Pink patrol, why not go the whole hog and cock your wrist?
From yesterday's Independent on Sunday.
'PINK PATROL' is the unofficial name being given to a squad of undercover gardai in Dublin set up to counter the rising number of attacks on the gay community.
The special unit was set up earlier this year in response to a dramatic increase in the number of attacks on men leaving a number of known gay bars in Dublin, but particularly the George, on the city's south side. During the summer the undercover team supported existing uniformed Gardai primarily in the George's St area on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights to monitor attacks against members of the gay community.
In the space of three months gardai arrested and charged at least 14 individuals for their involvement in such attacks in inner city Dublin. Gardai said that most of the attackers were known to them and belonged to one gang.
Gardai have also initiated a process of crime mapping which has enabled them to identify hot spots involving homophobic attacks where they can focus their resources.
The George, Dublin's highest profile gay pub said there has been a stark rise in attacks, with the pub's high profile making it a target.
A spokesman for the George told the Sunday Independent : "Unfortunately, the number of attacks has increased and we are always urging our customers to report incidents, although sometimes they are hesitant to do so. For our part we have door staff every night of the week making sure those who are intent on causing trouble are not able to. The gardai have been and continue to be great in dealing with such matters and are always very good at helping us."
Okay, so this isn't news to me, I"ve heard about this from my gay chums. This is a situation where peole are being attacked while going about their law abiding business. Out for a couple of drinks, meet up with friends, have a dance head home. Get set upon and beaten up for existing.
Frightening and I'm glad it is finally making the news.
BUT.
Why then the opening sneer 'pink patrol? Is it really the unoffical name or is this just another of the Sindos pathetic attempts at humour and shit-stirring. I've never heard anyone call it that. And even if it is the unoffical name why print it? I don't think being so blithely self amused is the way to go, if there was a spate of old ladies attacked would they call it blue rinse patrol? No they would not they would be most reverent about it, but it's the gays innit, pink yeah, pink coz they're pansies see, that's what make it funny, right.
I can see the features editor now, 'Sure we'll report about it, but we'll tagline it with this funny phrase, look at what our tax Euros are being spent on. The gays. The pink patrol, geddit? Oh my, we were slapping and high-fiving each other for hours when we thought up this one.'
Grow up Independent on Sunday, you're a hugely read paper and you have a responsibility to report the news. And if you think sniggering at a man lying on the street getting his ribs broken and his teeth kicked in is worth a cheap dig then you're just the loathsome rag I think you are.
'PINK PATROL' is the unofficial name being given to a squad of undercover gardai in Dublin set up to counter the rising number of attacks on the gay community.
The special unit was set up earlier this year in response to a dramatic increase in the number of attacks on men leaving a number of known gay bars in Dublin, but particularly the George, on the city's south side. During the summer the undercover team supported existing uniformed Gardai primarily in the George's St area on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights to monitor attacks against members of the gay community.
In the space of three months gardai arrested and charged at least 14 individuals for their involvement in such attacks in inner city Dublin. Gardai said that most of the attackers were known to them and belonged to one gang.
Gardai have also initiated a process of crime mapping which has enabled them to identify hot spots involving homophobic attacks where they can focus their resources.
The George, Dublin's highest profile gay pub said there has been a stark rise in attacks, with the pub's high profile making it a target.
A spokesman for the George told the Sunday Independent : "Unfortunately, the number of attacks has increased and we are always urging our customers to report incidents, although sometimes they are hesitant to do so. For our part we have door staff every night of the week making sure those who are intent on causing trouble are not able to. The gardai have been and continue to be great in dealing with such matters and are always very good at helping us."
Okay, so this isn't news to me, I"ve heard about this from my gay chums. This is a situation where peole are being attacked while going about their law abiding business. Out for a couple of drinks, meet up with friends, have a dance head home. Get set upon and beaten up for existing.
Frightening and I'm glad it is finally making the news.
BUT.
Why then the opening sneer 'pink patrol? Is it really the unoffical name or is this just another of the Sindos pathetic attempts at humour and shit-stirring. I've never heard anyone call it that. And even if it is the unoffical name why print it? I don't think being so blithely self amused is the way to go, if there was a spate of old ladies attacked would they call it blue rinse patrol? No they would not they would be most reverent about it, but it's the gays innit, pink yeah, pink coz they're pansies see, that's what make it funny, right.
I can see the features editor now, 'Sure we'll report about it, but we'll tagline it with this funny phrase, look at what our tax Euros are being spent on. The gays. The pink patrol, geddit? Oh my, we were slapping and high-fiving each other for hours when we thought up this one.'
Grow up Independent on Sunday, you're a hugely read paper and you have a responsibility to report the news. And if you think sniggering at a man lying on the street getting his ribs broken and his teeth kicked in is worth a cheap dig then you're just the loathsome rag I think you are.
posted by fatmammycat at 8:47 a.m.
11 Comments:
'cock your wrist'
heh
Sigh. Sometimes I worry about you, not often, but sometimes.
Whatever about the name, the undercover gardai need to improve their disguises.
Sorry, sorry. Serious topic. You're right, sounds like one of those things that would be preceded by "Sources reveal..." or "Insiders announce..." rather than be attributed to any individual, since it was likely just made up.
Don't be sorry, I laughed out out when I saw that and I'm sending it to Country gay right this second.
Exactly correct about the Sindo and it's 'oohh let's just make it up.' Remember the "Liam Lawlor dies in Russian car crash with teenage hooker?' story. Man that was rank. Lawlor might have been a contrary man but his family didn't deserve that load of bullshit sprawled across the front papers masquerading as fact.
What if, instead of the Independent of Sunday, there's just been a big fold-out picture of Quentin Blake? What then?
I certainly can't tell you.
It does seem a wee bit like they're winking at the rest of us about protecting the gays: Pink, pink, gerrit? Eh? Eh? It was surely the very keenest of journalistic minds operating with the strictest of integrity that came up with that.
Kieran, it would be an improvement on most of the witless scratchings.
I know Sam, it's so typical of the Sindo to do that kind of shit too. We hates them, oh yes we do. Naturally I read it religiously and bitch weekly about what a rag it is, but I read it online so I feel hypocritical and irked and smug all a the same time. Normal, I feel normal.
I am surprised they didn't go the whole hog and call it operation homo shield.
Still from the people thatthough up operation bumble bee what can you expect!
If that was the IoS I'm just imagining what the News Of The World will have come up with for a headline... "Cops 'n' Rimmers"? "The Queens Guard"? Very sad...
...and speaking of sad, my current post crowns you as B.U.M. Tosser 2006... strange, that title seems so inappropriate after this post.
Thank you BInty, I am very proud indeed.
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