In 1949, English author and 20th century prophet George Orwell published his magnum opus: the chilling dystopian novel that reinvented fiction, “1984”. Despite being written nearly 80 years ago, the themes of the novel continue to resonate in this millennium. Orwell had a terrifying vision of the future, and with almost every passing week it looks closer to fruition. What will happen if, eventually, it arrives, and what can we do to stop it?
These questions came to mind when I heard a statement from the recently appointed Garda Commissioner. Justin Kelly was promoted to the position earlier this week, and a few days ago sat down to answer questions from the press. When asked whether “far-right extremism” was a major concern to him, he responded: “Rather than saying ‘far right political extremism’, it’s political extremism that leads to violence on all sides of the spectrum”. He made it clear that “once you cross that criminal threshold, that’s when [their] interest comes as An Garda Síochána”.
Encouraging words, at first. It is refreshing to see the leader of our police force refuse simply to swallow the Irish Times bait. Rather than simply agree, Commissioner Kelly gave a balanced and fair answer, acknowledging that there are issues from both ends of the political spectrum, and not simply mouthing the message deemed most palatable for the Irish public by the mainstream media. However, in the light of developments elsewhere, it was his statement regarding the “criminal threshold” that may be of concern.
Make no mistake: Kelly was absolutely right to state plainly and forcefully that anyone who commits a crime should be of interest to the Gardaí. The question, when it comes to speech, is about the criminal threshold. Where does it lie, and, more importantly, will it always lie in the right place?
We must recall the infamous “hate speech” bill that was making its way through the Oireachtas last year. The bill would have given punitive power to the police over a person’s speech and even personal internet activity, if it was deemed hateful to any group. The loose definition of hatred, the extreme measures proposed, and the overall censorious nature of the proposed law caused massive backlash and complaints from the Irish public. While the bill has not passed – at least not yet – it is unclear where it now stands, and the threat it poses looms still. The effects of such a bill passing have been seen countless times in the UK, including in an infamous incident in the past week.
Ireland’s very own Graham Linehan recently arrived in Heathrow Airport to be greeted by five armed police. Linehan was immediately arrested for the heinous offence of posting three edgy tweets directed against transgender ideology. He was then kept in a police cell for some hours before being transferred to A&E after his blood pressure rose dangerously high, apparently due to stress. He was released on terms that he desist from posting on X. Linehan is only one example in a catalogue of people who have been arrested for similar “offences”. Over the past few years, the UK has enforced a variety of anti-free speech laws in high profile cases, including one which sought to restrict silent prayer within the “sacred” radius of an abortion clinic.
With laws like this being put into action in our neighbouring country (and possibly one still trying to make its way in ours), how can we be sure where the “criminal threshold” rests? How can we even know what is a crime anymore, when even silent prayer – which can fairly be described as thought – can be a crime? (A “thoughtcrime”, if you will, proving yet again how far-sighted Orwell was.) How long before An Garda Síochána are coming after Graham Linehan and his ilk back on this island?
While it is reassuring that the Garda commissioner is committed to doing his job and his only his job – namely, protecting and serving the Irish people within the confines of his jurisdiction – what is of great concern is where his jurisdiction will begin and end. Commissioner Kelly did state during the press event that he had not ruled out the possibility of using police force to remove Irish flags from private properties – an issue that has been hotly debated in political conversation lately. If flags are first, what happens next?
It is not the job of the Garda Commissioner to make the laws – merely to enforce them. It is commendable and encouraging to see the new incumbent of the office keeping this in mind in an even-handed manner. What we must be wary of is the redefinition of the criminal threshold to the point where what might be called “bad manners” at worst, are considered a police concern.
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Patrick Vincent writes from Dublin