Garda camera van set on fire in Cork

drunkmonkey

They could be in big trouble, apparently there was a Garda in the van at the time, but I think he's ok...

No link just yet.....

Anyone else very upset at the loss of a camera van, i'm close to tears:(

Interceptor

drunkmonkey wrote: »

Anyone else very upset at the loss of a camera van, i'm close to tears:(

Tears, yes. Upset, no...

'cptr

Delta Kilo

drunkmonkey wrote:

They could be in big trouble

Oh no wait 'till you see. They will all be 17 years of age, they'll be referred to a JLO, given a bollicking and set free to set someone else's van on fire!

homer90

Delta Kilo wrote: »

......... and set free to set someone else's van on fire!

Or God forbid, another gatso van :eek:
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Tipsy Mac

Was it 100% set on fire or could the fire have accidentally started from within? Could be a recall of the whole fleet if it started from within, what a pity that would be

homer90

Tipsy Mac wrote: »

Was it 100% set on fire or could the fire have accidentally started from within? Could be a recall of the whole fleet if it started from within, what a pity that would be

Indeed....... :pac:

AugustusMaximus

If the Garda hasn't been injured in any way then I'm delighted.

Guy:Incognito

AugustusMaximus wrote: »

If the Garda hasn't been injured in any way then I'm delighted.

Why? do you not pay tax?

AugustusMaximus

Stekelly wrote: »

Why? do you not pay tax?

Who said it will be replaced ? The fact of the matter is that there mightn't be the funds to replace it.

The Gardai in Cork do nothing but place Gatso vans in areas where they are not really needed and will catch drivers out. One case in point is past Silversprings where they know drivers generally won't stick to the 60kph speed limit on a dual carriageway.


And anyway, the cost of a Gatso van is pitance compared to other government expenditure.

lucky-colm

hard to feel sorry for the gaurds here
there idea of getting people to slow down is to hide in a van and set a trap and catch some poor old sap doing 5mph over the limit and stick it to them. instead of making themselves visible and everyone would slowdown automatically
the problem with this is they collect no revenue
the killing thing is that the guy speeding drives past the van and is still speeding nothing was done to correct his speed
we really have some ball of morons running this country

Dartz

lucky-colm wrote: »

hard to feel sorry for the gaurds here
there idea of getting people to slow down is to hide in a van and set a trap and catch some poor old sap doing 5mph over the limit and stick it to them. instead of making themselves visible and everyone would slowdown automatically
the problem with this is they collect no revenue
the killing thing is that the guy speeding drives past the van and is still speeding nothing was done to correct his speed
we really have some ball of morons running this country

Pot + Kettle + Black anyone?

Bollox to what the law says. The law isn't always right.

Anan1

lucky-colm wrote: »

hard to feel sorry for the gaurds here
there idea of getting people to slow down is to hide in a van and set a trap and catch some poor old sap doing 5mph over the limit and stick it to them. instead of making themselves visible and everyone would slowdown automatically
the problem with this is they collect no revenue
the killing thing is that the guy speeding drives past the van and is still speeding nothing was done to correct his speed
we really have some ball of morons running this country

Does the concept of deterrence mean anything to you?

Bee

Anan1 wrote: »

Does the concept of deterrence mean anything to you?

Not with Talivan Gatso Van cash machines!

Park a Garda car outside of any number of pubs, breath test the folk entering the car park and then I will believe that the Gardai are genuinely interested in "deterrence" or heaven forbid! actually doing something for road safety instead of being cash collectors and scoring easy but quite useless for road safety targets

Hotwheels

From Indo

Petrol bomb thrown into garda van in Cork

Friday August 28 2009

Gardai in Cork are investigating an incident in which a device - believed to be a petrol bomb - was thrown into a garda van conducting speed checks last night.

The attack happened on the main Blarney to Tower Road at around 7.30pm.

A man smashed the passenger window of the van and threw the device into the cabin before fleeing on foot.

It failed to ignite, however, and the garda who was in the vehicle was not hurt.

The device and the van are now undergoing forensic examination as part of the investigation into the incident.

Padraig Mor

AugustusMaximus wrote: »

The Gardai in Cork do nothing but place Gatso vans in areas where they are not really needed and will catch drivers out. .

The road where this happened is a dead straight stretch of about 2 miles with a 50 km limit.

pred racer

Hotwheels wrote: »

From Indo

Petrol bomb thrown into garda van in Cork

Friday August 28 2009

Gardai in Cork are investigating an incident in which a device - believed to be a petrol bomb - was thrown into a garda van conducting speed checks last night.



It failed to ignite, however,

Must try harder;)

Cabaal

As much as people may dislike the Gardai this type of activity is bang out of order!
The scumbag who did this should have the book thrown at him, the petrol bomb could have seriously injured or killed the gardai.

robtri

AugustusMaximus wrote: »

The Gardai in Cork do nothing but place Gatso vans in areas where they are not really needed and will catch drivers out. One case in point is past Silversprings where they know drivers generally won't stick to the 60kph speed limit on a dual carriageway.

So what you are saying is that the gardai in cork are going to places where they know people will be breaking the law.... to catch them in the act ..
EHHHHHHHHH surely thats their JOB.....

fastrac

I drove past it shortly after it happened .Little if any fire damage to be seen.Drivers window broken.Heard later a passing bus driver had extinguished it.

MagicMarker

AugustusMaximus wrote: »

Who said it will be replaced ? The fact of the matter is that there mightn't be the funds to replace it.

The Gardai in Cork do nothing but place Gatso vans in areas where they are not really needed and will catch drivers out. One case in point is past Silversprings where they know drivers generally won't stick to the 60kph speed limit on a dual carriageway.


And anyway, the cost of a Gatso van is pitance compared to other government expenditure.

Oh noes, god forbid they try and enforce the law! :eek:

Seriously, that's one dumbass post you got yourself there. You should print it out and frame it, show it to the grandkids.

cabrwab

while i hate this form of stelth revenue collecting, and may wish all the gatso vans were robbed and burnt out.

This thread is about the fact that a member was targeted last night and the act of the individual cannot be applauded that gaurd is only doing their job after all. If that petrol bomb had've ignited it could've being a horrible outcome.

P.s think they should be made more visible like they are in the uk then NO excuses!!

Cabaal

robtri wrote: »

So what you are saying is that the gardai in cork are going to places where they know people will be breaking the law.... to catch them in the act ..
EHHHHHHHHH surely thats their JOB.....

I believe AugustusMaximus point is, in his personal view the speed over the limit he and other might do in this area is "ok" and doesn't pose a danger.

Of course the law states otherwise as thats why there's a limit on it, just because you think its ok to go faster doesn't mean it is ok and certainly doesn't make it ok to waste our tax's by firebombing a Gardai van and attempting to seriously injure or kill a Gardai in the process.

While it may annoy people to obey the law the Gardai ain't breaking any laws...those that get caught however are

Cabaal

pred racer wrote: »

Hotwheels wrote: »

From Indo

Petrol bomb thrown into garda van in Cork

Friday August 28 2009

Gardai in Cork are investigating an incident in which a device - believed to be a petrol bomb - was thrown into a garda van conducting speed checks last night.

It failed to ignite, however,

Must try harder;)

This has to be the most foolish comment I've seen today, would you be finding it so funny if the Gardai had been killed...perhaps next time when they try harder eh?

:rolleyes:

Lets hope these scumbags also try harder to rob/burn your car shall we?
ah yeah now I see how you find it funny wishing such actions on people....

:rolleyes:

trad

Guys, this thread is not funny. We are talking about the attempted murder of a member of an Garda Siochana, a crime that, if it was successful, used to carry the death sentence.

A Garda in a gatso van is just doing his job, do none of you lot have a job that is for the common good. These are the same Gardai that have to go to the scene of fatal accidents, deal with the carnage at the scene and then one or two of these lucky guys or gals have the lovely job of calling to the house of the next of hin and tell them their nearest and dearest is smashed to pulp down in the morgue, and no you are better off not seeing the body because it's decapitated.

Lex Luthor

AugustusMaximus wrote: »

One case in point is past Silversprings where they know drivers generally won't stick to the 60kph speed limit on a dual carriageway.

victim of that one before....I was doing 48mph when it was then a 40mph zone.

have to agree though...its not funny with the garda being in the car....

-Chris-

Cabaal wrote: »

This has to be the most foolish comment I've seen today, would you be finding it so funny if the Gardai had been killed...perhaps next time when they try harder eh?

:rolleyes:

+1 - Try harder = murder/attempted murder a Garda.


I don't appreciate that kind of sentiment here, and if it comes up again in this thread (or anywhere for that matter) there will be instant bannings.

Sizzler

Lex Luthor wrote: »

victim of that one before....I was doing 48mph when it was then a 40mph zone.

have to agree though...its not funny with the garda being in the car....

I think given where this has happened the Gardai are not clear on the motive as there was attacks made on the local station of late also, i.e. was he going after the garda or the van or both.

Not defending it, but I am actually surprised the vans havent been vandalised previously based on whats happened in the UK.

AugustusMaximus

MagicMarker wrote: »

Oh noes, god forbid they try and enforce the law! :eek:

Seriously, that's one dumbass post you got yourself there. You should print it out and frame it, show it to the grandkids.

Do you know where I'm talking about.

Having speed limits in a country is one thing. Having stupid speed limits in certain areas is quite another. It is then compounded by Gardai who knowingly put mobile gatso vans in areas where they know speed limits are set too low.

Explain to me why the first section of the Lower Glanmire Road DC is only 60kph while the next section is 100kph ? Its hard to fathom why it wold be on safety grounds. In fact, it could be viewed as a safety hazard with people throwing out the anchor when they see the van.

AugustusMaximus

trad wrote: »

Guys, this thread is not funny. We are talking about the attempted murder of a member of an Garda Siochana, a crime that, if it was successful, used to carry the death sentence.

A Garda in a gatso van is just doing his job, do none of you lot have a job that is for the common good. These are the same Gardai that have to go to the scene of fatal accidents, deal with the carnage at the scene and then one or two of these lucky guys or gals have the lovely job of calling to the house of the next of hin and tell them their nearest and dearest is smashed to pulp down in the morgue, and no you are better off not seeing the body because it's decapitated.

The problem most people have is not with the Gatso van itself but with its usage.

Why put them in very safe areas (I've never heard of a crash at Silversprings let alone a death). As a poster above has said, this Gatso van was Revenue collecting on a straight two mile section of road with a 50kph limit.

If the Gardai and RSA want to do something about speeding in this country they should focus on people who like to cruise at 70mph on regional roads. But hell, this would be too difficult and so they revert to the easiest solution. Sad but true.

AugustusMaximus

robtri wrote: »

So what you are saying is that the gardai in cork are going to places where they know people will be breaking the law.... to catch them in the act ..
EHHHHHHHHH surely thats their JOB.....

No, they are going to places where people are speeding but where the increased speed has very little added danger. A gatso van at an area of DC with a 60kph limit. Honestly now :rolleyes:

I seriously doubt they'd bring a Gatso to a black spot location with low traffic figures for one very good reason.

Rowley Birkin QC

To be fair, I would guess that most people don't know that there is a member of AGS sitting in the van. The guy probably thought it was empty of people, just the cash printing press inside.

robtri

AugustusMaximus wrote: »

No, they are going to places where people are speeding but where the increased speed has very little added danger. A gatso van at an area of DC with a 60kph limit. Honestly now :rolleyes:

I seriously doubt they'd bring a Gatso to a black spot location with low traffic figures for one very good reason.

no offense, but the law is the law, whether youa gree with it or not... and the Gardai are tasked with enforcing it.
the point of gatso vans is to cut road traffic violations, so the more people you catch the bigger the impact....

AugustusMaximus

robtri wrote: »

no offense, but the law is the law, whether youa gree with it or not... and the Gardai are tasked with enforcing it.
the point of gatso vans is to cut road traffic violations, so the more people you catch the bigger the impact....

I have no arguement with what you are saying.

But when people believe they are being unfairly policed they will bite back. The locations of Gatsos and the speed limits in certain areas need to be justified on safety grounds, on grounds that they will actually save lives. Stick em at accident black spots, outside of schools etc. Make em as visible as possible (what they do in the UK) to ensure people will actually slow down.

If the authorities don't do this you'll see the emergence of gangs in Ireland who will go out each night and destroy gatso cameras. Its happened in more law abiding countries and considering our contempt for our law makers, it will surely happen here.

drunkmonkey

robtri wrote: »

no offense, but the law is the law, whether youa gree with it or not... and the Gardai are tasked with enforcing it.
the point of gatso vans is to cut road traffic violations, so the more people you catch the bigger the impact....

rubbish it's a cash cow and nothing more, the presence of a Garda, even without a speed gun just wearing his hi vis jacket is more of a deterrent than a badly parked white van..And I agree 100% with some of the other posters, there parked in places to catch you that aren't dangerous to be speeding in, I've passed one a few times on the 3 lane motorway(100km limit,ffs!) out of dublin but have never passed one outside a school...

Speed does not kill, speed in the wrong places in the wrong conditions kills.

Cabaal

AugustusMaximus wrote: »

I have no arguement with what you are saying.

But when people believe they are being unfairly policed they will bite back. .

I'm sure any person who breaks the law doesn't like the Gardai, in fairness think of all those shoplifters I'm sure they'd like revenge on the Gardai everytime they are caught.

Bottom line is anyone who does this type of activity should be fecked into jail for a good long while and made to pay for any and all damage caused,

hatetherain!

Padraig Mor wrote: »

The road where this happened is a dead straight stretch of about 2 miles with a 50 km limit.

If this happened on the road from Blarney to Tower its not dead straight. The road on the Blarney side of Pauds Cross is bendy and narrow with many people walking on the footpath, so 50 kms per hour is a valid speed limit.

Do we know if the attack happened here or on the straight part of the road which is actually Tower?

I hope they catch the moron who did this

-Chris-

bigkev49 wrote: »

To be fair, I would guess that most people don't know that there is a member of AGS sitting in the van.

Are you seriously suggesting that it's ok to burn down public property, just as long as no one gets hurt?

WHITE_P

Here's a link to the news report.

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2009/0828/breaking6.htm

If they made these things highly visable, people might be more inclined to believe thay are there, for the purpose of road safety and not just revenue generation.

Rowley Birkin QC

-Chris- wrote: »

Are you seriously suggesting that it's ok to burn down public property, just as long as no one gets hurt?

Not in the slightest, suggesting that the majority of people wouldn't know that there's a member sitting in the van. Nothing more. Someone had mentioned attempted murder of a member as an appropriate charge.

It's still thuggery either way.

Chad ghostal

AugustusMaximus wrote: »

Explain to me why the first section of the Lower Glanmire Road DC is only 60kph while the next section is 100kph ? Its hard to fathom why it wold be on safety grounds. In fact, it could be viewed as a safety hazard with people throwing out the anchor when they see the van.

It is most likely due to the 10 or so houses just off the road, at the start of the dual carriage way. Once it gets around the bend after these houses it's 100kph..

Someone seems to have a real problem with the gards in Blarney, especially since their station was gutted in another petrol bomb attack last last year..http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2008/1010/breaking48.htm

AugustusMaximus

Chad ghostal wrote: »

It is most likely due to the 10 or so houses just off the road, at the start of the dual carriage way. Once it gets around the bend after these houses it's 100kph..

Someone seems to have a real problem with the gards in Blarney, especially since their station was gutted in another petrol bomb attack last last year..http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/breaking/2008/1010/breaking48.htm

The 60kph continues well past those houses with the Gatso van placed 50 yards from where the limit goes up to 100kph.

Chad ghostal

AugustusMaximus wrote: »

The 60kph continues well past those houses with the Gatso van placed 50 yards from where the limit goes up to 100kph.

The Gatso van is usually parked about 10-15ft after the last house on the road (heading out of town), which is as you say, about 50ft from where the limit goes up. Feel free to take a look at google maps.

Having driven the Glanmire Rd at least twice a day for the past two years, I don't think the Gatso van is much of a problem (certainly not annoying enough to petrol bomb), it stands out a mile..the gards on bikes trailing people is another story.

pred racer

Cabaal wrote: »

This has to be the most foolish comment I've seen today, would you be finding it so funny if the Gardai had been killed...perhaps next time when they try harder eh?

:rolleyes:

Lets hope these scumbags also try harder to rob/burn your car shall we?
ah yeah now I see how you find it funny wishing such actions on people....

:rolleyes:

Jesus Cabal, chris etc I always presumed you guys had a sense of humour, obviously I was mistaken, didnt notice the wink at the end no? should I label my posts "Successfully or not I am trying to be funny
and to put the record straight I would think it ****ing hilarious if someone set fire to a gatso van!(obviously without the doughnut eater in it)

so any chance ye could find an extension ladder and climb down off them high horses???

Cabaal

pred racer wrote: »

Jesus Cabal, chris etc I always presumed you guys had a sense of humour, obviously I was mistaken, didnt notice the wink at the end no? should I label my posts "Successfully or not I am trying to be funny
and to put the record straight I would think it ****ing hilarious if someone set fire to a gatso van!(obviously without the doughnut eater in it)

so any chance ye could find an extension ladder and climb down off them high horses???

I think it would be hilarious if somebody burned down your house....obviously without anyone inside it.

Now...see how idiotic and stupid your comment is?
:rolleyes:

How about you get that massive chip off your shoulder in relation to the Gardai and get some fresh air.

mack flyer

While i am totally against what went on in Cork i will make the point that the guards seem to be ramping up the speed checks..
Im driving 23 years and have never been in trouble as regards speeding fines,tax,insurance etc but in the last month i have received 2 fines and 4 penalty points which amazed the other half who is always giving out that i drive too slow.
First case was in clonard co meath on a deserted road on a sunday morning and the 2nd was in naas on the last bank holiday saturday...Both good roads and i was barely over the limit so i ask the question..have the guards been instructed to ramp up on the speeding fines to bring in the money..
Also where are the guards when people are coming out of pubs at 12 and 1 in the morning drink driving...

stealthyspeeder

Coming from the Belfast, I cant say im shocked by by a petrol bomb being thrown at the local law enforcement!

Hope the guard is ok. Its not his fault that his superiors sent him out to shoot fish in a barrel.

Illegal, dangerous and a act of pure thuggery it may be, however it does get the objection to the road safety enforecment in that area accross more publically and a lot more strongly than a stongly worded letter!

agent_smith

Feck. Hope the garda is alright. This could easily have become a murder investigation.

stealthyspeeder

agent_smith wrote: »

Feck. Hope the garda is alright. This could easily have become a murder investigation.

I think thats taking it a little far! if it hit the outside of the van, it would ignite over the outiside shell. The guard would have at over a minute to get out before anything on the inside caught fire or produced smoke. If it went in through the front and ignited the fllamable interior, as the guard would be a the back, he could exit through the rear doors before any "death" occurred.

Injury is possible but possible muder is a little far fetched!

Anan1

pred racer wrote: »

so any chance ye could find an extension ladder and climb down off them high horses???

This business of accusing anyone with a better argument than your own of being 'on their high horse' is getting quite old, don't you think?

Dan_B

While i am totally against what went on in Cork i will make the point that the guards seem to be ramping up the speed checks..
Im driving 23 years and have never been in trouble as regards speeding fines,tax,insurance etc but in the last month i have received 2 fines and 4 penalty points which amazed the other half who is always giving out that i drive too slow.
First case was in clonard co meath on a deserted road on a sunday morning and the 2nd was in naas on the last bank holiday saturday...Both good roads and i was barely over the limit so i ask the question..have the guards been instructed to ramp up on the speeding fines to bring in the money..
Also where are the guards when people are coming out of pubs at 12 and 1 in the morning drink driving...

+1
Since the N4 / M4 outbound was upgraded to 3 lanes and the underpass finished allowing traffic to actually move there has been a gatso van there almost permanently.
There is a strecth of road near where I live that has been the scene of a dozen of RTA's over the last few years, several resulting in fatalaties and I have never seen a speed check on it.
The area's being targeted for checks reinforces the revenue collection argument and weakens the road safety one.

drunkmonkey

I think in fairness to pred racer he was referring to the gatso van and not setting fire to a garda, I don't think there's any one on boards who would like to see a garda set fire to...

Just on the Gatso vans, can the garda in the back see what's happening in front? If the cab had caught fire is it possible he wouldn't notice for a few minutes until the fire is raging, seems very dangerous to be sitting in the back of one if that's the case...