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The day that Ireland changed forever

One year on from the historic same-sex marriage referendum, key figures from both sides share their memories.

THIS DAY LAST year, 1.2 million Irish people went to the polls and voted in favour of legalising same-sex marriage – the first country in the world to do so by popular vote.

On May 22, 2015, 62% of people voted Yes and the following day, there were jubilant scenes at Dublin Castle as thousands of people took to the streets for one big party.

On the one-year anniversary of marriage equality in Ireland, key figures from both sides of the campaign reflect on the historical referendum.

Brian Sheehan,  executive director of GLEN (Gay and Lesbian Equality Network) and co-director of the Yes Equality campaign.

23/5/2015. Marriage Referendum Brian Sheehan became emotional as the results of the referendum were announced last year. /Photocall Ireland /Photocall Ireland

“It feels like it’s been a very short year,” says Sheehan. “It’s great to think back on when Irish people went to the ballot box and generously said yes, that their family members and their friends should be treated equally for the first time ever.”

Working on the Yes Equality campaign was an “extraordinary journey”, he says.

All across Ireland, tens of thousands of people joined in a campaign – for themselves, their family members, their friends – to say we have to start looking at what has been hidden in plain sight for generations and face up to the new and changed world we now live in.
And that’s what happened.

Sheehan believes if the referendum was held again today, many of those who voted No last year would change their minds.

“I think a lot of those people would say, ‘OK, I get it now. All that has happened is that gay and lesbian people have got married and their families have the same certainty and security as all other families’,” he says.

While marriage equality has had a positive impact on the LGBT community in Ireland, a recent study found many still find it difficult to be open about their sexual orientation or gender identity.

“Many LGBT people discover who they are in hostile environment,” says Sheehan. “More than half experience bullying in schools. Three-quarters  have been verbally abused because they are LGBT and a third of those have been in the last year – since the marriage referendum took place.

The referendum was the beginning of a great cultural change but there’s a lot more to go before people feel comfortable. We’ve seen a number of people over the year being harassed on the street.
All is not well yet.

Luke Hoare Greene

Gay marriage referendum Luke Hoare Greene and his boyfriend Paul Bonass share a kiss at Dublin Castle. PA Archive / Press Association Images PA Archive / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

A photo of Luke Hoare Greene, 25, kissing his boyfriend Paul Bonass, 28, at Dublin Castle last year became one of the iconic photographs of the Yes victory, appearing in newspapers all over the world.

“It was probably one of the best days of my life,” Hoare Greene says. “The atmosphere in Dublin Castle and in the streets – it was like a party. It felt like a whole new Ireland in a way. It was such a great feeling after suffering through everything the No campaign threw at us.”

On the day the Yes vote came through, Hoare Greene and Bonass smuggled their giant Yes balloon into Dublin Castle under their hoodies (in case they weren’t allowed bring it in) and were surrounded by photographers within minutes.

“There were camera guys lying on the ground around us taking shots, it was really funny. That photo went everywhere. We had people texting us saying we were on the New York Times website. But then we had to babysit that balloon for the rest of the night.”

Reflecting on the last year, Hoare Greene feels like life is pretty much the same. “Everyone is equal and it feels normal. And that’s the way it should be, I think.”

Hoare Greene and Bonass have no plans to marry at present – “We’re still young” – he says.

But there is one downside to same-sex marriage being legalised: ”I can’t count how many people have asked us in the last year when we’re getting married,” he says.

Moninne Griffith, executive director of LGBT youth organisation, BeLongTo

23/5/2015. Director of Marriage Equality Moninne G Moninne Griffith and Clodagh Robinson celebrate the results of the marriage referendum.

When word came through that Irish people had voted Yes to same-sex marriage, it was the culmination of eight long years of fighting on the part of Moninne Griffth, then the director of Marriage Equality.

“It was hugely emotional, both professionally and personally,” said Griffith, who has a daughter with her partner, Clodagh Robinson. “And by May 23 it was all done after eight years of my life working on it.”

“That day in Dublin Castle was the best day of my life, bar the day my daughter was born,” she says.

Looking down at the sea of faces, all the young faces, how hopeful they were and how hard they’d worked. They’d been written off as apathetic and apolitical by so many people, but they weren’t. They were motivated and engaged.

Gay marriage referendum

That day in Dublin Castle inspired Griffith to join BeLongTo to continue working with young people in the aftermath of the referendum.

Research released by BeLongTo today shows the referendum outcome has not necessarily made life better for young people. It found 56% of all young people agree that homophobic bullying has not stopped since the referendum.

In BeLongTo, we know that young people are experiencing difficulty coming out to themselves, to their family and their friends. They’re still experiencing mental health problems, rejection at home or from friends, and they’re experiencing bullying in schools and the community.

Dr Tom Finegan

hqdefault www.youtube.com www.youtube.com

“It was a remarkable effort by the No side to get 38% of the vote,” says Finegan, who was a spokesman for Mothers and Fathers Matter during the referendum campaign.

“(It’s a remarkable effort) considering we were up against every major political party in the state, the editorial line of every major media outlet in the state, and a Yes campaign composed of groups that received over $15 million from the US alone in the seven years prior to the referendum.”

The No campaign was a grassroots campaign that had only a fraction of the funding of the Yes side, he says.

“Many of our spokespeople were ordinary members of the public, while many of those on the Yes side were full-time professional politicians or campaigners.”

Before the campaign started, the No side was at 18% in the polls. “We ended up representing nearly three-quarters of a million people in Ireland – a huge cohort of people who had no political or media platform to represent their views.”

A few months after the referendum passed the Minister for Health, Leo Varadkar, confirmed that his department would be introducing surrogacy legislation which would provide for the right of two married men to commission the birth of a child via a surrogate mother.
This news was welcomed by a leading member of Glen as perfectly in accord with the view of equality endorsed by the marriage referendum. He was correct, of course, but no one on the Yes side admitted this during the referendum campaign.

Finegan says it’s not clear what room is left in our law to “protect a child’s right not to be deliberately deprived of a mother and father”.

We hope that the government be will be mindful of this human right and do what it can to vindicate it – laws and policies that impact upon children should not be guided solely by the idea of adult autonomy.

Colm O’Gorman

Dublin LGBTQ Parade Niall Carson Niall Carson

“What has changed?” asks O’Gorman. “Well, fundamentally LGBT people in this country are now treated as equal citizens and that’s just had an enormous impact.”

O’Gorman’s 2011 New York marriage to his husband Paul was recognised last November when the Irish legislation came into effect.

“At the stroke of a pen the Minister for Justice effectively married us,” he says. “And the same is true for hundreds, if not thousands of couples.”

It’s not necessarily that the referendum changed hearts and minds, but it gave people a chance to say what they really thought.
And actually we all found out that we’re pretty cool with things and we are a generous, tolerant open, decent society who value family, who value relationships, who value caregiving and who recognise that comes in many, many forms.

O’Gorman believes the No side instilled fear in people that led to more No votes being cast than might otherwise have occurred.

“I’m not aware of any children being damaged because their family are respected and protected at the level of our constitution and they’ve finally been granted security under the law,” he says. “Nor do I accept these were fears of the No side. I think these were efforts to stoke up fears.”

O’Gorman feels there’s also an element of history being rewritten when it comes to the level of political involvement in the referendum.

“Now you would think this was a referendum that was politically driven. It wasn’t. It was driven at grass roots level, at the level of the street.”

He wants to move the conversation to other major issues, including a referendum to repeal the eighth amendment.

“We have a responsibility now to look at other places where people’s human rights and rights to equality are not being respected,” he says. “Women’s reproductive rights, issues around issues and migrants and direct provision, Traveller rights…

We need to be careful we don’t get so caught up in celebration and clapping ourselves on the back that we lose focus of our responsibility to keep moving forward.

Cormac Gollogly

Ireland's first same sex marrage Cormac Gollogly (right) marries Richard Dowling. PA Archive / Press Association Images PA Archive / Press Association Images / Press Association Images

Cormac Gollogy, 35 and his husband Richard Dowling, 36, became the first same-sex couple to get married under the new legislation in November last year.

The Dublin couple had a civil partnership ceremony in September last year – four months after the referendum was passed. “We had booked the September date months beforehand and we didn’t know when the legislation was going to come through, so we thought we’d just go with it,” says Gollogly.

Having the civil partnership meant the couple could get married as soon as the legislation was enacted, without the need to give three months notice.

“We’re together 13 years and we wanted to get married for a long time,” he says. “It meant everything to us. To be able to stand up in front of your family and friends and say those words. You do feel more unionised. Civil partnership doesn’t have the same ring to it.”

Gollogly feels like there has been a “total change” in Ireland since the referendum.

Dublin is a better place for it. You feel more confident as a gay person. On the day the referendum passed, we were walking down the street holding hands and some little kids who were playing yelled, “congratulations” to us. That was really nice.

Read: There have been around 16 same-sex marriages a week since it was legalised

More: Cork-based Social Democrat dropped as mass reader over party’s abortion stance

Earlier: Gay couple asked to leave Dublin restaurant for holding hands

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    Mute John O'Brien
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    Dec 19th 2015, 8:26 AM

    The trouble is most reoffenders don’t fear prison. A hard labour regime with little comforts might help instil some fear.

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    Mute Martin Critten
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    Dec 19th 2015, 9:35 AM

    Looking at most prison programmes on TV, prison appears to suit a personality that looks as though they find it hard to cope on the outside, so they re-offend in the perverse desire for the routine, security and camaraderie not found in a regular lifestyle. In that lays a clue with regards re- education as the deterrent is certainly lost. But we have to remember we live in Ireland, think of how many job losses there would be if we had a proper judicial system fit for purpose.

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    Mute Josephine Sweeney
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    Dec 19th 2015, 9:44 AM

    hard labour is not necessary, just hard time rather than very short sentences

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    Mute Ladude
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    Dec 19th 2015, 9:50 AM

    Can yoi point me in the way of research you have done to back this up ?

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    Mute Josephine Sweeney
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    Dec 19th 2015, 10:05 AM

    Governments all around the world have abolished penal servitude, hard labour and flogging, what research do you need to do?

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    Mute Ladude
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    Dec 19th 2015, 10:07 AM

    Where you are getting your information from ? I would love to read what ever you are reading

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    Mute Josephine Sweeney
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    Dec 19th 2015, 10:08 AM

    google

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    Mute Ladude
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    Dec 19th 2015, 10:14 AM

    Google , maybe you can Google the other side of the coin. Why hard time does not work ?

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    Mute Ladude
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    Dec 19th 2015, 10:15 AM

    Some people only look for the answers they want on Google you see.

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    Mute Josephine Sweeney
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    Dec 19th 2015, 10:15 AM

    send me what you are reading?

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    Mute Amy Ni Dhaltuin
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    Dec 19th 2015, 10:16 AM

    Ok ladude. What will work?

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    Mute Josephine Sweeney
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    Dec 19th 2015, 10:16 AM

    bing?!

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    Mute Ladude
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    Dec 19th 2015, 10:50 AM

    Your gas

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    Mute Ladude
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    Dec 19th 2015, 10:58 AM

    I know what is not working, and it is punishment. Doing the same thing over and over is a sign of maddness. Prisoners will eventually come out of prison, they usually come out with some sort of mental illness , reoffend and go back to prison ! Norway’s prison model seems like it would be worth a go, there reoffending rate is 20% to see 50 percent. New ideas are needed and approaches.

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    Mute Ladude
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    Dec 19th 2015, 11:03 AM

    To our 50%

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    Mute Josephine Sweeney
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    Dec 19th 2015, 12:47 PM

    im not sure what you are suggesting, prison in ireland is not punishment penal servitude, hard labour or flogging and that still doesnt work

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    Mute Jonny Baxter
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    Dec 20th 2015, 3:28 PM

    That doesn’t work. The opposite does. But you don’t like that so you don’t approve of it. Humans are great.

    http://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2013/09/why-scandinavian-prisons-are-superior/279949/

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    Mute Sheila Bedford
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    Dec 19th 2015, 8:13 AM

    make prison life harder not softer they are better than home life for most prisoners in most cases its the victims of crime who suffer more than the criminals

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    Mute Dave Murray
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    Dec 19th 2015, 8:27 AM

    Don’t you dare speak such sense in these parts.

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    Mute Paid_Shill
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    Dec 19th 2015, 8:33 AM

    That’s great Sheila, just one problem – it doesn’t work.

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    Mute Ladude
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    Dec 19th 2015, 9:48 AM

    Sheila do you know we used to lock people away who were mentally ill? Also people who had certain disablites ? Make prison life harder is not the answer a chanage of approach into why these reoffending crimnals are reoffending. There needs to be a serious change of thinking about prisions. I would truely love to see prisioners doing somthing to better than selfs in prison and come into society with more options !!

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    Mute arnie
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    Dec 19th 2015, 10:26 AM

    Education and phycological programmes are ongoing in all prisons for prisoners to talk about these issues .this obviously isn’t working ,so what’s the answer if not hard time or making it so unbearable they won’t want to return

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    Mute Ladude
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    Dec 19th 2015, 10:59 AM

    It’s not that black and white

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    Mute Jimmy
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    Dec 19th 2015, 8:10 AM

    Mandatory manual labour in the bog. Problem solved!

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    Mute Stephen Duggan
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    Dec 19th 2015, 8:08 AM

    We need a “3 strikes and out” system. Rank crimes in nature of seriousness, commit three of an “A” grade and you never see the light of day again. Murder, manslaughter, rape, sexual assault, burglary, car theft, armed robbery, assault and fraud are some examples I can think of.

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    Mute Paid_Shill
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    Dec 19th 2015, 8:32 AM

    They had that in the US. It doesn’t work. It just costs hundreds of millions to accommodate prisoners.
    Anyway, from what I remember, murder has a mandatory life sentence (I could be wrong).

    It’s hard to argue that we should pay 50,000€ a year to accommodate a non-violent offender like a car robber or burglar.

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    Mute Stephen Duggan
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    Dec 19th 2015, 8:38 AM

    In Ireland life is probably 12 years ffs!!

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    Mute Stephen Duggan
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    Dec 19th 2015, 8:40 AM

    So robbing a car or burglary is not a crime against a person? Maybe not physical, although in some cases it is. But mentally the toll is horrific.

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    Mute Paul Fahey
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    Dec 19th 2015, 9:04 AM

    Paid – In terms of finances the cheapest thing to do with a persistent burglar is to keep them in prison with most of them costing more than €50k a year to the public whilst offending. The cost is not just the result of the theft, but all of the related costs such as drugs, fear, insurance etc….
    I believe that burglary is the one crime in Ireland that is terrorising the most citizens and the one they want dealt with as harshly as possible in sentencing terms.

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    Mute Paid_Shill
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    Dec 19th 2015, 9:32 AM

    It’s relatively simple. We can look around the world at prison systems that work and that don’t work. The US system is a failure. The only thing we can learn from it is what not to do.

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    Mute Paul Fahey
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    Dec 19th 2015, 10:14 AM

    Paid – I agree the three strikes rule is not good and not something I would be in favour of. However, I do believe sentencing, bail and the justice systemic general is in need of a significant overhaul.

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    Mute Le Lapin Noir
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    Dec 19th 2015, 10:32 AM

    “Three strikes and your out” is a disastrous policy. It has made crime worse wherever it’s been tried and to boot has massively increased the prison population with minor offenders and addicts. It would not work here simply because it hasn’t worked anywhere else either.

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    Mute Kieran W
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    Dec 19th 2015, 11:04 AM

    Sterilise them. Wipe out the criminals at source.

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    Mute Kieran W
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    Dec 19th 2015, 11:05 AM

    Sterilise them. Wipe them out at source.

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    Mute Kieran W
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    Dec 19th 2015, 11:07 AM

    Sterilise them. Wipe out them out at source.

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    Mute Chris Mcdonnell
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    Dec 19th 2015, 11:46 AM

    More cells less keys

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    Mute Aidan
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    Dec 19th 2015, 8:34 AM

    Not everyone’s equal so if we stop trying to pretend they can be rehabilitated or they’re poor lost souls.
    They are toe rag scrotes. Lock them up throw away the key

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    Mute Jumping girl
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    Dec 19th 2015, 9:19 AM

    Yes but WHY are they just “toe rag scrolls”??

    People who never had love, education, learnt limits, boundaries, who never has morals, beliefs or something to hope for….,no proper job, no future prospects, ………is more punishment going to fix them or make them harder, more bitter, more dangerous, more anti the rest of society ???? How would any one of us behave if that was our lives??

    The Norwegian system works : the carrot rather than the stick!

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    Mute Mick Jordan
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    Dec 19th 2015, 10:56 AM

    Jumping Girl. The Norwegian System works in Norway. What makes you think it can be successfully transplanted here? Our Society is different to that of the Scandinavian one. Each society has evolved a system that suits it’s needs. If one is going to import a system then why not the Japanese Prison System. Recidivism is even less than the Scandinavian one.

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    Mute Mick Jordan
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    Dec 19th 2015, 11:41 AM
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    Mute John O'Brien
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    Dec 19th 2015, 4:30 PM

    That’s exactly what’s required Mick. The majority of these scrotes have no discipline at home, they develop a resentment for the education system early and opt for the education of the street were they learn that crime pays. The older they get the harder it is to change them. That’s why early intervention is required. The young street thug of today is tomorrow’s armed robber.

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    Mute Phillip Brady Brady
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    Dec 19th 2015, 9:58 PM

    It’s worth a go surly ???

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    Mute Brian Deane
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    Dec 19th 2015, 10:11 AM

    Most teachers of infant classes in disadvantaged areas will tell you that, aged 5, they have a pretty good idea which kids are going to end up in trouble and they’re usually right.
    Tough love preventative measures is the key. It’s the parents of these 5 year olds, the kids who eventually grow up to be criminals, drug dealers etc, who should be held responsible for their rearing. The state (you the tax payer) invests millions in Child Benefit every year and even if you’re the most wreckless and irresponsible parent the good-time Charlie do-gooders insist that you still get full Child Benefit. Stop wasting taxpayers money and start fining wreckless parents (e.g. 50% cut CB for 3 months) when their 12 year olds are caught drinking in public or engaging in anti-social behaviour. There must be a sanction for irresponsible parenting. Preventative measures are better than the fiasco of prison (a la Wallace) in this country.

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    Mute Mick Jordan
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    Dec 19th 2015, 11:01 AM

    Brian. Many of these kids parents are criminals themselves. You see it in visiting times in the Prison. You know that many of those kids are going to follow in Mammy and Daddy’s foot steps. And low and behold a few years later you unlock a cell and there they are standing in front of you.

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    Mute Denise Friary
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    Dec 19th 2015, 8:08 AM

    Whip the violent ones everyday and let the victims watch..I bet the they won’t come back

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    Mute Ladude
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    Dec 19th 2015, 9:56 AM

    All your comments on this have been ridiculous

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    Mute Niallers
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    Dec 19th 2015, 8:44 AM

    Why don’t we have more tagging to keep track of them.The technology is there.

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    Mute Ted Logan
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    Dec 19th 2015, 8:17 AM

    Reduce their/their family’s social welfare. If the reoffend for a third time take their children and place them with a foster family.

    42
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    Mute Derek Lyster
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    Dec 19th 2015, 9:32 AM

    Make prisons a place they never want to set foot in again for starters

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    Mute sunshine
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    Dec 19th 2015, 8:24 AM

    Prison service, like most other public services in this country, is underfunded. Considering health system and education are in the queue for funds too, hard to see large scale investment in this area. In the interim perhaps stocks in the village square for minor offences might work! Could charge for taking shots with rotten tomatoes to fund system for reoffenders.

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    Mute Ruth Colbert
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    Dec 19th 2015, 8:32 AM

    If it’s underfunded then the luxuries of TV, Gyms etc should be taken away. Keep prisons basic with basic food, it is punishment after all not a stay in the Ritz.

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    Mute The Green Monkey
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    Dec 19th 2015, 8:15 AM

    Reeducation camps or kyo-hwa-so as the North Koreans call them………

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    Mute Ger Buckley
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    Dec 19th 2015, 8:14 AM

    Beatings will continue until moral improves

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    Mute Jarlath Costello
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    Dec 19th 2015, 10:35 AM

    Ha! Although I’m wondering how many are giving you green thumbs because they think that would work.

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    Mute Mick Jordan
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    Dec 19th 2015, 10:49 AM

    People keep referring to Scandinavian Prison Systems a the model for all systems. But the one thing they all seem to ignore or forget is the Scandinavian Societial model is different to our own. It’s like comparing apples and oranges. Yes they are both fruit but they are distinctly different kinds of fruit. If you are looking for a system to model from then I would suggest the Japanese model. It has an even lower rate of recidivism than the Norwegian system without the “Care Bear” attitude and the expense.

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    Mute leartius
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    Dec 19th 2015, 11:40 AM

    It’s the “victims of crime” who are totally forgotten in this whole debate. Our justice system has so many vested interests involved that each crimmial creates more jobs than any other industry. We have the civil service unions who gain politicial power by using the gardai, the prison officers the entire staff of each court. We have the solicitors who make money whichever way their clients pleads but by pleading guilty they can process more cases making more lovely money. I don’t believe any figures from the CSO they can only work with the figures given to them by politicial controlled state bodies The chances of getting a crime reported and a quick response by gardai in D4 compared to ballyfermot or a rural address would explain these figures. Most people don’t even report crimes because the gardai don’t care. It’s too easy to rob the Morist than catch the thief.

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    Mute Comexicity
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    Dec 19th 2015, 8:07 AM

    The jury is out on the effectiveness of the three-strikes law in the US where your third offense mandates a very harsh sentence. Some argue that it pushes offenders to commit far more violent crimes on their third offense as they fear getting caught. Maybe Ireland could meet the US system half way – a 100-strikes law.

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    Mute Paid_Shill
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    Dec 19th 2015, 8:35 AM

    The jury isn’t out. It doesn’t work. Only now are both political parties in the US acknowledging this. Bill Clinton has been quoted as saying that this policy was one of his greatest mistakes while president.

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    Mute Mick Jordan
    Favourite Mick Jordan
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    Dec 19th 2015, 1:34 PM

    Here is a question for those who favour the Scandinavian model. You say education and trying is the key to success. But success for whom? Prime example. Christy Kinihan. Allegedly one of Europe’s biggest drug dealers. Used the Prison education system to his advantage to educate himself to become a better business man. Took business and language courses while in Prison. And put those skills and education to work building a criminal empire.

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    Mute Jim Kearney
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    Dec 19th 2015, 9:49 AM

    Hard Labour

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    Mute Kieran W
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    Dec 19th 2015, 10:55 AM

    Sterilise them. Reduce the criminal population at source.

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    Mute JibberIrish
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    Dec 19th 2015, 9:05 AM

    We don’t need harder tougher or more stringent laws. We don’t need “3 strike rules” or The MAN to sort it out. What we need is to build communities! Get to know your neighbours look out for one another. Little Jonny will be more hesitant right from the start, if you know his name and his parents names. If we don’t fix it, it will continue to get worse.

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    Mute Mindfulirish
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    Dec 19th 2015, 1:36 PM

    The legal lobby including the judges and their families seem to do very well as their customers keep coming back for more — very profitable business.
    If we locked away their customers they might go bust or worse they might have to turn to crime to pay for their lifestyles.

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    Mute Gisbert Bayertz
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    Dec 19th 2015, 8:24 AM

    Good man Aaron, I hope those in charge in government read this and take heed (I somehow doubt it though)

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    Mute Gary Keegan
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    Dec 19th 2015, 3:28 PM

    Try making them more like prisons. Remove TV’s, plays rations etc. Basic meals, water. Less comfort might get them thinking about reoffending.

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    Mute captain ireland
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    Dec 19th 2015, 11:29 AM

    Reduce sentences but make prison as hard as possible , no tv , hard labor etc , those doing life should only get privelages as they have no chance of getting out

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    Mute Martin Gallagher
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    Dec 19th 2015, 12:20 PM

    Simple solution would be to abolish time off and suspended sentencing for re-offenders. The same penalty with increased sentencing should apply to criminals who’s appeals against their original sentences are later rejected.

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    Mute eastsmer
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    Dec 19th 2015, 10:22 AM

    GPS Tagging,
    anyone near a crime is then a re-offender.

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    Mute Fiona deFreyne
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    Dec 19th 2015, 9:51 AM

    Aaron is the Trump of Irish Journalism.

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    Mute Fiona deFreyne
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    Dec 19th 2015, 9:49 AM

    Aaron MCKenna is the Trump of Irish Journalism.

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    Mute Pat Bowe
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    Dec 19th 2015, 9:44 AM

    Prison fails. Open treatment centres give them life skills and a trade and see how our eirld improves

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    Mute Ladude
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    Dec 19th 2015, 9:57 AM

    Agreed

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    Mute Mick Jordan
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    Dec 19th 2015, 11:18 AM

    Pat. What does one do that have no interest in learning new skills? What does one do with those that see crime as the easy way to earn money? I had a conversation with a young lad a few years ago. He had been in Prison a good few times. Here is how it went. I asked him if he has ever thought of going straight. He was young enough to turn things around and get his life together. He started laughing. And this was his reply. “Work!!! Why the fu@k would I want to work? I can earn more in a week selling drugs or doing a Robbery than you can in a year of slogging your guts out. You work all year to give half your wages back to the Government in tax. I don’t pay any tax, in fact they give me money in my dole and a council flat. I get up when I want to, sell some “Smack” in a couple of hours and do what I like for the rest of the week with more money in my pocket than you could hope to have.” I then asked him was Prison worth it? The constant looking over your shoulder. And his reply was. “Jail is no big thing. Half me mates are banged up. It’s just one of those risks you take.”

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    Mute Owen McDermott
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    Dec 19th 2015, 2:31 PM

    You could always put them to work building the much needed accommodation for our refugee guests who’ll be arriving any day now.

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    Mute Ger Kelly
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    Dec 19th 2015, 9:49 PM

    I’m with the yanks on this(for once), I just think the 3 strike rule is brilliant, you get a couple of chances and then the 3rd time boom regardless of the crime you are faced with a life sentence. Why should society put up with reoffenders, why should victims of crime have to see lenient sentences. Gardai and the courts know these by first name and they don’t care what time they get cause they are used to it and it’s cushy.

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    Mute Brian Henoll
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    Dec 20th 2015, 1:20 AM

    Cost of the 3 strike rule is insane.

    “The passage of “3 Strikes” laws will lead to a significant increase in the nation’s already swollen prison population, at enormous cost to taxpayers. Today, it costs about $20,000 per year to confine a young, physically fit offender. But “3 Strikes” laws would create a huge, geriatric prison population that would be far more expensive to care for. The estimated cost of maintaining an older prisoner is three times that required for a younger prisoner — about $60,000 per year. “

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    Mute Ger Kelly
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    Dec 20th 2015, 11:27 AM

    Well aware of costs Brian but if the threat of leaving prison in old age versus the constant waste of Garda/court resources which add up to a considerable amount then I’m willing to take that risk, what’s the alternative we have offenders with 100s of convictions and they are costing the taxpayer huge amounts of money so lock em up and throw away the key because they are not benefiting society and not respecting the laws of the land

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    Mute James Delaney
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    Dec 20th 2015, 3:45 AM

    HARD LABOUR is the answer.

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    Mute James Kelly
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    Dec 19th 2015, 3:01 PM

    It’s a complicated problem with no one size fixes all but you must begin by declaring that prison should be reserved for those offenders who present a clear and present danger to the law-abiding public and not for nickel and dime merchants , tv license Dodgers or low level criminals all of whom should be accommodated in useful community based disposals at little cost to the public but of maximum benefit to society as a whole. For those that do deserve a custodial sentence it must be relevant, fit the crime and vat as a meaningful deterrent . If not we are wasting our time. The US has it right as they can afford to keep bad people locked up. So for recidivists sentences should be lengthy, condine and obviously unpleasant . So three time losers especially in drug-related offences and those that present the most danger to the public should automatically face custodial sentences of day 10-15 years minimum !
    It’s a form of social engineering but apart from the odd total eejit most inmates will quickly get the message as will would be offenders . ECHR issues must be met head on but the key must be put away for a long time

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    Mute Joseph O'Regan
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    Dec 19th 2015, 10:42 AM

    Does it work in America with the three strike rule?, if you believe so why does the USA have the highest percentage of its population in Prison? Criminality is a reflection of society and as in all scenarios prevention is better than cure. Deterrents don’t work that is a fact. Countries with comparatively low inequality in their society tend to have less criminality. Deal with what creates criminal activity and this will help solve the problem, but there is no immediate profit in that so the Government will do nothing effective only increase penalties. I wonder is AK and his brother toying with the idea of “private prisons” yet?

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    Mute proctor
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    Dec 19th 2015, 10:36 PM

    Every time you go to jail you should be given a mandatory flogging for being a git

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    Mute Todd Hebert
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    Dec 19th 2015, 12:21 PM

    Education and vocational training + teaching things like having a work ethic. (Which can only come from parents during childhood)

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    Mute Owen McDermott
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    Dec 19th 2015, 2:30 PM

    Yep!

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    Mute Jonathan Irwin
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    Dec 21st 2015, 4:29 PM

    Look at Equitation Project in US open prisons.Those below Bell Line can’t relate to other humans but have close relations with animals.You don’t argue with a horse.Trained to become blacksmiths,Saddlers,grooms etc & learn respect.Into The West might suggest perfect for Ireland

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    Mute Adam
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    Dec 19th 2015, 11:41 AM

    This looks like someone saw mass incarceration in the US and thought it looked like a great system.

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    Mute Owen McDermott
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    Dec 19th 2015, 2:33 PM

    The church wouldn’t allow “mass” incarceration. Where would all our hypocrites go to feel good of a Sunday morning?

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    Mute Ciaran
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    Dec 21st 2015, 6:12 PM

    3 strikes = hard labour cam 15 years

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