Policy and policing at Bellanaboy: why two wrongs don’t make a right

THE Taoiseach and the Fine Gael leader have condemned the alleged use of violence by demonstrators at the Shell to Sea campaign and insist the rule of law must be enforced to protect Irish resources given away to foreign multinationals.

They have ignored the excessive use of force by gardaí at Bellanaboy.

Two wrongs — giving away the resources of the Irish people and abuse of their powers by the forces of law — don’t make a right.

Abuse of Ireland’s natural resources cannot be made right by abuse of police powers to enforce what the protesters consider a serious injustice.

The insistence by the Taoiseach on enforcing the rule of law by force against protesters is in marked contrast with his failure and that of his Government to apply international law at Shannon airport.

Ireland is in serious breach of the Hague convention on neutrality and the UN convention against torture by allowing US troops and the CIA to use Shannon as a transit point for unlawful wars and unlawful rendition for torture.

The way forward is to create peace by peaceful means only, and to encourage civil society — that is you and I as individuals — to engage in constructive peaceful protest where necessary, to highlight wrongdoing and assert the authority of the people over their servants, the forces of the State.

HL Mencken said “the cure for the evils of democracy is more democracy”. However the cure for evils of violence is never more violence. Peace by peaceful means is the way forward — violence begets only violence.

Edward Horgan

Newtown

Castletroy

Co Limerick