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Up to 200 million single use coffee cups are thrown away every year in Ireland, according to a new recycling report.
The study by the Government-funded Recycling List Ireland found that 528,000 are thrown away every day which works out 22,000 an hour or 366 every minute.
The group warned that while many disposable cups carry the recyclable logo, the actual cup is not currently recyclable in Ireland and must be disposed of in general waste.
The logo refers only to the plastic lids and the cardboard sleeves on some cups, which can be removed and placed for recycling.
Waste Prevention Officer with the Southern Region Waste Management Office and Recycling List Ireland’s Pauline McDonogh said we need to make changes as a country.
She explained: “As disposable cups are made largely from paper many people believe they can be recycled, but unfortunately this is not the case. These cup are lined with plastic polyethylene which is fused to the paper making the cups waterproof but also difficult to recycle.
“Of course single use cups are also contaminated by the drink they contained, which is yet another reason why they cannot be added to the bin of clean and dry recyclables.”
As many as six single use coffee cups are disposed of every second in Ireland, which results in a lot of non-recyclable waste in the form of 528,000 single use cups every day. Right now the only way to combat this waste is to reduce our dependency on these single use coffee cups.
Recycling list Ireland is appealing to consumers to consider using a ceramic cup in their local cafe or bring along a reusable cup for their take away coffee. The group said that once the reusable cup has been used more than 15 times, it is more sustainable than a disposable cup.
McDonogh added:“It is worth noting that more than 1,000 cafés in Ireland are now giving a discount to consumers with a reusable cup so long-term a reusable cup can make environmental and economical sense. Participating cafés are geo-tagged on www.consciouscup.ie.”
Minister Denis Naughten has recently written to all supermarket CEOs calling on them to reduce their use of non-recyclable plastic packaging for fruit and vegetables.
The letter, seen by TheJournal.ie, was sent to all the major supermarket chains operating in Ireland, asking them to set out what measures they could introduce to minimise the use of non-recyclable plastic packaging of fruit and veg.
Naughten is currently considering a range of environmental levies on non-recyclable, single-use plastic products, such as a ‘latte levy’ on non-compostable coffee cups and plastic cutlery.
Last year, he also announced that plans were underway to introduce large-scale recycling bins outside supermarkets in a bid to tackle waste at source.
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50 students trespass on the department of finance building and refuse to leave after much negotiations I’m sure. So basically the people want the Gardai to stare at them forever? …or keep law and order? And I’m sure the students were completely docile and innocent throughout…
yeah! the cops never do anything wrong…protesting should be criminalised!
Wake up John!
@ John
Are you here on your oath today ?
The mind boggles how people instinctively jump to the defence of the state and its coercive arm.
The Gardai have made a complete mockery of their regulator many times now, by now complying with lawful orders.
I’m wide awake and not hiding behind a stupid made up profile
well done
The Gardai were battoning people sat on the ground..no negotiations… do you think this is acceptable??? If you havent seen the actual incident, please look it up.
John give it a rest .get out of that station and do your job you well paid to do
Another know all hiding behind a fake profile
heh i love that up on the high horse because of the ‘real’ profile, funny as f@ck
What did the Gardai do when the farmers occupied the Dept. of Agriculture? Did they beat the crap out of the farmers?
Sorry, that’s total nonsense. There was nowhere enough time for “lengthy negotiations” to have happened, nor were most of the students who were beaten actually part of the group that occupied the building.
They were sat on the road outside. A public street at a public protest which had prior permission from to occur.
Should have been in Dept of Ag in Wexford when the Gardai told us it was a public building so, despite causing damage and assaulting 2 staff members, the Gardai did nothing to remove them.
Then again, these were farmers protesting and not students, so make of that what you will!
“Its difficult to free fools from the chains they revere” – Voltaire
@ John
You never answered the question are you on your Garda oath here today
THE GARDAI herein are only tagging along to the massive cover ups in an attempt to covertly try and make a wrong look as if it not .. its called cover up
are you a guard..john
and the judge said .cant put the guard in jail he would suffer THEREIN IS THE TRUTH OF WHAT HAPPENS IN THE GANG CARTEL
Have you any previous convictions Harry? Or are you just obsessed with the Garda chip on your shoulder? Are you a keyboard warrior hiding behind a fake profile Fagan?
So John what do you expect a protest to consist of? A bunch of calm, polite, cheerful students standing around tidily out of everyone’s way for the finance minister to look at during a tea break and think: “Oh that’s very brave of them alright. Now what time is it? Half past 2? Oh great, time to invent more taxes, increase some fees and then make some social welfare cuts. All in time for me to get to my 4 o’clock appointment with the IMF and the bankers to renew my oath of obedience.” If that was how people expected things to change for them then this country wouldn’t even exist. It’s funny really, everyone regards the likes of Michael Collins and Eamon de Valera as heroes despite the fact their actions were completely illegal. Now anyone who wants to peacefully attempt to stand up for themselves and change the world for the better are beaten and regarded as criminals. Carry on John, you’re doing your country proud.
heehee john is very proud of his real profile, its hard to know why
I said wake up because you’re ignoring facts, we’ve all seen the videos of the protests that day and now there’s further evidence to back up the guards guilt.
The guards aren’t above the law.
I don’t even know why I went to the effort to type that. There’s around a 70% chance the reply I’ll be met with will be either “fake profile” or “keyboard warrior”
no i am real and i do not steal, you got the pulse take a look…… he he he he
@ John
What’s the chip on your shoulder about fake profiles
Or is this another question you won’t answer ??
@Stephanie
No one seated the students there. The were sitting of their own accord.
From this thread I can devise that some people think sitting down is a crime, the students were thugs and that most people really, really have no clue about the balance of power the state wields through the gardai.
I was in the lobby that day. I witnessed one incident of a student being aggressive towards a garda, the guy was pissed, acting like a moron and his behaviour was shameful.
Then I witnessed the following:
-A student being pulled by his beard across the floor by a garda.
-Grown men in gardai uniforms foaming at the mouth with glee in their eyes committing thuggery with abandon.
-A girl being knocked unconscious by a garda, me attempting to help her, being prevented from doing so, a garda lifting the unconscious girl, taking her outside and dumping her on the pavement and leaving.
Open your eyes folks, the police are not objective protectors of morality, this isn’t a comic strip or some fantasy in your head, there was only one aggressor that day and it was the police.
@Martin, if anyone wants to try and justify the things you described, well then they really need to sit themselves down, take a good hard look at the world they live in and rethink their morals/priorities.
@Cuddle Flips, of course they were there of their own accord, it was a public protest! It’s not as if they sat down in the middle of a war zone or massive riot or anywhere where there is actually a clear and present danger. I don’t know about you but I don’t want to live in a country where holding a placard and shouting some slogans on a busy city street is met with a beating from an officer of the law, who will get off scot free with it and any attempt at resistance is met with an arrest and further beating while handcuffed to chair and completely powerless to defend yourself. And after all that you get slapped with an official punishment while the guy who ruthlessly assaulted you sits back and relaxes with a cup of tea, not a care in the world.
@cuddle flips
You don’t say? They say down of their own accord? Gosh I didn’t know that.
Well, next time I sit on a path waiting for a bus I won’t make a fuss if a garda tries to club me for doing so! Apparently it’s a crime after all!
@Eric, @Stephanie
I wasn’t commenting on the rights or wrongs of the students’ or Gardaí’s actions. I was merely informing Stephanie, who indicated that the students were sat (by who, she doesn’t say), that the students simply sat, i.e.: were sitting.
What do you expect Eric, the police to stand by and watch
All the guards need is simple independent oversight most countries have one. It is not an attack on the guards to say that an independent panel will keep tabs on whether your been a good guy or a bad guy. The guards are a fantastic force but isolated cases need to be independently looked at. I am certainly not convinced having ex guards look at my complaint when I am complaining about the guards themselves!
Good comment Kevin balanced and accurate
Exactly!
The problems come when GSOC continually create media circuses in an effort to promote their existence. They are not the impartial and independent body that they profess to be. The biased, and over zealous manner in which they have conducted investigations in the past has been the source of much rebuking, both internally and before the courts. They don’t release that to the media though do they!
There would be no media circus if the Commissioner stopped inventing reasons to block GSOC.
Paul it has nothing to do with that, their first outing was to the inquest into lusk and they (knowing full well there would be large media interest) barged into a a sitting of the coroners court demanding it to be stopped. They weren’t long being sent out the door with their tales between their legs.
I agree with the need for GSOC but from what I have seen in the unprofessional, biased and sensationalistic manner in which they conduct their investigations and from their courtship of the media, I have no faith in them.
honest gardai have nothing to fear from the gsoc
This is interesting not arguing because I don’t enough about the workings of the Ombudsman ieoinu do you have any examples of where the ombudsman has been rebuked other than barging into a court where they had no jurisdiction. If your comments are correct and there has been cases of discrimination by the ombudsman and they are not trusted by rank and file then there’s a huge problem thee. Particularly if there are grounds for mistrust
Funnily enough you’ll find very little about the GSOC cock-ups in the media. I suppose you can draw your own conclusions from that.
What I find amusing is that the public don’t have faith in the Ombudsman as they believe they won’t be impartial and will side with the Garda and the Gardaí don’t trust the Ombudsman because they don’t believe they’ll be impartial and they are out to make examples of people for political purposes.
Having 2 investigative organisations at each others throats is counter productive.
Gardaí who mistrust GSOC do so for fear of being scapegoated for political reasons – I agree ieoinu. However, the political nature of the higher ranks of the Gardaí have also been criticised.
Our police need to be depoliticised entirely.
They need to be able to carry out their duties independently and without fear of political interference or repercussion.
The public need this too, but the public also require accountability.
Another commentator has suggested a PSNI style shake-up which I also think would be a good idea. At its root, the issue of policing in Ireland is political. It should not be.
We need to separate those who serve the state and those who serve the public. A Garda cannot realistically do both – without at some point being compromised.
100% police, military need to be kept apart from politics, it sounds very much as though a shake up in both organisations is needed
“The Garda Síochána is the Irish national police force. It has responsibility for carrying out all policing duties in the Irish State. In addition, it provides State security services and carries out all criminal and traffic law enforcement. The name Garda Síochána in English means ‘guardians of the peace’.”
One force cannot realistically protect the State and the Public simultaneously. A traffic cop who believes they are authorised to act as a state security officer is also problematic. Operationally of course this never happens, but as a root identity for the force, it’s a bad idea.
There is always the pressure to justify an investigation by finding something wrong.
The army in Egypt have decided to serve the public(as they see fit). The result is a disaster.
The Gardai serve the law as enacted by the government on behalf of the people.
The serve neither government or the public other than by serving the law.
This never stopped politicians from trying to interfere.
The remit of the ombudsman should, if it does not already do so, be extended to cover any such interference.
Steve there is a video posted today, how in the name of god do the Garda have anything to answer for? Surely a great man like yourself with “riot experience” can see that.
Come on to frig Guards. There is too much of this going on.
The culture and practices of the force need to be dragged in to the 21st C.
What? Give them guns and let them shoot the students instead? No thanks
. They have to act like a professional force. Why isn’t the Commissioner being called in front of the Minister for Justice or a Dáil committee to explain this. ?
Has anyone any standards?
13 thumbs down for pointing out that it is completely unacceptable to have the police mislead and lie to an investigation.
If you want to know why men like Ahern and Haughey never saw the inside of a cell then there it is. The people are the problem.
Dylan, 21st Century? call it what you like, I call it life & what it throws at you day to day & how best to deal with it as best you can & hoping nobody gets hurt, injured etc….. Armchair policing is to easy, if only exercising the law of the land was to everybody’s liking on a case by case basis, things would be great & no need for this forum but its not that simple or easy for that matter, have a nice day
Sure look life’d be so much so easier if no one ever asked any questions and just accepted getting a few slaps every now and then.
Barry Scott put on a stab proof vest & walk the beat on Main St. Ireland on a Saturday night & come back to the rest of us then, if your MAN enough
well said
lol
so the question of my manhood allows for police brutality? i have no issue with police dealing with criminals
Getting well paid to put on a stab proof vest
I agree with most of what you said but dont you think the police protect the biggest criminals ie bankers/developers?
@Barry
yes?
Ill tell you what Mr. Scott, let that group of students walk in & occupy your place of abode & let’s see how you get on removing 50/60 people, be interesting to witness your powers of persuasion!! Ps when your ready, 50 cups of tea, 10 coffees, 40 full irishs & be careful about the toast oh yeah before I forget, where’s the remote!!!!, Mr. Scott you & your public sector badgers should stay where ye belong, in the clouds & should ye wish to return to Terra Firma, please do with a bang, me thinks ye require it………
thats some serious logic there markey boy
Use Cillit bang Mark every day and see how you can handle it!
It’s private property like your home & mine, I don’t want 50 uninvited people in my house irrespective if its a house, office or my place of work & should they do & want them to leave how Do YOU suggest that can be achieved?
dont double the college fees?
It’s not private property. Laughable really when it’s considered how this whole event has been whitewashed.
It took RTE, the national broadcaster a week to release footage of what actually happened at the Dept. of Finance on the 3rd of November 2010.
Now almost 3 years later we have a report that outlines inconsistencies at best, and outright lies at worse.
Was there on Merrion Row that day, have never seen such blood lust. Negotiations? You’re having a laugh.
Unless you’re going for some subtle satire about the state of economy and the government’s attitude towards banks, government buildings are not private property.
Mark – just to illustrate how ridiculous your laughable macho “warzone” fantasy actually is – let’s run it this way: try walking Main St. Ireland on a Saturday night without a stab proof and without hordes of well equipped colleagues ready to support you.
Feeling foolish yet? Your comment is a cause for concern, if that’s the way the GS actually think.
Censored its not a frame of mind or macho bull, it’s reality & a necessity, hop into the back of a public order van some Saturday night & face it head on with the ‘army of Gardai’ out there & see how you get on, if your MAN enough
Dylan I can safely say you & Mr. Scott have no clue, since ye know it all I’m sure your Garda Reserve applications are have been declined due to your infinite knowledge of Policing & all it entails……..
Mark I guarantee that someone like me faces far more danger walking down a street on a saturday night than a guard with a stab proof vest, a baton specially designed to combat knife crime, a radio and backup just round the corner.
You wouldn’t Eric because the boys in blue will look after you & if required will put themselves in harms way to be sure you don’t
All the real men are in the GS eh? Now I’m really scared…
While most of the Gardai do a very good job there are elements in the force that seem to regard the job as a pension plan rather than what supposed to be : A police force. … Dublin is overrun with scangers and junkies but many of the Gardai are too busy penalising taxi drivers and ordinary motorists to do their job properly. ….admittedly their hands are sometimes tied by silly laws and the lack of laws to do their job if may be a good time to drag the force into the 21 st century and create an irish transport police and an anti social behaviour police supported by laws enabling them to carry out their duties
Typical irish comment.
Police everyone else, just not me or anyone I know
@ John drennan
The problem with the Garda is there ignorant of the law
There job is to uphold common law not enforce statues and policy’s that result in fines , but they are giving this power when the public contract with them in such cases unknowingly
Fagan, please shut up with that freeman absolute bullcrap.
I never saw them enforce a statue in my life! You must of seen that on Oliver Twist
@ Sinead
The problem with cowards like you is deep down you know we’re right and you just haven’t the bottle to put it into practice it’s wimps like you that let them walk over our rights
Shame On You
It’s the most pathetic bullcrap which sucks complete idiots in. Several people have tried it in courts in Ireland, and gone down in flames being jailed for several months with contempt of court, etc.
@ Sinead
I never said anything about court I said when dealing with the cops
Try and stick with the topic I understand that maybe difficult for you but try your best
Sinead , You haven’t a clue, it’s very powerful when you actually know when and how to use it.
Freemanism = lunacy.
‘None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free.’
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
john drennan…@ example “Penalty points
@ Patrick
That ‘Freeman’ Craic is just pure cult propaganda!! Time after time they’re found out for what they are!! Loonies!! #DontDrinkTheAntiFreeze
@ nuffsaid
Explain how freemen are a cult propaganda
http://www.canlii.ca/en/ab/abqb/doc/2012/2012abqb571/2012abqb571.html
Associate Chief Justice J.D. Rooke said it better than I ever could.
This is not about students entering and occupying a place and refusing to leave, nor is it about lack of Garda presence in areas. It is about a disgraceful cover up by the Gardai possibly up to senior level. The only difference between this and the Bloody Sunday cover up is no one was killed. Would that have been the case if the Gards were armed?
Someone needs to be held responsible for this and I’m not talking of the sergeants/inspectors on the ground.
Before I get the put on stab vest and walk O’Connell Street at night treatment. I’ve walked a lot more dangerous places and am well aware of the stress and provocation that a mob can cause.
Steve ive read alot of your comment on this site and its very very clear that the only experience you have is from watching worlds wildest police videos and the like. Ya clown
good tactic vinny, you have no argument so attack the commentator, are you a td by any chance?
Duffys circus rang………there missing a clown
Barry seeing is you said there were no investigations into mayday riots but charges were brought then its clear your not qualified to speak on these matters. Give me any example where charges can be brought without an investigation?
Thats what happened, the evidence was ignored. As a primary witness to the assaults and the subsequent farces in court I am 100% qualified to comment on it. You, on the other hand, have a closed mind and refuse to believe something because you dont want to, the truth is not important to you vincenzo.
There was enough cover ups in this state by the Guards to match any scandal from the North, Britain or elsewhere in Europe.
Justice is not blind in this country.
There’s one set of rules for us and a different one for them! Barely a conviction for anything amongst Gardai but plenty of crimes committed. It’s a tough job and all but no one made them do it. Laws apply to them as well
Cops know how to suit themselves by remaining silent and not making any statements whatsoever.
Perhaps the CCTV footage that they have not managed to destroy will “jog their memories”.
Garda brutality and evasiveness as per usual.
the reclaim the streets ‘riot’ of 2002 sums it up, dozens of people assaulted and injured by rampaging gardai, none of them were charged with anything despite copius amounts of film evidence and firsthand witness statements, a single gard got 3 months desk duty as punishment
I remember that well Barry. One particular oaf of a guard was hammering people indiscriminately in the footage shown and it was beyond belief he wasn’t fired. He’s probably the guy that was given the desk duty.
Yeah, cus film evidence submitted is always legit!! Hardly!!
i was there nuffsaid, you arent qualified to comment, the cops were attacking people indiscriminately, several of my friends ended up in hospital, one guy who was over from italy for the weekend had to have his ear sown back on, 60 statements were handed in to the police and none ended in any investigation, it was a well documented outrage
Ah Barry, there were prosecutions out that May Day thing. They were acquitted iirc.
Some of the cops even removed or covered up their badge numbers so they couldn’t be identified if memory serves me right.
@ieoinu i didnt say there werent prosecutions, i said there were no investigations, the police made a point of refuting the evidence, it was amazing that there were no convictions, the police had no defence whatsoever, the proof was completely disregarded, there were out of court settlements
@ Barry, No you said that none of them were charged. They were how do you think they got to court? I can only assume your statement was more accurate and truthful than your comments here.
yes i did say charged, i should have said convicted, you are correct, the police would not take a statement from me at the time, nor would they allow an ambulance to tend to my unconscious friend
There was plenty of pictures of ID numberless gards going crazy attacking peaceful protestors. Same situation in the student protest. It makes sense that FF at the time expected people to go mad because of the criminal bank bailout and were shit scared of people rising up. One of the first large protests had to be quelled to carry through this crime against ordinary working people. The police are just another arm of the state against us along with the meeja, judges and senor civil servants/politicians. Thats why the cops always get away with it. Its their real reason for being. Its never about a few “bad apples”. IMHO
@barry, again Barry I must correct you, you said that there was no investigation. If there was no investigation how were there any charges? Your ability to present an honest and unsensationalised opinion seems to be poor. In relation to convictions, the Gardai were brought before the courts and prosecuted and they were acquitted. You now question our jury and court system!?!
May I suggest that you refrain from complaining about corruption and misleading information when you yourself cannot formulate an honest cohesive opinion other than all the guards are out to get you as it really makes you look like a fool.
I’m guessing that no statement was taken from you as you are obviously an unreliable witness or more than likely you weren’t there at all to begin with.
The police stifled the investigation, its that simple. You can question my authenticity as a witness all you like, I have no problem with it, but even the smallest bit of research on your part would show you what actually happened. This case and the injustice in court are well established facts, you dont have to take my word for it.
How can you have a prosecution if there was no investigation?
Sorry you lost me as soon as you referenced indymedia. Good luck!
The state paid out €€288,700 compensation for personal injuries caused by police batons on that day, none of the police involved were found guilty of any wrong doing. it doesnt add up. So tell me how well it was investigated?
maybe you prefer the blueshirt rag then http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/may-day-riot-costs-state-1m-in-fees-and-claims-26459755.html
“Yeah, cus film evidence submitted is always legit!! Hardly!!”
It was footage taken by RTE. Face it, on the day cops attacked and assaulted people without cause. This was well established. But you keep on defending it kid. But I couldn’t be bothered engaging with you because you can’t seem to grasp that basic fact.
was the judge in the cartel
It would seem that there are 2 major groups commenting on this.
1 Anti Gard who are determined to make the police out to be a bunch of undisciplined, ill trained, thugs in uniform.
2 a number of Gards who seem convinced that they and their colleagues can do no wrong. And if they are being abused or blocked in any way have the right to act savagely.
The evidence is there from the Ombudsman that the Gardai covered up. Initially very few statements then what was it 60 odd plus taking ages to reply.
So for those in group 1 most of whom probably have no experience of anything similar to what the cops etc face when up against a crowd that can turn nasty at any moment put yourself in that place.
For group 2 while I admire and understand your loyalty to fellow officers don’t let that blind you into defending the indefensible.
If young inexperienced police lose the head then there is a problem with command and control. But that’s another subject.
Bet I get loads of red thumbs here because both groups’ll be having a go!
Who is anti gardai? I am anti police brutality, its hardly the same thing, I am anti police brutality cover ups too, I am also against this attitude that just because they have a tough job, it somehow gives them the right to evade sanction when they break the law,. That is not anti gardai.
Barry, retread the my post I haven’t accused you of being anti police and you will find there are parts in my post where I agree with you entirely. Also I am not advocating that anyone goes out in front of a mob just for them to try and understand what it’s like.
I worked as a bouncer and have done security at festivals etc, I know how easily a crowd can turn nasty. I find in these types of cases it is more about the gardai feeling that their authority is not being respected, its like a red rag to a bull.
Barry, in that case you know what I’m getting at. As to Gards losing it, that’s the command and control element. A recent video of the PSNI in the Ardoyne showed at one point a police officer starting to go doolali with his baton, a sergeant behind and to the right went forward pulled the guy back at the same time signalling another guy stood just behind to move in as replacement. This would have given the guy tripping time to be talked to and calmed down before going back in.
Like yourself I am anti police (security forces) brutality. I do however see a difference between a policy of brutality (Eygpt) and individuals losing it. The bad aspect being discussed here is the cover ups and that is WRONG
spot on Steve
They’re not bulls. That’s where professionalism comes in. The students were not drunken west Clare farm boys, either. They went I’m there determined to break some heads. They altered their ID badges, delayed and obstructed the investigation. They’re not freaking special branch, now, are they?
“…they went IN there…”
I’m anti-Gardai. Before you instantly dismiss me, read on. Exactly who is a garda accountable to? His superior officer? And who is that person accountable to? Another superior officer. Not one of them are democratically accountable. We live in a society where we’ve little impact on changing the laws the gardai “police”. We’ve no input on how the gardai police those laws. So exactly how do you expect anyone to respect the police as an institution? The police are therefore implementers of unfair and unjust laws in many cases. They exist primarily to protect private property and the interests of those who have a vested interest in keeping the majority down. Therefore they are no objective arbitrators.
Individual police officers may be good people, moral individuals who don’t simply follow orders like complicit sheep. However, on that day in 2010 I witnessed some of the most vile thuggery I have ever seen from human beings, and it wasn’t the masses of students who were at it, it was a minority of gardai committing that thuggery. A minority acting like thugs, and a majority who stood by and allowed it to happen. And not one of them accountable to us, the people they’re meant to serve and protect. Change that lack of accountability and maybe we can have a police force who puts bankers and legislators under the cosh instead of students protesting for free education.
You’re entitled to be
Special branch are cops too, subject to the same laws as every other cop.
Cops have the obligation to enforce the law, they also have the right to self defence. They are also human and sometimes make bad decisions in the face of provocation.
The line between acting within their authority to use all reasonable force, and using excessive force is most times a judgement call made in the spur of the moment by cops and after years of consideration by the ombudsman.
It is no wonder there is no trust between them.
For clarification, they also make illegal decisions, they sometimes break the law, there are bad cops and there are corrupt cops too.
I am not anti anything but I am pro truth, I saw the footage the day after it happened and was horrified, as a parent I was glad my children were not in college and part of the protest. The incident has stayed with me over the years and I often wondered what would be the outcome, now reading what has happened dismays me, the behaviour on the day was bad enough but what is happening now with no attempt to honestly deal with what happened doesn’t engender confidence. I am very disappointed at the lack of accountability. I have posted links to the footage, this was not a few inexperienced officers, this was a full line of riot police beating people sitting on the ground. I do not like to make presumptions but i dont believe the police would have just gone and battered those people without authorisation and it wasnt just one or two, it was a whole line, make of it what you will, I can only make presumptions as it looks like the truth will not come out :( This is very disappointing especially for the students on the day who i’m sure would have had a very different view of Gardai after that day and now the lack of accountability, that’s 40,000 kids who i’m sure have a lot less assurance that the gardai are in fact guardians of the peace. I had really hoped that this would have been resolved properly and restore the faith that many people lost through this incidents. The students however did have my respect as they did not retaliate and quite rightly shouted ‘shame on you’.
What group are you in? Or are you the only one looking at it correctly? I’m no guard but having seen the video I say what’s the problem.
Surprise surprise more Gardai corruption
They are the worst criminals in the country
Get it right Bin Truck,
Corrupt Gardaí are the worst criminals in the country.
Yes, there’s a culture that needs a shake up… but those who perform their duties well deserve the utmost respect.
this thread is not about people doing their job, its about people being assaulted by police and the police not co-operating with the investigation
Ah now Bin Truck….lets not forget the Bankers surely are the worst?
The police protect the bankers so its a toss up.
Barry,
Bin Truck should have been more clear about that. My comment was addressed to his labelling all Gardai.
Fair enough Paul. Most gardai, like most people are decent, but unlike most people they are trained to fight and to expect the public to obey them when they order them to move on, and unlike most people they are legally allowed to carry weapons. It is unfortunate that in these kinds of incidents they tend to acquire a mob mentality, and it is unfortunate that they will not hold their hands up when they are wrong, preferring instead to point out how tough the job is as if that is an excuse for assaulting innocent people. It is also unfortunate that they use this ‘few bad apples’ cliche, why are the few bad apples not sanctioned?
That, Barry, is why GSOC should be given more powers.
The command structure should be shaken up.
I particularly lean towards the idea of a Police Service rather than Police Force.
I dislike a Commissioner who selectively drops “nuggets” in the Ministers ear, and a Minister who uses that information for political gain…
Out of curiosity, how do the police protect the bankers?
Took them well over 6 months before they raided Anglo for documents. Yet a few travel agents sit in their workplace after being shafted by their employer and within days they are battering down the doors and dragging the occupants out.
They were providing police protection to Sean Fitzpatrick, when he should have been in Mountjoy.
Most Guards are not corrupt and are good at their job. There are many though that are neither of those and the culture of the force protects them.
The force needs to be overhauled same as the RUC was.
chris boyd bankers are arrested by appointment he he he
Finally a balanced comment with no hysteria or paranoia attached.
The whole public sector needs an overhaul. It’s been a little boys club for far too long.
Most frontline workers however are good and committed people (not all are though I know that better than most), but the nonsense being said on here about them by self centred people with chips on their shoulder is pathetic and hypocritical
Give GSOC teeth!
Teeth to prosecute people who make false complaints?….oh no wait, that never happens
John,
You know that false complaints are offences.
Why is there no investigation into why false complaints are never acted on? Who polices the ombudsman? Anyhow I’m outta here, no point talking to people who have an obvious chip on their shoulder regarding policing, probably multiple convictions and wouldn’t get close to becoming a Garda even if their father was Enda kenny! Clueless
ill have a battered sausage with that chip please
the cover up goes on with help from the gang cartel
Where was the false complaint here? Reacting defensively to legitimate issues just makes the GS look … guilty.
Chris seriously, pigs? Are you 10
In future would it not be handier for the gardai to do nothing just leave them in the building don’t get involved, don’t police protests, don’t try and stop riot’s. I think this should be adopted for let’s say six months and see how we get on. If the public are happy then to have left wing/right wing loonies wrecking the city then fair dues. Everyone’s a winner the gardai won’t be injured or abused or dragged through hot Coles by a certain band of bullies investigating them. The media can’t attack them in the press and the public will have free run of the country. Job done!
Can we get back to you on that one after the details of the next budget are announced?
Sulkiest comment of the year, close enough to ‘its my ball and Im going hoime’
No Barry,
Irish Mule makes a valid, if “worst case scenario” point. Without the police protecting us on a daily basis, we (the public) are screwed. It would be “handier for the gardai” to do nothing. But they have volunteered to do their duty.
My comment above was flippant – but it was aimed at the political establishment not the Gardaí.
I wholly support removing politics from policing.
so by irish mules logic the police should either beat peaceful protesters or do nothing about any crime?
Peaceful protests without police are exemplified by what happened in Egypt. NI marchers also spring to mind.
Obviously Barry, you’re entitled to protest peacefully. It’s just that there’s no guarantee that will happen.
no guarantee that even if you are peaceful you wont get assaulted
Yes Barry,
It’s similar to the way football matches work – crowds need policing.
I love how these “free men” never bat an eyelid when they’re collecting their dole handed out by the state they denounce……..brilliant
I see this job well done. 40,000 protesters, and don’t tell me a small percentage of them didnt get violent, the protest was brought under control with only 40 complaints and 4 Gardai questioned.
People would complain if they let the protest get out of hand, people complain if they bring it under control
Nail on the head eagle. If there was a trespasser in their garden at 4am would they like the Gardai to just stand there or deal with him accordingly? Hypocrites
eagle eye@13,ooo gardai and their up for wrong doing daily of the most vile nature assault, fraud, stealing and on and on including setting persons up at law .. cop on the percentage is so high even higher then criminals its now time to take a look at the force
As others have pointed out, there is a difference between trespassers in a private garden at 4am and students occupying a public building in support of a legitimate protest. I think the “hypocrite” comment should really be directed the other way. There are plenty of non-democratic, authoritarian regimes out there looking for a few thugs to enforce their leader’s directives. Perhaps you’d be better off trying your luck there?
Please so all 13000 are criminals in uniform, I doubt if even 130 meet that criteria.
StUpid comment.
From reading this story and the comments below, it has reiterated the belief in my mind that Ireland will never be able to save itself, ever.
That is far too true. Though look on the bright side, we’re nowhere near as far gone as America, there’s still some faint hope left.
“America” by which I assume you mean the USA has demonstrated on numerous occasions that it’s capable of making fundamental changes. No country is immune to abuses. The US is a far more democratic country than Ireland. Your trite comment is irrelevant to the topic.
I’m not sure if you’ve noticed but America is at the heart of it all as the only 1st world capitalist superpower. It also has far wider range of social issues, on which their entire country is hopelessly divided. Whether it’s gay rights, abortion, gun control, immigration. Their government gets away innumerable injustices every day and their population is either too complacent, scared or uninformed to do anything about it. These “fundamental changes” they’ve made are pretty much the bare minimum required in order to stay in control of the populace and thus, the world. They ruthlessly hold onto their wealth and power and refuse to give it up in the slightest, no matter if it’s what’s best for the people or not. They have been in a near perpetual state of war for the better part of a century, once again seeking to eliminate potential opposition and spread their control further and further across the globe, like a plague. Compare that to Ireland. We are by no means anywhere near perfect, but we’ve got a lot more potential than the America, or the USA or the United States or whatever you want to call it. I’d also like to point out the irony in you correcting my terminology then referring to our country as “Ireland” when it is the Republic of Ireland and like the US, doesn’t contain all the territory in the corresponding geographical region.
Classic twittery. Let’s just check the Irish constitution for a sec:
“The constitutional name of the contemporary state is Ireland, the same as the island of Ireland, of which it comprises the major portion”
Now that we’ve cleared that up, still assuming you’re referring to the US, is there anything factually accurate in your list? Why yes, the US doesn’t contain all the territory in the “corresponding geographical region”. Frankly I’m amazed you managed to get that far.
Look at your list, in virtually every case the US has pioneered the associated rights. It’s now 5-6 years since the financial crisis began, not one Irish person has been held accountable. The Irish constitution still equates the life of a woman with an unborn foetus. Immigration? Don’t make me laugh: casual racism is ingrained in the Irish culture.
I was there. The garda ejected the people from the building, fair enough. In the mean time a crowd had gathered outside the building for a sit down protest and the gards just flipped at them shortly after the ejections. It was 100% un-aggravated.
They ejected them by kicking, punching and batoning without ever actually asking them to leave. This is after the robo cops put themselves between the mass of protestors so it partially obscured what they planned to do all along. I talked to a person that was there and the pigs got off the phone and then started going crazy. So obviously they got orders from somewhere else to start cracking skulls. Phones and cameras were then taken of anyone inside that got pics of what was happening. Then they lied to the Ombudsman.
“Without ever asking them to leave”
I’m not buying that one Chris. It was pretty obvious the occupation was unlawful.
Jennifer,
It’s still pretty obvious the occupation was unlawful.
The reality is that the police they send out on that kind of duty are complete neanderthals. Those riot police are dogs .They had mounted police ,dogs ,police in full riot gear and ordinary police, its just astonishing that the police treat their own like that. They’re just students at the end of the day and they want to contribute to society. That demonstration of brutality effectively ended any student disobedience after that they achieved what they wanted to do.
A peaceful protest in the states resulted in 2 officers losing their job because they pepper sprayed students in the face. Not one student was assaulted bar that. http://youtu.be/WmJmmnMkuEM.
Garda
The Guards acted as a force out of control that day. Either there was a break down in discipline or they were allowed run amok.
One good thing though is that a lot of students realized that their is something very rotten about Justice and the abuse of power in this country.
@ Patrick. Your comment is factually very wrong. Most of the Gardai dealing with the protests were already on duty and deployed. The public order unit are there for back up and I know receive regular training. As for your link it does not work but from memory those were not cops they were campus security.
If your gonna throw out comments like yours at least try get some gacts right.
PS Im not a Garda but friends who are and there Damn good people.
Sean don’t let facts get in the way of the anti-Garda rant brigade!
Not “campus security”. They were “University Police”. Given that a University usually has a population similar to a small town they have their own police department. Probably better trained and equipped than the GS, in fairness.
It may be a tough job but do I right
a perfectly cromulent sentence
The video is out there you tube it and its not even edited. On all counts the gardai made themselves guilty simply because they did not display their numbers ,they didnt cooperate with the investigation they took all cameras off the bystanders. They should be on their oath when answering investigators. There’s no point in having an ombundsman if they arent doing their job correctly. Same with shell to sea which has some incidents of atrocious brutality .I can’t fathom how a young garda goes home to his wife and she asks him how was his day. “Yes honey I beat the seven shades of shite out of some students “. What kind of democracy allows that?,
Patrick, you’re generalising. Personally I find it hard to believe that the cover up as it appears to be isn’t sanctioned by the top brass. And that’s the danger as long as the top go that way the young ones following will believe that is the way they should behave.
Bring back robocop
Power corrupts and absolute power …..
Batons protesters
Viny, really I think NI service number of tours incl 3 Year tour, between 69 and 79 plus Falklands June 82 might have provided some experience. Lot of green thumbs for my comment.
Incidentally I am not anti police, nephew in grater Manchester. Nieces husband W. Yorks CID
For grater read greater
Falklands, that was a fair battle Steve……..wasn’t it???
Depends which way you look at it, we were outnumbered but a lot better trained and equipped. On balance NI it wasn’t a fair NUMBER of battles. But that’s irrevelant to the core of this discussion I only brought it up to answer Vinnie’s uninformed criticism of me.
Firstly there is no policing experience listed so again read my comment. Secondly would you mind telling me what AICS stands for?
Bunny NI was called in aid gf the civil power, I never claimed policing experience you challenged me re walking down ‘ Connell st etc. My experience was walking the falls, shankill etc and handling riots in Derry and Belfast at various times.
By all means comment on my posts that’s what discussion is about but please don’t try twisting my words. If you actually take the time to read other posts of mine you might be surprised at the support for the police.
As to what aics stands for look at my profile, it is not an anonymous name.
Where did i mention you walking down o connell street or any other street? I didnt!! You never policed a riot anywhere ever your simplistic view of policing riots is more than enough proof of that. Again if you could tell me what ACIS stands for that’d great.
Ah Vinie, are you a police officer? As to aics I answered that already
The damage McDowell did as minister for justice is sadly apparent in the manner many of the Gardai trained during his term of office comport themselves. In the Irish state the Gardai are meant to carry out their duties with the consent of the people and not by threat of force as most modern police forces do. Furthermore historically and this has not been changed by statute their first duty as guardians of the peace is to protect the citizen population. Sadly the vast majority of our young Gardai have watched too much television and picture themselves as some sort of American style cop. They are arrogant and excessively aggressive and I have given more than one of them the sharp edge of my tongue and left them in no doubt that this citizen will not tolerate such attitudes. Stand up people they are our servants not the other way round.
this seems like another intelligentl divide and distract tactic employed by the government.
just ignore the elephant in the room….
Noel – this is the elephant in the room.
looks like many on here did not bother to look up the footage of the incident, these people were sitting on the ground and the crowd are chanting ‘shame on you’ at the behaviour of the Gardai, please if you have not seen the footage, take the time to watch, an unconscious girl was dragged out of the building and dumped..
For the Gardai to command respect, they must also be honest in their dealings if wrong was done then this needs to be dealt with, which is not what happens, few gardai are held to account, this needs to change
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrBgTuue2rE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPnoAY1wXfI
ill click my fingers i have power beyond the people “yeah “
Doing well with typos for NI read NO
have your say