to think these Gardai (Police) are the scum of the earth?

[MadMags]

Hello all,

First time posting. I'm that horrified that I've come out of lurk-land for this.

Background:

Gardai (Police) in Mayo, Ireland arrest 2 women who are protesting at the site of Shell Oil. One of the women had a video camera. While the women were being escorted to the station in Gardai cars, the video camera continued to record in a car which held a Sergeant as well as other policemen.

When the woman got her camera back the next day she reviewed the material and heard the entire conversation from the car, although the screen is mostly back since the camera was in a bag. The gardai, instigated by the sergeant make several references to raping one of the women!

Bascially, along the lines of Sergeant: "give me your name and address or I'll rape you". Garda: "Ah now Jim, she's been living in that crusty camp, you wouldn't know what you'd catch".

And several other comments along the lines of "give me your name or I'll rape you" and "I'll rape you anyway".

There is a video and the conversation in question is at about 13 minutes, 30 seconds in.

vimeo.com/21952231

Sorry this is so long but I am OUTRAGED! This is disgusting. I'm shocked and can't help but feel that I would hate to have to report a vile, sexual assault to these "men". I'm not sure yet what will happen to the gardai in question.

I am surely not BU!

it is not the first time i have encountered this sort of narrow minded attitude to Ireland on mn, but nijinsky takes the biscuit.

DontGoCurly but there are different attitudes in Ireland. Why is their stance on legal abortion so different from the rest of Europe? See this article
www.rcsismj.com/4th-edition/abortion/

particularly the part which describes student attitudes towards abortion:

" A recent study compared the attitudes of medical students from a university in Belfast, to those from Oslo, Norway. In contrast to Northern Ireland, the 1975 abortion law of Norway is more liberal and allows abortion on request during the first 12 weeks? gestation.24,25 The main finding of the study indicated a significant difference in opinion between the two groups, with 78% of students from Oslo and only 14.3% of students from Belfast being in favour of abortion. It was concluded that the difference in attitudes between the student bodies reflects the difference in religious, legal and educational experiences of each subject population."

Now, without wishing to get too hung up on the specific abortion issue, is it not quite likely that young people living in a country with attitudes like that towards a woman's right to choose might also entertain higher than average misogynistic attitudes, and that my personal impression is not too far of the mark?

Is it also possible to discuss misogynism in Ireland without resorting to personal allegations and screams of "its not fair, you're insulting us"? I have my doubts.

Doesn't affect me anyway. I don't have to live there.

beesimo I am not racist - I have a Nigerian flatmate in my town property and he describes me as far more open minded than some of the day to day prejudiced people he unfortunately encounters. I'm just aware, and wary. Don't get carried away by someone having the temerity to criticise something. People are allowed to have differing opinions.

btw I'd never heard that particular remark before about black people, and I do rather wish you hadn't chosen to share it with us.

nijinsky An Irish case would not have been referred to the HOL unless it happened before 1937. In which case it wouldn't have been allowed in Britain either as abortion was also illegal there during this time.
Mayorquimby does indeed no more about Irish law than you, qlthough considering your ignorance of the facts so far that would ot be difficult. In 1992 the Irish Supreme Court established that there is a Constitutional right to travel which was confirmed by referendum a couple of years later. Therefore what happened 20 years ago in the x case could never happen again and a woman or girl of any age could not be prevented from travelling to England to obtain an abortion. She would not have to appealt o any court or explain herself to anyone.
I find your attitude to Irish people deeply offensive and racist. If you were to say these things about black people your posts would be deleted and rightly so.

arf @ the 'some of my best friends are black' defence

I think that actually, if your post was reported it would be deleted as being offensive. So you're wrong there re: you are free to give your opinion. I don't know the type you mean: it sounds like you met some louty drunk students and extrapolated. My first sexual encounter (in Ireland) was with an English lad who apparently had placed a bet about shagging me with all his English and Scottish friends. He pressured me in all sorts of ways and was racist and misogynistic to the core. Does this give me a free pass to talk about the English or Scottish as you have the Irish? What if we substituted 'Irish' for black or Pakistani? What you are saying is just plain bilious ignorance, sorry.

I feel offended to listen to so called policemen that are in a position of trust and power talking about women in that manner. No matter what country they are from.

Nijinsky

My teacher actually used the N word, she was a blinkered bigoted woman and if you can't see that is exactly how you are coming across, I actually feel a bit sorry for you.

nijinsky Different attitudes in Ireland? Then you compare Belfast which is in the UK to Oslo? I think you need to brush up on your Geography pet.

Belfast is in the UK !

As for 'I don't have to live there' -that's good news for Ireland. Ireland is a lovely place to live, I feel sorry for you and your ignorance!

belfast is in the uk, not Ireland. Not that educated really....

Can't say that some of the people on here have done anything to help me revise my opinion...

Seem more interested in cat calling and jeering that discussing the issue.

As I say, not my problem. I don't have to live there.

This is like shooting fish in a barrell !

Nijinsky

"it was pretty much recognised that they would treat you quite badly and have some bad attitudes that weren't the norm amongst the natives (obviously exceptions to the rule). Every single one I ever met was either borderline alcoholic, suffered from some sort of psychological problem (usually depression or stress) or was generally a bit of a nutter. They only looked for one night stands, and I was not the only one of my female friends to be pressurised for anal sex during one such encounter, and thereafter to be pursused in the most blatant way possible you wouldn't normally associate with educated people"

This is possible one of the worst things I have ever read. It is very offensive, and very incorrect. I am Irish, my husband is Irish. He has never, ever, ever treated me in this way. He is neither an alcoholic or a nutter. I have three brothers who, as far as I am aware, would never treat a woman like that. Any normal man wouldn't. I really think you need to have a hard look at yourself and question why you would post something so, well WRONG. Oh and by the way, having a black friend does not mean that you are not a racist.

I really see this thread going dramatically downhill so I am orf!

maryz but I'm not talking about black people. I have many black friends, particularly in athletics and amongst Olay's friends. I don't even notice whether they're black or not. They're just my friends. But if they had misogynistic, old fashioned attitudes and they all came from the same place, they'd be stereotyped as that in people's minds. Being white is no excuse for misogynism.

Why don't you do something about the attitudes your police have and the people who think its a joke, rather than flaming the people who point it out?

Me, too. I'm actually cringing! Nijinsky=Pwned.

Oh Nijinsky, I know! Those Irish just like to have their own opinions and state them even when they are different to yours! I reckon they are jealous of your insight and superior education. Not sure why the rest of Mumsnet involves similar postings, have you not told the non-Irish that they might be mistaken for Paddies if they challenge your views?!

Sorry, I'm out of here. I don't do the fishwives ganging up on someone thing, glad its provided you with some excitment and hope you get your police sorted out.

Hey, at least you can leave with your head held high, sure of the truth of your balanced views!

Fishwives? Where?

All I can see is polite reasoned argument that you can't disagree with? I'm not suprised you are embarassed !