An Garda Siochana - Do you respect them?

Lab_Mouse · 17-11-2010 01:47PM

Mainly yes.

Have met more a$$hole guards than not,but the nice ones and the ones that do there job right and manage to be polite about it make up for the muppets.

bladespin · 17-11-2010 01:47PM

Certainly do, haven't met a bad one yet, the attitude I can understand and it usually disappears after the first exchange of words.

Lupine · 17-11-2010 01:49PM

I know quite a few guards and they vary from nice to unpleasant, smart to stupid and street wise to sesame street smart. I feel the sesame street Gardaì cause more problems than they fix.
I respect them even though some of them are idiots. My respect comes from the crap they have to put with and I won’t be able to do their job.

paky · 17-11-2010 01:50PM

i use to respect the guards but not anymore. there heavy handedness at the student protests, the shell to sea and the corrupt government they back are all reasons why i dislike them.

SeaFields · 17-11-2010 01:52PM

If you're acting the bollocks you'll be treated as such but if your the victim or in need of a service they are, by and large with some exceptions, grand to deal with.

biko · 17-11-2010 01:52PM

I don't think they "back" the government. They are civil servants and must do what ordered.

lyndonjones · 17-11-2010 01:53PM

Pyr0 wrote: »

For the people that don't respect the Guards, who is it you call if someone was to break into your home and steal your possessions and threaten your family or attack a loved one on the street? The A Team?

Yep my brother had a break-in

Called the Gardai and they arrived - 3 hours later

Took details

and then

Nothing!!

Cookie_Monster · 17-11-2010 01:53PM

Its hard to respect them in the fact that they seem to be happy to simply do the job despite knowing the entire system is broken in so many ways. Yes, its not the fault of the Gardai but of the Gov / Dept of Justice, courts systems, but they seem happier to plod along within an obviously broken system and not get vocal about it at all unless it affect their pay and perks.

This is further reflected in the complete un-willingness of the Gardai to deal with the likes of all the junkies on the quays & Luas & petty criminals as they are simply released back on the street an hour later anyway. Low impact but highly visible crime that everyone can see not being dealt with, not a good reflection on the members.

biko · 17-11-2010 01:54PM

If you don't like the guards call a hippie next time you're in trouble

Keith186 · 17-11-2010 01:57PM

I respect them if they respect me. If they're ego power tripping pricks then no.
Thankfully most of them are ok.

Don Juan DeMagoo · 17-11-2010 02:00PM

Respect does not imply that you have to like them. I respect them.....
That is all

Don Juan DeMagoo · 17-11-2010 02:02PM

biko wrote: »

I don't think they "back" the government. They are civil servants and must do what ordered.

They tried to use that excuse in Nuremberg as well, did not work as well as expected:D

jimthemental · 17-11-2010 02:08PM

Can't respect them, I know that some don't pay car tax etc because they can get away with it by flashing the badge, same with a lot of off duty speeding. They can often get friends and family off.

One local cop we had conned and intimidated my gran out of a fortune when she was a young widow and my dad was starting to take over the family pub. Bastard nearly bankrupted the family. He was still at it when I was a kid but my uncle wouldn't listen to a word out of him.

Other than this anytime there I have come into contact with them I have found them utterly useless and very arrogant and unhelpful. I am a law abiding citizen but I do not have respect for the force in general, but of course I know there are an exceptional few, especially in the sdu and cab.

Rabidlamb · 17-11-2010 02:18PM

Guards that spend their time doing good community policing, actively deterring crime & anti-social behavior are good.

Unfortunately some seem to think the greatest danger to society is someone not having tax on there car.

Biggins · 17-11-2010 02:19PM

paky wrote: »

i use to respect the guards but not anymore. there heavy handedness at the student protests, the shell to sea and the corrupt government they back are all reasons why i dislike them.

Now that I don't get.

I can understand (but still respectfully, disagree) those dis-liking the Gardi because they have had the unfortunate occurrence to have a bad experience with them - even if it is at a student protest - fair enough, I can understand that

However to say one dislikes them because "...the corrupt government they back..." shows a complete misunderstanding of their situation.

They are NOT showing a backing of the government.
* They are show a backing of the constitution, your constitution and the laws pertaining to it.
* They are showing they are willing to stand up for those laws that say you get a trial - and not be just thrown into a prison without one at the behest of a sitting power in state.
* They, as they separate you from those you oppose across protesting lines, are showing "Yes, you can still stand there, shout and protest" - do so peacefully according to the laws you, your parents and ancestors occasionally voted for by referendum and/or person who also supports them.

The Gardi in general are an all too easy target for some with chips on their shoulder, personal agendas or the down-right crooked.
They are a bunch of people who are under appreciated, another group of citizens who are treated like political cards to be thrown about, abused and played with by those across the Dail. They are over-burdened with paperwork - instead of being allowed the time to actually do more which they know is necessary - they are under resourced and we hear only of their failings by those baying about them, than we do of their many successes.

I'm proud of our Irish Gardi in the whole, they do a thankless job and even if I was a scumbag, they would still come to the assistance of my brother, sister and parents with a phone call to them by others for the most part.

People may say they do "this" or "that" but they fail to sometimes see, they do things because they are following orders (which they are equally forced to do by constitutional law!) at the request/order of political masters who equally are using state laws to do what we (well some of us that bother our arse to vote) originally voted them in to do!
Blame the right people, not those abusing them and then us!

They might not be perfect - but would the first person that is - please stand up!

Krusader · 17-11-2010 02:24PM

If the gardaí show me respect, I'll show them respect, it's give and take on both sides

hinault · 17-11-2010 02:25PM

They've become the revenue collecting division of the Revenue Commissioners, in recent years.

El Horseboxo · 17-11-2010 02:29PM

I can respect the job that they have to do such as dealing with out and out scum bags daily and being involved with crime scenes etc. But i have had too many bad experiences with the Gardaí and witnessed their complete lack of respect at times to respect them on a whole. I've lived in the US and been all over the world and deal with law enforcement around the world in my line of work. And i must say most have been a joy to be involved with or need in times of emergency. But a lot of the Gardaí i have come across appear unable to handle the stress of the job. They take it out on the next person which is wrong. They actually appear as a bunch of under trained amatuers in comparison to other countries i work with. Obviously not all but from the ones i have needed to be involved with.

strobe · 17-11-2010 02:31PM

I decide my level of respect on a Garda by Garda basis. There is nothing about having a C3 in foundation level Irish and an ugly uniform that should grant someone instant respect. That's just silly. Stop being silly.

flyton5 · 17-11-2010 02:34PM

*Garda voice*

What's all this lads?

seamus · 17-11-2010 02:35PM

Keith186 wrote: »

I respect them if they respect me. If they're ego power tripping pricks then no.

In my experience, it works the other way. Show them a little respect and you'll get the same in return.

If they stop you in your car, whether at a checkpoint or a pull over, you give them a cheery, "How's it goin?", you act humble and apologetic if they give out to you, and answer any reasonable questions without huffing and puffing and getting all indignant about privacy.
Reasonable questions are, "Where are you coming from?", "Where are you going to?", "Have you had anything to drink tonight?", etc.

They are no more interested in spending ten minutes extracting information from you than you are. Treat them like you'd treat anyone else just doing their job and you'll never find yourself in trouble.

Getting yourself arrested or hassled by the Gardai actually requires effort on your part.

_feedback_ · 17-11-2010 02:38PM

Of course I respect the Gardai, they have a tough job. I'm glad to say I've only had a few encounters with them.

One small thing that really bugs me is how they break traffic laws/local regulations/signed regulations when there is no need to.

At my local supermarket they very often abandon the car outside the front door which is basically blocking one half of the road. It causes tailbacks etc. Why do they not use the car-park like everyone else? It stinks of "we are guards and can do what we like". That really gets on my nerves!

donvito99 · 17-11-2010 02:43PM

Yes, more so since the fees protest.

Duffy the Vampire Slayer · 17-11-2010 02:44PM

Pace2008 wrote: »

I'd be kinda the opposite. I disagree with many aspects of the law but appreciate the guards are just doing their duty in enforcing them.

We had a lovely half ounce of weed taken off us by a plain-clothes Garda at a festival last summer. I think the law in this instance is retarded, but the copper was just doing his job by being a party pooper.

I'd like to respect the guards but it constantly seems like they're people I should be avoiding- underage drinking for a long time, and now drugs have conditioned me to distrust them completely. My dad was a guard for a few years in the 80s so its not like I'm pre-disposed to hating them.

steddyeddy · 17-11-2010 02:44PM

I respect the concept of decent hard working people making life safer for peopleand some of the gaurds who work in extremely dangerous situations I have the upmost respect for.

However personaly do I respect the force as a whole? No I have had bad exxperiences with them and thats through knowing some of them persoanally. A friend of mine was mugged by two polish people who we later found out were renting a room of a gaurd, the said gaurd made it very hard for my friend when he wanted to prosecute.

I have personally known some who take drugs from the evidence room, they mentioned gaurds who sell from the evidence room and my uncle was friends with the attorney genral who told him you never will see anything like the lies the gaurds tell in court.

They have serious issues with their recruitment two scumbags from my former school are now gaurds because of who they know. That case in dongal were they were extorting money out of a family and trying to pin murder on them and only ended in a gaurd retiring was a joke.

Then you have a young lad in a cell in store street who aprantly hung himself. I lived in america and the gaurds there although in parts corrupt I would have respect for. When it comes to a police service that exorts, lies and sometimes assaults youll forgive me for saying im holding out for something better!

Ush1 · 17-11-2010 02:45PM

k_mac wrote: »

The accounts are for prisoner meals.

:pac:

Pull the other one...

steddyeddy · 17-11-2010 02:46PM

elviscostello wrote: »

Of course I respect the Gardai, they have a tough job. I'm glad to say I've only had a few encounters with them.

One small thing that really bugs me is how they break traffic laws/local regulations/signed regulations when there is no need to.

At my local supermarket they very often abandon the car outside the front door which is basically blocking one half of the road. It causes tailbacks etc. Why do they not use the car-park like everyone else? It stinks of "we are guards and can do what we like". That really gets on my nerves!

report them they often apear in court on charges like this

Ironman76 · 17-11-2010 02:48PM

Interesting one.

I would have to agree with an earlier post and say its on a Garda to Garda basis. Have seen and have had too many negative experiences with them. Having said that have met one or two genuinely sound ones in my time too.

Respect is earned, not given. .

Compare the Student Riots in England with the ones here, look at the behaviour of both sets of police/Gardai. . nuff said. .

Run_to_da_hills · 17-11-2010 02:55PM

Garda are basically "back patch" people with power.

Just like those in the motorcycle fraternity one must respect those wearing back patches or else. :eek:

overeager · 17-11-2010 03:04PM

I find it hard to respect a group of people who coutinuously show me discoutesy in every day dealings.

I have had many dealings with the gardai: administrative, traffic, getting in (small) trouble etc.. 95% of time i was unhappy with the service

A few rotten apples you say!?? 1 or 2 fresh ones would be putting it nicely..

You have to be a special type of person to be accepted by the gardai, it begins with 'c', ends with 't' and has a 'u' and an 'n' in the middle

(and its not a coconut)

An Garda Siochana - Do you respect them?

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