Attacks on gardaí - Lip service from TDs not acceptable

Reports of attacks on the Garda Síochána make frightening reading, and raise the most serious questions about where we are heading as a society. In many areas, gang leaders are becoming the role models for impressionable youngsters.

The drug scene has taken a hold in some of our cities.

Society must demonstrate that it will not tolerate attacks on the gardaí, which have been increasing at an alarming rate in recent years. From 2005 to 2007 such attacks jumped 356 to 655 — an increase of over 84%.

The attacks are not confined to highly urbanised centres with their serious drug problems and growing criminal gangs. Clonmel was in the headlines recently when gardaí were attacked when called to a Hallowe’en bonfire at a local authority estate. Garda Helena Power suffered a fractured eye socket and is fighting for the sight in her right eye.

In Dublin, Garda Jeffrey White suffered horrific facial injuries, which required twenty-six stitches after he was attacked. Another Garda was bitten by an HIV-infected drug addict. Although he has been treated with anti- retro viral medication, this garda’s life has essentially been put on hold for six months until he learns whether or not he has been infected with HIV.

There must be no doubt whatever that society will not allow such attacks to become trendy among the lawless thugs who have been trying to terrorise society. Gardaí must be given the full protection of the law, both in defending themselves, and ensuring that those who perpetrate such attacks are duly punished in a way that ensures that their outrageous behaviour is neither celebrated in their own underworld, nor tolerated by the judicial system.

The Garda Representatives Association has called for mandatory sentencing to be imposed on anyone attacking gardaí. It was recently announced that the gardaí would be supplied with pepper spray for defence against attack. But no date for the implementation of this policy has yet been announced. As they will have to receive proper training in the use of the spray, the delay in the announcement has prompted fears that these plans may fall victim to budgetary cuts.

There must be no suspicion that politicians are merely paying lip service in supporting law enforcement after each outrage while essentially ignoring the deterioration of social values. The prime function of the gardaí is to protect the public, and if they are not seen to have full backing and public support for that job, the ultimate victims will be the innocent public and society itself.