Free State Militia

Wednesday July 30, 2003 19:22

by Anthony Perry

New Yeomanry corps to be formed

Minister for Justice for South Dublin, Michael Mc Dowell has today announced the creation of a Garda reserve and the privatisation of security staff policing Government buildings. At the stroke of a pen, McDowell has effectively tripled the number of policing bodies in the State.

He will hardly be bothered by the blood soaked history of such reserve and auxiliary police forces that have plagued this country in history
A militia was set up here in the 18th century to fill in for the regular army off fighting in France. The milita was in reality used to crush rural and urban protest and was famed in 1798 for it's bravery in fighting half armed civilians and it's cowardice when faced with any real opposition. Yeomanry corps were also raised to supplement the State, paid for and by the rich landowners of the day to protect their property by preemptive strikes (killings, burnings, rapes) against suspected or imagined rebels. The fox hunters of today are directly descended form these units, hence the red coats.

In more recent times, the six counties have been plagued by various armed wings of the state. In Spain, it is a given that anybody placed in Guardia Civil hands by one the other police forces operating there is subject to torture on the basis that he/she must be a hardened terrorist or criminal.

Doubtless McDowell will crow about the benefits of his new idea such as freeing up Gardai to deal with "real" crime and saving (our) money. The reality will be increased state surveillance and a new layer of in-your-face law enforcement. Maybe the money saved will finally enable him to have ID numbers made available for all gardai.