Death by Garda

national | rights, freedoms and repression | opinion/analysis

Monday June 19, 2006 11:49

by WS - WSM

The deaths of Terence Wheelock and John Moloney in Garda custody have again focused attention on the brutal nature of policing in this state. Brian Rossiter and John Carty are other names from a long list that have a public resonance.

Historically the Gardai have enjoyed a high level of public confidence and support outside of some poorer working class communities, and leftwing and republican circles. However the constant drip, drip of corruption stories and bitter experience, has gradually eroded this support.

Violence and corruption are part of any police force and for many years the Gardai had the advantage of political cover for their actions as the state perceived itself under threat from republicans. A culture of getting results at any cost built up. The notorious “heavy gang” operated with impunity in the 1970s, so Garda brutality is nothing new.

As Ireland has become wealthier and more unequal, the ruling class have been unwilling to tackle the problems that are plain to all but the most biased observer. The Gardai are the first line of defence of the status quo, their actions during any crisis are key to keeping the rabble in line. But as old social control structures have broken down, and in the absence of any serious subversive threat, peoples’ questioning of the Gardai’s authority and actions has increased.

The ERU who have killed several people in questionable circumstances come in for regular criticism and hardly a day passes where you will not hear someone complain of Garda graft or pettiness. In some communities the Gardai are viewed with suspicion and only turned to in the most desperate circumstances.

For now, despite all the talk, there is no real sanction on the actions of the Gardai. Retirement on full pension is the usual “punishment” for serious offenders. It is of critical importance that people support the campaign of the Wheelock, Moloney and other families for justice. Organised opposition can hopefully save more lives and create an atmosphere where people can begin working on community alternatives to the state’s hard line force.

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Comments (9 of 9)

John Carty was not a victim.

by John

Mon Jun 19, 2006 12:40

He barricaded himself in a house armed with a loaded shotgun and ammunition and opened fire repeatedly Gardai. Every attempt to negotiate was met with gunshots.
Then he emerged from the house brandishing his weapon passed through a cordon at the gate of his house ignoring calls to drop his gun and walked toward the second line of gardai and a number of locals who were forced to flee. He was challenged to drop his gun and did not.
Then Gardai opened fire.
Carty was clearly deranged and a lethal threat to the lives of gardai and the public.

Shooting an armed lunatic is not police brutality.
It's police sanity.

Disgusting

by Socialist

Mon Jun 19, 2006 12:50

The gardai shot to kill. Carty had manic depression.

manic depression

by indeed

Mon Jun 19, 2006 12:57

indeed he did which made him even more unpredictable/dangerous than your normal criminal,
in this case the shooting was warranted, doubt you would be so brave with a shotgun waving around after the guy had discharged a lot of shots in their direction, the guy was mentally unstable with a shotgun, nice combination there

Violence doesn't solve anything

Mon Jun 19, 2006 15:42

Carty could and should have been disarmed non-violently.
Every human life is sacred.

Shot to kill

by k

Tue Jun 20, 2006 00:24

"The gardai shot to kill."

No they didn't, they shot him in the leg first to no effect

No they do not

by A10

Tue Jun 20, 2006 00:53

shoot to wound.It is a given rule of engagement if you must use a weapon in a shooting situation as a LEO,you will shoot to kill to save your life or your colleuges.

Given that the whole Abbylara situation was a clusterfuck.
The big ERU could not disarm a man asleep at 3am when they snuck around the little house.No one couldnt put together a entrance plan thru the front and back doors and overwhelm Carthy while he was asleep???? More like no top brass wanted to take the risk of doing somthing.
Was the Garda K9 unit not up to setting two or three dogs when Carthy came out on him??A dog is expendable.No one could lob a CS grenade into the cottage and smoke him out??Dont make me laugh by saying that the Gardai dont have them,the Irish army do.
Then the minister of Justice gets the Fucking Bunch of Idiots aka the FBI to review the whole matter.The same crowd who shot a seven year old kid,his mother and six week old daughter on Ruby Ridge,Idaho.Or burnt to death 60 men,women and children in a church in Waco ,Texas.Predictably the FBI said the Gardai should have shot Carthy sooner,and proably added that the Gardai should have driven a flame throwing tank into the "armed compound".
All in all if you give oafs Uzis and no proper training in hostage situations,etc expect disasters.

GETTING WELL AWAY FROM THE POINT....

by section 8 - public order?

Tue Jun 20, 2006 20:36

In the last 4 years there have been 4 deaths in store street station.in custody- that is people detained posing no threat....suspicious deaths to any coroner.
John Carty was armed , angry , and was shot while crouched to fire at the ERU. The garda mismanaged the whole thing and forced the conclusion, by bad practices which stressed the already stressed man till he broke.In my opinion it was error not intent that led to this , the offficer in charge(supt. Shelley) was negligent and even untrained for such a situation.

Terence Wheelock was in custody , and left the station comatose ,dying more than 3 weeks later.Since that time there are never fewer than 2 garda in sight of his family's home. at times there are 6.His sister has been hit and had her bone bruised and had to use crutches , his brothers have been arrested. the mourning family live in constant expectation of search and arrest.

These 2 situations are of a different quality entirely- when garda shoot an armed person it can be said to be reasonable response...when someone dies in a cell it clearly more sinister (apologies to lefties)

Crap

by tom

Wed Jun 21, 2006 12:27

"John Carty was armed , angry , and was shot while crouched to fire at the ERU. The garda mismanaged the whole thing and forced the conclusion, by bad practices which stressed the already stressed man till he broke.In my opinion it was error not intent that led to this , the offficer in charge(supt. Shelley) was negligent and even untrained for such a situation."

Every time gardai tried to negotiate with Carty they were met with a simply answer "fuck off".
The negotiator was fired on and his loudhailer was struck by gunfire. When they tried to communicate with Carty by phone he shot the phone off the wall. Gardai would not let his sister speak with him because he said he didn't want to and threatened her. If she had been let inside the house Carty could have take her hostage or shot her dead.
Carty emerged armed with the shotgun refusing to put it down.
He walked menacingly toward the second cordon of gardai after refusing to stop after being challenged by the first cordon.
He was shot in both legs and continued to advance.
Then the gardai shot him in the lower back. One bullet emerged from his ground but the second emerged from his chest as he began to fall.

diverting from deaths in garda custody

by jack

Thu Jun 22, 2006 19:23

yes those very young men some teenagers one a child who gardai tryed through there sources in the media, to smear the dead lads by saying they died from drugs, but when toxicology reports contradicted this. they try another angle one of deafening silence.
And even on this site gardai divert the real issue. just what happened brian rossiter, terence wheelock, and john maloney, and maybe more deaths in the recent past should be looked at more closely by the new ombudsman.
whats wrong with that?
Hate to see sources or leaks smearing the dead youth with lies , i start to think this is russia and were dealing with kgb inteligence.
Mcdowell should never of backed down on payment to journo's for stories by certain gardai. these crime journos nearly shat themselves. goes to show what power they weild if mcdowell backed down.
courruption is rampant in the gardai evryone knows most are arrogant and sarcastic cynics. who dont even trust there own wives going to mass.
i'm saying there is alarge percentage of courruption going on and is made worse by the lack of any real punishments it goes right to the top.

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Death by Garda

Comments (9 of 9)