'Criminality is not celebrity' – Simon Harris says it's a 'good thing ...

Speaking at Friday’s Passing Out ceremony for 169 new garda recruits at Templemore’s Garda Training College, Mr Harris said it was “incredible” that a convicted criminal can receive more media attention than most party leaders.

“Firstly, we live in a democracy,” he said. “Anybody can put their name on a ballot. That’s an important part of democracy.

“I do think it’s interesting how a convicted criminal who has brought so much misery to communities was, in my view, treated like a celebrity, throughout the general election.”

Criminality is not celebrity, said Mr Harris. “It’s something that brings pain, misery and suffering to communities.” For those in politics, Hutch’s vote should cause some in the political system to reflect on how disaffected communities can feel from the mainstream political system.

“The other point is he didn’t get elected,” said Mr Harris. “Our democracy didn’t elect a convicted criminal in the guise of Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch to Dáil Éireann and I think that’s a good thing.”

Mr Harris said it was the gardaí’s role to continue to tighten the net on criminal organisations in Ireland. “The focus of those of us in government will be on supporting the gardaí in doing that job, making sure those who engage in criminal activity are where they belong, and that’s not in Dáil Éireann.”

When asked about government coalition talks involving Michael Lowry TD, who also has a conviction for tax offences, Mr Harris said there were “fundamental differences” between Gerry ‘The Monk’ Hutch’s criminal activity, and the activities of others.

“I think the people can work that difference out,” he said. “The reality is I’m not courting anybody. I’m engaging with those who were democratically elected to Dáil Éireann in terms of how we form a stable government.”

Reacting to Gerard ‘The Monk’ Hutch’s vote, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris said it was unwise for him to comment on the democratic process. “I would say of Gerard Hutch, is that he faces a Spanish investigation,” said the Commissioner.

“It’s an organised crime investigation, and we have assisted in that fully and continue to assist the Spanish authorities in respect of that.”

Today's News in 90 seconds - 13th December 2024

The motives of why people voted for Gerard Hutch “are not clear to me,” said Commissioner Harris. “I do think that there is something that has to be addressed in terms of those 3,000 votes. We live in a liberal democracy with the rule of law, and people should have respect for the State, the Constitution and the rule of law within that.”

More needs to be done in terms of communicating to people what it means to be citizen, and its attendant responsibilities. “I don’t think anybody could have been ignorant of Gerard Hutch and all that he’s been associated with down through the years,” said the Commissioner.

“I don’t think it’s a problem of information. I do think it’s a problem, not just for An Garda Síochána – I think it’s a societal problem, about our attitude towards criminality. Overall, that’s the most concerning thing out of this.”