TED crime is flourishing at working class level but also white collar crime is rampant ,my condolences to his partner and his children cannot imagine the pain the must be going through.

Talk is cheap Enda, that’s all you’ll be remembered for unless you & your govt take action. Legislate for longer sentences for violent criminals, ensure that they serve those sentences fully, & introduce legislation that anyone convicted of a violent crime is tagged & made obey a curfew after release. Their rights expired when they made the choice to engage in crime.

A disgraceful comment, toorkeel. And very inappropriate at this time. He would have come to your assistance should u have needed it. Disgraceful comment & in bad taste at this time. U know what ? Even though your comment is insensitive at the moment, he made sure our society is safe enough for your to exercise your freedom of speech. Your comment is in very poor taste.

Disgraceful! Due to the dangers theyre exposed to, Our Gardai need to be looked after better.

@Dermot I think you mean the non working class level. Working class people work, hence the name.

To be fair lads I like to think he was being sarcastic referring to the comments people often make about the gardai saying aren’t they lucky to have a job. Well at least I hope he was being sarcastic.

I think Toorkeel was being sarcastic Declan.

I hope so Ted & Irish Mule. I hope so. I have a dislike for people commenting under a pseudonym. Say whatever you have to say using your real name with a current photo. I have absolutely no problem with anyone saying whatever they like. We live in a free society & I am all on for freedom of speech. However – that comes with responsibilities. It is up to toorkeel to info us whether he was being sarcastic or not. Many thanks for your replies.

Exactly my thoughts ted talk is cheap i wonder how many people would do that mans job trying to keep this country safe from lowlifes no good to themselves or anybody

Ah !! Toorkeel’s comment was removed. Pity. I feel it should have been left up. Oh, well -

@Declan. Apologies if you took my comment up the wrong way. It was said with two tonnes of sarcasm! The Gardai do an extremely difficult and thankless job with depleted resources, zero support from their superiors and smaller and smaller pay cheques. All the while, with morale at subterranean levels they continue to provide a good service to the communities. They are to be commended along with all front line staff for their professionalism in the face of constant danger. The Gardai and Ireland lost a good man to vermin last night. May he Rest in Peace.

Many thanks for your reply & clarity, Toorkeel. I commend u for that. I agree with what u say in your reply. Ireland has lost it’s soul for many reasons & one of the main reasons is the out & out failure of all politicians from all parties to do the right thing in the past & present. We were sold out & greed took over. That all started at the top & seeped it’s way down. The greed is still there at the top with 2 Taoiseach on E151k a year to begin with. Anyway – thanks again for your clarity. As I said, we live in a free society to say whatever we feel but that comes with responsibilities & one has a right to reply. The Gardai are the thin blue line keeping our society safe. This Garda paid with his life to ensure all our safety is kept intact. Take care & have a nice day.

The country awoke this morning, with news we always feared,
a colleague downed in cold cold blood, in our heads this news is seared.

He went to work, as we all do, he did his job with pride, he knew the risks, he didn’t care, from danger he’d never hide.

We do this job for lower pay, they’ve no more left to take, their promises are just like them, not real and mostly fake.

So wake up Shatter, a man has died, he died for you and me, the crime it rises, the people fear, why can you not see?

The Irish people have great resolve, but are slowly losing patience, as you make your cuts, without regard and close our Garda stations.

We’ve had enough, we’ll take no more, you’ve tried us to the last, we watch the news in horror, a colleague now has passed.

So now you see your policies, are obscure and ineffective, our thoughts today are with that man who died a brave detective.

RIP Detective Donoghue, thoughts and prayers with your family, friends and colleagues

Not at all Declan, I should have been clearer with my original comment from the outset. I have many good friends who are members of An Garda Siochana. My own Grandfather died in the line of duty as a member of An Garda Siochana in the 50′s. Although I never knew him, I know it impacted my own fathers life greatly along with his siblings and mother. My grandmother was left with 4 children ranging from the age of 4 to12 to bring up alone. This was a monstrous heinous crime last night. Shatter needs to wake the hell up to see what’s really happening and support the Gardai not handicap them as he is doing now with paycuts, poor equipment, zero support and his condescending attitude.

Fair play toorkeel… I hope the rest if the public support us like you

Declan, why don’t you go all the way and publish all your personal account information, you are still far too anonymous.

You choose to publish your name with a mugshot. For a variety of different reasons others exercise their right not to. Still permissible to do so last I checked.

I have no doubt that Our Taoiseach will do all in his power to assist the Gardai in their hunt for the murderer/s of Garda Donohue. As we debate,and Comment, He is actively overseeing measures that will have a profound effect on the ability of the Gardai to find the fugitives.He is supporting his minister in the closure of stations,Looking to release 1500 gardai on career breaks and reducing their budget and lets not forget the reduction in allowances and overtime. Well done, Taoiseach and Minister. Streamline the force and improve its effectiveness…..Brilliant!

Sincere condolences to the family of Gárda Detective Adrian Donohoe, RIP.
Very high quality, discreet bullet proof Kevlar vests cost as little as $500,
– so little, when compared to a gárda’s life.
I bet Shatter & co. wear one,
if not, they had better…

@My Dawg Barks Some – because I have children in my friends list & I don’t want to expose them to anyone online who may be the type of person who are not nice towards children if u get my drift. My name & pic are real. c’est moi. Take care.

You are right baxter. This terrible deed is just met with “crocodile tears” from the powers that be. Instead of reducing Garda numbers, they should be increasing them., but thats Politicians for you. Sincere condolences to the Donohue family. RIP

Lets not forget that everyday guards are assaulted on duty by thugs who are dragged up with no respect. Only during the week a female guard was badly assaulted on Abbey Street by a thug who has an endless line of convictions but of course is out on “suspended sentence”. He literately danced on her head too, just to show what he thinks of us law abides and our laws. I’ve asked The Journal to report on these incidents but for some reason they never do. Not to mention the thugs who beat up elderly for a few quid. What kind of parents are raising these $cumbags?

The scrotes have more rights than the normal person….

Well said Baxter.

They’ll have his killers in hours, not days, pity they can’t do that for all the murder victims in Dublin.

That’s the second scandalous comment from you. You are a disgrace. Get lost.

@tony fantozi the gardai have the highest capture and conviction rate of murderers in Europe and have had for a long time. you clown. RIP Garda Donaghue

Again Tony Fanta is being an a hole, u know u hate the Guards Tony because they stop your type running amok in society

What a wonderful poem.. thank you for posting it lisa

Lisa , That is lovely . I cried reading it :(
God help his wife and children , family and colleagues.
It is just too sad.

Well said sis

This is true. Armed detectives on escort duty used to carry uzi’s too until it was decided that they were too expensive so they were taken off them.

Yes

This is no time to bring austerity into this. For God’s sake give this man a thought for a minute. Arm the Gardai and restore the death penalty. NOW.

Why only for killing a guard no difference in killing a civilian!

There is a difference. We asked the Gardai to stand between us and them. So yes if a Garda is killed it should be treated differently.

Most gardai don’t want to be armed. It also makes the criminals think they have pistols, we need aks. He was a detective on escort duty so think he was armed. Sad day. People are angry but the death penalty???

where were your calls for the death penalty for those who murder people in Dublin every week……..

Don’t need a death penalty…….

This was a catastrophic failure of Garda intelligence….

Tony you are talking through your arse!!!

He sure is

The majority of Gardai think that it may become necessary to arm all it’s officers. They face danger every day and we ask these men and women to stand on a line and protect us. So yes the murder of a Garda is unique it is an attack on all of us.

Why not bring back the death penalty for such things? These things don’t happen alot and when they do the should be acted apon. Major deterrent. Also why not use the army like they use too for transporting cash van like i use to see them do?

Great deterrant in the US alright. Highly armed cops with the death penalty and look at their crime.

I’m sure the good people at The Journal will have a poll and debate on this in due course so we should leave it til then. We should all just say hello to family and friends for the day.

Dont be an a hole fanta, just say this robbery was organised at the last minute or a gang of criminals who hate society in general, what info would leak out, they are thugs and murderers simple as that, blame them not the Guards

US is a completely different society, lets not compare. Between their availablity of guns, mental health issues, their gang culture and so on and its still a rarity for a cop in the US to be shot.

I couldn’t agree more mike. Empty scripted words with no feeling. If he was truly shocked and saddened he wouldn’t be closing stations, giving early retirement, years leave of absence and slashing the Garda core pay! Does he not realise with each measure he and shatter push upon the Garda that the risk is tripled and quadrupled to all other Garda. RIP to the brave man, my thoughts are with his family. I hope they can see through the backhanded sympathy that Enda uttered.

Mike, I presume you will apply this standard to all who post on this issue as well.

Mike
Just to put a small piece of balance into the discussion at a time when politics is only discussed by the ignorant.
When any Member of the Armed Forces or Gardai dies in appalling circumstances such as last night it is custom and practice for the Taoiseach the President and the relevant Minister to offer condolences and comment on the the contribution that such heroic front line officers offer to the people of Ireland. This is not politics Mike. This is decency and respect. Please honor it.

@Mike- I see your “lets not politicise this” urging on a previous thread was short lived. A pity.

@ Eileen.
Pay no attention to them,I don’t.

Mike
I know Mike , :(
what irritates me is that we all know this worm is trolling , is using multiple identities. We have all caught them out , reported them ,yet the journal continues to allow them troll and comment . I apologise for swearing , but I am genuinely upset and feel that these idiots are only here to prevent ant criticism of the politicians who must own up to the responsibility of decimating our frontline services that has put all our lives at risk. Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe paid the ultimate price.His wife and children will continue to pay for the rest of their lives.

I know Eileen and I have kept screenshots of all the personal insults and have reported their trolling.
Anyway, I am hoping to drive to Drogheda to sign the book of condolances.
I rang Blanchardstown asking if a book of condolances be set up,they will get back to me and I’ll let you know.

A hero is dead & all people on journal.ie can do is abuse each other. Unbelieveable.

thanks Mike .

@eileen- you’re the one using profane language. @Mike- I simply suggested that you not use a tragedy like this to further your politics. Offering condolences should be enough.

@mike- Dundalk, by the way.

@martin- allow me to share my shock & revulsion at you politicising this.

Vincent. I certainly don’t agree that I am politicising this tragedy. Every time we have an incident like this, we’ll have politicians from all sides jumping on the condolence bandwagon dishing out their televised platitudes. You can almost know the words they’ll use before they speak. Outraged, shocked, abhorred etc etc. yet look at the TV during a Dail debate some weeks from now and how many of the 6 or so in attendance will stand up and speak or vote for real change. ALL TD ‘s should be made read JFK’s “Profiles in Courage” book BEFORE entering the Dail to see how brave men of conscience voted against their party line to the detriment of their careers because it was the right thing to do. No, our lot will toe the party line and think of the parish vote back home and sheepishly allow the status quo to carry on. The sacrifices made by ALL Garda will soon be forgotten in the perennial quest to hold onto their seats. So it’s not politicising, it’s disillusionment and sadness that we have no men of courage or integrity running this country, either now or in the recent past.

@martin- respectfully- by bringing politicians into your post, you by definition politicised it. Out of 6 lines, one was condolences and the rest was an admonishment of politicians. Not the time fit politics is all I’m saying.

Vincent Mark Mick
what ever you are today .You are on here politicising it yourself. Did your pay masters tell you to troll the journal to stop people from airing their upset . Now go away . People are genuinely upset by this mans murder. Leave people be.

Most are un armed however this hero was a detective so armed. The ratio of cops to population is far too low in comparison to the USA where it is practically a police state.

Richard sorry but our police force are leagues away from NYC thank god . There hasn’t been many shot dead in duty mostly car accidents and actual bravery. Unarmed police force is a great idea . I like the fact that if im stopped by a squad car i can actually get out of my car without the fear of getting my head blown off.

@Richard, Bren Dan forgot to mention that our guards (police) get assaulted quite badly on a daily basis and the person who commits these crimes gets very little sentencing if any for their crimes. The law here is nothing like New York, you could murder someone and do a year inside or be out on suspended sentence. Or u could rape your 4 year old daughter for years and never ever see a day in jail. Welcome to the Banana Republic, where the victim is always the cause of the problem and the perpetrator “sure he just got caught up with a bad crowd!”

@ Karolyn , I said police force, I didn’t say the legal system which you have elaborated upon which I agree is a farce.And Karolyn he was a detecive ,detectives are armed ,just not police officers.

Hi Richard.
The Garda aren’t armed here with the exception of the detectives etc.
The patrol Garda do not carry firearms except under special circumstances.

@Bren Dan, where exactly did I say he wasn’t armed? My partner is an undercover guard in north inner city, I know exactly whose armed and who isn’t thank u very much! You wouldn’t know the half of what goes on.

It’s interesting to note how well equipped the various police forces in the US are. It is by no means a police state, as claimed by Mr Fools (and thumbed up by 50 fools so far). It’s clear that the Garda is very low on the priority list in spite of the enormous taxes raised by Ireland relative to the US. We expect to do their jobs with minimal resources, not even a properly working radio network (they have to use their own cell phones), there was recently a story about a lady offering a lift in her car to the scene of a crime – the Garda had no squad car. This is ridiculous, and I detest the hypocrisy of our politicians in offering condolences and empty words when an inevitable tragedy occurs.

@ censored Please stop the name calling Mr Censored we are not in the playground now. In the aftermath of 9/11 ,the USA has sadly become a police state , the laws have been altered so much, to allow the police to detain imprison whatever it requires without due process. Also anyone can be detained under the suspect of being a terrorist which is an unclear term and definable only by the state ,For example othe people who protested peacefully are now branded as “terrorist.

Kenny is a clown simple as. Vote them out the next chance we get.

Sure who are we meant to vote for to replace them, Martin?

Adam you have a brain? Use it! Hate these clowns with their “eh but who else would we vote for eh uh” and “uh I dunno”.

“…mandatory minimum prison sentence of 15 years or even longer for any person found in the possession of an unlicensed gun.” That’s a bit mental in fairness and totally unrealistic considering the utter trash we have as judges in this country. Sentence them for any amount of years at all and sure any judge can come along and suspend the majority of them basically on a whim.

Yea we could do that or eh…. Oh yea, actually give proper sentences to $cumbags and cut out all this suspended sentence nonsense! And bail nonsense! You think that these thugs that done this wont have an endless list of previous convictions? But will all be out on suspended sentence. Just wait and see!

@Karolyn- I agree with you. This scares me.

@ Adam Murphy, being in possession of an unlicensed gun is a bit “mental” in my view. Mandatory long terms prison sentences with no possibility of parole or early release has been a deterrent at other times in Irish history.

There are too many unlicensed guns in circulation.

Of course, this would be only one of many measures and I saw some excellent posts about upgrading bullet proof clothing and arming Detectives with more modern weaponry. All potential measures need to be contemplated. Preservation of human life must be the overriding priority.

John, those two detectives last night would have been armed. The one who was killed hadn’t even drawn his weapon, which makes this murder even more callous and despicable.

You shouldn’t come on here telling people to shut up!

You need serious help.

You’re right. How dare I be offensive to the two men responsible for crippling the men and women of an garda siochana who are trying, every day, to protect and serve the people of this country without proper pay, conditions or equipment! I apologise Ben. Didn’t mean to offend you!

Lu, what I find offensive is you and your fellow travellers making cheap political points over the brutal murder of a family man.

Don’t think she’s making a cheap political comment there Ben! People in this country, for the most part, are sick and tired of our brave Gardai being hung out to dry by our wonderful government! Emotions can run high at times like this, especially when a brave Garda is shot dead and all our Taoiseach can come out with is a token speech most likely penned for him by some over paid advisor!! Lou is echoing what I and the majority of this country feel! You not the same?? RIP to the Brave Garda & condolences to his family!

Agree totally. Bunch of hypocrites with their crocodile tears. Shatter hang your head in shame!!

The army escorting may not have saved lives, the Garda was shot in the head within a split second, no time to react, armed detectives have just as good training and was probably wearing bullet proof vest.
My thoughts and sympathies goes out to the family and colleagues, when someone kills a Garda it’s not just an attack on the Gardaí it’s an attack on the state and community

I agree, but I think if it was practice for the army to escourt these money vans, then this kind of thing would not take place. Just my opinion..

Maybe if the banks used private security to protect their interests and leve the Gardai to do their jobs. The gardai should not be used as security for banks or banking ….. I have been saying this for years, and years.

I agree entirely, the army arent too busy and if they were present with firepower there would be no robberies

Excellent point, this is an attack on the entire fabric of Irish society. To shoot a Detective Garda without warning shows a chilling lack of respect for any institution be they political familial or social. Unfortunately I think this is the first of many we will see as society breaks down. The first gangland killings sparked outrage but now barely make headline news. Enough is enough. These animals are now killing our protectors. Detective Garda Donohoe was escorting money being delivered to a credit union, money belonging to the people of the locality, not bond holders or major financial institutions. A Guardian of the Peace slain. It’s a sad day.

Stephen
Why are you being dishonest . You know very well that that this was a Republican Bank raid.

Mark you’re an idiot, you should be banned for being a troll!

@Stephen.
mark/paddy/michael j is a well known troll . He/she is well know for setting up and hiding behind false twitter accounts and has been reported for his/her bullying.
Pay no attention,nobody else does.

Any proof of that Mark ????

If the Taoiseach or minister didn’t say anything and just let it go by you would be complaining as well, a man has died left a family without a father husband brother son, have a little respect and leave your political comments at the door, it’s a time for mourning not begrudging

Crass to use this man’s death to score cheap political points. Were you calling for the then Minister for Justice to resign when Jerry McCabe was mowed down by “republicans” in 1996?

How many were shot in the tiger period Larry?

Larry, the increase in crime and desperation among people is down to the recession. We are in a recession because the government guaranteed private bank losses. They also propped up a false industry to make themselves and their mates rich at the expense of their fellow citizens. No better than an African banana republic.

A fair point. I always think that when I see gardai manning checkpoints, maybe just two of them, in the middle of nowhere at night. They have no idea what they could facing.