National grief gives way to indignation

Last week, we learned a lot about the quality of public mourning when it is put to the test. We also had a reminder of the depressing prejudice that persists in this society, writes Michael Clifford

LAST WEEK I was talking to a group of media students when the coverage of the murder of Garda Tony Golden came up. A young woman from Brazil expressed her amazement at the extent of the coverage. Why, she wanted to know, was the death of a policeman such a major deal.

For a second, I was stumped. Then I tried to explain that the gardaí have a special relationship with the community here, and when one is killed in the line of duty it’s as if the whole country is bereaved.