Murder of garda - An attack at core of our democracy

It would be very difficult to exaggerate the depth of public revulsion at the murder of Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe.

That he died in the service of his community commands our deepest gratitude, but it is little comfort for the grieving members of his family — his parents, his wife, and their two young children.

Det Garda Donohoe was shot in the head without warning on stepping out of his car to investigate suspicious activity at Lordship Credit Union at Bellurgan in Co Louth. He had not even drawn his garda-issue gun.

His murder is a fundamental attack not just on the rule of law but also a challenge to one of the most critical of our democratic institutions. Condemnation of the callous murder has been deep and heartfelt. Allowing the rule of law to be undermined like this has appalling consequences for any society. All decent people will be unreservedly supportive of An Garda Síochána in bringing to justice these criminals.

Garda Donohoe’s death serves as a stark reminder of how members of the force put their lives on the line for the safety and protection of their fellow citizens. At this most dark and difficult time for the force, its members deserve unstinting support.

Conviction of the capital murder of a garda is punishable by 40 years in jail. Those convicted can actually be sentenced to longer terms of imprisonment and there is an onus on the judiciary to implement stringent sentences both to ensure that such conduct is considered intolerable and to protect gardaí doing their duty.

This should not only apply to those who kill a garda but to anyone who wounds or even shoots at a member of the force. This was the first murder of a serving garda since the killing of Detective Garda Jerry McCabe in 1996, and the murder little over a fortnight later of crime reporter Veronica Guerin. The electorate expressed its revulsion by ousting the Fine Gael-Labour coalition and replacing it with a Fianna Fáil-led administration that promised, but then spectacularly failed, to implement a regime of zero tolerance of crime.

While unconnected, the murder of Garda Donohoe will inevitably raise questions about the resources available to the gardaí, especially against a background of stations closures. Today, the Irish Examiner highlights the anxiety caused by reports that 96 garda stations, many in small rural communities, are facing imminent closure.

There is understandable anxiety over these closures, because this seems to send the message that marauding gangs are free to attack people in isolated areas. Older people feel even more vulnerable with the closure of rural Garda stations.

It is, of course, questionable whether a lone unarmed garda, stationed miles away, was ever really capable of providing proper protection against highly mobile, armed thugs. The protection provided in such circumstances was probably just a false sense of security, but even that was better than the fear that isolated areas are being handed over to vicious, lawless elements.

Surely a properly equipped mobile force should be able to provide much more effective protection. Criminals frequently have little difficulty in evading capture in crowded urban settings. Relative isolation may provide more security because there are fewer escape routes. The criminal may be easier to apprehend, especially with the help of strategically placed cameras.

Elderly people undoubtedly feel more vulnerable if it takes a long time to contact the nearest garda, but modern techniques of communication can readily provide instant communication, even from the most isolated areas.

Local communities are already organising to share information on community security matters. A sense of security is essential anywhere, but it is especially so in small rural villages and isolated areas. It is in the interest of all law-abiding people — especially An Garda Síochána — that local security is developed and facilitated as a priority, with cameras where necessary. Providing protection should be the priority of the gardaí.

Organisations such as the IFA, ICMSA, ICA, Macra na Feirme, and Muintir na Tire should co-ordinate with each other and the gardaí to ensure rural security concerns are addressed properly. Functioning together, they have enormous political clout, and this is an issue on which they can and should combine to ensure effective means of emergency communication are established to provide protection in small villages and isolated areas.

Ultimately, the best security will be provided by the likelihood that any marauding gangs that attack or rob people in isolated areas will be apprehended swiftly and dealt with appropriately. The apprehension and conviction of the murderers of Garda Donohoe would be a significant step in building confidence.