Unfair Treatment and Intimidation By Garda

LegacyUser

This could be a bit long so please bear with me.

Last night I was going for a drive with my girlfriend.I was the driver of the car and I was driving into the city centre.We were on Amiens Street and saw a Garda checkpoint.No big deal as I had everything in order i.e my tax and insurance.This checkpoint was after the new petrol station.Incidentally,I had pulled into the new Top petrol station in order to fill up the tank for the weekend.There were a good amount of taxis at the pumps and I had been waiting for a few minutes.After seeing that things were on a go slow,I decided that I could get petrol on the way home.

When I got some clearance from the taxi in front of me to manouver and exit the petrol station,I was being watched by a Garda.I had indicated to turn left into the city centre and in doing so I would have had to clear the garda checkpoint.My front wheels were on the road at the exit and I was waiting until a safe gap appeared.When I did turn onto the road into the bus lane the garda had approached my car.This was around 30 yards away from the checkpoint.He pointed for me to pull over which I was obliging him and had indicated to pull in beside the path.I was going to pull in behind another car.The next thing I know,I hear and feel 2 big thumps on my car and then the Garda proceeded to yank open the door and stick his face into mine asking me if I saw him.He asked this in a very aggressive tone of voice.I had to roll the stop a bit past him to fully clear the exit of the petrol station and its adjoining car wash.

I was shocked and frightened at what he was doing.He then proceeded to ask me "why I was trying to dodge this checkpoint?" and then told me he was arresting me under section 7 of The Road Traffic Act.I responded in a respectful manner and explained that I had nothing to hide and was not dodging any Garda checkpoint.I stupidly addressed him as "sir" as I was trying to be polite and respectful and he responded "So its sir now?".He then asked me why I didn't get petrol and if I had been drinking.I explained the situation but this Guard wasn't having any of it and told me he didn't believe me.He also asked me why I didn't stop at a particular pump but the truth was that I was waiting for a pump that was on the side of my petrol cap gauge.He then proceeded to say that they stretch over.He then asked me "how long was I driving" and if I was "slow".He then went to my car,with my girlfriend inside,opened the door and checked my petrol indicator.

He then asked me to produce my license which I intended to do but in my shocked state I fumbled my hands into my coat pocket only to find my wallet (which was in the way of my license).I had actually thought at that point that I left it at home in another coat I was wearing during the week.He then told me he was going to summons me to court and send out a letter.He then asked for my name and D.O.B and radioed it to check.

After this,my upset girlfriend came out and tried to explain the situation and she was visibly upset as she thought the Garda would do something to me like arrest me.He showed a lack of respect and courtesy towards her and was very stand-offish.Again I explained my case and he kept saying he didn't believe me.He had also said prior to this that my mother would have to explain to the guards why SHE is being pulled over when her car is on the road.In this way he was painting me as if I am a criminal/scumbag and that my mother would somehow have to bear this burden.

I was getting nowhere and my back was against the wall.In my panic state I thought I was going to court or get arrested.Upon opening my door at the offset,I was nearly expecting him to grab me.Near the end of this intimidation,I asked could I speak to another Garda and he flat out refused and said that he had spent 10 minutes with me.I'm not sure if it was 10 minutes but he also said that I was less than a minute in the petrol station when I had actually been there fro about 4 minutes.

After he flat out refused me another Garda,he turned his back on me and tried to walk away.In the process he said that he'd have my car taken away if I didn't move off immediately.Before I did this,I asked his name and he gave it.He also turned his shoulder to me in an aggressive mannerism and showed me his number.He stated that his name and details would be on the letter for court and that I had 10 days to produce my license at my local station.His last words to me were that he'd see me in court.

I drove off in a frightened and angry state.I got home and just realised that I had my license on me all along.I calmed down a little bit and then grabbed my letter of insurance and went up to my local Garda station,produced all documents and told the story.I was advised on what I could do next either A) Go and make a complaint to the sergeant and/or Go to the Garda Ombudsman.

I decided that I'd take option A first and straight after I went down to the station to speak with the sergeant and explain what had happened and make a complaint.In fairness to the sergeant he was impartial as best he could and explained that he wasn't there which is ok but he was perplexed by the threats that the Garda made.He also said that he could understand why the Garda thought that it might have looked as if I was trying to avoid the checkpoint and that the Garda assumed that I was a drunk driver until it was obvious that I wasn't.This perplexed me as I was not driving in any way that would suggest that I had drink on me and I am sure that CCTV from the petrol station would prove that.

Sergeant was very nice in saying that I had nothing to worry about and that he was sorting out the license/withdrawl of any kind of threat of legal action.The sergeant also explained that this particular Garda (Who is huge) has a very imposing appearance due to his stature and build.

Basically the message I took out of the conversation was that I was wrongly treated in the way he spoke to me and threatened me.My girlfriend was crying at the station as she was frightened so bad.

I am still livid over this treatment and I just feel that the situation will be dealt in such a way that won't affect this sub-species of Garda or bear any consequences for acting like a bully.An apology from said Garda can hardly be taken as genuine as he had his mind made up about me from the word go and he was trying to do me.

In such a case,I am seriously considering taking this to the Garda Ombudsman.Thankfully since then,me and the gf calmed down.I'm more relaxed knowing that there is nothing pending on me but the more I think about the incident the more I feel angry.belittled and upset over the treatment.The worst part was being threatend and watching my girlfriend cry.That part was the worst.

Any advice?Thanks for reading.

Jaeger 90

Jesus what a non incident, toughen up - id hate to see how you would handle actual abuse.

Cuddlesworth

Sounds like he was just doing his job.

LegacyUser

As an aside, you are aware that Amiens St. is one of the roughest spots in the city?

I can't see what the issue is here at all. Sounds completely standard, man up a bit for your own good.

minidazzler

He probably shouldn't have been so agressive and such an asshat about it, but other than that he did it correctly as best I can tell.

It would have looked like you were avoiding them really.

LegacyUser

Cuddlesworth wrote: »

Sounds like he was just doing his job.

Yeah unfortunately this seems pretty normal for certain guards. You have to realize that there is a lot of very ignorant people out there in every profession and they use their authority to enhance this. Unfortunately the Irish guards have quite a high percentage of ignorant people in its force but they also have plenty of very courteous and friendly guards who conduct their job in a professional manner.

I really don't think you will achieve much by taking this to the ombudsman as nothing was really done against you, only threats. I was stopped last year walking outside of pierce street garda station by two big thick cops who walked me in to a corner and were grilling me with questions as to where I was going. They took my phone and quizzed me on what numbers I last rang.

After they realized that they had obviously got the wrong person they were walking away when I asked them what the hell was this all about? They embarrassingly said that they had gotten reports of somebody who placed my description had been pick pocketing handbags. I was dressed casual but wearing nice clothes and certainly didn't look like a scum bag. I was really pissed off after coz I was so cooperative with them and they had been so rude towards me and never even offered an apology nor explanation. At the end of the day though I just shrugged it off.

They were just two thick muckers who only became guards coz they had little other potential or imagination in other areas. The only thing I regret was not being a bit smart with them but when something like this is happening its a lot different.

OP just move on and next time you get wrongly accused by a member of the gardi just be sure and be tough back to them. If you have done nothing wrong it is your right to show your frustration towards them and you are not going to get locked up for standing your ground believe me.

Cuddlesworth

nineteen61 wrote: »

Yeah unfortunately this seems pretty normal for certain guards. You have to realize that there is a lot of very ignorant people out there in every profession and they use their authority to enhance this. Unfortunately the Irish guards have quite a high percentage of ignorant people in its force but they also have plenty of very courteous and friendly guards who conduct their job in a professional manner.

I really don't think you will achieve much by taking this to the ombudsman as nothing was really done against you, only threats. I was stopped last year walking outside of pierce street garda station by two big thick cops who walked me in to a corner and were grilling me with questions as to where I was going. They took my phone and quizzed me on what numbers I last rang.

After they realized that they had obviously got the wrong person they were walking away when I asked them what the hell was this all about? They embarrassingly said that they had gotten reports of somebody who placed my description had been pick pocketing handbags. I was dressed casual but wearing nice clothes and certainly didn't look like a scum bag. I was really pissed off after coz I was so cooperative with them and they had been so rude towards me and never even offered an apology nor explanation. At the end of the day though I just shrugged it off.

They were just two thick muckers who only became guards coz they had little other potential or imagination in other areas. The only thing I regret was not being a bit smart with them but when something like this is happening its a lot different.

OP just move on and next time you get wrongly accused by a member of the gardi just be sure and be tough back to them. If you have done nothing wrong it is your right to show your frustration towards them and you are not going to get locked up for standing your ground believe me.

They deal with robbing lying stealing scum. Scum don't respond to being polite, courteous questions and a level of respect. They respond to aggression and intimidation from both the police and other scum. And if you need to be aggressive in your job, see how long you can last turning it on and off at the drop of a hat.

The threats and intimidating manner were there to get and judge a reaction. A innocent person will mostly do what the op did and a guilty one will get angry.

iguana

Victim wrote: »

In such a case,I am seriously considering taking this to the Garda Ombudsman.Thankfully since then,me and the gf calmed down.I'm more relaxed knowing that there is nothing pending on me but the more I think about the incident the more I feel angry.belittled and upset over the treatment.The worst part was being threatend and watching my girlfriend cry.That part was the worst.

Any advice?Thanks for reading.

If it happened like you said it did then you should go to the Garda Ombudsman, that's what they are there for. The Gardaí do not have carte blanche to behave however they wish, but unfortunately there are those in the organisation who believe that they do. It's massively counter productive and it alienates people who would have had respect for them and the law until they are treated badly. The only possible way to stem that behaviour is to use the complaints process and hope that people like that learn they can't just assume everyone is a criminal.

http://www.gardaombudsman.ie/gsoc-garda-ombudsman-complaints.htm

Eh, I'd be bloody annoyed if some garda was being rude and aggressive to me when I hadn't done anything wrong. Whatever happened to 'innocent until proven guilty?' I've been stopped and questioned several times at Connolly for the crime of looking a bit foreign, and I was annoyed due to the manner in which I was asked. I do not appreciate being made to feel like an alien in my own country, and I have no obligation to carry my passport around with me - I said this to the garda last time and he did apologise.

dudara

This isn't really a Personal Issue - I'm going to move it to the Emergency Services forum.

OP - as you are an unregistered poster, you won't be able to reply in the E.S. forum, unless you register with boards.

dudara

Danye

Go to the station that he is based in, because you have his name and number, and explain your situation to the sargent! And maybe write to the ombudsman..

You wouldnt believe how often this happens and the way people can brush it off as just doing "his job"! How is banging on someones car, and verbally abusing someone doing their job?

Its no surprise that with people like him in the orginisation, that guards are painted as scumbags, because thats what that guy is, regardless of the uniform.

By the way, you mightnt get a summons to court, but if you do dont worry about, it will more than likely be struck out.

ALONG

Yes, this has happened my friend too. She turned off just before a check point (she was going onto a side road to return to work after lunch) but the gardai came whizzing after har and blatantly accused her of avoiding them. They weren't quite as abusive as she could clearly prove that she worked on her route..
Some of the gardai have lessons to learn, I know of one fully licenced driver who was asked to open his glove compartment.....it was the air bag!
I know of another fully licenced driver who was asked, when he produced his licence....who forged it for you? He passed his test at age 17 and had to go through about 5 years before the hassle ended!
My advise would be to forget it though....you may win the battle but the war will persist. Good luck and try not to let it colour your views. There will always be bullies particularly in the Gardai. Remember they are not all bad but they do stick together.

blackbelt

:mad:Firstly,I want to say Dudara that I wanted to remain anonymous as I am a private person but I have nothing to hide and can hold my head up high as I did nothing wrong.

This Garda had the audacity to act aggressively toward me in front of my girlfriend and ask me insulting questions.He asked if I was slow but if he saw how fast I responded to this situation by lodging a complaint,said cnut would retract such a stupid question.

This provocation by this garda has put a downer on my weekend which is a hard time for me for me alreadyr.He had his mind made up about me before he saw me in person and wanted to do me on seeing me exit the petrol station.He abused his power and I knew deep down that if I retorted insults back at him,he'd cuff me and put me in the back of a squad car.Thats why I remained calm as I just wanted to get the fcuk out of there.

I am a law abiding citizen,how dare this Garda take his pension levy frustrations and loveless life out on me.Just smacks of a power abusing, bitter,cold blooded individual trying to get somebody in trouble.He looked for trouble and got it.He seemed smug and nasty saying to me that he'll see me in court.Well I look forward to it but sorry chum,I'll take the role of plaintiff.

I went to the sergeant who reassured me that I wouldn't be summonsed to court.Said sergeant also tried to get me to see Garda's side of the story and possible reasons.I don't care how big and fat you are,you have to speak with members of the public with dignity and respect,not bang on their cars or yank their car door open.I was the bigger person,not literally but I had to be taken down a peg or two because Garda couldn't hack it seeing a young man in his mid twenties enjoying his time with his girlfriend.

I have no hesitation now as what I will do.Garda ombudsman all the way.I am sick of this country's attitude of sitting back and taking **** from morons who are getting away with murder.:mad::mad::mad::mad:

blackbelt

ALONG wrote: »

Yes, this has happened my friend too. She turned off just before a check point (she was going onto a side road to return to work after lunch) but the gardai came whizzing after har and blatantly accused her of avoiding them. They weren't quite as abusive as she could clearly prove that she worked on her route..
Some of the gardai have lessons to learn, I know of one fully licenced driver who was asked to open his glove compartment.....it was the air bag!
I know of another fully licenced driver who was asked, when he produced his licence....who forged it for you? He passed his test at age 17 and had to go through about 5 years before the hassle ended!
My advise would be to forget it though....you may win the battle but the war will persist. Good luck and try not to let it colour your views. There will always be bullies particularly in the Gardai. Remember they are not all bad but they do stick together.

I've had a dislike of Gardai for about 6 or 7 years now.I am sorry but when it has come to me and serious issues,they have been found wanting.Maybe I am unlucky but how can a person be that unlucky each time.It is no coincidence to me anymore.

Such incidents include reporting an assault on a friend of mine with a glass bottle and when I reported it I was told to call back when sober despite the fact that I was totally coherent.

Another incident was a fight outside Croke Park between a Dublin and Laois fan 3 years and Gardai were hesitant to move in and stop it while there were crying children.

Another was an unprovoked assault on me by 1o people although I didn't report as I had given up on Gardai.The other was a friend of mine cycling and scumbags tried to run him over for a laugh.Gardai arrived 30 minutes later and asked my friend if he wanted to give them a warning if the Guards caught them.Such stupidity.Attempted assault and possible murder/manslaughter and you ask the person if a warning would suffice.


An Garda Siochana has declined in my view.This cross the "t'"s and dot the "i'"s attitude is all some of them are good for while doing their paperwork.The selection process is obviously a failure and they deploy the wrong kind of people in the wrong areas.They probably had this hard nosed bastard on a checkpoint and some timid kid trying to deal with a really bad domestic somewhere else in a real rough area.

Jaeger 90

blackbelt wrote: »

I am sick of this country's attitude of sitting back and taking **** from morons who are getting away with murder.:mad::mad::mad::mad:

Ye an unmannerly garda, quick call amnesty - this injustice cant go on.

your only problem is how desperately you want to be a victim - get a perspective for fucks sake

You and your whiney girlfriend are obviously perfect for each other

username123

blackbelt wrote: »

I have no hesitation now as what I will do.Garda ombudsman all the way.I am sick of this country's attitude of sitting back and taking **** from morons who are getting away with murder.:mad::mad::mad::mad:

Blackbelt I am honestly shocked, both at your story and at people on here telling you to man up!!

Youre taxes are paying this morons wages, no guard has the right to address you with anything less than dignity and respect.

If I were in your shoes I would be making a complaint to the Garda Ombudsman, I would be absolutely livid at the 'are you slow' comment - the bloody cheek of him, so what if you were in fact a bit on the slow side, are lower IQs not entitled to be spoken to respectfully also?

Nor has he any right to be reefing open your car door, insinuating that you are some kind of criminal, or alluding that you were trying to engage in illegal activity.

Complain, if there were more people out there like you and willing to follow it up there'd be less power tripping public servants getting away with this disgraceful behaviour. Perhaps a complaint might remind this guy to actually go and fight crime instead of hassling ordinary citizens.

paulbolg

iguana wrote: »

If it happened like you said it did then you should go to the Garda Ombudsman, that's what they are there for. The Gardaí do not have carte blanche to behave however they wish, but unfortunately there are those in the organisation who believe that they do. It's massively counter productive and it alienates people who would have had respect for them and the law until they are treated badly. The only possible way to stem that behaviour is to use the complaints process and hope that people like that learn they can't just assume everyone is a criminal.

http://www.gardaombudsman.ie/gsoc-garda-ombudsman-complaints.htm

well if that happened to me i would be straight to the garda station to get that garda sorted. trust me i am a member of the gardai and we are not all bad only the few jessies that get power and it goes to their heads. no matter what that garda must have always being ignorant because we dont get trained that way.

onto the fact from his point of view if i was on that ckeckpoint too lik he was and monitored your car doing wat you did it would look like you are doing a drive off but you didnt so maybe he got an adreniline rush. but dont worry you can only get summonsed to court if you failed to produce your license or insurance policy within 10 days. it happens everyone. but dont get a bad view of the gardai because somehow no matter how much you dislike them, there will always come some time where you will pick up the phone and look for help off them.

Hooch

Firstly foul language and abuse is not permitted on this forum.

Secondly, O/P head for the GSOC if you so wish. My personal advice would be to contact the Sergeant over the member concerened on view your thoughts. If that isnt enough try the members supt and if that fails then lastly try the GSOC.

Thats my two cents. I must read the posts fully later....sorry but rushing now and cant read all.:)

Shield

OP - Really sorry you had this experience. Nobody should have to endure anything like that. We have your side of the story now, and you most definitely have options available to you for being treated this way.

I hope you get closure in time.

Thread closed.