Garda turban ruling is mindless authoritarianism

IT is a bad day for the reputation of Ireland and for the Garda Siochána when a Sikh is not allowed to wear a turban as part of his uniform.

The commissioner thinks this would give an image the public would not want, but he has not, apparently, bothered to ask them. This is insulting and patronising to the Irish people.

Sikhs have worn uniform turbans of the required colour and with the necessary insignia in every conceivable uniformed service in Britain for as long as I can remember, and I have not once ever heard a word of criticism.