Heavy-handed garda presence at funeral
I was outside during the service and was perturbed by the unnecessary overmanned Garda presence. They were all shapes, sizes and sexes, some in uniform, some in civilian clothes, some with bulletproof vests and guns and others with small video cameras walking around pointedly recording everybody in attendance.
There was even a spotter plane circling in the distance. As Mr Ó Bradaigh was of a senior age, quite a number of the mourners were old age pensioners. I cannot call them gardaí anymore, they were more like old-style RUC. Their presence and demeanour at the church and graveyard were the only reason there was any trouble. The distress to the Ó Bradaigh family and friends by this over-the-top policing was palatable and I am tempted to apply the despised name of ‘Blueshirts’ to these permanent employees of our State and Republic. It was a depressing sight and bordered on the fascist.
