In June 2020, RTE reported a “25% rise in domestic violence calls.
In October 2020 the Gardai commissioner, Drew Harris was told about the cancellation / deletion of over 600 emergency calls for urgent by the Gardai. These calls were NEVER followed up.
By the 28th October RTE were back on damage control duty for the Gardai, publishing the following headline “Gardaí renew focus on domestic violence as calls rise”. At the time, Harris knew of the appalling scandal.
According to RTE at the end of October 2020 “Gardaí have announced a new phase of Operation Faoiseamh, which they say entails a renewed focus on the enforcement of court orders and the prosecution of offenders. Calls to gardaí are up 18% year on year, detections for breaches of court orders increased by 14% and 107 people are facing prosecution”
A classic damage limitation exercise by Harris and his PR team.
At this time Harris knew that his force hade deleted hundreds of domestic violence calls seeking urgent assistance form the very people that were supposed to protect these victims.
In what can be described as a staged move by RTE news last Thursday night, Harris was asked if he should resign. He declined to resign and the RTE presenter said “OK so” and moved on to the next news story.
Where are the political leaders calling for Harris and his head on a plate? Where is the Women’s Council of Ireland when we really need them? Where are the leftist feminists? Where is the Irish #METOO movement?
Many people on social media are claiming that the gardai were “too busy” on covid checkpoints to bother investigating real crime such as that of domestic abuse during lockdown.
Is Harris really not responsible? In a working democracy this man would be sacked. But we don’t have a working democracy in Ireland, do we?
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