Garda Killer Released

Of course its a kick in the teeth considering one of the few, perhaps the only thing that made criminals hesitate about killing an unarmed cop was the very lenghty sentence of 40 years but if you look around the world you will see a lot of countries that dont treat this as that big a deal.

In Spain a bank robber shot and killed 3 cops during his escape, he can only serve 20 years in total as thats the law there. No matter how bad the crime or how many crimes your sentences for, 20 years is the most. You also cant go to jail if your over 70 which means in theory over 70s are immune from the law???? :eek:

Poxyshamrock wrote: »

They should bring back in the death penalty for murdering a member of An Gardai Siochana

Bit harsh , but stiffer sentences should be the norm

Glad to see you agree with me Thenog but just to clarify something. The paragraph on justice and political influence was in reply to your melodramatic claim of how 'once upon a time I....' So my question is really, did you only come to this conclusion after leinster house gave the IRA unit a cushy sentence? Did you not think it politically motivated that nobody from Saor Eire, for instance, was ever charged with the murder of that guard and the soldier? What charges were laid against the then Attorney General when he was found to have a wanted killer hiding in his house?

Tommy,
1. Well the point is that victims and those it effects SHOULD be notified. Its common sense and decency to do so. The victims of crime and witnesses may well be in danger as a result of the release. In this case No but if a profile case results in the decent thing been done all round then great.


2. Unfortunately this case along with a hell of a lot both here, the UK and the North are very political. The police cant help that but just like its been shown that the government should not have too much power over the Gardai so should they not have too much say in the courts. both were independent for a reason, one still is. We have to remember that this is 1 case, in the North the PSNI are having to accept this situation for a lot of cop killers plus having terrorists now dictate to them. How would the Gardai feel having Sinn Fein in power? Not good I can tell you.

3. With respect the slate is not wiped clean. Thats why previous sentences and convctions can be given to the court after your found guilty. I realise what your saying, yes they have served their sentence for this crime but the slate is not clean. They remain convicted killers.

4. I want to try and dispell this myth once and for all. Garda wages are not as cushy as people like to think. The figures thrown around are way off the mark. You start at 22,000 per annum. yes you get perks but they dont bring it up by more than 3 or 4 thousand and with respect, we have to work for them. You dont get the allowances if your working 9 to 5 in an office, Garda or not.

As for the pension, its a private pension. Its not some magic money taken out of tax money and given away by the state. I and all Gardai pay into it every week just as you probable do with your private pension. How can something I pay into from my wages be considered as a perk on top of my wages???

Anything else? Overtime, well many jobs do overtime. In fact you have to pay it if your staff are working the extra hours and unlike most jobs, Gardai often have no choice and are forced to work overtime regardless of the effect it has on your social / family life. No one asked me if I was taking my family to the paddy day parade on Monday just like no one asked me if being dragged in on my day off was an inconvenience.

I make more per annum now than my old job but it took about 3 years after I finished my training to match my old occupation. Even today I have to include overtime in that calculation.

4. The fact that Gardai have dangerous jobs doesnt or shouldnt allow the flippant opinion about a Garda being killed in the line of duty. For starters a murder of a Garda in the execution of his duties compared to a civilian is different. the civilian was the target and would have fled if they could. A Garda puts themselves in the danger in order to protect the target and does so despite the risk when there was no threat to the Garda in the first place. In fact more than 1 Garda has been killed while chasing a criminal while another was kiilled on UN duty protecting innocent people in a foreign country. So I do consider Gardai and in fact anyone who dies protecting others, to be a hero.

5. If a worker gets killed in their line of business its reviewed and any safety measures and equipment that can be introduced are introduced. If maximum safety wasnt available the employer faces court.Why Gardai are not granted the same entitlement is beyond me but consider the Love ulster riot. Would a builder be allowed on that site without a hard hat? No but Gardai were forbidden from wearing their riot helmets because it would look confrontational.

I hope I havent come across to confrontational as I do appreciate your points and agree with some of it but the Pension thing really bugs me.