Sticking up for gardaí in fight against crime

I must compliment the judge and state solicitor for dropping the case (Irish Examiner, Jan 8, 2014) in which two members of the gardaí were before the courts for a case in which a teenager admitted being the ringleader of a violent attack by a gang of youths.

With a combined 30 years experience between them, the gardaí were not likely to over-react in a difficult situation. Is it not time for the law abiding community to speak out on behalf of the members of a force who are there to protect their rights?

If there was any over-reaction in this case, it would appear to have come from the direction of the Ombudsman Commission or the DPP’s office.

I would expect there will shortly be a call for the supply of ‘feather dusters’ to be supplied to gardaí as an alternative to ‘batons or pepper spray’ for confronting violent behaviour.

As a former member of the Force it is soul destroying to see how demoralised the present members must feel.

Keep with it, lads and lassies, you have my 100% support.

Tony Fagan

Enniscorthy

Co Wexford