SNAP OUT OF IT MINISTER..
Threat officer’s wife tells of family trauma
THE wife of an under-threat garda has spoken of her family’s trauma.
The woman, “Katie”, was speaking on 98FM and gave a harrowing account.
She did not reveal her identity to protect her children and
Housing protest in Dublin city centre last week. Right, Donnchadh O Laoghaire husband and spoke about one incident where the family were enjoying a day at the seaside.
She said: “We were there with the three kids, all under four.
“We were out in Howth and had ice cream, it was the summer just gone and a group of lads came up shouting and screaming calling Activist holds up picture of gardai
YESTERDAY
A PROPOSAL to make it illegal to photograph on-duty gardai has been branded “impractical and undemocratic”.
Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan yesterday said he is in favour of making it unlawful in an attempt to give officers greater protection.
He was speaking about alleged online threats made against a garda who was policing the removal of housing protesters from a property in north inner city Dublin last week.
The officer’s identity was revealed on social media.
Speaking about the proposal, backed by the Garda Representative Association, Minister Flanagan said: “I am [in favour]. I think it’s something that can be favourably looked at.
“I acknowledge the fact gardai need to show identification, this is an issue that arose last week and I too was somewhat concerned that the images of balaclavas on the streets of Dublin, these were disturbing.
“However, I understand there are circumstances in which the gardai for their own protection need to have fire retardant masks as part of their uniform.
“And I’m sure the Commissioner will ensure the proper protocols are at all times observed.”
However, Sinn Fein Justice spokesman Donnchadh O Laoghaire called the proposal “impractical and undemocratic”.
He said: “Has the Minister even thought about how this can work? Is he proposing to ban press photography of gardai? How would you deal with the countless unintended photographs of gardai?
“The implications of such a proposal make it clear it simply cannot work and is not possible to implement in a world where photography and camera phones are constantly present.
“We support the GRA call for body cameras which can protect gardai and the public alike.
Mr Flanagan later clarified in an email to the media that he has no issue with press photographers taking pictures of gardai on duty.
He said: “However, I am concerned about the public order dimension of gardai having multiple mobile phones thrust into their faces as they try to go about their policing duties.”
Has the Minister thought about how this can work? DONNCHADH O LAOGHAIRE
him a pig.” Katie explained her husband must scan the crowd when he is with his family to keep watch for criminals.
She added: “One time he was in Tesco, turned a corner, there was someone he had arrested in the past for drug dealing and a few other things. He just walked up to me and said, ‘ah they’re your kids, they’re nice, they’re lovely. It would be a shame if something would happen to them’. He basically threatened the kids.”
Katie called on the Government to protect gardai.
She said: “There should be some law to stop this.”