Official response to Dublin riots poses serious questions for future security

MY LATE grandfather was fond of the saying: “Expect the worst, and you won’t be disappointed.” He was a cheerful pessimist, and enjoyed the shock of the statement as much as he believed in the philosophy behind it.

His daughter found the saying handy last week as she warned family members in Dublin to stay well away from the city centre on Saturday.

Perhaps my mother should volunteer for the proposed garda reserve, or maybe she could go higher. The fact is, she knew something that the Minister for Justice, the garda top brass, and the media seemed not to know - that there could be serious trouble in Dublin at the weekend.