I’m not defending either him or the govt. but it should be fairly clear that he was arrested for causing a disruption in the Dail.

How does turning your back on members of the Dáil = disruption?

Maybe he farted?

He was arrested for failing to adhere to the orders of the Dail usher who then called over the Gaurd, when he failed to sit down as required he was arrested, I’m sure the Gaurd didn’t want to be involved either but when the Gaurd was called upon he had to act otherwise an entire other section of society would berate him, funny how the Gaurd is frequently ensconced in the no win situation

If the usher ordered him to do a cartwheel would you expect him to? Undemocratic rules and ‘orders’ like this have no place in any political environment, particularly so the Dáil. Democratic actions should be protected by the police.

He was arrested because they didn’t want the politicians below to be embarrassed. He was causing no harm or disruption and to justify his arrest is to accept politicians as a higher authority than the people.

Sorry now johnny but your wrong, I don’t necessarily agree with the situation but those are the rules and regulations of Dáil Éireann and if a Garda failed to act upon such he would be liable to be accused of neglect of duty, believe me no Garda carries out duty solely to prevent embarrassment to a TD and to suggest such is pure folly, if you believe the house is undemocratic and requires change then I suggest you lobby your local representatives to bring about change rather than tackle the perceived easy target who was doing his job

If the standing orders state that standing up is forbidden then I wouldn’t take issue with the actions of the police. However, if he was arrested for ‘disruption’ then I would take that to be a subjective issue. If that is the case, the Garda chose to view his action as ‘disruptive’ which I don’t think it was. If this was the case then I believe I am fully entitled to criticise the Garda.

Gardaí protecting the powerful at the expense of the citizens they are supposed to be protecting is nothing new and I see this as another example of that. They are sentient beings that should have the courage to stand up for the rights of the people. It’s something rarely seen unfortunately.

Also, I completely agree with you saying that my criticisms should be directed at those who can do something about it.

I think it has been made pretty clear that he was arrested for a breach of Dail orders and not disruption and for God sake don’t start that old mantra of Gardai favouring the elite, how many examples do you want me to give to dispel that notion, Ciarán Jones, Jerry McCabe, Robbie McCallion etc etc the Gardai act upon the law, the law is not always perfect but the Gardai can not change it and have to work within its confines which at times are unbelievable hard to work in. If you refer in your comments regarding favouritism, as many do, to the length of time charging and jailing bankers etc as opposed to incidents like yesterday then I don’t know what more has to be said to explain how long it takes to compile a proper file, to bring a successful prosecution, in such matters. Years upon years of documents, statements and computer files to be trawled through with painstaking accuracy, I would rather time be taken for the prosecution be successful rather than rush the thing to satisfy public opinion. What occurred yesterday was regrettable but within the law, it was not favouritism to the elite or a reflection of attitudes now, or in the past, of An Garda Síochana and to suggest such is both unfair and inaccurate

John Logue isn’t a member of Ogra Fianna Fáil.

not really,we relied on building as out main trade we should be pushing for more “white coller” education..
on the other side should it be harder to get into college the dole cue will increase costing more,a few grand on a students college fees is worth more as it gives everyone the chance at their preferred line of work

Jaysus Vinnie,

I hope you are studying maths

Well said Vinny

Causing a fuss in the Dáil? I’d say that’s acting like a TD. Unfortunately the only way to make a name for yourself there is by causing a fuss, being controversial. When in Rome…

Protesting against injustice is childish? I think you’re confused.

Your comment seem a bit blueshirtish did he get up ones nose? Did he upset your party!!

GOOD the more civil disobedience the better!!

Alan you make a fair point! John, Is that address any comments that may suggest this guy was not some sort or hero?? I could be mistaken but does or did the same Mr Logue not have serious political affiliations himself??

Ahh, I love a good blueshirt ramble in the morning.
If he was down the road with a needle in his arm he would’ve been ok.

blue…….shirt!

Yes, clearly more to the story. Our overlords in Leinster house need all the respect they can get.

It was the Publicity and embarrassment for the government – brilliant more of this!

The bastards in power are so arrogant they think they can shrug these things off we need more and more of this!

I disagree, I think that the statement was a very clever one, far from ranting and raving he chose to symbolically turn his back on a government that has turned their back on him. That the government has been allowed to proceed unchallenged while he was arrested is proof enough that something is badly wrong in this country. Over seventy years ago when a group of peaceful demonstrators were charged at by police and soldiers on horses in India, Mahatma Ghandi chose to sit down and do nothing. His actions, peaceful, non compliance forced the most powerful empire in the world to leave his country. My respect for Mr Louge, he must be attending his history classes.

Tríona – how was it a security issue? It was obviously an act of symbolic protest. Everyone originally stood up but he was the only one who didn’t sit down when asked. How exactly was he jeopardising the security of the Dáil?