asked the Minister for Justice if he will hold a sworn public inquiry into the incidents of alleged police brutality in Dublin city on Sunday, 24th April, 1966.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Inquiry into Dublin Street Incidents.
43.
The Deputy is aware that the occasion was one where an effort was made to march under the flag of an illegal organisation in defiance of a clear-cut Garda warning that this would not be allowed. The Deputy is presumably aware also—for it has been prominently published in the newspapers—that eight men have already received prison sentences of two months or more for assaults on members of the Garda Síochána on the occasion.
In the face of these incontrovertible facts, for the Deputy to suggest that I should order a sworn inquiry into the actions of the Garda Síochána seems to me to show a complete disregard for his responsibilities as a member of the Oireachtas whose enactments the Garda Síochána are upholding.
Deputies
Hear, hear.
Does the Minister agree that this baton-swinging democracy serves as a showpiece as suggested by the Taoiseach, when we have disturbances like this provoked by the police?
The Deputy and certain other members of his Party appear to want to bring parliamentary democracy in Ireland into a state of anarchy in which anything might happen.
Mr. O'Leary
The Minister and his Department appear to wish to turn democracy in Ireland into something like what Deputy O'Connell has suggested. Our Party are on record as condemning the brutality of the police on this occasion.
Deputy O'Leary and Deputy O'Connell are in precisely the category I mentioned. I exclude other members of the Labour Party.
I do not know if the Minister wants to put me into the same category as Deputy O'Connell and Deputy O'Leary but, if he wants to, he is entitled to do so.
We know about your meeting at Abbey Street corner.
Will he not agree that there is considerable disquiet among the population in relation to alleged incidents of brutality on the part of the police? I do not know whether they are well-founded, but surely the Minister will agree that, in the interests of the police, an inquiry should be held to establish or disprove the allegations?
That is an argument, not a question.
The courts established by this Oireachtas have already made a decision in regard to this matter and four people are already in court.
The Minister should not be allowed to get away with sweeping statements. There is an allegation to the effect that a busman who was minding his own business was struck with a baton——
——and charged.
I was reluctant to put Deputy Cluskey into the same category as Deputy O'Connell and Deputy O'Leary——
Surely we have a right to ask questions in this House without the Minister's alleging sinister motives about the putting down of a question?
I have to know the facts surrounding this and other matters connected with recent subversive activities in the State.
We know the Minister has the special advantage of having Secret Service agents. All we can go on are the allegations which are made to us. Is the Minister aware that an innocent citizen, a busman, minding his own business, was struck by a baton?
I am not so aware and there is no foundation for the allegation.
Does the Minister's statement agree with what he told me personally?
The Minister has ignored that suspicion completely.
Are you in this category, too?