Garda whistleblowers deserve medal

Whistleblowers? Who came up with a name like that for a person who is trying to right a wrong?

I think myself it’s derogatory to use it in describing Garda members who decided enough was enough when it came to exposing wrongdoing within the force. It was suggested to me that it must have been a hormonal high ranking female member of the Garda who inflicted such a title on a fellow employee of the State.

Now whether there’s any truth in that assumption or not I don’t know and furthermore due to health concerns, I will not go to any lengths to find out.

Anyone who exposes such wrongdoing should be in line for promotion or at least a medal for bravery, not a vicious haranguing by agencies and individuals who benefited from these back scratching capers.

It all depends on how far back we want to go in exposing wrongdoings.

The seventies and eighties is a period in time that seems so far away now, when members of the Special Branch (described as the Heavy Branch) were roaming the countryside doing what they wanted, when they wanted and to whom they wanted, if they found a whiff of republicanism in the air.

Should we set up a historical enquires team to find out why intimidation, coercion, and brutal force was used against republicans who were only trying to right a wrong?

A can of worms it may be, but there isno point in scratching at the top in the hope that you wont unsettle the bottom.

Politics should no longer be allowed to influence decision making within an Garda Síochána, because this is where the rot all began.

The intermingling power of political parties used their influence to bend the law on many occasions, which consequently led to the act of wrong doing, becoming almost lawful by the participating members.

Hopefully a new dawn is emerging, where we can support and have confidence in all members of an Garda Síochána, (even the hormonal ones)to protect us from muggers, drug pushers, drunken drivers, thieves, and leave the whistleblowing to the referee in Pairc an Crocaigh on All Ireland football final day.

J Woods

Gort an Choirce

Dun na nGall