Coppinger should apologise for garda slur

The spectacle of members of An Garda Síochána being described by Deputy Ruth Coppinger on the floor of Dáil Éireann as ‘dogs’ was intolerable, demeaning and cowardly. 

It was also a contemptible abuse of parliamentary decorum, public trust and the code of conduct applying to members of the Oireachtas.

A trusted and decent police service is the bulwark between a civilized society and barbarity.

It is only two years since a large congregation that included the President, Taoiseach and several cabinet members gathered in solidarity around the Tricolour-draped coffin of Garda Adrian Donohue. They stood together in Dundalk alongside his widow Caroline, his parents, his young family and garda colleagues from across the country. .

The celebrant of his funeral Mass told the congregation that the profession of policing is the only occupation where one is asked to ‘dance a dance with Satan, to come face to face with evil, to play games or have games played on them by people with evil intent’.

If Deputy Coppinger has any consideration for the damage caused she would promptly and formally withdraw her outrageous slander.

Myles Duffy

Glenageary

Co Dublin