“We are very wealthy and therefore should be allowed to break the law without this attracting any consequences for us”.
Ya this is pretty ridiculous. Basically they think that Ireland’s drug laws are bad (which they are) and therefore, they should be allowed to break them without the Gardaí trying to stop them.
Now I am sure this is not a worrying statement at all and indicates that no criminal wrong doing will take place whatsoever.
Garda are needed. I worked the Trinity ball WAY back when. 2003. They where all off their heads. It was horrible.
The lads decided to tip a portaloo when a girl went into it. I had to get her walk her all the way down the back to the first aid tent. She was covered in the chemicals, puke, shit and piss.
They are absolutely off their heads at it.
“People received punishments and lasting criminal records for using recreational drugs on a college night out. This is unacceptable, and should provoke anger.”
I’m all for decriminalisation of drugs, but this statement and editorial piece is beyond stupid.
They expect Gardai to turn a blind eye on a private event, organised and promoted by a massive external company because it’s a …. college party and college kids will do what college kids do? 🥴
Having been to the Ball a few times, Gardai on site are definitely needed.
I don’t think they know what undercover means if they think Garda shouldn’t be welcomed.
It’s not like the Garda are asking if they can go.
Ensuring that students are safe, well and not consuming dangerous drugs is a better approach to take, rather than encouraging drug taking and increased risk as the paper seems to be doing.
If you wanna go commit some crimes the Trinity Ball is the place to be
Ah, those must be the American political views that thread was talking about…
Do reckon the gardai care?
Privileged kids demand more privilege.
I think it’s well written and I agree with them. You can’t demand legalisation in one thread and then want to see people prosecuted for partying in another, even if they are trinity wankers
Fairly sensible article to be honest. Arresting people for drug possession is bad, having undercover Gardaí at a student event is fairly weird.
This is the synopsis, more or less:
Drugs are good and they shouldn’t be illegal. Most students do drugs. Although they’re illegal, Trinity students who take them shouldn’t be subject to the same legal consequences as other citizens. If they are, everyone should be angry.
There will be people of colour at the ball and Irish police are racist. They also don’t just arrest people who commit bad crimes, like murder, they target those who commit good crimes, like taking so many drugs that they might die without urgent medical attention, which they won’t “feel safe” seeking, because Gardaí are there.
We can’t stop the Gardaí policing this alcohol and drug-fuelled event involving literally thousands of young people, but it will really help if we say they’re not welcome and call them racists.
Would they be happy with non-undercover Gardai with a few drugs dogs at the entrance to the venue or something instead? Would solve a lot of the “problems” they seem to think exists by having Gardai inside trying to catch those dealing drugs. The option to not bring in drugs to the ball is another safe way not to get yourself a criminal record before your career even starts.
“Trinity Ents threw up its hands and said that “Gardaí have the power and authority to police [Trinity Ball] as they wish” because of licensing laws.”
Trinity has…. walking tree people??? Who’ve thrown up their…. hands?
>The **carceral approach to drug use** has caused untold destruction, suffering and death in this country and globally
There’s basically no one in Irish prison for drug use simpliciter.
> no one in Irish prison for drug use
I know people who have been caught “dealing” to undercover Gardaí. People who are not dealers. Who are casual drug users and had someone confidence trick them into trusting them and “hooking them up”.
So yes, drug users in Ireland do go to prison.
And that says nothing of actual problem drug users who get caught “dealing” to support a habit. At least you can say my friends should’ve known better.
Why would Garda go to a student ball sin the first place?
I don’t disagree with their take on decriminalisation, but then the focus should be on what can be done to get that conversation going. Not throwing the toys out of the pram about the enforcement of the existing law because “students will be students”.
I’m not sure what to make of the take about senior Gardaí having been there since it was illegal to be gay, ergo LGBT people cannot feel safe being themselves at an event the Gardaí attend. It’s not that I think the Gardaí aren’t capable of being homophobic… It’s the attempt to equate people not wanting to be hassled by Gards for their sexual orientation, with people not wanting to be hassled by Gards for taking drugs. Those are not comparable in the slightest.
Ah the arrogance of those trinity bunch. Bunch of spoilt gobshites.
21 comments
“We are very wealthy and therefore should be allowed to break the law without this attracting any consequences for us”.
Ya this is pretty ridiculous. Basically they think that Ireland’s drug laws are bad (which they are) and therefore, they should be allowed to break them without the Gardaí trying to stop them.
Now I am sure this is not a worrying statement at all and indicates that no criminal wrong doing will take place whatsoever.
Garda are needed. I worked the Trinity ball WAY back when. 2003. They where all off their heads. It was horrible.
The lads decided to tip a portaloo when a girl went into it. I had to get her walk her all the way down the back to the first aid tent. She was covered in the chemicals, puke, shit and piss.
They are absolutely off their heads at it.
“People received punishments and lasting criminal records for using recreational drugs on a college night out. This is unacceptable, and should provoke anger.”
I’m all for decriminalisation of drugs, but this statement and editorial piece is beyond stupid.
They expect Gardai to turn a blind eye on a private event, organised and promoted by a massive external company because it’s a …. college party and college kids will do what college kids do? 🥴
Having been to the Ball a few times, Gardai on site are definitely needed.
I don’t think they know what undercover means if they think Garda shouldn’t be welcomed.
It’s not like the Garda are asking if they can go.
Ensuring that students are safe, well and not consuming dangerous drugs is a better approach to take, rather than encouraging drug taking and increased risk as the paper seems to be doing.
If you wanna go commit some crimes the Trinity Ball is the place to be
Ah, those must be the American political views that thread was talking about…
Do reckon the gardai care?
Privileged kids demand more privilege.
I think it’s well written and I agree with them. You can’t demand legalisation in one thread and then want to see people prosecuted for partying in another, even if they are trinity wankers
Fairly sensible article to be honest. Arresting people for drug possession is bad, having undercover Gardaí at a student event is fairly weird.
This is the synopsis, more or less:
Drugs are good and they shouldn’t be illegal. Most students do drugs. Although they’re illegal, Trinity students who take them shouldn’t be subject to the same legal consequences as other citizens. If they are, everyone should be angry.
There will be people of colour at the ball and Irish police are racist. They also don’t just arrest people who commit bad crimes, like murder, they target those who commit good crimes, like taking so many drugs that they might die without urgent medical attention, which they won’t “feel safe” seeking, because Gardaí are there.
We can’t stop the Gardaí policing this alcohol and drug-fuelled event involving literally thousands of young people, but it will really help if we say they’re not welcome and call them racists.
Would they be happy with non-undercover Gardai with a few drugs dogs at the entrance to the venue or something instead? Would solve a lot of the “problems” they seem to think exists by having Gardai inside trying to catch those dealing drugs. The option to not bring in drugs to the ball is another safe way not to get yourself a criminal record before your career even starts.
“Trinity Ents threw up its hands and said that “Gardaí have the power and authority to police [Trinity Ball] as they wish” because of licensing laws.”
Trinity has…. walking tree people??? Who’ve thrown up their…. hands?
>The **carceral approach to drug use** has caused untold destruction, suffering and death in this country and globally
There’s basically no one in Irish prison for drug use simpliciter.
> no one in Irish prison for drug use
I know people who have been caught “dealing” to undercover Gardaí. People who are not dealers. Who are casual drug users and had someone confidence trick them into trusting them and “hooking them up”.
So yes, drug users in Ireland do go to prison.
And that says nothing of actual problem drug users who get caught “dealing” to support a habit. At least you can say my friends should’ve known better.
Why would Garda go to a student ball sin the first place?
Oh they jump to drugs pretty quick.
https://universitytimes.ie/2019/04/students-detained-at-trinity-ball-on-drug-charges/#:~:text=Some%2026%20students%20were%20detained,included%20cocaine%2C%20ketamine%20and%20MDMA.
I don’t disagree with their take on decriminalisation, but then the focus should be on what can be done to get that conversation going. Not throwing the toys out of the pram about the enforcement of the existing law because “students will be students”.
I’m not sure what to make of the take about senior Gardaí having been there since it was illegal to be gay, ergo LGBT people cannot feel safe being themselves at an event the Gardaí attend. It’s not that I think the Gardaí aren’t capable of being homophobic… It’s the attempt to equate people not wanting to be hassled by Gards for their sexual orientation, with people not wanting to be hassled by Gards for taking drugs. Those are not comparable in the slightest.
Ah the arrogance of those trinity bunch. Bunch of spoilt gobshites.