Commissioner’s comment insensitive

THE continued failure of the top management of the police to take responsibility for the negligence surrounding the death of John Carthy in Abbeylara indicates how arrogant and out of touch the force is with the public.

The role of senior police in the tragedy has exposed the mindset of the force.

The appalling comment by the police commissioner, in which he defended the ERU and likened the tragedy to an act of terrorism, must be deplored.

That the commissioner could make such an insensitive comment in the wake of a damning report on the activities of the force under his command is nothing short of a national scandal.

Where is the concern and care for the family of the dead man? Where is the acknowledgement of the awful mistakes which were made and which led to the death of an ill man?

The police spokesmen are silent — the spin of their pals in the media is that mistakes were made — but where is the compassion and the acknowledgement that changes will be made in how the police deal with people who are mentally ill?

Instead, the police link the death of this young man with the spectre of terrorism. They should be ashamed of themselves.

Joe Lynch

16 Beechgrove Ave

Limerick