PADDY COONEY'S ARMY ....... Not since the earliest days of the State has the role of the Irish Army (sic) been under such intense scrutiny . And not since the war years has it had such a forceful political master as Patrick Mark Cooney .
From 'The Phoenix' magazine , 3 February 1984 .
Paddy Cooney , who is now the political boss of the State Army believes that there is "...an unwillingness to obey the laws of the land . Every citizen must realise that the alternative to the democratic concensus is anarchy leading to revolutionary change.." ('1169...' Comment - when that "law" is an ass , and is being enforced by unprincipled careerist assholes , and that "land" is a corrupt , gombeen and morally-challenged poxy State such as this is , then we say - 'bring on the anarchy!' and God speed the 'revolutionary change'! )
Mr. Cooney is also concerned with "... the high level of national (sic- for Cooney and his likes , the word 'national' is used to describe the Free State) malaise manifesting itself in so many unpleasant ways in our society today * . Anything that we could do or the (State) Defence Forces could be involved in doing to cure that would be a high national (sic) priority " , said the man , speaking in Leinster House in June 1983 . ( * '1169...' Comment - that "malaise" is caused by those self-same political leeches that reside in Leinster House : they are the cause of it , not the "cure" for it.)
The (State) Defence Forces "...curing.." the "...national malaise.." ? This sounds more like Generals Pinochet or Zia than 'General' Paddy Cooney ! Such bright ideas from the midland solicitor do not raise too many eyebrows with the Irish public at present : but they must sow seed of thought - and ambition - in the ranks of young (State) Army Officers ....... ('1169...' Comment - this corrupt wee Statelet really deserves to be screwed if it's "young Army Officers" are anyway anxious to 'grow up' to be like their political masters!)
(MORE LATER).
KERRY GARDA CRISIS . There is a crisis among the Gardai in Kerry and it is much deeper than one of morale . For years the Kerry Detective force has enjoyed a free hand in dealing with Section 30 cases in this heavily Republican county .
But the free rein given in these cases has had the inevitably corrupting effect . Now individual Gardai are being fingered for conduct that most of them had taken for normal : the heat is now on . Only the fall-guys remain to be named .
From 'The Phoenix' magazine , February 1985 .
Aside altogether from the Kerry Babies case , there is a mounting catalogue of controversial incidents involving Gardai throughout the Kerry division in the years up to , and including , 1984 : there is evidence of Garda brutality - sometimes quite casual brutality . In addition , there is evidence of abuse of powers , intimidation of citizens , and of malpractice in constructing cases which has already brought the Kerry Gardai into conflict with the State DPP .
The following catalogue of controversial cases is by no means exhaustive ; it is simply representative of the types of cases that have built up to the current crisis in the division - once again , they point to the necessity for a complaints procedure so long promised , and so long delayed , by the present (State) Minister for Justice .
The Emmet Walsh Case -
Emmet Walsh was arrested under Section 30 of the Offences Against The State Act , in April 1982 , and taken to Tralee Garda Station , Kerry , where , he says , he was asked to sign a confession : he had no previous arrests , and is a college graduate , indicating some degree of articulateness . Furthermore , his father is a retired Garda Inspector : in short , Walsh's background was as different from 'the usual' as is possible .
Emmet Walsh alleges that he was beaten by named Detectives and , on his release , had the sense to make straight for the doctor . Complaints were duly made and the incident was investigated by a Garda Superintendent .......
(MORE LATER).
PILLARS OF SOCIETY : EOGHAN HARRIS .......From 'The Phoenix' magazine , October 1985 .
Recently , Eoghan Harris has helped out on the planned production of a film based on 'Up In The Park', the boring reminiscences of Liz Shannon , the boring wife of the former boring United States Ambassador to Ireland . And only last week , the Eoghan and Anne team were giving a polite lecture on politics and literature at the Arts Club in Dublin .
But as Anne Harris emerges ever more to the forefront of the partnership , Eoghan retreats into the provincial Ireland he loves to loathe - like Noel Browne , he is spending more time in his country retreat , privately fulminating against the body politic and the ignorance of those who vote 'Yahoos' into office . Writing plays - even bad plays - is one antidote for this malaise ; the other is to put his own pet theories and his reputation to the real test that they deserve - on the hustings in an election .
[END of 'PILLARS OF SOCIETY : EOGHAN HARRIS']
(Next - 'A HARD 'OUL STATION : LIFE ON THE STREETS' . From 1987.)
