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SPECIAL GARDA OPERATIONS targeting gangs and violent criminals in some parts of the capital have had their overtime stopped in a bid to save money for the papal visit later this summer, TheJournal.ie has learned.
In the last 48 hours, Garda units based in west Dublin have been told that local crime operations cannot be done while on overtime. Gardaí must now carry out these activities as part of their normal tours of duty.
These activities include surveillance operations targeting criminals, as well as community outreach programmes designed to reduce anti-social behaviour in certain areas.
Many of these operations take place during overtime hours as it is often the case that gardaí do not have enough time to carry out all of their core duties, as well as other specialised tasks, in their normal working day.
Well-placed sources said that the growing bill for the papal visit is one of the main reasons the overtime budget has been drastically curtailed. So far this year, the garda budget has gone over its estimates by €12 million.
Senior gardaí have been ordered to brief their members about the changes and to reject all requests for overtime until they are informed otherwise.
There is a separate budget for Operation Hybrid – a specialised garda task force targeting the workings of the Kinahan crime gang. These patrols will continue but, according to a circular sent to senior gardaí, “it is essential that this budget is not exceeded in any way”.
There will still be provisions for overtime under Operation Thor which targets burglary gangs operating nationwide.
Sources have explained that certain special operations were the only thing keeping a lid on the activities of violent groups in the west Dublin area.
Prior to their introduction, serious public order incidents were the norm and gardaí were routinely injured in rammings and assaults. It is feared that the same communities will now left exposed to criminal gangs again.
The Phoenix Park is based in the Dublin Metropolitan Region West. It is hoped that any savings made in the garda region in the coming months will offset the high cost of protecting the pope and spectators at the event.
The visit
Pope Francis is expected to arrive into Ireland on August 24. He is scheduled to say Mass at the Phoenix Park a day later. He is attending the World Meeting of Families which is being held in Dublin between 21 and 25 August. The pontiff is also expected to visit Knock in Co Mayo.
Hundreds of uniformed members will be deployed around the Phoenix Park – many to assist public order units ,with others helping stewards to keep the event safe and to avoid any crushes or bottlenecks.
However, there will also be a large number of specialist units around the park on the day. These will include armed gardaí, bomb sniffer dogs as well as snipers. Members of the Emergency Response Unit will also carry out their own security detail for the Pope while he is in Ireland. Members of the Defence Forces will also be carrying out security details.
The Vatican will also bring its own security team.
An Garda Síochána is once again dealing with a serious cash flow problem and units across the country and local garda management have been ordered to cut back on non-essential policing operations in the coming months.
We reported earlier this month that overtime is to be capped across the country.
A new directive released to gardaí stated that overtime is to be strictly restricted to budget in a bid to stem costs.
The first five months of 2018 saw such work run over-budget in the force by nearly €12 million.
“Each district, division, and region must take measures to ensure that no overtime is approved which will exceed the relevant budgetary allocation in that roster,” a memo from the Garda executive states.
Gardaí refused to be drawn on claims the restrictions were being imposed to free up money to police events later in the year.
However, a spokesman said gardaí are satisfied with current resourcing levels.
A statement read: “Local Garda Management closely monitors the allocation of Garda personnel in the context of crime trends, policing needs and other operational strategies in place on a District, Divisional and Regional level, to ensure optimum use is made of Garda resources, and the best possible Garda service is provided to the public.
“Senior Garda Management is satisfied that a comprehensive policing service continues to be delivered and that current structures in place meet the requirement to deliver an effective and efficient policing service to the community. Garda management is provided with an annual budget and must work within that budget. The budget is kept under constant review by local and senior Garda Management. An Garda Síochána will maintain the current level of service provided to our communities.”
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If this is true it’s a disgrace
@bmul:
These garda cutbacks were mentioned months ago. Somebody’s just stirring up anti Catholic sentiment with this odious slant on government failure.
@Jack McGready: well I don’t want to Pay towards his visit .
@Steve1234: please show where I made that statement
@bmul:
‘I don’t want to pay towards his visit’
My advice then:
Suck it up and stop whingeing.
@Jack McGready: Who should pay for abortions?
@Steve1234: was there a referendum on the pope’s visit that clearly established it as the will of the majority?
@Steve1234:
Please
I’m having a spiritual discussion here.
@Jack McGready: your getting confused I know I said I don’t want to pay for the popes visit that’s not the question I asked .
@Jack McGready: Sorry was meant to reply to bmul
@Dave O Keeffe: Nope but almost 80% described themselves as Catholic in the last census.
@Jack McGready: I made a one line statement hardly whingeing when compared to you since Saturday .
@Dave O Keeffe:
78.3% of the population identified as Catholic on the last census Dave.
Believe me, you don’t want that referendum. Just find something else to do for the duration of the Pope’s visit and avoid a perpetual state of triggerment.
Alternatively:
BRING IT ON BABY.
@Steve1234:
LOL! Dave wants a referendum on the Pope’s visit to a Catholic country?
Don’t think he’s thought that one through.
@bmul: Who should pay for abortions?
@Jack McGready: They didn’t identify as Catholic on the census, they ticked a box espousing to which religion they adhere to. Catholicism in Ireland is on the way out, thankfully.
@Steve1234: ‘Who should pay for abortions?’
Hi Steve, in answer to your question.
According to the UN & World Health Organisation, restricting access to safe healthcare including abortion is in itself a violation of a woman’s human rights.
As abortion is deemed to be healthcare, then this procedure should be made available on the Public Healthcare System & also should be covered under Private Healthcare Insurance, such as VHI, Aviva, Laya, etc, etc.
Ergo, access to safe abortion services on the Public Healthcare System should be financed through General Taxation, just like every other medical procedure currently available on the Public Healthcare System.
In short, you, I & everyone else on our fair Isle should pay for safe abortion services.
@Jack McGready and Steve: would you care to point out where I stated my preference? I was just pointing out that the comparison is a bit silly as one has a very clearly established mandate and the other has a questionable number. In fact didn’t 66% of the population go against the church on the issue of abortion?
@Jack McGready: Spiritual discussion. Do you actually think that’s what you’re having.
@Steve1234: That’s because you can’t leave. It’s literally an organisation that is forcing us to remain members.
@bmul:
I don’t want my taxes to go towards a lot of things either, but tough, that’s life.
@Steve1234: The Church. From the funds they made selling babies and doing medical experiments.
@Jack McGready: 78% catholic, yeah? Are there 78% of the population in churches on a Sunday? No. Did 78% vote the way the RCC told them to last week? No.
Those are the real stats rather than which box people ticked on a multiple choice form.
@bmul: don’t worry. Surely God will keep the under-policed areas safe.
@bmul: I don’t like ed sheeran, the rolling stones, the gaa, soccer, horse racing, the st paddy’s day parade, garth brooks, rugby, presidents , elections and referendums, the electric picnic, in fact large crowds and visitng dignitaries make me nervous. …why should I have to pay for security at these and hundreds of other large gatherings ?
@Steve1234: you with your taxes
@Jack McGready: And out of that percentage, 0.3% believe in the horse manure that’s called a deity and the same 0.3% go to mass.
@Pseud O’Nym: 74% coming out of the polls declared themselves as Catholic. They delivered a Yes vote to the nation. You should thank them.
@Steve1234: You Steve, you should pay for all the abortions
@Jerriko17: The GAA, IRFU, FAI and concert promoters pay for the policing operation for their events. The RCC should do the same.
@An bhearna: did the Queen, Mandela and Obama pay for theirs. We’re talking about heads of state here not Mick Jagger.
@Steve1234: I think it’s time you and your ilk get the boat, your time is over
@An bhearna: And the church is no different. …it will contribute. .. That’s the point. …it should be treated the same as any other big event or visit.
@bmul: The Vatican should fund this visit
@Jack McGready: how in this day and age can anyone be pro catholic?
@Steve1234: stupid question . where is peoples choice in the pope visiting Ireland. No one asked me if i wanted him to visit and pay for his security. I dont care if he visits or not its his Choice.
@Dave O Keeffe: Nice one Dave. That put Steve back in his box.
@Jack McGready: This ‘Catholic’ country voted overwhelming in favour of repealing the 8th amendment. Abortion is something the RCC condemns. I think that speaks louder than a census form.
@Jack McGready: it’s an absolute disgrace. Preventing good policing to help a criminal organization
@Jerriko17: You don’t, the majority of the bill for these events are picked up by the event organisers and can usually be a nice bonus pay gig for the Gardaí. Given how poorly they are being treated on pay these gigs are much needed as opposed to covering this visit which is going to shortchange the Gardaí and communities desperately in need of Gardaí services. Hence the church/catholics of Ireland should pay for the visit. Separate church and state.
@Clare McLaughlin: So Ed Sherrin the Stones GAA matches the queen’s visit didn’t impinge on Garda resources…give me a break ! The state should provide security for all theses events with a contribution from the organisers…that’s the way things are..the Pope’s visit is no different. If we’re going to start pandering to lobby groups on every event and visit we’ll have no one visiting us because there will always be objectors .
Is the pope really that dangerous?
@Larry Doyle: yep, who knew?
@Larry Doyle: article is just trying to get people worked up and cause anger and bigotry as always towards people of difference.
British Queen had security paid for my state
American presidents had security paid for by state.
Chinese and other state visits covered by the state
The same numptys who give out about st Patrick’s day parades and government ministers going around the world are giving out again and miss the point of the value in tourism and other benefits from a major visit like this covered by world media.
@Larry Doyle: Dangerous views certainly. Let’s hope he doesn’t mock Irish survivors of child abuse like he did in Chile recently when he started roaring aggressively at them on camera calling them liars. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jan/19/pope-francis-victims-church-sexual-abuse-slander-chile
@Greg Kelly: spot on
The pope can well afford to pay the gardai.
@Francis Glynn:
So can the government but don’t let that deter you from having a pop at the Pope.
@Jack McGready: we’re running a 900 million annual deficit. So no, we can’t afford it. The money could be better spent elsewhere.
@EDun:
Maybe the government could force large corporations like Apple to pay their fair share of tax then and the country would be sorted out in no time.
Blaming the Pope for our self imposed economic woes is ridiculous.
@Francis Glynn: I’m pretty sure I’d be told to do one if I tried to hire Gardai and take them off the beat somewhere else..
@Jack McGready: you really aren’t good at economic are you?
@EDun:
Well it seems we can afford it….
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/budget-2017-state-to-increase-overseas-aid-spending-to-651m-1.2825765
@Jack McGready: The government could force large cults like the RCC Ltd to pay tax.
@Jack McGready: have you ever visited the Vatican the wealth and splendour is unbelievable, they are a very wealthy organisation . There is something wrong about It, the church should pay for any costs for his visit.
@Francis Glynn:
So can American Presidents.
@Aine O Connor: But we get trade from American presidents. What do we get from the pope?
@Audrey: and when the disgusting wealth of the Vatican is brought forward, Catholics suffer from a serious lack of answers… respect to the priests and missionaries helping overseas and here…this Pope business and his lot…joke
@Francis Glynn: so can ed sheeran, the stones, the gaa., Trump….etc….. etc. Cop on !
@Bearded Grump: you get very little from the Pope but the Catholic church here runs and owns many of the schools and charities in this state. Personally I think they should not and they should give up the majority of these things i.e. the state should run them. However that would cost the state money it does not want to provide and in general when a church is not providing one of these services it is not the state that provides it but some other charity because just in case you haven’t noticed we are a neo-liberal country that like paying the private sector to deliver state services in general.
@Audrey:
It’s called hospitality.
The Vatican is also a state, like any other state, they have wealth. If the King or Prince of Saudi(super wealthy), was due to visit, or any other state leader, would you have them pay their way too?
It has already been mentioned but why does the taxpayer have to foot the cost of this papal visit. It should be limited to the same cost as a regular state visit and anything else above that should be covered by the Vatican, it’s not like they are short of a few quid. Is there any ROI for the visit that you might get with a normal state visit that has the potential for trade deals. Finally have they released figures for the full cost to the state and if so how can it be justified considering the many crises we currently face.
@Eddie O’Neill:
The benefits to the economy of this visit are astronomical, incalculable, inestimable.
Tourism Ireland will be beside themselves. And that’s just money.
What about the spiritual benefits?
Transcendent is the only way to describe it.
Thanks for chipping in. Sit back now and watch the benefits accrue.
@Eddie O’Neill: While agree with you, as the Pope is indeed the head of a recognised state (The Vatican folks), it just so happens that this Head of State is umpteen times more important than, per say, the President of Vietnam – what’s his name… anyone? … Anyone? Hence the increase in soending required. What irks me us why there isn’t enough in the coffers to cover EVERY internatinal state visit. It’s as if our Government wants to blame the Catholic Church for their incompetency when it comes to managing the Foreign Affairs accounts.
@Martin Flood: why did you have to drag Tran Dai Quang into this. It has nothing to do with him.
@Jack McGready: hahahaha! You have to laugh….
@Jack McGready: seriously. I hope my sarcasm filters having an off day
@Jack McGready: spiritual benefits? Please elaborate? The Ecumenical Congress called, Jack. Your Catholic Time Machine dropped you in the wrong century. Again.
Another father Ted episode….
So from what I’ve heard, correct me if I’m misinformed but apparently it costs €38 to register interest in seeing the pope, 50 ppl from each parish will be chosen and those who aren’t chosen will just lose their €38. Surely this money should be used to pay for his visit or where are these registration fees going?
@RMcG: coke and hookers
@Stephen Devlin: Click Hate Bait. Again Yawn….
@RMcG: Unless all the people interested are just going to turn up anyway, and that’s why they need to take Gardaí off their duties for crowd control?
Criminals should go to confession, problem sorted.
Now here we go again , Criminals to be given a free run to unsure that money is available to police the Papal visit. Is the Catholic Hierarchy still running this State? Now time to get our priorities right here, fight Crime or do a PR job for TV. Where do we stand ?
The church should pay.
First of all fire whoever set the budget as obviously they have no idea if they are over budget that much already. And second, nothing like giving criminals a heads up
@pearse: are you talking about the pope, or the church as a whole?
Well they’re the organised crime unit aren’t they? Makes sense that they’d keep an eye on the Godfather while he’s here. Should also bring him in for questioning.
Looking forward to the Atheist Ireland Meltdown.
Should be entertaining.
@Jack McGready: Molten metal dripping off your dried-banana-skin-fueled offerings, Jack. But keep them going. You cannot believe the favours people like you have bestowed on people like me. Thanks buddy. Truly sterling work. I don’t mind his coming. But really, why do we have to pay anything for him?
So people might lose their lives so we can save money to facilitate the visit of the leader of a cult?
Tax the RCC Ltd and all other cults.
Irish soldiers were summoned to help Gardai to search the field where the body of young man Cameron Reilly was found so where are the Gardai when It was supposed it was their jobs to search etc
@Thosj Carroll: the defence forces regularly aid the civil power, what are you moaning about.
@Thosj Carroll: stupid comment
@Thosj Carroll: Saying that crime only/mostly happens in West Dublin is damaging to that area.
Are the top commissioners on performance bonuses Or incentives? The Gardai on the beat are wasting their time showing up for work when the ethos is all about the money. Taxpayers would prefer to have their safety out first not the popes.
Would all the ultra Catholic amadáin and óinsigh on here just rent a field and meet him yourselves. I’m sure the Healy-Raes will cut ye a good deal on the rent of said field. We should not be paying a penny. Let the Catholic Church first pay their abuse bills.
@Ian Phillip Creaner: 78% of the nation are Catholic. Should we not have abortion because 66% of us voted for it? Think about it.
@El Diego: Baptised Catholics, they don’t follow the religion! Your churches are crumbling from crashing attendances!
@El Diego: According to certain bishops and priest, those that voted Yes are not catholics. So work that out.
@Niall O’Neill: My churches? Ha I’m agnostic. If people don’t consider themselves Catholic why state that they are. Almost 80% of this country is Catholic so presumably have no problem with the Pope’s visit as much as that might seem to annoy the small bigoted cohort of angry atheists.
@Weldoninhio: I believe the Catholic hierarchy stated that they had sinned and must go to confession. But sure everyone sins. May he who is without sin cast the first stone and all of that.
For a minute there I thought it might be April 1st…if this is the case it’s appalling…if can think of better ways to spend 20 million
Makes you wonder about God’s protection. With all the yes voters and criminals heading to confession..surely garda supervision will be need to control the the crowds. Sweet Jesus (pardon the pun) what a nation of fools we are.
The journal need to Fact Check their own story. This is completely made up and just another attempt at this so called news agency to stir up advertising by appealing to usual anti-church people who will click and share the story all day long.
And even if it were true then people didn’t complain much when Obama visited Ireland and we had to pay for much of his security. He has caused a lot more damage in the world and is responsible for a lot more death than most visitors to this country.
It appears the gardai and hence the gov can’t afford the popes visit, but they can afford 110 billion for their 2040 plan, and 5 million for Leo’s strategic comms unit, and 180 million for gov advertising and promotion, and plenty money for themselves and their own, over valued, political pensions and expenses!
They talking about wisely spending the state finances. This is not that!
We might not be coming back next time. They say Pope Francis does a good long mass. Three hours he does, on a good night. That’s value for money!
I think it’s time our politicians help us in our “Quiet Revolution”!
I give up.
Why can’t the church be billed for this. Don’t other private events sometimes pay for the extra policing they require. I always assumed that was the case and gigs and such. And if they don’t want to pay then they shouldn’t be allowed take over and possibly damage a beautiful public park.
@Mark Gearey: did Queen Elizabeth pay for her visit, Mandela, Obama….? This visit will generate millions for the economy and worldwide coverage that will benefit our tourism industry in the coming years. Have the angry atheists nothing better to be moaning about? Clearly the garda budget is being mismanaged in the first place, that’s the real problem.
@Mark Gearey: who says they are not being billed ? They’ll be treated the same as any other big event. Or maybe you know of some secret power they have over the state….it’s 2018 not 1938.
Who wants to see the pope any way? Isnt one of his top lads in court for smuggling kids into the Vatican
As if the pope’s visit is not gonna generate huge amounts of money for the economy..but we can’t police it without falling behind on other policing .this is bullsxxt . and our boys and girls in Leinster HSE should explain why both can’t be done to the people of Ireland
@the Goose: you’d be surprised how many people are visiting here from overseas because of this visit….all spending $€£…great for tourism
As someone who has several family members in the Gardai who are working hard and putting their lives in danger to protect the public I can assure you that this article is FAKE NEWS and every time the Journal publishes this type of rubbish the usual suspects fall for it hook line and sinker .
Is it also a possibility it’s “fake news” to tease those in the underworld out of their burrows
Cut overtime for crime to honour ireland’s history of abuse and paedophilia.
What a backwards little hole we live in.
@Trevor Hayden:
I think you mistake Christianity with Islam, Christianity doesn’t promote Pedophilia through it’s doctrine, as for Islam, just look into the life of Mo.
Now the Pedos and Sadists that abused children in this country over the decades, well they’re not true Christians now are they, No true Christian would dare commit such sick acts, IMO these degenerate Human beings should be locked up and the keys thrown away.
@Native: Christianity, Islam, call it whatever you like, priests and nuns abused children and they are representatives of the Vatican
@Trevor Hayden:
They should face the consequences and pay reparations etc, the Sadists and Pedos should be punished both by the Vatican and the State, but Christian doctrine does not promote their actions and crimes in any way, their actions undermined Christianity, you wouldn’t know as you’re not a Christian.
@Native: So why should we welcome the leader of the Vatican to Ireland?
Until such time as the paedophile and redress is rectified, any representative of the Vatican should not be welcomed.
@Trevor Hayden: sports coaches, teachers, TV personalties….abused kids too. Should we shut down all of these areas too?
@El Diego: At least these have been jailed.
In comparison to the amount of clergy that have served time, its miniscule.
@Trevor Hayden: any stats to back that up? Regardless, you haven’t answered my question.
@Native: “Christianity doesn’t promote Pedophilia through it’s doctrine” – it does through its actions though. Monkey see, monkey do.
@Trevor Hayden: check the stats….most abuse is committed by family members and close associates of the family…..a small minority is clerical. Very little of the crime you’re so concerned about is anything to do with the Pope or the church. We’re supposed to be a progressive society. .1st out of the blocks for marriage equality etc. Why can’t we ditch the begrudgery, live and let live and let those who want to welcome the Pope do so.
@El Diego: and jerlcho, is protection of the public not first and foremost.
And no sports clubs and facilities should not be closed, but the perpetrators should be jailed.
The church or Vatican should not be prioritized over the publics safety.
@Trevor Hayden: are you for real ? The Pope or Vatican aren’t getting this money ! It is for public safety !! 10s of thousndads of Irish TAXPAYING citizens descending on Phoenix Park are entitled to it as anyone else.
@Jerriko17: I never stated they were getting any money but the crime stats can go through the roof once the overtime hours are there for the papal visit?
WOW, every day of the year is April fools day in Ireland, and we tolerate it.
@Trevor Hayden: is your birthday 1st of April ? Didn’t know that crime stats went through the roof when the Queen visited ? Or Clinton? Or the All Ireland …etc etc.
@Jerriko17: It would really help if you read the article.
In the run up to the visit, overtime will be limited so hours can be used for the visit.
About 6 weeks until the visit so no overtime until then.
The queen, Clinton, what are you on about Jerriko?
@Trevor Hayden: So this is the 1st time overtime has been cut because of budgets ? The problem is the budget, 6not the visit ! Every event…the queen & Clinton visit and all the hundreds of others cost extra in security….this is no different ! What do you want to do , ban all foreign dignitaries from visiting ? Let’s ban MichaelD from promoting our country abroad too ! I want to live in an open tolerant society not a closed narrow minded one.
@Jerriko17: Now your talking sense, scrap the presidency, a mere figurehead, similar to the royal family, maybe then we will not be discussing budgetary problems for policing, or other events.
@Trevor Hayden: Haha….me agreeing with you.. .you nearly had me there !! And replace it with what ? Leo or MaryLou or Micheál Martin or whoever the Taoiseach is has enough to be doing here. Not many countries without a head of state & our presidents esp the female ones and MichaelD have served us well.
Agree with you re royal families. …totally outdated….at least our president is elected.
@Jerriko17: Elected to waste taxpayer money and live in a 95 room mansion, we unfortunately voted to keep the Seanad, I wonder if a vote on the retention of the presidency would be as successful?
The really disappointing part about this is that they want him to visit the inner city to help with the gang feud. Perhaps spending the money in the correct place would be a better use of funds.
West Dublin is the last place to be making cuts. I live there. You never see a guard on the beat. Seldom a squad car. Gangs of marauding young fellas looking for trouble. Burglaries. Come on ffs
The journal prints a lot of crap now .the overtime situation with the gardai .has been going on for years .
@John Cronin: yeah but it’s a good chance to get a kick in at the RCC. Atheist Ireland and the socialists are on a roll following the party at the castle last weekend. Time to start stoking the fires for the next crusade.
@El Diego: sprinkle some holy water on them then?
@Niall O’Neill: I’m agnostic Niall. You should probably check these things before you start coming out with bigoted comments about the church and it’s followers.
Let the catholic church pay for his visit if they want him here they have plenty of money. I dont see why the taxpayer should pay .
So if we can’t afford to build local authority housing where did we find the money for this pointless bunfight?
Ireland;where EVERY day is April fools day
Why are we paying this cost , charge the church f f s
Silly me, I thought the cult would pay for their own security!
I had assumed that when the Pope was writing the cheque for the 1.2 billion they owe us, he’d add a few quid for security. And sure maybe he will!
Good to know
Although I would not attend myself, I do see how a popes visit would be important to Irish Catholics. I would even donate myself because its only right that I respect those with different views.
Even after all the suffering that the church and state has inflicted for almost 10 generations we must rise above our bitterness. Its only a few days visit, that would cost less in security if violence at demonstrations could be avoided.
We are a open, kind and cultured nation. who seek justice for even the poorest in our society. But our past were church and state colluded to remove women’s constitutional rights, sell their babies and turn them into slaves due to there sins against the catholic church cannot be rewritten. Our own people are as much to blame as the current pope.
Pope Francis cannot even admit that gay priests exist and live in his Vatican city. They church has two many rotten layers for most people to even care anymore.
We must move on and build a better Ireland where peoples faith is private and state funds benefits everyone.
Garda overtime is a disgrace, instead of cutting overtime for front line staff. overtime wasted by Gardaí standing around courthouses could be reduced but most garda rely on overtime to keep a family above the bread line.
Thought a Waterford Whispers writer was helping out at the Journal when I read that headline
I do not want my taxes to pay for this visit
“well placed sources”! hah. I know a few of them…curtain shakers!
That will not stop us wearing our #Pope Francis Wilson tee shirts…
.and that’s not mabbee!!!!!
So residents of west Dublin will suffer the consequences of inadequate Garda presence in order for the head of the Catholic Church to visit? Oh, Ireland. Who on earth makes these decisions?
@Natalie May: Sorry to inform you. …the residents of Dublin west are already suffering the lack of a Garda presence. Get a grip…the problem is the Garda budget not the Pope’s visit. The church through the VdeP etc. are doing unsung trojan work in Dublin west.
& we elect governments to make these decisions. I wonder were you on here whinging about the Queens visit ?
Thisis just popeulist nonsense.
like flies to sh*t!
@Missyb211: are you talking about this article attracting all the fundamentalist anti religion keyboard warriors ?
have your say