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INDEPENDENT TD MICK Wallace said the response he has been getting from the public following his passionate speech in the Dáil this week has been unbelievable.
Speaking on RTE’s Marian Finucane radio programme, Wallace said he was “delighted” that Micheál Martin had “picked up the baton” on the gardaí allegations, stating that because he is the main leader of opposition and “he does carry more weight than we do”.
However, Wallace added that if it wasn’t for the independent opposition, the issues surrounding the gardaí would have been “buried a long time ago” and it would not have been heard of again, he said.
Since this week’s publicity, he said they had another 12 people come forward with allegations.
“I’ve heard so many people cry now, it really is heartbreaking stuff,” said Wallace.
GSOC
He commended GSOC stating that “it is actuality a pretty good organisation” but said that they are not giving the powers they need to do their job properly.
Wallace added that it took courage for them to speak out, stating: “The Boylan report was scathing of the force… it said the blue wall of silence was alive and well and that very little had changed, for GSOC to come out and say that was very strong.”
Wallace raised the issue of the Roma children controversy, stating that the it was “blindly obvious” that GSOC should be able to investigate allegations of racial profiling, “but instead he [Minister Shatter] gave it to Children’s Ombudsman… “.
He added that in past reports by GSOC, they have “begged for access to pulse – independent access, up to now they have only had access to it via a garda, they bring in a garda to show it to them – this is an unsatisfactory arrangement,” he said.
He criticised that they were only given access recently in what he said was because of “political pressure” and “not because it was the right thing to do”.
However, the Wexford TD was highly critical of the Minister for Justice, Alan Shatter stating that while he was not saying that the minister had not done anything to investigate issues highlighted recently, he said that throughout the whole process, issues had been “rubbished” by the minister.
Investigation
He admitted also that he was not stating that all the allegations being made and people coming forward were accurate in their reports, but said that allegations of wrong doing should be investigated.
He was critical also of the inquiry into the controversies, stating “…We are looking at half baked inquiries” and he called on the judge, who has been charged with carrying out the inquiry, to be given the “proper powers”.
“It is unfair to the judge to put him in that position where he cannot fully investigate first principles… We are back to more report into reports, its back to paper review,” said Wallace.
Terms of reference
He criticised the narrow terms of reference the judge had been given stating that the judge cannot go outside them. “Only the minister can let him go outside them,” he said.
Wallace was also critical of the close links, as he saw it, between the Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan and Minister Alan Shatter, stating that there should be a buffer between the two. He said he believed the minister was protecting the commissioner.
He concluded by stating that trust and transparency in the gardaí was of vital importance, adding that the recent controversies had been extremely damaging.
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“…. the Catholic Church soon became suspicious ….”
No Kidding! Solves the problem of when that organisation sits up and takes notice! Anyway it should be a fascinating programme. And – not for the first time – it’s TG4 showing us what an excellent broadcaster it is.
Agreed. How is it that all the best documentaries, similar to this one, are broadcast in the Irish language?
@ Dexter TG4 is reviving my love of the Irish language that the Catholic Church tried to beat out of me! I think the RTE the lame .. main Broadcaster in Ireland wants to keep the Irish language a minority language. It’s TG4 that IS encouraging a revival.
Have to agree with you again Andrew.
It may be that TG4 are not controlled by the NornIron agenda, which the main station is
Apologies for the bad grammer
Not all Catholics see these visions but those who do can not deny what they have seen and experienced, and it greatly confirms their faith, good for them.
All it confirms is how gullible and prone to delusion people are.
Holy well in his bedroom…thats an original excuse for a bedwetter. Give him a holy medal.
You mean all these people who travel to the “House of Prayer” and allow Christina Gallagher live a luxury lifestyle?
Even more demented than Sean Quinn’s supporters!
Funny how it happens during bad times, a recession or depression. If a man says he talks to god daily, he may be put in a hospital and a priest is left untouched. There is no God, get over it and enjoy your life!
Stephen: I think people see these “apparations” during hard times because they need something to believe in; some hope for the future. I am open minded but I think are highly likely to be tricks of the mind – people will see what they want/need to see.
Stephen: I think people see these “apparations” during hard times because they need something to believe in; some hope for the future. I am open minded but I think are highly likely to be tricks of the mind – people will see what they want/need to see.
There was a mention in A Star Called Henry , I thought it was just Roddy Doyles imagination I never knew it was a true story !!
Great book, shame about the sequels.
Naturally the Catholic church wanted to get their foot in the door early
It should not be considered suprising that religious visions were reported in the RIC barracks it suggests that none of the constabulary were religious. The roots of Protestantism are in Catholiciism. Not all Catholics see these visions but those who do can not deny what they have seen and experienced and it greatly confirms their faith.
Bigoted too Tom?
The logic of a religious nut.
The roots of Catholicism is in the Roman Empire’s decision to adopt Christianity as opposed to Mitracism in the fifth century and the origins of Christianity are in Greek Paganism, Judaism, Mitracism, Zoastrianism, and even Hinduism.
All these ‘isms’ should be banned!
“Bless me father, for I have sinned, its been only six hours since I last smoked a British soldier.”
Say seven hail marys and have two done in by lunchtime, my child.
Heard you the first time.
It’s amazing the nonsense that people belived…and still do.
simple times, lack of education and powerful church, easy really to think how people fell for this superstitious stuff. We still have them today every hear of the house of prayer ?? but thankfully by and large ireland has moved on. Still a bit to go but getting there
It’s going to be several more generations I think.
In a country ubiquitously littered with crows and ungodliness among other infernal aspects, i struggle to fathom the veracity of this piece of documentary.
wha!!!
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