Barry Clifford: Martin Callinan- A Sheep In Sheep's Clothing

When you look at the now former Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan's face, it is hard not to compare it to being permanently non-plussed. A ‘yes’ man in every way was the only reason he ever got his appointment and a “disgusting” man in relation to how he treated whistleblowers while using that same word to describe them. In the end Martin Callinan only proved one thing: that he was indeed a sheep in sheep's clothing

And go he has gone from a force that he thought independent, mercenary and beyond strong criticism and rebuke. Even his parting words cannot hide this idiots true state of mind for not only does he believe his own words, many Gardai believe them too, for this is what Callinan said on the way out the exit door: “I would like to thank the members of an Garda Siochana who I worked with during my time as Commissioner for their support and willingness to adapt for the benefit of the citizens of the State. “

So Martin Callinan thanks them for doing what they had sworn to do when they joined the force in the first place except that was not even remotely true. The "benefit of the citizens of the State" was the last thing on their mind unless you were their relation or friend or drinking chum. They have not adapted to change except run down without mercy and good cop that tried to expose their elitism and Opus Dei tactics. The Gestapo and the former KGB would be proud of the latest revelations that nipped at the heel of this clown as he slithered into his getaway car and fat pension after he got past the exit door; it was only then that we learned that for over thirty years the police were taping the phone calls between Lawyer and client even before the were charged with any crimes in almost every police station in the land.

This makes the penalty points fiasco seem like a sleep walk in the park, for, as I had predicted, before this proverbial shit hit the fan that there was more to come. I had come to the conclusion then, that because of the heavy handedness by the police tactics to squash the whistleblowers over the penalty points issue, that there had to be something more rotten being covered up. After today, this may be a great understatement no matter what comes down the road.  

What all of this has proved and continues to prove is that the police of this land have been aloud to run rough shod over peoples rights and of due process. This is the only the end of the beginning of trying to regain, at least the fundamentals of the rights of the citizen, under the umbrella or the perception that there is equal justice for all.

By Barry Clifford