The most important policing development in the history of the State came in June, with Justice Frederick Morris’s second report on the Donegal Garda scandal revealing official tolerance at the highest policing and political levels of endemic corruption and widespread criminality.
No member of the force outside Donegal and no politician has borne any consequence. Meanwhile, Justice Minister McDowell’s importation of ASBOs from New Labour promises to criminalise youngsters without need of criminal proceedings. Bank robbers continued to go unpunished all year; just as little progress was recorded in apprehending robbers of banks. Political and media establishments maintained support for irrational drugs laws as they generated gangland killings. Ex-well-known Fine Gael personality Michael Noonan called for a law against hoodies to exclude marauding monks from Dunne’s Stores. On December 5th, the National Insurance and Industrial Injuries (Republic of Ireland) Order came into effect at Westminster, completing reciprocal arrangements for collaring cross-border social security fraudsters.
Days earlier, a bill was introduced allowing fugitives from (politically motivated) mass murder to go free. A Mayo gunman who shot a fleeing wounded victim in the back was hailed as a hero. Unauthorised Encampments (Northern Ireland) Order 2005 was introduced: Stormont Minister of State David Hanson explained that the measures were needed to deter Travellers from the Republic camping in the North. John Gilligan continues his 20-year sentence following a Supreme Court decision that the evidence of three proven crooks and liars had been enough to convict him on charges of supplying a harmless substance, cannabis: he’d been cleared in 1996 of the murder of Veronica Guerin. Number of national newspaper commentators denouncing the perversity of this decision: none.
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Olunkunle's day
Although half a decade late, it seems that 2005 was the year when Ireland finally dragged itself into the 21st century. After much pain and soul-searching, we are finally coming to terms with – and perhaps even growing enthusiastic about – a multicultural society.
Although the process has been sometimes difficult, there have also been stories of optimism and hope.
Early in the year, the pupils of Palmerstown Community College took an important and brave stance in defence of their much-loved classmate, the Nigerian-born Olukunle Elukanlo.
Olukunle was deported in March, along with 34 other Nigerians on a specially chartered flight. The students reacted quickly, launching a campaign to have him returned.
Surprisingly, they succeeded. Elukanlo arrived back in Dublin airport to be met by supporters, chanting and waving flags.
In total, some 300 asylum seekers were deported in 2005. However, this figure would be much higher were it not for such passionate campaigners.
Michael McDowell, Minister for Justice, is the man responsible for these deportations. In June, he stated outrageously that many applications from asylum seekers were “cock and bull stories”.
So how will Ireland fare with multiculturalism in 2006? The public support for Elukanlo and the Turkish workers who claimed to be exploited by the Gama construction company shows there is hope.
Ireland, it is clear, does not have to follow the path of France, where state racism and exclusion led to the riots that engulfed the suburbs of Paris. Rather than fearing asylum seekers, we should embrace all they have to offer.