Friday, January 04, 2008
It has all the hallmarks of a witch-hunt
The Police Ombudsman’s office has been heavily criticised by a resident magistrate as he cleared a PSNI officer of assault following incidents involving GAA fans during a Royal Black Perceptory church parade in Enniskillen. Under cross-examination it was admitted that the Ombudsman’s office only interviewed witnesses involved in the incident that corroborated the allegations but did not interview independent witnesses whose accounts contradicted it. The Resident Magistrate stated:
Had it been fairly and properly investigated this case would have never got off the ground
Newton Emerson believes the case should raise questions about the Public Prosecution Service who dropped the original charges by the officer of disorderly conduct and charged him instead. He highlights a concern that the politics of the peace process is effecting PPS decisions and argues that a legal challenge by Sean Hoey, however painful for the Omagh families, may be the only means of lifting the shroud of secrecy around the PPS and its actions.
Fair Deal @ 12:08 PM
This is just the most extreme example of how the Ombudmans’ office is distorting the justice system in NI. A complaint to the Ombudsman by an accused is commonly now being used as leverage against the police via the “I’ll drop my case if you drop yours” line.
Sad thing is, sometimes it works.
Posted by on Jan 04, 2008 @ 01:20 PMMaybe this particular Peeler will now think twice to remind himself he’s not living in the good old and cannot lift any Fenian he likes on a trumped up charge to accommodate racist parades.
Posted by on Jan 04, 2008 @ 01:28 PMDidn’t the PPS recently take on a PR person in a bid to become more ‘transparent’? where is that person? why cant they even be asked the relevant questionlike the ones highlighted by Newton?
Posted by on Jan 04, 2008 @ 01:28 PMIt’s in no ones interested for a policeman to be set up in this way. It wasn’t right when it happened to dissident or main stream republicans and it still isn’t right when it happens on the other side of the divide.
Political policing must stop, the rule of law needs to be impartial and justice must be blind.
Posted by on Jan 04, 2008 @ 01:38 PMThe Irish RM - I think anyone with an ounce of wit can see the charge was not “trumped up” against “any fenian”.
The charge against the police man is a disgrace.
Posted by on Jan 04, 2008 @ 01:48 PMi always had a chuckle when the shinners called for an end to political policing when what they meant was hey its our turn.
Posted by on Jan 04, 2008 @ 01:50 PMAhh yes Nob as we all know SF run both the Ombudsmans office and the PPS?
Posted by on Jan 04, 2008 @ 02:18 PMagain the way these parades are policed is in question here. These parades think that when marching they have a right to stop anyone crossing the road on which they are marching. Not only do they use heavy handed tactics to facilitate this, they are openly supported by a PARTISAN police force who still operate on a policy of croppies lie down....
I`ve had occasion to witness this myself and when I`ve attempted to ask the police the reasons for their actions have been told to f**k off and contact the police ombudman!!!
One law for one and none for others.Posted by on Jan 04, 2008 @ 02:29 PMThe irish rm
there was indeed racism on display on the day in question. Remind me who exactly was making the Nazi salutes?
Posted by on Jan 04, 2008 @ 02:54 PMin fairness to the nazi salutes, the Irish governent were siding with Hitlers cronies back then so their is a strong association between republicans and the nazies.
I read once, that every argument will eventually lead to talking about Nazies… Probably an urban myth, but quite a few on slugger go down that line lol.Posted by on Jan 04, 2008 @ 03:13 PMagh, I think you’re referring to Godwin’s Law.
Twinbrook, it would take a
severe bigotryseverely twisted logic to turn this event back on the police, and even moreso on the loyal orders.Posted by on Jan 04, 2008 @ 03:23 PMthats the first time i have ever read tne phrase, ‘in fairness to Nazi salutes’.
Posted by on Jan 04, 2008 @ 03:26 PMTwinbrook, it would take a severe bigotry severely twisted logic to turn this event back on the police, and even moreso on the loyal orders.
Whilst it’s perfectly fine to turn it back onto the GAA.
Posted by on Jan 04, 2008 @ 03:33 PMDec - who did that? The GAA hasn’t been mentioned in the comments until you brought it up.
Am I missing something?
Posted by on Jan 04, 2008 @ 03:45 PMThe Police Ombudsman’s office has been heavily criticised by a resident magistrate as he cleared a PSNI officer of assault following incidents involving GAA fans during a Royal Black Perceptory church parade in Enniskillen.
Posted by on Jan 04, 2008 @ 03:50 PM“Twinbrook, it would take a severe bigotry severely twisted logic to turn this event back on the police, and even moreso on the loyal orders.”
Why? It’s quite clear the cop tried to make an unwarranted arrest on the back of his spurious claim that this man shouted something. Maybe he just cracked up at the Nazi jibes the others were making towards him and the racist Order on parade. Too close to the knuckle for him perhaps. Either way it’s heartening to see such power crazy individuals brought back to earth even if he got lucky and was let off by a magistrate who somehow has seen fit to rule on a case that was not before him - kind of makes a nonsense of his criticism of the Ombudsman.
Posted by on Jan 04, 2008 @ 03:56 PMThat is a statement of fact and a description of who was involved. They had just finished attending a GAA match. If anything it might explain their presence in the area.
That statement no more blames the GAA than it does the police or the RBP. It was Twinbrook looking to blame the way parades are policed, which has f**k all to do with it.
Posted by on Jan 04, 2008 @ 03:57 PM“unwarranted arrest”
Ballocks.
“his spurious claim that this man shouted something”
There were witnesses. The Ombudsman’s office chose to ignore them because they supported that claim.
The rest of that comment isn’t even worth replying to, it’s such patent nonsense. If you’re going to knowingly and wilfully make things up then correcting you would be futile.
It’s fairly obvious that there are folk here who will try to blame the police even when it’s been established that they’re the victims here. And then these same people will wonder why others are sceptical when brutality is claimed. Can you really not see the connection?
Posted by on Jan 04, 2008 @ 04:02 PMand it is also clear,the Police still hold onto the belief that they are a law onto themselves and do no wrong a thought process which some who see the Police as “theirs” still cling too.
No-one should be afraid of openness, honesty and accountability....
Unless off course they`ve something to hide!Posted by on Jan 04, 2008 @ 04:13 PM“the racist Order on parade”
remind me who the separate “races” are here please.
ever hear of the narcissism of small difference?
I took a look at the Royal Black Perceptory and their charitable habits. £321,000 in four years to charities supporting Christians in countries not practicing religious tolerance. Cultural arrogance maybe; class prejudice quite likely; self righteousness almost certainly...but racism?
http://www.royalblack.org/news.html
http://www.opendoorsusa.org/Posted by on Jan 04, 2008 @ 04:21 PM“No-one should be afraid of openness, honesty and accountability.... ”
They’re not, they’re afraid of malicious prosecution facilitated by an incompetent or, even worse, hostile quango.
Posted by on Jan 04, 2008 @ 04:32 PMThat is a statement of fact and a description of who was involved. They had just finished attending a GAA match. If anything it might explain their presence in the area.
That statement no more blames the GAA than it does the police or the RBP.
Yeah, right.
The phrase used was: “ incidents involving GAA fans during a Royal Black Perceptory church parade in Enniskillen. “
No mention of the PSNI, the marchers or their supporters made in relation to these ‘incidents’. Quelle surprise.
What club were these supporters linked to? What code? No just lump them under the rather broad but convenient banner of the GAA and apportion involvement accordingly. All rather ironic given the main thrust of the thread.Posted by on Jan 04, 2008 @ 04:38 PM“No mention of the PSNI, the marchers or their supporters made in relation to these ‘incidents’”
If it helps the “police” referred are actually the PSNI and the “marchers” are the Royal Black Perceptory.
Surprised you missed that.
Posted by on Jan 04, 2008 @ 04:43 PMDec you seem to be the only one apportioning blame to the GAA. I make no secret of my broad distaste for the GAA and I’m not blaming them.
Jaffa, he didn’t. In fact he quoted it himself. I’m still not sure why though.
Posted by on Jan 04, 2008 @ 04:53 PM“They’re not, they’re afraid of malicious prosecution facilitated by an incompetent or, even worse, hostile quango.”
As opposed to a Police Authority which NEVER saw Police as guilty of any misdemeanor....
now we have a semblance of accountability and only those who take the law into THEIR own hands and believe they are exempt from the law because of their position have something to fear!
Openness, honesty and accountability but only in our TERMS!!!!!
Posted by on Jan 04, 2008 @ 04:57 PM
