Cork gardaí raise spectre of ‘blue flu’ in pay cut rebellion

More than 350 gardaí in Cork have voted overwhelmingly in favour of a motion of no confidence in the justice minister and the Garda commissioner, in the first tangible sign of insurrection over proposed wage cuts.

Members of three divisions — Cork City, Cork West, and Cork North — also voted in favour of a work-to-rule, followed by a “blue flu” if the Government presses ahead with proposed cuts to garda wages and allowances.

Garda Mick Corcoran, a member of the central executive committee of the Garda Representative Association (GRA), confirmed the vote of no confidence in Justice Minister Alan Shatter and Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan was “almost unanimous” at a meeting of gardaí last night at the Rochestown Park Hotel.