| Sent: | 27 January 2015 12:27:04 |
| To: | mick.wallace@oireachtas.ie; david.norris@oireachtas.ie; clare.daly@oireachtas.ie ; joe.higgins@oireachtas.ie |
| Cc: | pressoffice@garda.ie; enda.kenny@oireachtas.ie ; lettersed@irishtimes.com |
Dear Members of the Oireachtas
I sent an email to An Taoiseach, the Garda Commissioner, Clare Daly and the Irish Times on December 5th raising my concerns as to whether Gardai who work under contract to private individuals or corporations are technically on duty as members of the Garda Siochana or are, in fact, private individuals with no powers of arrest or detention.
Following a large protest at the City West Hotel last evening where anti-water tax campaigners staged a demonstration at an event where K-Tech security, who contract with banks and sheriffs to evict people from their homes, were in attendance to provide security at the event, the questions are worth repeating.
Prior to the event K-Tech had taken an injunction through the courts against demonstrators gathering at the venue.
It was reported by people present that there were 3 Gardai in attendance at the demonstration.
Given that there was a judicial order in place and the demonstration was in opposition to the extremely emotive issue of evictions which have affected families with very small children and many elderly people, it would have been reasonable to expect a larger Garda presence to prevent any confrontations between campaigners and K-Tech personnel.
My inference is that Gardai were not present in larger numbers because they were ON DUTY in the service of the public and therefore on the State's clock. Most of the campaigners present have regularly experienced Garda representation of up to 30 Gardai in attendance at water meter installations being conducted by GMC Sierra and other contractors. Again the implication is that Mr Denis O'Brien is paying Gardai as private security to "ACT" as Gardai when in fact they are private individuals on paid private work.
I would like to have an answer from the Govt and the Garda Commissioner on the matter of when Gardai are and are not on official state duty as Gardai Siochana and when they are on non-official non-state OFF-duty work as private security contracted by private individuals or corporate interests.
It is extremely important for the citizens to be made aware of this matter so that their constitutional rights are NOT being unlawfully abused.
It is particularly important in cases where members of the public have been "arrested", taken in Garda vehicles to Garda stations and detained for periods from an hour to overnight or longer.
If Gardai operating under private contract are enforcing powers which they ONLY have as public servants, wearing the uniform to give the impression of being on-duty, using public garda vehicles for this private security work and arresting and detaining members of the public WITHOUT AUTHORITY then this activity HAS TO STOP!
I would be grateful for your assistance in pursuing the matter with the offices of the Taoiseach and the Garda Siochana.
Mr Kenny's continuing arrogance as evidenced by his refusal to answer to anyone, which has now become Fine Gael party policy in so far as they will not appear at nationally televised public debates, is testament to an attitude that it is beneath them to respond to the legitimate inquiries from the public, even on matters of constitutional and human rights.
I trust that you will afford me a little more respect.
I attach here below the original mail
Sincerely
Paul:Madden
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Published: https://www.fairsociety.ie/garda-siochana-work-for-profit-contracts/
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