The riots could have been averted

How does Michael McDowell get away with it? There has been plenty of speculation and analysis in the media regarding the causes of the riots that engulfed the centre of Dublin on the day of the Love Ulster march. Much of it has been well-meaning, and some of it to the point. Far too infrequently, however, has the blame for the fiasco been laid where it belongs.

We have, of course, heard from the Gardai, the Department of Justice and the City Manager’s office. These agencies of the State have in common that they are all unwilling to take responsibility for the mayhem that took place.
It won’t wash. The fact is that the dangers implicit in allowing the Love Ulster march down O’Connell Street were raised in the Dail, in advance, by the Labour spokesman on Justice, Joe Costello. He specifically proposed that the route for the march should be changed. He brought the protests that were being planned to the attention of the Minister, as well as the fact that O’Connell Street was effectively a building site – and he pointed out that this made the situation especially treacherous. Instead of taking these warnings seriously, the Minister ignored them.
Why?
People in the entertainment business will have watched the grim events unfold with a more profound sense of disbelief than most. They are only too well aware of the intense interest the Gardai take in rock gigs. They are used to having far greater numbers of Gardai foisted on them than they believe are needed to police events. For the most part, over the years, gigs in Ireland have been trouble-free zones. But if they say they need 50 men, there is every likelihood that Garda management will insist on 100.
They have to cover the cost of having the Gardai there. They also have to provide separate toilets and other facilities, as well as food, tea and other necessities, so that nothing is left to chance. On occasion, the detail into which the Garda authorities go, in insisting on having all the bases covered would be enough to drive a sober man to drink. But promoters and event organisers live with a regime, in which they end up being hit for very large amounts of money to cover the bill for having Gardai present because they really have no choice. You have to play ball, it’s as simple as that.
If a concert promoter had been putting the ‘pageant’ together that led to the riot, and the authorities were aware that the political wings of prominent subversive groups were intent on fomenting disorder in response, for how many gardai would they have been required to pay, by Garda bosses? Probably at least double the number that were deployed on the day, maybe more. But this was a different sort of gig. The State was going to have to cover the cost. Either the people charged with managing the security of the State failed miserably to predict the dangers or corners were cut. Or both.
In any event, insufficient gardai were present in O’Connell Street on the day. What’s more, the building site was not effectively secured by Dublin Corporation or by the Gardai. When the rioting began, the Gardai who were on duty seemed to be uncertain how to respond. Rather than being able to control the rioters, they effectively pushed them into an unimpeded movement south. No reinforcements were available to stem the flow.
The entire city centre was caught up in the riots, with large numbers retreating indoors in fear.
No one should criticise individual gardai for what took place. They did their best in horribly difficult circumstances. This was a management failure – and if no one else is willing to accept a share of the blame for it, then clearly the Minister must. Nor can he or the Gardai credibly blame Dublin Corporation: the Gardai are responsible for security. It is their job to oversee any arrangements made by the Corporation or the builders. They are the experts. Or they are supposed to be.
It is striking just how feeble the opposition’s response to all of this has been. Both Jim O’Keeffe for Fine Gael and the leader of the Labour Party, Pat Rabbitte, have been so intent on trying to smear republicans and republicanism that they have effectively let Michael McDowell off the hook. The position adopted by Pat Rabbitte is particularly incomprehensible. The Minister was forewarned by the Labour spokesman. He ignored these warnings. Ordinary citizens of the city were placed in grievous danger as a result. Why is Pat Rabbitte not insisting that the Minister should be held accountable?
The option was there to re-route the march – and given the condition of O’Connell Street that would have been the correct call. But once the decision had been made not to wound the delicate sensibilities of the Loyalist marchers: (a) a proper plan should have been put into effect to secure the building site; and (b) a far greater number of Gardai should have been deployed, and a riot control plan set out in detail, to ensure that if hostilities did ensue, the level of danger and damage would be minimised.
None of this is to exonerate those who engaged in what was wanton and stupid thuggery on the streets of Dublin. But as the Minister who facilitated it, Michael McDowell has a lot to answer for.