“People have the right to protest. If they protest peacefully they have nothing to fear from the gardaí. If someone misbehaves we will use as much force as necessary and only as much force as necessary.”