War of words between gardaí and politicians intensifies

SOME politicians have adopted a “Mugabesque attitude” in trying to prevent gardaí from speaking their mind, according to the general secretary of the association which represents rank and file members of the force.

Garda Representative Association (GRA) general secretary PJ Stone was commenting after further attacks on the force were launched by politicians yesterday, in the wake of Minister for Justice Dermot Ahern’s “no show” at the organisation’s annual conference in Limerick.

The minister boycotted the conference on Tuesday after saying he didn’t like the tone of a speech set to be delivered by GRA outgoing president Michael O’Boyce – which was designed as an attack on him and the Government for failing to address serious issues within the force and the country as a whole.