Maura Harrington Arrives At Mountjoy

Maura Harrington arrived at Mountjoy last eve, fashionably late, at around 10 pm. She had been due to arrive at 9.30 pm. Her Garda driver may receive a stiff talking to.

The 28 Gardaí tasked with ensuring that the peasents didn't run amok and hurt themselves (it's the Garda's duty to do the hurting), used the old method of splitting in two. A portion of them stationed themselves at the front, facing onto the road, whilst the rest waited at the back. Thus we had two groups of Gardaí with the peasents stuck between them - the most efficient formation for the crushing of spirits and bodies whilst ensuring that none escape. The peasents of course were well aware of this particular tactic but didn't launch any countermeasures. There'd be no excuse offered by the peasents to facilitate Garda brutality. We knew it was coming but rightly figured that you cannot make an omlette without whipping some eggs.

Anyway, Maura arrived and the 23 peasents went crazy. Absolutely nuts I tell you. They waved placards and shouted slogans. This particular peasent was probably the craziest of all. I was waving my placard, roaring like a bull and snapping pictures like there was no tomorrow. The Gardaí, on the other hand, a veritable sea of calm, surged in from either side like the parting of the Red Sea in reverse and beat the living shite out of the uppity peasents. I watched, fascinated, one hand waving my placard, still roaring, the other hand pointing my camera at Maura's transport taking shots on autopilot, as one young gentleman to my immediate left was cleared from the general crowd and into no-man's land by a scrum of pigs in a pig feeding frenzy, and then brutally elbowed into the back by a young Garda who was built like a proverbial brick shithouse.

Maura's carriage made it to the keep entrance in less than 20 seconds and was quickly ushered inside. The storm of Gardaí evaporated and sentience returned. They quickly made their way to defensive position number 2, to station themselves in front of the massive keep, for fear that the peasents might storm it.

Storm it we didn't. We made our way down to the Gardaí to stand toe to toe with them and inform them of what we thought of them. We may not have fought back, but we do not fear them. "Shell's Cops!!"

Thank you for the report Hermes. Sad to see someone who so far as I know has not damaged anyone locked up like that.

cactus flower wrote:

Thank you for the report Hermes. Sad to see someone who so far as I know has not damaged anyone locked up like that.

Well, that's not quite true. She "damaged" a Garda, that's why she's locked up.

Well done Hermes.
Standing toe to toe with the "pigs" (very 60's) like that, at any moment they might have shouted at you to " go home outta that". On your young and no doubt innocent friend, I wonder did the brick shithouse even know he was there and in the way of his elbow?, that said, elbowing someone in the back is one thing, but to do it "brutally" is beyond the necessary.

tonys wrote:

cactus flower wrote:

Thank you for the report Hermes. Sad to see someone who so far as I know has not damaged anyone locked up like that.

Well, that's not quite true. She "damaged" a Garda, that's why she's locked up.

Well done Hermes.
Standing toe to toe with the "pigs" (very 60's) like that, at any moment they might have shouted at you to " go home outta that". On your young and no doubt innocent friend, I wonder did the brick shithouse even know he was there and in the way of his elbow?, that said, elbowing someone in the back is one thing, but to do it "brutally" is beyond the necessary.

You obviously have a right to an opinion and I both respect the right and the opinion. But there is no law in Ireland that facilitates force or brutality, short of the power to arrest. There were no arrests, but there was plenty of brutality. Of course it all took less than 20 seconds. I suppose in some minds that'll render any thoughts of violence as being void as large scale engagements over prolonged periods tend to capture the imagination.

As for the possibility of being told to go home by some Garda. I live here, I am at home. Said Garda would have been told to go fuck himself.

Hermes wrote:

tonys wrote:

cactus flower wrote:

Thank you for the report Hermes. Sad to see someone who so far as I know has not damaged anyone locked up like that.

Well, that's not quite true. She "damaged" a Garda, that's why she's locked up.

Well done Hermes.
Standing toe to toe with the "pigs" (very 60's) like that, at any moment they might have shouted at you to " go home outta that". On your young and no doubt innocent friend, I wonder did the brick shithouse even know he was there and in the way of his elbow?, that said, elbowing someone in the back is one thing, but to do it "brutally" is beyond the necessary.

You obviously have a right to an opinion and I both respect the right and the opinion. But there is no law in Ireland that facilitates force or brutality, short of the power to arrest. There were no arrests, but there was plenty of brutality. Of course it all took less than 20 seconds. I suppose in some minds that'll render any thoughts of violence as being void as large scale engagements over prolonged periods tend to capture the imagination.

As for the possibility of being told to go home by some Garda. I live here, I am at home. Said Garda would have been told to go fuck himself.

So long as you said it with respect for the law, the person and the job he has to do, I'm sure he would take it well.
And you live on the street outside the Joy? ya poor fucker ya, if I see you there I'll drop you a shilling, for the cause like.

Hermes, I really know nothing about the situation with regard shell and the continuing protests bar what I see in the media and a couple of blogs I've read.

Thankfully, I haven't had any dealings with the police in years. It was nearly unavoidable in the north. Having seen several distinct polices forces (New York, UK, north [just an adjunct of the military in the past] and the Garda), I have to say from a personal experience that the Gaurds have been the most benevolent police force I've come across. Around the area I live in I just can't imagine that the local peelers would relish doing the Shell duty. Maybe there are a special class of gaurds (probably on the fast promotion track) that are choosen for Shell duty.

I wish yeese well in your protests. Its always worthwhile to let the VIs know that someone is watching. However, have yeese ever tried any other approaches with the Gaurds on Shell duty? I'm willing to bet there's quite a few who aren't so bolshie, if you like, and might just reign in their more exhuberent brethern/sisters when approached with humour or something. Many peelers are just peasants in a uniform anyway.

Just a thought. More power to the peasants!

This the best report I can find of the case, and it does not include any defence evidence ( or even say if there was any).

Mrs Harrington was convicted of slapping a Gard on the face, it seems.

A number of other charges were dropped or unsuccessful.

http://www.advertiser.ie/mayo/article/7325

tonys wrote:

Hermes wrote:

tonys wrote:

cactus flower wrote:

Thank you for the report Hermes. Sad to see someone who so far as I know has not damaged anyone locked up like that.

Well, that's not quite true. She "damaged" a Garda, that's why she's locked up.

Well done Hermes.
Standing toe to toe with the "pigs" (very 60's) like that, at any moment they might have shouted at you to " go home outta that". On your young and no doubt innocent friend, I wonder did the brick shithouse even know he was there and in the way of his elbow?, that said, elbowing someone in the back is one thing, but to do it "brutally" is beyond the necessary.

You obviously have a right to an opinion and I both respect the right and the opinion. But there is no law in Ireland that facilitates force or brutality, short of the power to arrest. There were no arrests, but there was plenty of brutality. Of course it all took less than 20 seconds. I suppose in some minds that'll render any thoughts of violence as being void as large scale engagements over prolonged periods tend to capture the imagination.

As for the possibility of being told to go home by some Garda. I live here, I am at home. Said Garda would have been told to go fuck himself.

So long as you said it with respect for the law, the person and the job he has to do, I'm sure he would take it well.
And you live on the street outside the Joy? ya poor fucker ya, if I see you there I'll drop you a shilling, for the cause like.

I might take you up on the offer of the shilling. I'm kinda stuck. Don't be an Indian giver now!

Hermes wrote:

tonys wrote:

Hermes wrote:

tonys wrote:

cactus flower wrote:

Thank you for the report Hermes. Sad to see someone who so far as I know has not damaged anyone locked up like that.

Well, that's not quite true. She "damaged" a Garda, that's why she's locked up.

Well done Hermes.
Standing toe to toe with the "pigs" (very 60's) like that, at any moment they might have shouted at you to " go home outta that". On your young and no doubt innocent friend, I wonder did the brick shithouse even know he was there and in the way of his elbow?, that said, elbowing someone in the back is one thing, but to do it "brutally" is beyond the necessary.

You obviously have a right to an opinion and I both respect the right and the opinion. But there is no law in Ireland that facilitates force or brutality, short of the power to arrest. There were no arrests, but there was plenty of brutality. Of course it all took less than 20 seconds. I suppose in some minds that'll render any thoughts of violence as being void as large scale engagements over prolonged periods tend to capture the imagination.

As for the possibility of being told to go home by some Garda. I live here, I am at home. Said Garda would have been told to go fuck himself.

So long as you said it with respect for the law, the person and the job he has to do, I'm sure he would take it well.
And you live on the street outside the Joy? ya poor fucker ya, if I see you there I'll drop you a shilling, for the cause like.

I might take you up on the offer of the shilling. I'm kinda stuck. Don't be an Indian giver now!

You should have said, come to see me, I've loads of mulah, capitalist pig that I am.

Rudiger has put a report on Indymedia regarding yesterday's events in Belmullet.

LINK

My longtime and good friend, Niall Harnett, is currently in hospital with possible spinal injuries. One of the Gardaí responsible for these injuries was to be prosecuted tomorrow, by Niall for an alleged assault perpetrated on Niall while in Garda custody last year.

I'm unsure if this prosecution will still go ahead. I was due to assist in it. But currently everything's up in a heap. They just don't get it. Folks like Niall are not afraid of being knocked down and will always get up and dust themselves off.

They'll have to start killing us.

rockyracoon wrote:

Hermes, I really know nothing about the situation with regard shell and the continuing protests bar what I see in the media and a couple of blogs I've read.

Thankfully, I haven't had any dealings with the police in years. It was nearly unavoidable in the north. Having seen several distinct polices forces (New York, UK, north [just an adjunct of the military in the past] and the Garda), I have to say from a personal experience that the Gaurds have been the most benevolent police force I've come across. Around the area I live in I just can't imagine that the local peelers would relish doing the Shell duty. Maybe there are a special class of gaurds (probably on the fast promotion track) that are choosen for Shell duty.

I wish yeese well in your protests. Its always worthwhile to let the VIs know that someone is watching. However, have yeese ever tried any other approaches with the Gaurds on Shell duty? I'm willing to bet there's quite a few who aren't so bolshie, if you like, and might just reign in their more exhuberent brethern/sisters when approached with humour or something. Many peelers are just peasants in a uniform anyway.

Just a thought. More power to the peasants!

Sorry about not replying to this sooner Rocky. I didn't spot it earlier.

Yup we've tried loads of different approaches with the Gardaí. I suppose it's very easy to only focus on the negative aspects of what we do. There's a tendency, I think, that if you tend to focus on the success you've had, you'll not move forward. On top of that, even success can have consequences that are sickening.

In Mayo I've had very little dealings with the imported Gardaí. My only real dealings with them have been in court. For the most part they've sickened me to my stomach, with the exception of one particular garda, in one particular case, who told the truth, to the disgust of the uniformed liars. Of course he's no longer in Mayo.

I've had lots of dealings with the Gardaí in Shannon, both inside the courts and outside. They're somewhat different. A much greater percentage of them are fine, decent and upstanding citizens. Indeed, one of them, a detective, went out of his way quite a few years back, when he was still in uniform, to help me. He simply reached out to a fellow human being for no reward and no glory. There's quite a few gardaí out there that I'd class as friends. They know what I'm like and what I do and I believe that they class me as a friend. I try not to make or take things personal. That's not always possible and there are some Gardaí out there that I'd classify as absolute scum and who are a disgrace to both uniform and country. They dislike me too.

But to answer your question more in depth: yes. Many different approaches. Most Gardaí, if you were to meet them in a pub and have a drink with them would agree with a lot of what I am concerned about - not all of it - but a lot. The Gardaí are not a democracy though and change rarely comes from the bottom. Dissenting Gardaí do not remain as Gardaí for long. Either that or they'll be bullied into mindless wrecks or sent away to somewhere remote on the shittiest of details and their troublemaker badge will go with them.

I have much sympathy for them. That doesn't come across often. It cannot. I'm in a place where I'm playing to win and I cannot afford the luxury of caring.

Hermes wrote:

.... My longtime and good friend, Niall Harnett, is currently in hospital with possible spinal injuries. One of the Gardaí responsible for these injuries was to be prosecuted tomorrow, by Niall for an alleged assault perpetrated on Niall while in Garda custody last year.

I'm unsure if this prosecution will still go ahead. I was due to assist in it. But currently everything's up in a heap. ....

Hermes, when I watched that documentary about that woman in Shannon who axed the plane I was struck by how all over the shop and pie in the sky her legal team were. In fairness, there was no telling her what to do or getting her to assist in preparation. She couldn't take in all of the messages people were trying to gove her. You could tell her mind was racing off on a tangent before the person talking to her had finished a sentence. Why are things up in the air in the Hartnett case? Is it the same typeof helter skelter last minute preparation? I am sure you are of great assistance to them but it is hard to organise some people and you have no hope in court if you are not organised enough to put together a proper written summary of your case and a proper supporting brief. Depending on who you are dealing with you might as well be herding cats.

Zhou_Enlai wrote:

Hermes wrote:

.... My longtime and good friend, Niall Harnett, is currently in hospital with possible spinal injuries. One of the Gardaí responsible for these injuries was to be prosecuted tomorrow, by Niall for an alleged assault perpetrated on Niall while in Garda custody last year.

I'm unsure if this prosecution will still go ahead. I was due to assist in it. But currently everything's up in a heap. ....

Hermes, when I watched that documentary about that woman in Shannon who axed the plane I was struck by how all over the shop and pie in the sky her legal team were. In fairness, there was no telling her what to do or getting her to assist in preparation. She couldn't take in all of the messages people were trying to gove her. You could tell her mind was racing off on a tangent before the person talking to her had finished a sentence. Why are things up in the air in the Hartnett case? Is it the same typeof helter skelter last minute preparation? I am sure you are of great assistance to them but it is hard to organise some people and you have no hope in court if you are not organised enough to put together a proper written summary of your case and a proper supporting brief. Depending on who you are dealing with you might as well be herding cats.

I wish it were as simple as that Zhou. This particular case, I can argue inside out. I'm very confident of victory. But I'd be wasting my time travelling into court if Niall is not going to be there. It's his private prosecution and he's the only one who can prosecute it. I'm only the Mckenzie Friend and I've no right whatsoever of audience. I cannot address the court. Even to tell the judge that some of her pets have damaged my friend and that he won't be able to appear. Also, even if Niall does show, or rather, is able to show up, he's more than capable of doing this without my help. The work's already been done and it's now but a matter of presentation. I'd really only be there to make sure he doesn't screw it up, and he wouldn't. I'd just be a comfort blanket.

I wasn't part of Mary's legal team. And it's no wonder her legal team were all over the place. Her professional legal team had screwed her and wouldn't even give her her paperwork. She's still dragging her solicitor through the courts for what he did. I'm very organised. But it's like little Johnny in the marching band. He's in step, it's the rest of them that are out of step. You can be as prepared as much as it is possible to be prepared, but you're not playing on a level playing field. And unfortunately you'll always have some shit thrown at you at the last minute. That's the only thing you can depend on.

Niall Harnett's case dismissed in his absence. Link.

Well done Devins.

How would Hartnett's case have gone if he had been able to turn up, do you think Hermes?

Hermes wrote:

Niall Harnett's case dismissed in his absence. Link.

Well done Devins.

I don't know Hermes, but some of the comments on that link would make you weep.

Conflict of interest upsetting for you, tonys ?

cactus flower wrote:

Conflict of interest upsetting for you, tonys ?

No, Hypocrisy makes me cry, that's all.

tonys wrote:

cactus flower wrote:

Conflict of interest upsetting for you, tonys ?

No, Hypocrisy makes me cry, that's all.

You would not be pleased I think if the Shell to Sea campaigners were to apply the same degree of physicality as the Gardai.

Auditor #9 wrote:

How would Hartnett's case have gone if he had been able to turn up, do you think Hermes?

I think there would have been three Gardaí with three convictions. I cannot go into detail as Niall has a number of options and I'd be afraid of prejudicing them.

But I will say this. Niall was injured in full view of Devins yesterday. He has every right to prosecute the three Gardaí responsible. And this time, Devins wouldn't be able to adjudicate. Indeed we'd be able to drag her down from her throne and slap her into the witness box and see how she fares with having to answer questions for a change. I'd give my right arm to put some questions to her, ones that she'd be compelled to answer.

tonys wrote:

Hermes wrote:

Niall Harnett's case dismissed in his absence. Link.

Well done Devins.

I don't know Hermes, but some of the comments on that link would make you weep.

Folks are angry, that's understandable. But you're right. I'm sure the eds at Indymedia will remove the ones that shouldn't be there. Unfortunately, and at times fortunately, open publishing is what it says on the box. For the most part, the stuff that shouldn't be there will be removed. Time being the factor and of course, the amount of eds on duty. I've been keeping an eye on things over there today, it's very busy what with a load of important news ariving in a very short period of time. They've been rushed off their feet.

To make things worse, the good judge is an avid reader.

cactus flower wrote:

tonys wrote:

cactus flower wrote:

Conflict of interest upsetting for you, tonys ?

No, Hypocrisy makes me cry, that's all.

You would not be pleased I think if the Shell to Sea campaigners were to apply the same degree of physicality as the Gardai.

What makes you think or I should say assume, that they don't and worse.

tonys wrote:

cactus flower wrote:

tonys wrote:

cactus flower wrote:

Conflict of interest upsetting for you, tonys ?

No, Hypocrisy makes me cry, that's all.

You would not be pleased I think if the Shell to Sea campaigners were to apply the same degree of physicality as the Gardai.

What makes you think or I should say assume, that they don't and worse.

Or you think, or I should say assume, that they do ?

From what I have read, a slap on the face from a small schoolteacher constitutes an assault worth jailing. If any Gardai had been seriously injured, I think we would have heard about it.

cactus flower wrote:

tonys wrote:

cactus flower wrote:

tonys wrote:

cactus flower wrote:

Conflict of interest upsetting for you, tonys ?

No, Hypocrisy makes me cry, that's all.

You would not be pleased I think if the Shell to Sea campaigners were to apply the same degree of physicality as the Gardai.

What makes you think or I should say assume, that they don't and worse.

If you think, or I should say assume, that they do ?

Why don't you just answer the question.

Quote :

cf- You would not be pleased I think if the Shell to Sea campaigners were to apply the same degree of physicality as the Gardai.


t - What makes you think or I should say assume, that they don't and worse.


cf - Or you think, or I should say assume, that they do ?
From what I have read, a slap on the face from a small schoolteacher constitutes an assault worth jailing. If any Gardai had been seriously injured, I think we would have heard about it.

Why don't you just answer the question.
tonys

I already have if you look at the thread. I've watched the news RTE not Indymedia and have seen what is evidently a passive resistance campaign met with firm, sometimes rough, policing. It is not Orgreave, or Tianeman Square, but it is evident that a number of protestors have been hospitalised. On the other side I'm sure there has been shoving, and at least one Garda face slapped. RTE is not anti-Gardai, and if there had been proportionate pushing and shoving and Gardai injuries we would have heard about it.

Hermes is saying there was violence by Gardai in front of a judge. That is by far the most serious allegation I have heard. Where you there Hermes or someone from the local press who can substantiate that?

Shell to Sea is not the heaviest example of policing I can think of: by and large the Gardai are not anything like the Met and the modern riot police you see across the globe. At the end of the day police are there to protect private property ownership, and that is what they are doing.

Now, tonys, do you want to explain what you mean by hypocrisy?

CF wrote:

Hermes is saying there was violence by Gardai in front of a judge.

I've been incredibly careful in choosing my words to describe what happened to Niall. The word "violence" is to me a word that borders on suggesting that he was assaulted. I didn't witness what occurred as I wasn't there (I was in another court in Dublin where a gentleman was having his rights abused by a judge - more about this next week, when the case will hopefully conclude). I know of at least 20 witnesses who did see what happened. In court, it is often the case that people are ejected for various reasons. In a lot of instances these ejections are not on the order of the judge. The court is quite entitled to do this and in most cases the court is very correct in doing so. The way that I have described Niall's ejection and the way that I'd like to describe Niall's ejection are not necessarily similar, but in such contentious circumstances, one must exercise both discretion and common sense.

I've possibly confused things somewhat by suggesting that Niall could take a private prosecution against the Gardaí responsible for his injuries, where he would allege assault. It would be for a court to decide if an assault had occured and whether his injuries resulted from violence.

As for there being some media report to back up what I've described - no - there never is. There may be a report in one of the locals today but I wouldn't bank on it. The fact that Niall was injured in the court is nonetheless indisputable (There is photographic evidence and hospital records etc.). And even if, on the infinitessimally small chance that I'm wrong about Devins having witnessed Niall's ejection, there's no harm on my part, it's at most an honest mistake that has no taint of slander attatched to it. I have not suggested that the judge was a party to a crime or that she witnessed one and said or did nothing about it. These types of questions would be better answered by Devins herself in a witness box in any future prosecution by Niall or the DPP.