Following the scandal of Garda corruption in Donegal and considering Michael McDowell's blaming of Nora Owen's inertia over the McBrearty case, it seems astounding that the Minister has acted in such a cold and aloof manner after a child has died in police custody. The question now hanging in the air is, "Where is the Justice Minister?"
14-year-old Brian Rossiter died having been found in a coma in Garda custody. Questions arise in connection with his detention and what happened him after arrest. Michael McDowell fails to respond to queries and then denies family access to autopsy report. By Vincent Browne
Some time in 1985 or 1986 I was editor and chief executive of the Sunday Tribune. The newspaper had gone through difficult times and a substantial debt was owed to the Revenue Commissioners. We managed to raise additional finance but needed the agreement of the Revenue Commissioners to phase in payments to them. Although we had made such arrangements previously with the Revenue Commissioners and had adhered to them, on this occasion we could not even get a meeting with them.
There is an urgent need to reform An Garda Síochána on a basis far more radical than envisaged in Michael McDowell's Garda Bill, now before the Oireachtas.
On the morning of Saturday, 1 June 1998, Vincent Browne interviewed playwright John B Keane in a room overlooking the square in his native Listowel for the radio programme Tonight with Vincent Browne. It was the last interview he gave before his death in 2002. This is an edited transcript of that interview
Noel Conroy should be removed as Garda Commissioner for the following reasons:
Many throughout Europe this weekend will wallow in that great German (and Irish) indulgence, Shadenfraude, humour at the misfortune of others. Shadenfraude over the misery of the Euro-elite that a prize project of theirs has been derailed, the European Constitution.
How Garda headquarters ignored alarming reports of terrorist plans; how Gardai mishandled a "murder" investigation; how Gardai tried to "frame" innocent people; how a Garda was implicated in extortion. By Vincent Browne
The International Monitoring Commission's report that the IRA (Provisional) continues to recruit members and train them in the use of firearms and explosives is disconcerting, even when allowance is made for the reliance that body has on intelligence from the PSNI, An Garda Síochána and British intelligence sources. Members of the Commission are capable of sifting information from those sources, weighing and assessing it. While Sinn Féin will remain scornful (they would, wouldn't they?), the rest of us must take note.
Residents of Pike Farm, Charleville, Co Cork, who have been picketing and protesting the home intended for use by persons recently discharged from mental hospitals, have not responded to what Village has written about their protest nor to two radio programmes about the siege in which I have been involved. However, a woman who describes herself as an occasional visitor to Pike Farm and a supporter of the protestors, Anne Marie O'Carroll, has written an email, taking issue with some of what I have written and broadcast.