Mayo comment: Shouting stop over ill-judged ban by new forum on the local media

IT does not make sense that a new forum set up and funded by the Department of Justice to hold An Garda Síochána to account over the policing of law and order issues in towns and villages across Mayo should operate away from the glare of the public eye without the local media being in attendance to report the proceedings.

But that is exactly what is happening in respect of the newly inaugurated Local Community Safety Partnership which held its first formal meeting behind closed doors and decided that it should continue in such fashion along the lines of protocols set out by the department.

Now it is most unusual that a department which trusts the local media to cover the activities of the local courts in a fair and impartial manner believes that the fourth estate is not fit and capable of doing the same with it comes to the LCSP forum.

So the pertinent question needs to be asked in regard to why invest so much time and money in setting up such a forum in the first place when a key objective is not to let anybody know what's going on, apart from at one meeting in the year, which is likely to be little more than window dressing.

Well this member of the Mayo media would like to take this opportunity to remind the Minister for Justice, Jim O'Callaghan, tipped as the next leader of Fianna Fáil and future Taoiseach, that he is going down a very dangerous road and setting a precedent that could further undermine public trust in both An Garda Síochána and the political system.

Compounding the disappointment is the fact that the majority of the 20 plus members of the Mayo forum agreed with the recommendation that these meetings should be held under a veil of secrecy without realising that the decision has peaked the media's interest in the partnership, albeit now being regrettably consigned to reporting second hand accounts from the meetings unless the embargo is lifted.

Minister O'Callaghan may like to see the local media sailing off into the sunset, but this observer can guarantee him that it has no notion in the world of doing so and will be more interested than ever in highlighting the many failings that exist in Mayo in terms of policing and the rise in drug-related and other criminality, much of which is no longer reported by victims because they have lost faith in a police force that has gone somewhat astray over the past number of years.

What is also very regrettable about this development is that a number of our local councillors agree with this press ban.

Essentially, however, the broader picture should not be overlooked here.

That's the fact that the very heart of our democracy is being targeted by an ill-judged suppression of a local media committed to the common good.

And now is the time to shout STOP.