‘RIDICULOUS’

Politician slammed as ‘disgrace’ in backlash over ‘unbelievable’ claim that Garda on duty was providing private security

‘Unbelievable that an elected representative can use the personal image of a garda and subject him to online abuse’

• Published: 19:41, 14 Jan 2024
• Updated: 19:41, 14 Jan 2024

A POLITICIAN who accused a Garda on duty of providing private security for McDonald’s has gotten a massive backlash on social media.

Cork City Councillor and former member of the Green Party Lorna Bogue posted a picture of a Garda standing outside McDonald’s on Winthrop Street in Cork during a march in support of Palestinians in Gaza at the weekend.

She added: “It is interesting that the same police force who cannot enforce anything they are asked to do for public good is well able to produce riot squads, helicopters and now it seems private security for capitalist interests.”

In follow-up tweets, she asks: “What was the decision-making structure around ‘Operation Big Mac’?”

Accompanying the post is a photo of a long-serving and highly-respected Garda member, who is clearly identifiable, standing outside McDonald’s in full uniform.

The man has now been subjected to online abuse.

However most of the posts around Cllr Bogue’s social media comments are supportive of the gardai.

Many questioned if the councillor can produce any evidence that the Garda was providing private security.

Some stressed she should take down the tweet, which she has not done, and pointed out she should apologise to both the garda member and the force as a whole.

Others described it as “a dumb post” and the “most ridiculous post of the week”, while others describe Ms Bogue as “a disgrace” and “an online troll”.

Cllr Bogue, who describes herself as ‘Leader of An Rabharta Glas’, plans to run in the European elections in Ireland South.

Another post said: “Unbelievable that an elected representative can use the personal image of a garda and subject him to online abuse,” while others have vowed not to vote for her.

Others point out that McDonald’s has its own private security team.

‘This is so very wrong’

The General Secretary of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors posted “As if @AGSI_ireland @gardainfo colleagues haven’t enough challenges.

“A Garda member stands on duty, lawfully doing his job ..an elected representative accuses him of providing private security, uses his image & subjects him to online abuse.

“This is so very wrong.”

Cllr Bogue’s tweet has attracted 358,000 views.

Efforts to contact Councillor Bogue for comment have not been successful.