Sir, Lately we have been told that Irish democracy is under threat from subversives and drug barons. We are also told that garda resources are stretched to breaking point. Despite this, Special Branch was used to monitor a legal demonstration peacefully protesting the visit to Dun Laoghaire of the US warship "JFK" on July second.
The demonstrators were either members of the Workers' Party and Green Party both constitutional parties or members of groups campaigning on issues such as peace, nuclear disarmament or Irish neutrality all things to which the Government pays up service. Not only were there no "subversives" or "drug barons" present, but the demonstrators hardly posed a threat to the US's nuclear armed monster lying a mile and a half out to sea.
Not only is this use of Special Branch a waste of scarce Garda resources, but the rights of assembly and peaceful demonstration are fundamental democratic rights. The presence of Special
Branch officers tends to both intimidate and, by implication, criminalise lawful demonstrations. Perhaps democracy really is under threat! Yours, etc., Walnut Grove, Wexford.