Protesters, like everyone, must obey the law
THERE’S no denying that gardaí have an extremely difficult job to do and certainly face some unsavoury situations during the court of their work but the sight of officers wearing what was described as hoods or ski-masks, by the Garda Commissioner is not one that people want to see repeated.
There has been much debate since last week when gardaí accompanied private security staff, who wore balaclavas as they evicted protesters from a vacant commercial premises on Dublin’s North Frederick Street.
The fact that some protesters emerged with injuries caused some concern and the face that such a heavy-handed approach was taken to people engaged in a so-called ‘peaceful protest’ did not sit well with many.
I did not agree with protesters gaining entry to the building and I feel that they could have made their point just as well by standing outside.
The security staff and gardaí were there on foot of a High Court order and were entitled to remove those who were technically trespassing but there was no need for violence.
I do not believe that any gardaí should have their faces covered in this way and the image of them backing up private security staff who looked like a group of aggressive bouncers does not send the correct message and the Garda Commissioner has stated that this Garda attire ‘was not correct’.
He outlined that policy states that these hoods should be worn in tandem with protective helmets, which was not the case.
The whole situation was badly handled on both sides and the over-zealous removal of the activists even overshadowed their real aim, to raise awareness about the ongoing homelessness crisis.
We can’t all start breaking into buildings in reaction to what we all know is a pathetic and embarrassing situation for our country which has left so many of our citizens without a secure home.
It doesn’t further their cause or help them in any way. If people want to protest, they are entitled to do so, but they are not entitled to break the law.
What is so infuriating is the slow pace that the wheels are turning at in terms of making any impact on the housing lists and taking people out of emergency accommodation or seriously overcrowded family homes.