Why did gardaí film our parade?

I agree with the line in your editorial (March 24) which proclaimed “nobody should have the right to denounce anybody for commemorating the people of 1916”. I take it then that “anybody” includes the right of political parties and their supporters to commemorate those who took part in the Rising.

Therefore, if I am right I must conclude the Irish Examiner should be interested to ask why five car loads of plainclothes gardaí were present at an Easter commemoration organised by Sinn Féin in Youghal last Sunday. One garda filmed the hundreds of law-abiding citizens of the town as they made their way to the republican plot in the local cemetery.

Around the same time as a Sinn Féin TD was giving the main oration in Youghal, the Taoiseach was delivering another outside the GPO in Dublin. I am sure there were no plainclothes gardaí filming those in attendance at that commemoration, so people really are not free and equal to commemorate without being intimidated by an arm of the State which clearly attempts to criminalise those wishing to do nothing more than honour the republicans of 1916.

Other than to notch up overtime hours, is there any good reason why the garda special branch should be present at any Sinn Féin rally?

On this the 10th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, someone should inform the Garda Commissioner, if not the Minister for Justice, that things really have moved on, and if plainclothes gardaí really need the overtime, then they should sign up for it to combat the crime wave.

Finally, if the Taoiseach took the trouble to listen to the words of the proclamation as it was read out on Easter Sunday, he would have done well to note the line about cherishing all the children of the nation equally, especially since some do not have the same rights as others to commemorate 1916.

Cllr Kieran McCarthy

Russell Heights

Cobh

Co Cork