It's official: Gardai are above the law.

AudreyHepburn · 27-05-2011 02:26PM

Plascebo wrote: »

Whaaaa??

I was admitting the other poster was right but still saying I thought this man got no different a sentence than any other would have gotten.

Not that difficult to understand tbh.

tommyhaas · 27-05-2011 02:26PM

AudreyHepburn wrote: »

It's a perfectly valid question actually and I think can all see the answer would be no.

Yes, because its a thread specifically about his occupation getting him off jail. Its like saying ''well would there be a thread on Obama coming to Ireland if he wasn't President''. Of course not, because his occupation is extremely relevant to the discussion

damoz wrote: »

I think your missing the point. He was sentenced yesterday - 18 months with 12 suspended. Today he has the whole 18 months suspended purely beacuse he was a Garda.

Thats the only point for disucussion as i see it. Forget about other unrelated cases.

The fact he got the remaining 6 months off purely because of his occupation stinks to high heaven.

That's exactly what I said, only you quoted parts of my post to take it out of context, and hence give it a different meaning

AudreyHepburn · 27-05-2011 02:28PM

tommyhaas wrote: »

Yes, because its a thread specifically about his occupation getting him off jail. Its like saying ''well would there be a thread on Obama coming to Ireland if he wasn't President''. Of course not, because his occupation is extremely relevant to the discussion

damoz wrote: »

That's exactly what I said, only you quoted parts of my post to take it out of context, and hence give it a different meaning

Where did I take anything out of context? I never said the above three lines, you did.

Napper Hawkins · 27-05-2011 02:28PM

Lustrum wrote: »

I disagree. This isn't a case involving a violent criminal, it's a case where 2 lads got locked, words were had, and by all accounts a lot of remorse has been shown for what happened, and the apology has been accepted.

Don't tell me nobody here has ever done something they shouldn't have after a night out. And yes, the consequences of this could have been a lot more serious but thankfully they weren't, and I think that's more important than trying to lynch the gardaí on here

Nah mate, a violent crime is a violent crime whether it's committed by a drunk tosser with no previous convictions or a hardened gangster.

I've done plenty of stupid things I shouldn't have when drunk.

Got hammered and told a guard to fuk off once, thrown in the back of a van and fined in court. Stupid me. Learned my lesson.

But I've never beaten someone to a pulp and left them to die in a pool of their own blood.

sbsquarepants · 27-05-2011 02:28PM

AudreyHepburn wrote: »

Less of the patronising bulls*** please.

I know the case, but I still think people are getting worked up over the wrong issue.

It is quite clearly you who is missing the issue.
The ONLY reason he didn't serve 6 months in jail is because he is a cop. That is not anyones opinion, it is a clearly stated, and repeatedly pointed out fact, that you continue to ignore. It's baffling, to say the very least!

AudreyHepburn · 27-05-2011 02:29PM

the bolt wrote: »

thats several times you have stated this,why should it be irrelevant

Because he didn't commit the crime in his role as a Garda. He did it off duty on a night out. It had nothing to do with his career.

Mr.Micro · 27-05-2011 02:29PM

Such a thug in the Garda in the first place in this day and age, the selection procedure is still poor it looks like. In past times some the biggest thugs went for the Garda.....looks like nothing has changed, added to the fact of Judges being soft on them. Its just wrong.

_feedback_ · 27-05-2011 02:30PM

AudreyHepburn wrote: »

Because he didn't commit the crime in his role as a Garda. He did it off duty on a night out. It had nothing to do with his career.

Then why let him off because he is a guard?

AudreyHepburn · 27-05-2011 02:31PM

sbsquarepants wrote: »

It is quite clearly you who is missing the issue.
The ONLY reason he didn't serve 6 months in jail is because he is a cop. That is not anyones opinion, it is a clearly stated, and repeatedly pointed out fact, that you continue to ignore. It's baffling, to say the very least!

I am ignoring nothing. I am merely pointing out that plenty of folks have gotten suspended sentences and not been Gardai.

This man got what anyone else would have gotten, maybe for a different reason but still.

AudreyHepburn · 27-05-2011 02:31PM

elviscostello wrote: »

Then why let him off because he is a guard?

I don't know and am not defending it at all.

Mr.Micro · 27-05-2011 02:32PM

elviscostello wrote: »

Then why let him off because he is a guard?

If he was a regular citizen, the Judge would be describing him as a "dangerous man" and a risk to society. What a sham.

Plascebo · 27-05-2011 02:32PM

Quote:
Originally Posted by AudreyHepburn

I was admitting the other poster was right but still saying I thought this man got no different a sentence than any other would have gotten.

Not that difficult to understand tbh.

Originally Posted by AudreyHepburn
Calm down!

Ok fine, if it will make you happy. But he still no more than ordinary joe soap would have gotten imp.

Its the bold bit that makes no sense, very difficult to understand tbh....

Gunsfortoys · 27-05-2011 02:33PM

I have to laugh at the idiocy of some people.

The guys case was RE-ENTERED AFTER SENTENCING purely because he was a former guard and was also allowed to walk free.

The guys crime was an absolute disgrace and guard or not it should have been punished with jailtime.

I can see Biggins coming along now and accusing me of having a chip on my shoulder.:rolleyes:

Gunsfortoys · 27-05-2011 02:34PM

AudreyHepburn wrote: »

I am ignoring nothing. I am merely pointing out that plenty of folks have gotten suspended sentences and not been Gardai.

This man got what anyone else would have gotten, maybe for a different reason but still.

AudreyHepburn wrote: »

I don't know and am not defending it at all.

Sweet Jesus...

AudreyHepburn · 27-05-2011 02:34PM

Plascebo wrote: »

Its the bold bit that makes no sense, very difficult to understand tbh....

It isn't tbh. Plenty of people get suspended sentences, so imo this man got no more than or less than anyone else would have.

It's not right of course.

_feedback_ · 27-05-2011 02:34PM

AudreyHepburn wrote: »

I don't know and am not defending it at all.

Maybe you're not defending it, but saying that an ordinary Joe Soap would have got the same treatment is simply not true. He got the Joe Soap sentence and then had it dropped as a direct result of being a guard.

KERSPLAT! · 27-05-2011 02:34PM

AudreyHepburn wrote: »

I am ignoring nothing. I am merely pointing out that plenty of folks have gotten suspended sentences and not been Gardai.

This man got what anyone else would have gotten, maybe for a different reason but still.

Your digging a hole and it's getting deeper. The reason he got off is because he was a Garda which is clearly stated. So clearly it's not what anyone else
would have gotten....

27-05-2011 02:35PM

So we now have two justice systems here in Ireland :rolleyes: absolute joke is what it is. God love him he might be killed in jailed, he didn't think that when he could of killed the guy he beat up.

He commented a crime and should of been locked up, if that was any normal joe they'd be behind bars now. Must be great being a Garda knowing you can get away with stuff like this.

Wile E. Coyote · 27-05-2011 02:35PM

Nijmegen wrote: »

It's a fair point to say that there are too many people allowed to get off. However, that does not make it right, and in this case certainly not the provision that the man was a Garda.

I'm not saying it was right. The point I was making is that, in the end, he got the same sentence anyone else would have received. I believe the only reason he was given a 6 month sentance in the first place is that he was a Guard.

He should have served a jail term but so should everyone else who commits a crime like this. You can't jail some and not others simply because of their career choice.

Bannasidhe · 27-05-2011 02:35PM

AudreyHepburn wrote: »

I am ignoring nothing. I am merely pointing out that plenty of folks have gotten suspended sentences and not been Gardai.

This man got what anyone else would have gotten, maybe for a different reason but still.

But in this instance his sentence was suspended simply because he was a guard-you know - one of those people employed to protect ordinary Joe Soaps from being beaten unconscious by drunks with anger management issues.

Mr.Micro · 27-05-2011 02:36PM

Gunsfortoys wrote: »

I have to laugh at the idiocy of some people.

The guys case was RE-ENTERED AFTER SENTENCING purely because he was a former guard and was also allowed to walk free.

:rolleyes:

Anybody else would have to wait a year or 2 to appeal.

AudreyHepburn · 27-05-2011 02:37PM

Wile E. Coyote wrote: »

I'm not saying it was right. The point I was making is that, in the end, he got the same sentence anyone else would have received. I believe the only reason he was given a 6 month sentance in the first place is that he was a Guard.

He should have served a jail term but so should everyone else who commits a crime like this. You can't jail some and not others simply because of their career choice.

This is what I have been trying to say too.

Bannasidhe · 27-05-2011 02:37PM

Wile E. Coyote wrote: »

I'm not saying it was right. The point I was making is that, in the end, he got the same sentence anyone else would have received. I believe the only reason he was given a 6 month sentance in the first place is that he was a Guard.

He should have served a jail term but so should everyone else who commits a crime like this. You can't jail some and not others simply because of their career choice.

He was given an 18 month sentence - to serve 6 in prison.The 6 were suspended because - and only because- he was a Guard. If he was not a guard he would be in prison now.

wilson10 · 27-05-2011 02:38PM

cursai wrote: »

Most people with this kind of conviction walk free. especially if they have no previous. I'm more surprised he gave a sentence in the first place and not a fine and a suspension.
People shouldnt comment on things they know absolutely nothing about!!!

You obviously know a lot about this case then or you wouldn't be commenting.

Did you read the medical report?

Did you see the injuries?

pragmatic1 · 27-05-2011 02:38PM

Not normally a huge fan of the Gardai, but I've seen ordinary people get off with much more serious crimes.

padd b1975 · 27-05-2011 02:39PM

hatrickpatrick wrote: »

http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0527/foleyd.html

The Garda who was sentenced yesterday for assault has had the sentence suspended.

Congrats to the Ombudsman for pursuing the case, but can I ask what the point is in having such organizations if the courts are simply going to overrule them?

This is an absolutely DISGRACEFUL statement. Are we not all equal in this society? I'm utterly outraged.

He is still guilty of the crime. The judge made an error in a technical point when sentencing, that is all.

sbsquarepants · 27-05-2011 02:40PM

AudreyHepburn wrote: »

I am ignoring nothing. I am merely pointing out that plenty of folks have gotten suspended sentences and not been Gardai.

This man got what anyone else would have gotten, maybe for a different reason but still.

He didn't, everyone else sees that.

elviscostello wrote: »

Maybe you're not defending it, but saying that an ordinary Joe Soap would have got the same treatment is simply not true. He got the Joe Soap sentence and then had it dropped as a direct result of being a guard.

For the hundreth time, this above, is what actually happened!
He was treated like everyone else........ and then they changed it, because he was a guard - no other reason in the enitre world!

Wile E. Coyote · 27-05-2011 02:41PM

Bannasidhe wrote: »

He was given an 18 month sentence - to serve 6 in prison.The 6 were suspended because - and only because- he was a Guard. If he was not a guard he would be in prison now.

I'm aware of the sentence he was originally given and as I said I think the only reason he got a 6 month jail term is that he was a Guard. As shown already in a similar case a suspended sentence is the punishment given.

tmc86 · 27-05-2011 02:42PM

Surely the Defence Counsel would have made it one of their principal defence points stating that since he is a Garda that there is special consideration to be had when considering a prison sentence.

How do they only realise this argument the day after sentencing? This is the thing that I find odd about the case.

The_Snapper · 27-05-2011 02:42PM

hatrickpatrick wrote: »

This is an absolutely DISGRACEFUL statement. Are we not all equal in this society? I'm utterly outraged.

I agree. That's not right. That sentence only generates mistrust and closing of ranks etc, in my opinion. Like a two tier rule.

3yrs minimum in my opinion, none suspended for this particular offence and his (previous) occupation.

If the fear is Gardaí will come to harm in prison then don't do the crime.....

It's official: Gardai are above the law.

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