Garda Rep Ass 'there is another side to the story', talking about RTS

national | miscellaneous | news report Tuesday May 14, 2002 17:36 by LD

PJ Stone of the Garda Rep Association interviewed today about recent actions of the Gardai

There was a meeting today of the Garda Rep Ass. where P.J Stone said there was another side to the RTS protest that was not shown to the public and if it had been he said the public would understand that the Gardai acted "responsibly".He was asked what the other story was and in response Stone said there was a "car damaged", "Smoke bomb used", a car with a baby in it was "kicked" and other instances i.e.spray painting buildings.

Mr. Stone of the Garda Rep Ass. although the footage looked "frightening" the guards acted responsibly and when the public recieve the rest of the facts they will agree. He continued to say that in future he would wish gardai themselves to be equipped with video cameras to "defend" themselves from accusations and complaints which come mainly from people with subversive or criminal leanings. The Garda Complaints board said that the work they deal with would not be able to support these claims by Mr.Stone.
Mr.Stone went on to say that the other footage not shown could also lead to civil arrests!
In relation to an Ombudsman the garda rep said that the public are confident that the garda can investigate themselves! Mr.Stone is obviously fighting a losing battle with such weak and exaggerated arguments he understands that very soon the entire force will be held accountable for their disgusting behaviour!