Archive for March, 2008

St. Patricks Finglas Riot

Was listening to a discussion on the way home tonight about the riots in Finglas and wether the police were to blame for taking, essentially, six hours to mobilise. For anyone that hasnt heard about the riot, 200 thugs stole cars and then burned them out all afternoon to celebrate St.Patricks day. One old man was literally dragged from his car and badly beaten before then burned his car out. Then in came the police and reportedly beat anyone that made an easy target, including a man who was holding his child at the time, reportedly.

What struck me was the lack of foresight and the everyones focus on poor us, its beyond our control. Like the thugs are running the country. Granted they seem to have control of one area and intimidate the police there, but the problem with thugism by its nature is there not really that smart.

I work in Finglas on a weekly basis and i can honestly say the vast majority of people are absolutely lovely there. Its really sucks for them that in this current house market collapse (yes i did say collapse – its truely done for the next 10 years) that this one event will shave 10k of the price on every house in that area. Who wants to move to Berry Field now? Which really sucks for the young couples who put there life savings into getting their first house.

But i’m not really one for harping on whats happened, i’m more interested on what can be done going forward. First of all, lets quit this pussy footing around attitude that these things get treated with. The country need to invest some money and resources to send a message that this isnt acceptable behaviour. Spend now, pay the interest save the expenditure over the long run. It sounds crazy but some of these kids really dont know any better and have no idea that theres any consequences to their actions.

Here’s some poor quality footage Jazz Biscuit found:

So what should be done. First of all – make a public announcement that this is not acceptable and any participation in such mob mentallity will be given extra hard consquences. Then make the police accountable too, if for no other reason that to stop the “innocent bystandards” calling foul and creating further anomisity towards the guards – and lets face it there are some ego tugging bully type guards who love giving a good dose of power tripping and the occasional elbow… The riot gear needs to be updated to include cams on each helmet with voice recording. These videos should be used to track down every last one of the offenders and fine them at the pre tax / pre social welfare / pre child allowance – yes do blame the parents, if your not looking after them then why should we pay for you to look after them. Then there should be serious community service orders, lots of hours – real hours. If it takes two hours to paint a graffitied wall and the person on community service takes 4 hours – then it should count as two hours, go be slow in your own time, if nothing else it’ll teach em to be efficient. Like wise if they learn to be good at painting walls and do it in one hour, then that counts as two and they should be given more of the work they are good at so they get through to work / service quicker. Welcome new contributor to society.

BEFORE the riot police go in the should announce with big loud speakers that everyone should disperse and anyone insisting on sticking around will be considered an accessory to the problem. If your there your not innocent. Its a mob mentallity, even the most hardest criminal doesnt pull an old man out of his car and beat the living day lights out of him for no reason – the guy did it because he got caught up in the moment and wanted to impress his peers by being extra hard.

If its a trouble stop, CCTV the trouble out of it. Make tampering with a CCTV camera as criminal as the offense that wasnt prevented because of its lack of functioning. Make a clear message, this isnt ok, you are being watched, you will get done for it. Have lots of mobile cameras guards can put on top of their cars etc. Name and shame if needs be, upload videos on a website and ask the public to annomously suggest who that person is. These people aren’t faceless.

And lastly this bull about guards being afraid / not bothered to go in and deal with riots. Too many thugs get away with violence toward guards. I remember seeing a male shoplifter swinging for a female guard (i and at least three other bystandards were willing to step in to assist her except for the fact that this tough cookie could handle herself better than all of us put together and didnt need it); but i did think at the time if there was a gang i would have hesitated – which made me feel ashamed, but there you go. Anyway there should be a really hard line taken with this kind of thing, if your proved to have assaulted a member of the force entrusted to protect the people – there has to be real consequences. You should have severe clout behind you if someone purposely endangers you when your doing your job. I’m not taking just a sentence, im taking manditory imprisonment untill sentencing, you want SKY TV???? Keep dreaming yourself to sleep, have the sentences shorter but the prision experience more memorable and the community service experience even longer lasting…

Paddy Tax Free – Phone Contest!

In support of the Paddy Tax Campaign i’m offering the winner of this contest one free Phone Costume. This competition is open to anyone who is going to attend one of the Anti 02 Paddy Tax demonstrations and is known in the blogging community. The intention of which would be to give the media a good picture to go with the story.

So on to the competition. The below Costume has a space on the screen where you can print out and insert a slogan. The winner of the competition will be the best slogan as decided by other posters and myself. If you don’t want to get the costumes you can still submit your slogan and if you like nominate a winner / wearer.

Not sure how long we will run the competition for – i will let the organisers of the campaign suggest when they would like the costume for i suppose.

Mobile Phone Costume

Ps. Please note this prize is being offered by me as an individual and does not necessarily reflect the views of The Costume Shop as a business.

Follow me on Twitter

Just a quick post to say i’m now on twitter and you can find me twittering away at http://twitter.com/ronanob