Garda Richie Morrison wrote a very powerful message on his Facebook last week which we quickly picked up on. Richie’s own status was shared thousands of times, and our article had over 50,000 shares.
We asked Richie the following questions:
Why did you decide to write the piece, Richie?
I decided to write this article because I wanted to give the general public and idea of what my job really entails. Because there is a lot more than what meets the eye with this career. And things that I didn’t know about, nor was I prepared or trained for in Templemore. Nobody prepares you for the emotional and mental rollercoaster that is involved. So I wrote this to show people that it’s not all about people standing behind a speed gun, or working at water protests, or seizing cars for no tax. I wanted to tell what life is like for Gardai as I believe that the role is under appreciated.
Was it fully genuine with actual real life experience?
Every single incident I wrote about was 100% true and all my own experiences. But having joined in 2008, this is only a very small list, and is only tip of the iceberg. I could have went on for hours, but I did not want to go into certain things and wanted to keep the list limited.
Do you enjoy your job?
Yes I do enjoy my job. Some of the comments from readers think that I am complaining about my job. I just want to portray a bigger picture of our role in Society as I believe that the general public don’t not fully know or understand the role we play or the duties we perform daily. I mentioned the pay cuts and I mentioned the harsh things we have to do. But we get on with it and continue to do what we are here to do. I do not want to quit. I do not want to get not her job. I love my job. My article was informational, not a complaint about my working conditions – as that is a whole other can of worms which I won’t go into right now.
Can you see conditions improving?
Can I see the conditions improving?… well as the GRA are currently in negotiations with the Government under the recommendations of the Labour Court. That may give us back part of the 16% they have taken from us.
Yes w1e do need moreequipment and more cars, and protection equipment. But as I said, my post was purely informational, not a complaint about the conditions. Of course they should be a lot better than what they are, but as time goes on things change. Since 2008 a lot has changed. I’ve seen manpower diminish, I’ve seen a huge increase in workload for the remaining Gardai (due to the decreasing manpower), and I’ve seen paperwork and reports double.
Do all your coworkers feel the same?
Yes 100%. My colleagues all feel the exact same. I have been approached and contacted by a huge number of colleagues who say that they all feel the exact same and have shared my post.
In case you missed it, Richie’s message was the following:
“I have had my life threatened dozens of times, I’ve been insulted daily, I’ve been spat at, punched, kicked, bitten. I’ve had shotgun rounds left for me with my name on them, I’ve had to leave my family on Christmas mornings and new years eve and go to work for 10 hours. I’ve worked 7 nights in a row and then try to get my body clock back to normal to be back to work a day and a half later. I’ve worked 22 hour shifts. I’ve cut down dead bodies hanging from trees and balconies, I’ve been first on scene to fatal traffic accidents including decapitations. I’ve had to break the news to families that their child, brother, sister, father has died tragically and I have teared up while they hug me as there world comes crashing down. I’ve had to identify the body of dead babies to the state pathologist. I have in fact been completely and utterly desensitised to death.
I have endured so many nightmares where I screamed myself awake that I have lost count after the first 100.
I’ve saved 2 lives using my CPR training, I’ve pulled people back over bridges as they attempted to commit suicide. I have talked people out of killing themselves. I have to wear protective vests in case I’m stabbed or shot. I’ve had my car scratched outside my work place. I’ve been injured in high speed patrol car crashes. I’ve had to work hours which were deemed illegal by the European courts. I have to go to court on my days off. I’ve had to be Gaoler and be in charge of the custody of rapists and murderers and had to force myself to be nice to them.
I have had colleagues shot and murdered for nothing. I had to arrest a 6′ 2″ man who bet up his 5′ 4” girlfriend who told me she “fell” because she was scared of him.
I have had so many cases on the go at the same time that i couldn’t sleep thinking and worrying about them. I’ve had more taxes and pension levies put on my pay than any private entity. I’ve paid 45% of some of my paychecks on tax because I worked overtime which I was directed to work. I was directed to work 30hrs extra per year for free by the government.
I then have to listen to the ignorance of people screaming abuse in my face stating “I pay my taxes so i pay your wages” when in fact i contribute more towards paying my wages than they do.
Everything I do, both on and off duty is constantly under the scrutiny of the Ombudsman and the media.
I am being very honest here and every sentence of the above is 100% hand on heart true and these are only the tip of the iceberg of my own experiences. But I am only 1 out if 13,500. All of whom have had their own various experiences.
We do all of the above day in, day out, taking on people’s burdens as our own, 99% of the time without so much as a thank you, nor do we expect one, as most of the people in the area I work have inherited a hatred towards us because crime is the norm to them and they don’t like being told otherwise.
There are times in everybody’s life when they are dealing with a nightmare situation. Well each of these rare nightmare incidents are what we deal with on a day to day basis, all the while struggling to keep a forced smile on our faces.
I don’t usually talk about my job on Facebook. But until a person has experienced all of the above, nobody can put a value or monetise these things I have had to do. The Government has taken 16% from us since the recession, have increased our workload, and have given nothing back. I wish they could be put in a uniform for just one week so they could open their eyes.”
What do you think of what he had to say?