Gardaí should admit mistakes and resolve them

There are thousands of excellent Gardaí, like Maurice McCabe and John Wilson.

Too few of them have taken the courageous actions that Maurice and John have, because they fear the abuse to which they, and their families, may be subjected. In the interests of justice, they need to feel the fear and do it anyway. Mistakes are inevitable in human organisations. Such mistakes are easily resolved, if quickly acknowledged and corrected.

It is only when a culture of cover-up and false loyalty takes root that such mistakes lead to disasters, and crimes are committed that should have been prevented by the gardaí.

In the early decades of its history, the gardaí, and its members, were noted for their dedication, unarmed bravery, and loyalty to the State and to the people. These recent difficulties, therefore, can and must be overcome.

These difficulties and failures include a culture of denial, and complicity with the US misuse of Shannon airport, including complicity with the CIA extraordinary rendition programme, which led to hundreds of prisoners being tortured in Abu Ghraib, Guantanamo, and elsewhere. Crime prevention must be re-established as the primary role of An Garda Síochána.

Edward Horgan

Castletroy

Limerick