During the debate, Mr Wallace spoke about the events over the last year regarding the gardaí and how former Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan and the former Justice Minister Alan Shatter lost their positions. He also spoke about the role of the media in the Garda story.?

Áras Attracta a symptom of malaise in Irish society, says dean Áras Attracta a symptom of malaise in Irish society, says dean,But, there was “no ‘them’ and ‘us’. There is only ‘us’, ” he said. There was “the universal human capacity for corruption, inhumanity and cruelty. All it takes is a particular set of circumstances. All it takes is a context of unaccountable power,” he said. “Whether it is the politician faking mobile phone bills, the clergy abusing children or the cruelty of the staff in Áras Attracta; we, as a society, need to rethink our relationship with power: how we do it and how we allow others to do it in our midst.” ?ITS THE WATCHERS WHO ALLOW IT? - See more at: http://paddoconnell.blogspot.i?

Whistleblower McCabe ‘lost six years of life’

Whistleblower McCabe ‘lost six years of life’Alan Shatter told Taoiseach Enda Kenny in a confidential letter after he resigned as justice minister that he was "stymied" by Department of Justice officials at looking into whistleblower allegations against gardaí.?

He was at that time an anonymous whistleblower, enduring the usual treatment meted out to those who break rank to point out wrongdoing. Vicious rumours about his motives and character were spread like manure, through the force, across the media. Every effort was made to discredit his allegations..MAURICE Mc CABE. 

The idea behind the party is simple, Iglesias told the Guardian on Tuesday. "It's citizens doing politics. If the citizens don't get involved in politics, others will. And that opens the door to them robbing you of democracy, your rights and your wallet."?PODEMOS HOPES TO CEMENT CITIZENS POLITICS IN SPAIN? - See more at: http://paddywantstoknow.blogspot.ie?

BBC News - Ferguson a stark reminder of US human rights issues - media   Class Or Colour“Channel Your Frustration In Ways That Will Make A Positive Change.”? - See more at: http://liberties13.blogspot.ie?

The history of An Garda Síochána is a long litany of violence against citizens, of indiscipline, insubordination and ineptitude, corruption and illegality, of ill-treating detainees, botched investigations and much more – wrongdoing revealed by tribunals of inquiry culminating in the extraordinary findings of the Morris Tribunal whose recommendations still blow in the wind, in court trials and in debacles like the latest one that brought down the Minister for Justice.
The right to dissent peacefully is a cornerstone of democracy. Nevertheless, since the foundation of the Irish state, police violence has been routinely used to suppress protest movements – most notably protests by the most marginalised in society.?

 ABUSE CASE No.763978.?

In relation to this recent report, Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald said: “In the past, we have had plenty of reports but not enough implementation. I will not let this be the case with the Penal Policy Review”. Referring to the ignored Whitaker report of 30 years ago, she said there now exists “the deep-rooted determination and political will to make change happen in penal policy”. Unfortunately, the Strategic Review of Penal Policy fails to address many of the deep-seated problems in Ireland’s prisons, and in many instances fails to even acknowledge them.?

Fitzgerald added that the gardaí will be included in the Freedom of Information Bill, which is expected to be enacted quickly. 

“I am determined to do whatever is necessary to provide our communities with the policing service they deserve and I am confident that the Government’s reform programme will achieve that,” she said. ?

‘Inside Probation’ goes behind the scenes at the Probation Service

‘Inside Probation’ goes behind the scenes at the Probation Service,“The most difficult groups I’ve worked with over the last 15 years would be young people. They’re very impulsive.Their brains haven’t fully developed, and they make very impulsive decisions.”?

One group has said it is “extremely disturbing” that the Inspector cannot rely on official prison records.

Using diplomatic language in the otherwise straightforward report, the Inspector of Prisons wrote:

There is a lack of appreciation in some quarters that accurate and truthful records must be kept.

I must point out, at this juncture, that prison records are official records and it is a very serious matter to falsify official records.?

Amid the shocking allegations and controversies surrounding the Garda, for example, it’s worth remembering – as Conor Brady writes in his new history of the force – that “a police force is almost always a mirror image of society’s prevailing values”.? 

We are blessed, for the most part, with a judiciary whose independence is fiercely protected, internationally recognised and one that "Protects The Citizen Against The Excesses Of T
he State". - See more at: http://www.independent.ie/opinion/comment/prayer-for-reformed-judicial-appointment-process-has-fallen-on-deaf-political-ears?

ENCOURAGECHANGE.: Lijit paddoconnell: “‘Basically i find it obnoxious that in this life cronyism comes before qualifications,Plus the fact that your class background defines what position you may be granted in life by the so-called elites.’?THE GREY-HAIRED MEN?”

“”It appears that the standard strategy for dealing with complaints – especially when they concern important or ‘connected persons’ is to target the complainant regardless of the complainant’s personal integrity – or of the legitimacy of their complaint. In the course of I-I members’ collective experiences with particular agencies and institutions, certain tactical patterns have emerged that are clearly designed to wear down, exhaust and intimidate the citizen, and thereby suppress the truth and frustrate justice.”?” – See more at: http://paddoconnell.blogspot.com

The campaign for the Right2Water in Ireland is rapidly growing in strength and confidence. Working class communities have been staging determined and inspiring protests to prevent the installation of water meters in their areas, the best of the trade union movement has mobilised to help support and coordinate these efforts at the national level and the Irish political left has rallied to the cause. In response to the growth of the movement, the Irish State has let loose its dogs of war. As a result of which recent days have witnessed heavy handed and provocative policing from An Garda Síochána, concentrated mainly in Edenmore, Donaghmede and Coolock. - See more at: http://www.irishleftreview.org/2014/10/06/easy-victories?

Fr Molloy and Freedom of Information Act.

A request by the family for information from the Department of Justice has come back after two months with information only relevant to the years 2010 -2014.We had naturally requested information going back to the time of Niall’s murder in 1985. No explanation has been given for excluding the previous 25 years.

We are now in the position where we have to lodge an appeal to obtain information which is our legal right to have under the Freedom of Information Act.

We have made similar requests to other relevant Government Departments and they have all responded with information dating back to 1985 and even earlier.Why is the Department of Justice holding back ?

Authorities in the new Irish Free State harassed and murdered Honor Bright before maligning her as a prostitute and acquitting her assassin. The newly founded Garda Siochana spread deceitful rumours and coerced witnesses to conceal Honor's true identity and the real reason for he death. False evidence, perjury and the silencing of potential witnesses led to hug he public demonstrations, but newspapers were coerced into printing only authorised stories or else face the consequences from the Garda or Ministry of Justice.? 

The Sunday Independent has established that the source of the intelligence was not a registered informant or covert human intelligence source, but rather a retired garda. - See more at: http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/extradition-case-sparked-controversial-gsoc-report?

THE CAUSES OF CRIME AND SECRECY?

25/09/2014 at 12:32 pm 

The Dail’s spending watchdog has criticised the practice of gardai conducting internal reports into contentious issues in the aftermath of the penalty points debacle.  Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) John McGuinness said: “The day of internal reports or secret reports is over.”He made the comments at a meeting of the PAC this morning after another committee member, Shane Ross, described an internal report on the penalty points issue by Assistant Commissioner John O’Mahony as being “soft on the gardai”.Mr Ross said gardai should “never again” be able to do an internal report, suggesting serious issues should be the subject of outside scrutiny.Mr O’Mahony’s report found no evidence of corruption or deception, but recommended three senior members of the force face disciplinary proceedings. – See more at: http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/pac-member-internal-garda-penalty-points-report-was-soft-on-the-force?

How corruption costs us more than just money - Independent.ie

How corruption costs us more than just money - Independent.ie

How corruption costs us more than just money - Independent.ieOnly a handful of errant politicians and public officials have ever been jailed. The cost to the people of Ireland is more than money. The apparent immunity of people engaged in corruption has undermined public confidence in the rule of law and the effectiveness of government and administration. - See more at: http://www.independent.ie/opinion/columnists/john-downing/how-corruption-costs-us-more-than-just-money?

- See more at: http://paddoconnell.blogspot.ie?

ECAN bulletin issue 23, June 2014 3

Brinsford: A prison of filth and failure

Following a damning report by HMInspectorate of Prisons (23 April), ChiefInspector Nick Hardwick named Brinsfordprison as the worst prison he has comeacross during his tenure. Responding to thereport, Chief Executive of the HowardLeague Frances Crook said

“This report

should also be a wake-up call formagistrates who need to stop sendingteenagers to dangerous and failing

institutions…

 and should instead make useof robust and effective communitysentences run by probation services and

available in their local areas”

. The reportfinds higher rates of self-harm than otherprisons, unsafe arrival procedures, and 15out of an earlier 18 recommendations still tobe met

The former Secretary General at the Department of Justice, Brian Purcell, resigned from his office on 28 July last.

Purcell resigned following a damning report that found a ‘closed, secretive, silo-driven culture’ at the department with ‘significant leadership and management problems.’

I rang the Dept. of Justice today for an update on Mr. Purcell’s position and experienced that closed, secretive culture at first hand.

I eventually got on to a civil servant who has not yet being infected with the secrecy virus.

ENCOURAGECHANGE.

ENCOURAGECHANGE,.Mr Pringle told the minister that not only had the judge used confidential information obtained from gardai to sway a court, but that the information used was incorrect. - See more at: http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/judge-received-garda-leaks-on-private-citizens? - See more at: http://paddoconnell.blogspot.ie?

For Deaf Children |  | Oconnellpadd13's Blog,“For deaf children, there can often be "No Cry For Help”. Until today, this story has remained a secret. Some fear it is just the tip of something much uglier and that the abuse of deaf children across the country is far more widespread.?AND WHEN THERE IS A CRY FOR HELP DO THEY GET IT???????CHECK”ALL”REPUBLIC  OF  IRELAND’S ABUSE HELP LINES? - See more at: http://liberties13.blogspot.ie?

The segregation of prisoners in jail is important. It is a great mistake from every point of view to permit young prisoners who have lapsed for the first time to get into the company of those who are regular customers of our prisons. - See more at: http://paddoconnell.blogspot.ie?1964/2000.? - See more at: http://liberties13.blogspot.ie?

GIVEN the scalp rate to date, you'd think the worst was over for the various arms of the State's security apparatuses. The scandals that swamped the Department of Justice and the gardai earlier this year have taken out a Garda Commissioner, a justice minister and came close to toppling the garda watchdog, while a senior civil servant is walking wounded and the Department he presided over got a kicking for being secretive with the public and obsequious with gardai. And it's not over yet. - See more at: http://www.independent.ie/opinion/comment/trouble-ahead-for-gardai-and-justice-minister-as-inquiries-findings-due?

He has systemically warned that the public believes the inner workings of our 'democracy' consists of an incompetent and self-satisfied autocracy who have cast the citizen "a long way from power and influence". - See more at: http://www.independent.ie/opinion/columnists/john-drennan/chairman-john-busy-sparking-fear-amongst-friends-and-foes?

Public Inquiry · Be very afraid

Public Inquiry · Be very afraid

Public Inquiry · Be very afraid, 12th May 2007 Over All These Years I Have Never Once Bumped Into Any Of These "Researchers" Who Are Experts On Crime And Its Causes?

Police corruption and reform high on conference agenda | Irish Examiner

Police corruption and reform high on conference agenda | Irish Examiner,Prof Walsh said: “It is still the case, for example, that standing orders covering all aspects of Garda management and practices are not publicly accessible. The same applies to the existence and contents of Garda policies. For as long as such basic information is kept secret, transparent governance and accountability will remain elusive and the Garda will continue to be one of the most secretive police forces in the Western world.” ?

Public Inquiry · Be very afraid

Public Inquiry · Be very afraid

Public Inquiry · Be very afraid, 12th May 2007 Over All These Years I Have Never Once Bumped Into Any Of These "Researchers" Who Are Experts On Crime And Its Causes?

Police corruption and reform high on conference agenda | Irish Examiner

Police corruption and reform high on conference agenda | Irish Examiner,Prof Walsh said: “It is still the case, for example, that standing orders covering all aspects of Garda management and practices are not publicly accessible. The same applies to the existence and contents of Garda policies. For as long as such basic information is kept secret, transparent governance and accountability will remain elusive and the Garda will continue to be one of the most secretive police forces in the Western world.” ?

Professor Walsh, who organised the Police Governance and Accountability: Challenges and Outlook, said he had issues with the confidential Garda Code, said he had issues with the confidential Garda Code, how individual garda use their discretion and Freedom of Information which does not apply to the force.?WHY?

The Department of Justice and Equality: Government Consultation on Justice Reform - Proposal to establish an independent Policing AuthorityThe Government agreed that it is important that there be a "full public debate on the issue of policing and justice reform". The intention is to have new structures, including the establishment of a new independent Policing Authority, in place before the end of the year? - See more at: http://paddoconnell.blogspot.ie/ENCOURAGECHANGE.? - See more at: http://liberties13.blogspot.ie?

Mother-and-baby homes: Ireland wants nothing but the truth

Mother-and-baby homes: Ireland wants nothing but the truth, All these institutions are linked and leaving any out will only tell us one thing — the State still doesn’t want the truth to come out.

Mother-and-baby homes: Ireland wants nothing but the truth,As anybody campaigning for justice on any issue here will tell you, the terms of reference for any investigation are everything. After all the platitudes about truth and transparency fade from newspapers and airwaves, what you are left examining is the small print of what will and what will not be open for inquiry and investigation.?1964/2014? - See more at: http://liberties13.blogspot.ie?

Challenging corruption, cronyism, and criminal cover-ups..

 ..and encouraging openness, transparency and justice in Irish institutions

By Mary Regan, Political Editor 

A Department of Justice review into numerous claims of Garda misconduct has been described as meaningless by one of the families whose complaint it is examining.

Lucia O’Farrell, whose son Shane, 23, was killed in a hit and run in 2011, said there is a conflict of interest because the review of how gardaí handled his case will be overseen by the barrister who represented her son’s killer in the subsequent trial.

She has written to Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald to say it is “totally unfair” that Conor Devally has been appointed as one of two senior counsel overseeing the review.

There will be five junior counsel on the seven-person panel, which will examine 220 allegations of Garda misconduct.

 """Unbelievably, the last of these asylums was closed only in 1996."?SOCIAL CLASS AND ECONOMICS PLAYED A LARGE PART IN WHO WAS SENT TO THESE INSTITUTIONS,THEN AND NOW?""

Forgotten families

I have always wondered why it was that those who worked the hardest all their lives could end up in a paupers grave?

PERSONAL EFFECTS: a history of possession – Alan Counihan Visual Artist

PERSONAL EFFECTS: a history of possession – Alan Counihan Visual Artist

PERSONAL EFFECTS: a history of possession – Alan Counihan Visual Artist?A great cultural richness is to be found within this material that might tell us much about ourselves and about our society?THEN AND NOW?

- See more at: http://paddoconnell.blogspot.com.

Frances Fitzgerald (FitzgeraldFrncs) on TwitterSpeaking at #macgill14 tonight on 'Law and Justice- Openess, Transparency and Accountability Required' ?TRANSPARENCY,ACCOUNTABILITY,OPENESS??? - See more at: http://liberties13.blogspot.ie/#sthash.N5OiHyje.dpuf

Various TD’s and Government Ministers have been stating that the Molloy family are kept up to date. This is the latest letter I have received from the Department of Justice. Which as you can see does not say very much as usual. Is this what we are to expect from the new Minister for Justice.????? Things don’t seem to have changed much in the Department.?Well There Is Only One Way To Find Out?PJ Fitzpatrick Ceo Courts Services Letter 13/2/2003,18/2/2003.Mr Justice Gannon 13/4/1973,Bob Eagar 2/12/1994,Gay Mitchell 20/8/1993,Complaint One Of Many 890587 Garda Complaints Board 18/12/89,Augest 1989 Wrote To Attorney General,Dpp's Office,Department Of Justice.President Of High Court Judge Costello 13/4/1995.Eithne Fitzgerald And Merv Taylor.Maura Butler Sol,Niall Browne,Brian Lynch,19/10/1990.Michael Staines 11/11/1991.Mary Ellen Ring 25/3/1993.President Of Ireland 13/2/1992.Mr Morris Sol Evening Herald 9/4/1992.Pat Mc Cartan,State Side Files 265 ss/1979 277 ss/1979 278 ss/1979 280 ss/1979 289 ss/1979.January 1980 P.Quinn Registrar.Sol Penrose 1960s Kevin St Garda Station???26/9/2000 Mount Joy No.2390.10/4/1964,11/2/1966,14/7/1966,31/5/67.? - See more at: http://liberties13.blogspot.ie

“”It appears that the standard strategy for dealing with complaints – especially when they concern important or ‘connected persons’ is to target the complainant regardless of the complainant’s personal integrity – or of the legitimacy of their complaint. In the course of I-I members’ collective experiences with particular agencies and institutions, certain tactical patterns have emerged that are clearly designed to wear down, exhaust and intimidate the citizen, and thereby suppress the truth and frustrate justice.”?” – See more at: http://paddoconnell.blogspot.com

- See more at: http://paddywantstoknow.blogspot.ie/

 “”It appears that the standard strategy for dealing with complaints – especially when they concern important or ‘connected persons’ is to target the complainant regardless of the complainant’s personal integrity – or of the legitimacy of their complaint. In the course of I-I members’ collective experiences with particular agencies and institutions, certain tactical patterns have emerged that are clearly designed to wear down, exhaust and intimidate the citizen, and thereby suppress the truth and frustrate justice.”?”

Ivor Callelly and the expenses regime

Ivor Callelly and the expenses regimeIn a culture that has seen even recently the amount claimed by high-profile politicians come into question, is it not time to have a full investigation to examine every detail of the legitimacy of all expenses claimed by all politicians both past and present? The initiation of such an appropriate inquiry would be in the public interest and would ensure that Ivor Callelly was not just sacrificed on the altar of political expediency and hyprocrisy in a perceived purgation of the political process?

In a culture that has seen even recently the amount claimed by high-profile politicians come into question, is it not time to have a full investigation to examine every detail of the legitimacy of all expenses claimed by all politicians both past and present? The initiation of such an appropriate inquiry would be in the public interest and would ensure that Ivor Callelly was not just sacrificed on the altar of political expediency and hyprocrisy in a perceived purgation of the political process? 

Ed FitzGerald decries 'personal attack' against famly

When the penalty for an indiscretion is suffering goodness knows what at the hands of the secret police, you learn not to wear your heart on your sleeve.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2711049/The-terrifying-day-I-defected-NAdia-Comaneci-tells-harrowing-story.html#ixzz39E2TzmVZ
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

Almost 100 years ago, the 1916 proclamation called on the Republic to cherish all her children equally. In that time, the children of Ireland have been physically, mentally and sexually abused at home, in school, in state care; they have suffered poverty, illiteracy, ill health, inequality; they have been neglected, abandoned; they have died in state care. - See more at: http://paddoconnell.blogspot. - See more at: http://paddywantstoknow.blogspot.ie/#sthash.

Department of Justice 'has not changed or adapted to modern world' | BreakingNews.ie

Department of Justice 'has not changed or adapted to modern world' | BreakingNews.ieCivil servants in charge of the country’s policing and justice system have a closed, secretive and “silo driven” culture, a hard-hitting review has revealed.

Department of Justice 'has not changed or adapted to modern world' | BreakingNews.ie

Department of Justice 'has not changed or adapted to modern world' | BreakingNews.ie

Public trust has been eroded, Tanaiste Burton admits - Independent.ie

Public trust has been eroded, Tanaiste Burton admits - Independent.ie?

Dáil rejects application to provide sign language interpreter for Leader's Questions | BreakingNews.ie

Dáil rejects application to provide sign language interpreter for Leader's Questions | BreakingNews.ie

Public Inquiry · Let’s give the Minister for Justice the benefit of the doubt – for now

Public Inquiry · Let’s give the Minister for Justice the benefit of the doubt – for now?

IPRT Submission to the Human Rights Committee on the ICCPR | Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT)

IPRT Submission to the Human Rights Committee on the ICCPR | Irish Penal Reform Trust (IPRT)

Action against Garda Síochána, State over reputation damage can proceed

Action against Garda Síochána, State over reputation damage can proceed?

TheJournal.ie: Alan Shatter slams Guerin report

ENCOURAGECHANGE.

ENCOURAGECHANGE.: Daingean: Minister describes steps to uncover abuse in 1960s



Daingean: Minister describes steps to uncover abuse in 1960s: It is important that the response of the State and the public to abuse should be both "adequate and courageous", Labour's education spokesman, Mr Michael D Higgins, said.?

History Ireland

History Ireland: Personal Histories is an initiative by History Ireland, which aims to capture the individual histories of Irish people both in Ireland and around the world. It is hoped to build an extensive database reflecting Irish lives, "giving them a chance to be heard", remembered and to add their voice to the historical record.?

The Freedom Party of Austria and the Rise of Euroscepticism

The Freedom Party of Austria and the Rise of Euroscepticism: The so-called sanctions were swiftly dropped in September 2000, but instead of lambasting the EU, former leader Jörg Haider announced that the Party would attempt to reform it. He stated that “the structure of the EU has to be changed so that self-appointed bullies cannot trample over the smaller states” (cited in Leidig, 2000).?

Boys Town founder Fr. Flanagan warned Irish Church about abuse - IrishCentral.com

Boys Town founder Fr. Flanagan warned Irish Church about abuse - IrishCentral.com: Father Edward Flanagan, founder of “Boys Town” made famous by the Spencer Tracy movie, was a lone voice in condemning Ireland’s industrial schools back in the 1940s –and he was viciously castigated by church and government for doing so.?

Garda chief denies McCabe claims - Independent.ie

Garda chief denies McCabe claims - Independent.ie: Also appearing before the hearing, journalism lecturer Ronan Brady accused the Garda Press Office of acting as a "bulwark against openness".

He added: "And frankly that's what most journalists feel about it."

Mr Brady said the Garda Press Office was seen universally as a problem and a body set up to prevent information being distributed.?

Garda chief denies McCabe claims - Independent.ie

Garda chief denies McCabe claims - Independent.ie: Nuala O'Loan, Northern Ireland's first Police Ombudsman, told the hearing a ban on probing complaints against the Garda Commissioner would not happen anywhere else.?

PADDYWANTSTOKNOW?

PADDYWANTSTOKNOW?: He also claimed that paperwork relating to a complaint made by the family relating to his treatment had been lost in the transition from the Garda Complaints Board to the Garda Siochana Ombudsman Office.?

One of the most important Irish Judgment’s you will ever read ……. | Awaken Longford

One of the most important Irish Judgment’s you will ever read ……. | Awaken Longford: The High Court has a special procedure for reviewing the legality and processes of the acts of administration bodies. In every one of these so-called judicial reviews, the court will double-check that the procedures employed by the statutory body in question comply with the requirements of natural justice. Yet curiously, the process of the High Court itself in the procedures it follows in these fast track summary judgment cases seems never to have been rigorously scrutinised to confirm due process.?

PADDYWANTSTOKNOW?

PADDYWANTSTOKNOW?: This decision concerns due process.?

PADDYWANTSTOKNOW?

PADDYWANTSTOKNOW?: To seek redress in the event of maladministration. 'Maladministration' includes (among other things) delay, rudeness, bias, faulty procedures, offering misleading advice, refusal to answer questions and unfair treatment;?