Seriously? Is it asinine arrogance, obliviousness, or just a case of the most appalling stupidity?

At a time when we need them most – the absolute most - the government and garda management give every impression of offering the middle finger to rank-and-file gardaí.

Ours is a society that is now characterised by lawlessness at every age and at every level of every community.

We live in a land of spiralling violence against women.

A place where violent anti-social behaviour and unprovoked attacks on pedestrians have become the norm on our streets, because we haven’t got enough gardaí to provide a constant visible preventative presence.

We have a national roads network which has turned into a giant race-track, with drivers of every age and profession casually smashing speed limits, overtaking on corners and over continuous white lines, tailgating and intimidating other drivers, and generally breaking every rule of the road that was ever written, because there aren’t enough gardaí in the Road Policing Units, or indeed any other unit to get the roads back under the thumb.

Mind-boggling chaos and horrific injuries are being caused regularly by scramblers and e-scooters and lawless thugs driving on pavements and the wrong way down roads because there are not enough gardaí out on patrol.

Young people are displaying utter disregard and disrespect for authority of every kind – including for members of the gardaí.

More than ever, this country needs a strongly-resourced, effective, authoritative, committed, determined, and highly visible ‘don’t mess with........

© Evening Echo