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April 2011

The Garda ‘Rape Tape’ and Policing in Corrib

By: 
éirígí

The phrase ‘thanks a million, big fella’ became synonymous with the endemic corruption of the Irish political and business elite in the 1990s.

“Thanks a million, big fella” was Charles Haughey’s grateful response to the ‘big fella’ Ben Dunne, who had slipped banks drafts totalling £210,000 into Haughey’s pocket. It encapsulated the cosy and corrupt relationship between politics and business – two of the most prominent and powerful figures in both spheres casually signing off on business.

Posted Date: 
12 April 2011
Link: 

http://www.eirigi.org/latest/latest120411.html

Gardaí investigate alleged death threats to Corrib whistleblowers

By: 
Lorna Siggins - Irish Times

GARDAÍ IN north Mayo have initiated inquiries into alleged threats made to a contact supplying information on the Corrib gas project to a British whistleblowers’ website.

Supt Pat Diskin of Belmullet Garda station confirmed yesterday his office was carrying out “initial inquiries” regarding “correspondence in relation to matters raised by a third party”, but could not comment further.

Posted Date: 
11 April 2011
Link: 

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0411/1224294394660.html

100 protest at Belmullet Garda Station to demand independent inquiry

By: 
Lily - Indymedia

More than 100 people protested outside Belmullet Garda station, Co. Mayo yesterday (Saturday, April 9th, 2011) to demand the immediate suspension of the Gardaí who recorded themselves talking about raping a woman in their custody and to demand an independent inquiry into policing of the Corrib Gas project.

Posted Date: 
11 April 2011
Link: 

http://www.indymedia.ie/article/99513

2 Tractor Actions Cause 4 Hour Delay, Thursday 7th April

Campers at the Solidarity Camp occupy the roof of a Shell Tractor, then in another incident a 3rd camper locks on to the chassis. Shell work is delayed for 4 hours.

Posted Date: 
11 April 2011
Link: 

http://www.indymedia.ie/article/99505

Over 100 protest outside Belmullet Garda station

By: 
Lorna Siggins - Irish Times

MORE THAN 100 people protested outside Belmullet Garda station in Mayo on Saturday, calling for an independent inquiry into policing of the Corrib gas project.

The protesters also called for suspension of Garda officers involved in the controversial tape recording which is the subject of an investigation by the Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission.

Gardaí on the tape were heard joking about raping a female protester who had been arrested. The Garda Commissioner has apologised for the incident.

Posted Date: 
11 April 2011
Link: 

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0411/1224294394638.html

Wow. I really lead a sheltered life

By: 
Ian O'Doherty - Irish Independent

I wrote about the Corrib cops rape-gate controversy the other day, but there was one element that passed me by at the time.

In my innocence, I stressed that no bloke I had ever met had ever, and I mean ever, made a joke about raping someone.

And, indeed, in the course of my exhaustive research -- by going to as many pubs as I could and drinking my arse off, and because it was research I'll get to put the whole thing down on expenses -- none of the men I spoke to had ever encountered that either.

Posted Date: 
11 April 2011
Link: 

http://www.independent.ie/opinion/columnists/ian-odoherty/ian-odoherty-w...

Rape-joke gardai are bungling fools ... but nothing worse

By: 
Antonia Leslie - Sunday Independent

While initally shocked and horrified by the remarks, Antonia Leslie reckons the gardai involved are like little boys in the schoolyard

WAY back in the Seventies there was some extreme supposed feminist slogan going round to the effect that all men were potential rapists. And there were these t-shirts or badges that said: "Men are everywhere, not just in dark alleys."

Posted Date: 
11 April 2011
Link: 

http://www.independent.ie/opinion/analysis/rapejoke-gardai-are-bungling-...

Rape-case work was garda's forte

By: 
Maeve Sheehan - Sunday Independent

THE sergeant at the centre of the "rape tape" controversy was commended by State prosecutors for his investigations of rape cases -- one case as recent as last year.

The sergeant was also commended by colleagues for his investigations of serious crimes in the Mayo district, where he has been stationed for many years.

Colleagues say the comments by the sergeant, who is married with children, are totally out of character with his record in investigating sensitive crimes, including rape.

Posted Date: 
11 April 2011
Link: 

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/rapecase-work-was-gardas-forte-2...

Irish police chief apologises for officers who joked about raping protesters

By: 
Rowenna Davis - The Guardian

Men recorded joking about sexually assaulting women they had taken into custody after a gas pipeline protest in county Mayo

Gardai rape threat allegationsWomen's groups gather outside the Irish parliament in Dublin to protest about the officers' comments. Photograph: Julien Behal/PA

Posted Date: 
9 April 2011
Link: 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/apr/08/irish-police-chief-aplogises...

Rabbitte says gas project to continue despite incident

By: 
Lorna Siggins - Irish Times

MINISTER FOR Energy Pat Rabbitte has said the taped remarks made by gardaí about a female Corrib gas protester are “completely unacceptable”, but work will continue on the Corrib gas project in north Mayo.

However, he said he was open to anything that “encourages better communication” in relation to the controversial project.

Posted Date: 
9 April 2011
Link: 

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2011/0409/1224294303302.html