Is this story scaremongering or a reality we have to face?
Thankfully my dealings with the Gardai have been few and far between (there’s a lot to be said for not getting caught) but you don’t have to scratch the surface too deeply to uncover some fairly unsavoury stories about our police force.
Isn’t it simply a case that in any job where there is power there is corruption and often it’s those who earn most that are most corrupt?
I AM A COP
And believe me when i say there is corruption in the force from the bottom where i am right up to the very top.
Corruption will occur regardless of salary level. Either you have morals or you don’t. The GRA have disgraced their members by insinuating they would take bribes.
In my experience there is level of corruption in our forces but its quite low.
I seen a guy being arrested in St Petersburg for taking a picture of a train. Quick bribe sorted that out.
It’s all in the game yo!
I think it’s a low-minded scare story.
However, regarding corruption, while we condemn it as a concept, we would all love to have a contact that could make penalty points disappear etc
Corruption is the higher end of it.
Its the blatant and far more widespread favouritism that goes on. For example, Gardai won’t do other Gardai for traffic offences that we see the rest of us with fines and points. Its very much a “rally round against all outsiders” attitude, with very little transparency.
I’m all for paying the Gardai more money to be honest. At the moment, its quite the lowly paid job and many of the applicants are only going for it because of the power and the fact that they don’t really have much other choice. If we’re to get the best and brightest into the Gardai, we’re going to need to pay them a hell of a lot more.
There are lots of Gardai out there who are decent individuals with a sense of duty and honour who are a credit to the very difficult job they have to do each day. But then there are lots who are complete tosspost with a grudge against everyone who isn’t a member of the Gardai who will abuse their power.
Its a thankless job, being a guard. If we reward them more, we might get a better standard of guard in there.
Ralph Smith Says:
April 27th, 2010 at 11:26 am
“The GRA have disgraced their members by insinuating they would take bribes.”
Good point.
Does seem harsh to possibly lose your job over mortgage arrears.
Apart from them crashing into me and then trying to do me for dangerous driving to cover their asses, all my dealings with the police have been quite jovial. Of course, there is a level of corruption, but it is not a result of low pay; it is a result of low morals. It is like the GRA trying to get the ok for guards to do nixers. I don’t know a single guard with only one job. Security, wedding bands, you name it, they’re at it.
P.C. Plod – what type of corruption goes on? What’s the best way to bribe the Gardai? Is it cheaper to bride the Gardai or bung the usual envelope to a TD?
These are questions of national importance.
Driving on the quays last night, a taxi made a very dangerous turn from a far left lane to turn right onto a bridge causing a few cars to swerve or brake hard. Behind him was a Garda car. They did nothing, just kept on going and ignored it. Then, just further down, another Garda car was stopped in the middle of the right lane, empty. There was a line of traffic back up and the two Guards were on the boardwalk frisking some junkie.
Tools.
Am I reading this right, you can be sacked from the Guards for missing a mortgage payment ?
Cash-strapped officers want to overturn regulations which ban them from certain part-time jobs and threaten dismissal over civil debts, such as mortgage arrears.
Sounds like manoeuvre to try and get the Gardai exempted from pay cuts.
That said, I think Dave is right – Cops should be well paid for the job they should be doing.
maggot Says:
April 27th, 2010 at 12:54 pm
Sounds like manoeuvre to try and get the Gardai exempted from pay cuts.
That said, I think Dave is right – Cops should be well paid for the job they should be doing.
HUH? People should get well paid if they’re good at doing their job. Irish cops are fucking crap at solving crime. i.e. irish cops are fucking crap at doing their job and should be paid appropriately; minimum fucking wage is too good for them.
heh, I was watiing for Itchy to pop in. He loves the Gardai.
They’re really good and texting their mates to see who scored in Coppers on Thursday night.
You’ll never get people who are better at being cops to be cops if you pay them shit. If you pay peanuts, you get monkeys, as the phrase goes.
I’m not saying the current crop deserve more money. But to get better applicants, you have to make the job more appealing.
Of all the bollocks I’ve heard. That’s like saying that because I’m not paid enough I might rob a bank, so pay me more… or else.
The guards are not meant to get into debt for the very reason that it might make them vulnerable to pressure. Let’s see, a guard gets over his head in debt, so therefore he needs to be paid more?!!! Join the fucking queue! Seriously, are they intelligence tested before they’re given a uniform?
Orcs
And another thing, why should a bunch of eejit guards with full-time pensionable jobs be hoovering up part-time work when there’s thousands of people without any work who need those p/t jobs to tide them over?
You’ll never get people who are better at being cops to be cops if you pay them shit. If you pay peanuts, you get monkeys, as the phrase goes.
I’m not saying the current crop deserve more money. I’m saying that they’re fuckin’ monkeys.
My argument is do we want the cops to protect us or not? That’s what they are being paid for, amongst other duties…last year I read a report in the news where a senior guardai said due to the recession there are a lot of “opportunistic” lads about the place and I could identify with that. Just before the report I had two fellas push the door of my flat open one evening whilst I was in my flat not expecting anyone to be in it. Luckily I has surprise on my side and I ran them before the situation got more serious. it was my own fault for not secure bolting the hall door in the first place the slightest wind always blows that door open and after that I always made sure it was locked securely…
I’m not saying I “love” the guardai but I see them as a necesary “evil” and when I used to drive years ago I wasn’t happy being caught by a speed trap either but I admit it was my fault for speeding and paid the subsequent fine, etc…
“People should get well paid if they’re good at doing their job.” Don’t make me laugh you should work in my place it doesn’t matter how good you are at your job some people still use their position to treat those under them with absolute contempt which I am facing upto at the moment and not feeling like a happy bunny at all at the moment…
The only real issue here is this ongoing rapacious, cronyistic, bullshitting committee we call a “government” with its “fuck you” attitude
to it’s citizens and we as a nation are still letting them get away with it :(
If anyone wants to contact me you can’t. This epistle was written from the dark side of the moon. Bugger off :P
Itchy – that is why I wrote “the job they should be doing.”
If You want gardai to risk their lives and tackle all sorts of disgusting jobs then they should be paid well to attract the best applicants.
Instead, many applicants are there because few other places would take them. Much like the army in previous centuries.
With the Guards its not just the basic salary you have to take into account. What about all the allowances they get?
I’m not sure what the situation is now but as far as I remember there are a plethora of benefits and allowances.
I think they need to be subject to FOI requests for a start. And secondly they need to be forced to adhere to the Garda Ombusdman reports. at the moment they seem to be able to raise two fingers to it.
They shouldn’t get a bean until they are properly under control and working for us- not the Garda Benevolent Fund.
Apologies to any young Guards dealing with scum off the streets. No intent to do your work down but the Guards will need public support to do their job and for pay increases.
They simply can’t stick out their hand and look for a digout when then have some of the best terms and conditions in the country.
”If You want gardai to risk their lives and tackle all sorts of disgusting jobs then they should be paid well to attract the best applicants.”
What makes that different from any other job?
It didn’t work in the financial sector did it?
If someone doesn’t want to be a garda, let him fuck off and try and find another job as well paid and with the same entitlements.
And if he wants to be a cunt, let him go to jail.
Judges are well paid for the same reason – to put them beyond corruption.
Hey Serpico, is a corruptible judge more dangerous to society then a corruptible cop?
What makes that different from any other job?
What ? A guy serving pizza is expected to tackle gunmen, rapists, crazy guys with samurai swords etc ? I don’t think so ….
You’ve never been to Apache pizza in Sundrive, have you?
they agenda is set by the politicians, cops have a tough job. And there some great ones (as well as dangerous violent hot-heads), fair Judicious and what have you.
“itchybollix Says:
April 27th, 2010 at 1:35 pm
Orcs”
Heh.
Oops bit big sorry.
Oops bit big sorry.
First time you’ve ever been able to say that then
http://www.core-issues.org/
Most bizarre cunts ever.
Maggot, you are a very blunt tool.
Icarus – I’m bloody wonderful.
Ha ha- Drunk Kitteh thanks for that CORE link. Its marvellous. I note the contact page has a mobile phone and a landline answerphone so its a one-nut band.
Anybody who has been feeling a bit gay lately please note the link. You’ll soon be cured.
Heh.
Here’s one of those nutty Core fellas on with Pat Kenny recently.
http://www.rte.ie/podcasts/2010/pc/pod-v-26041020m10stodaywithpatkenny2.mp3
Progress – they think gays are sick rather than bad ?
That guy from The Wire is a fucking legend.
This guy?
Ha ha, I love McNulty’s epic drink driving. Also, Clay Davis who says “sheeeeeit” in the most hilarious way, check it up on YouTube. Oh, and Bunk Fucking Moreland! I have to watch that show all over again…
had sex with a lady cop one night i was well with in the law
I wonder did The Plank ever need to “pray away the gay”. He’s way too intelligent, charming and neatly dressed to be straight.
Also… http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbHEn7l3ZrM
Ever heard the saying “There are two jobs that anyone who volunteers for should be barred – politicians and policemen”
Some day they’ll find a cure for gays (only male gays). Lesbians will never be cured
http://www.channel4.com/news/articles/uk/s/3627387
They’re basically a private police force who look after their mates and the corrupt politicions,they dont give a fuck about law and order for the average citizens. ever wonder why you only see the fuckers with the speed cameras only when the sun is shining, its coz the poor little fucks might get wet,lazy corrupted cunts.
Dermot Ahern and the GRA are in for a fight.
Lesbians will never be cured
Best eaten fresh anyway.
Holemaster Says:
April 27th, 2010 at 8:41 pm
Dermot Ahern and the GRA are in for a fight.
Ahern won’t go after them. When the report into donegal was issued Ahern went after the 2 politicians who blew the lid off the story, Higgins and Howlin.
No Minister for Justice has ever corrected the corrupt cops in this country. Not one internal investigation into by the cops has been issued. The only cop who got any trouble for the nash fix-up confession was the cop who blew the whistle on stitch-up.
Banana republic with the cops a law unto themselves. Ahern is a thug, he’d make a great cop.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9YwQ9mRyBjc
Itchy – Last sacking was Eoin O’Duffy ?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfvDs2O1CTI
Got a lot of questions for me
You got a lot of questions for me
Got your finger pointing at me
Distrusted
I look for wires when I’m talking to you
You’d make a great cop
nice phone-in maggot. typical first question from castlebar “Who’s this speaking?”
And if I refuse to answer you with my name? cunts.
One of the all time greats
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FG6aLs8zzrs
I’m walking down the street mindin’ my own affair
when two policemen grabbed me and I’m unaware
They said “Is your name Alexander?” and I said “Why, sure!”
They said “You’re the cat that we’ve been looking for.”
Chorus:
But I was framed
I was framed
I never did nothing
but now I was, I was framed
The cops took me to a little room where the bright lights shine
there was ten poor souls like me standin’ in the line
I knew I was the victim of somebody’s evil plan
when a stool pigeon looked at me an’ said….
That’s your man!
Chorus
Then the public prosecutor started prosecutin’ me
that man wanted to find what was my pedigree
He said “Where were you on the third of June 1963?”
Them cats with rubber hoses started givin’ me the third degree….
Chorus
Must have been a meteorite hit the line or soemthing LOL
good band maggot; the lead singer was dead at 47 and his brother at 27.
whereas thiese dudes are still all here with us
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCPn0l220MY
itchy – they were very under rated. As were Stone the Crows – showing my age. Alex was quite cerebral -several interviews on you tube. I saw them 3 times in Edinburgh – only concerts that came close were Rory Gallagher and the one time I saw Roxy Music.
Guards are underpaid?? My Bollocks. They get well over the average wage, plus they have LOADS of allowances.
There’s very low physical and academic requirements to become a guard, even midgets allowed now, so why would should they be entitled to high pay unless they’re promoted?? Paid too much as it is and this shit is bogus scaremongering.
told you he wouldn’t take on the corrupt cops HM. He knows, like everyone else in this country, he knows, take on the cops and try to make them behave like the rest of us civilised souls and they’ll go after you. ahern is like all of us and all his predessors, scared shitless of them and what they can, have and will do to their enemy. gang of thugs.
http://breakingnews.ie/ireland/ahern-pulls-out-of-gra-address-455556.html
Slightly more fucked up Gardai related video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVrBZTVmApo
That is so naughty !
corruption isn’t occupation specific.
it’s human specific. unfortunately, a lot of us are just cunts.
as for the disaffection with gardai –
here’s one because i can;t be arsed rifling through the whole lot –
“They’re basically a private police force who look after their mates and the corrupt politicions,they dont give a fuck about law and order for the average citizens.”
jonjoward, it was..
I know that blogs are a fairly easy place to vent general anger at anyone who seems an easy target, but really?
“They’re”?
The application process, though now redundant as i don’t think they’re taking on fresh members(?) may be a little easy to get by, but it’s a tough fucking job and a lot of decent people are trying to work it as best they can, for wages less then i was getting for folding shirts in penneys a couple of years ago..
some of this sounds like childish nonsense, and some of it, just fucking naive to me..
I personally know a garda, who received threats both to himself and his family, for reporting a crime while off duty in the area he came from. they’re told that essentially, they don’t have to do that, for safety reasons, but i’m sure he’s not the only one who did for moral reasons.. and he’s a rookie who earns a fucking pittance.
Ireland needs its Guards….who else will shag the ugly nurses at parties?
Lung the Younger Says:
April 28th, 2010 at 10:10 am
Ireland needs its Guards….who else will shag the ugly nurses at parties?
*scratch
P.J. stone would’ve done well as a shop stewart in British Leyland back in the 1970′s.
GARDAI LIE IN COURT ALL THE TIME. THE JUDGES AND LEGAL PROFESSIONALS ALL
WILLINGLY CULLUDE IN THIS. THEY KNOW THAT THE GARDAI ARE LYING, BUT PRETENT TO KNOW THAT THEY ARE NOT. GREAT SYSTEM.