Mick Clifford: Surely this endless suspension of 5 Limerick gardaí cannot be proportionate or fair

Any reasonable person looking at the issue must wonder why the years-long suspensions have apparently only been imposed on ordinary rank-and-file gardaí and only in one division

The five gardaí face their third Christmas under suspension. Mick Clifford writes that it looks as if they are being used as scapegoats. But, if so, what are they scapegoats for? Stock picture

Five rank-and-file gardaí in Limerick are facing into their third Christmas under suspension from their jobs.

Such a scenario would ordinarily suggest they must be guilty of something liable to bring the force into disrepute. Up until recent years, the suspension of gardaí was reserved for those suspected of, or awaiting trial for, serious crime. This might typically have been organised crime or sexual or financial related offences.