PSNI up to old RUC Knavery........................Again.

[lawnseed]

What about baseball bats? Are they weapons or sporting equipment? If you had a choice, would you rather be attacked by a bunch youths wielding baseball bats or hurls? Do you think your skull would know the difference?

Just asking like.

good question myles.. it might also be the case that the young gael carrying a baseball bat could be on his way to a game of rounders also a gaa sport. and a very enjoyable game I might add for all ages and gender, there aren't many sports where you can join your kids on the same team competitively

[Rossfan]

Seen a protest in Andytown at the weekend with banners saying hurling is our heritage. I know a young lad from my own club stopped the other day and questioned over the carrying go a hurl?

I presume ye've reported it to the Polis Ombudsman?
And have ye asked ye're MLAs to do anything about it?

[imtommygunn]

What about baseball bats? Are they weapons or sporting equipment? If you had a choice, would you rather be attacked by a bunch youths wielding baseball bats or hurls? Do you think your skull would know the difference?

Just asking like.

You seem to put both into the 'weapons' category. Just saying like.

Odd. Can't think why I would've done that.
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/masked-gang-attack-man-with-baseball-bats-in-belfast-29457001.html
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/baseball-bat-wielding-man-who-tried-to-get-into-victims-car-spared-jail-29883299.html
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/northern-ireland/pair-attacked-by-man-wielding-hurley-stick-29439104.html
http://www.newsletter.co.uk/news/regional/residents-call-for-an-end-to-sectarian-attacks-1-5329520

Why does anyone ever bother indulging you?? Pathetic.

[orangeman]

No surprise these young assholes trying to climb the ladder thinking they've something to prove by doing their own kind.

[Aerlik]

The PSNI have to tread very, very carefully here as there has been Legal Precedence set on this issue, relating to a similar situation with an Irish fella living in London in the 1980s/90s (can't remember the specific year).

He was arrested and charged with carrying an offensive weapon and took his case to the Court where he won the case, demonstrating in the process, the skills of hurling to the magistrate.

From memory the magistrate used the analogy of a person carrying a hockey stick or cricket bat and concluded that the carrying of either of those two pieces of sports equipment were no different to carry a hurl.

[Myles Na G.]

I've googled this each and every way I can and all I can find is the same story on republican websites, one young girl and one young lad in west Belfast stopped and questioned for carrying hurls. In the young fella's case there also seems to be some issue of trespass on NI Railways property, which in the youtube video he denies.  When I go outside my front door on any given evening I'm quite likely to see scores of kids with hurls on the Ormeau and Ravenhill Roads, some of them being my neighbours' kids. Haven't heard anybody talking about PSNI stopping and questioning young gaels. So basically we have two minor instances of kids being stopped with the possibility that some individual PSNI officers are being a bit officious, yet the way people on here are reacting you'd think there was a high level PSNI policy to stamp out Gaelic games. If there is any sort of problem at all in the west of the city, it could be addressed very quickly and very effectively by one of the Shinner councillors or MLAs who sit on the policing board or on the Police and Community Safety Partnerships. A quick word with one of the senior peelers, with whom they're all on first name terms, and hey presto, problem sorted. Why not get CRJ on the case? They have top cops on speed dial. But no. Let's turn it into Oppression of the Croppies: The Movie. Let's wheel out some oul' doll who once did time in Armagh jail. Let's all line up for the camera and tell the world how we're victimised by state forces for our culture. Absolutely pathetic. Truly.

[tyroneman]

I've googled this each and every way I can and all I can find is the same story on republican websites, one young girl and one young lad in west Belfast stopped and questioned for carrying hurls. In the young fella's case there also seems to be some issue of trespass on NI Railways property, which in the youtube video he denies.  When I go outside my front door on any given evening I'm quite likely to see scores of kids with hurls on the Ormeau and Ravenhill Roads, some of them being my neighbours' kids. Haven't heard anybody talking about PSNI stopping and questioning young gaels. So basically we have two minor instances of kids being stopped with the possibility that some individual PSNI officers are being a bit officious, yet the way people on here are reacting you'd think there was a high level PSNI policy to stamp out Gaelic games. If there is any sort of problem at all in the west of the city, it could be addressed very quickly and very effectively by one of the Shinner councillors or MLAs who sit on the policing board or on the Police and Community Safety Partnerships. A quick word with one of the senior peelers, with whom they're all on first name terms, and hey presto, problem sorted. Why not get CRJ on the case? They have top cops on speed dial. But no. Let's turn it into Oppression of the Croppies: The Movie. Let's wheel out some oul' doll who once did time in Armagh jail. Let's all line up for the camera and tell the world how we're victimised by state forces for our culture. Absolutely pathetic. Truly.

Well if folks can get knickers in such a twist about a piece of fabric legally and democratically removed from the top of a building.........what should we call that film?

Maybe the lads and aul dolls outside city hall on a Saturday (weather permitting) could pass on lessons in how to be

victimised by state forces for our culture

The point is that even if it's only 1 policeman at it - that's 1 too many. It's not being over officious, it's being provocative and since this was a hallmark of the RUC why allow it to creep into what is theoretically supposed to be a shared police force for everyone to have faith in?

Pathetic is right but should be applied to any PSNI involved in such nonsense.

[AQMP]

Why has no one mentioned golf clubs as weapons??  I saw someone meet a nasty end in Midsomer Murders once at the end of a golf stick.

[johnneycool]

The psni having a larger percentage of Catholics does not necessarily translate to a larger percentage of nationalists.in fact I'd say that the ones joining up are the new breed of 'northern Irish' from the likes of holywood,Bangor etc who would be as familiar with a Hurley as their colleagues from a unionist background.

I'd say there's more chance of seeing hurleys in Holywood or Bangor as there is in East Down, my fellow gael.

I'd regularly see hockey sticks carried with wild abandon in Newtownards which I've no problem with as no doubt they play for a school or club of some sorts, similarly with hurls.

Not sure how many baseball clubs are in the north though!!

[Milltown Row2]

The psni having a larger percentage of Catholics does not necessarily translate to a larger percentage of nationalists.in fact I'd say that the ones joining up are the new breed of 'northern Irish' from the likes of holywood,Bangor etc who would be as familiar with a Hurley as their colleagues from a unionist background.

I'd say there's more chance of seeing hurleys in Holywood or Bangor as there is in East Down, my fellow gael.

I'd regularly see hockey sticks carried with wild abandon in Newtownards which I've no problem with as no doubt they play for a school or club of some sorts, similarly with hurls.

Not sure how many baseball clubs are in the north though!!

Or clubs that play rounders lol. This is always going to cause a stir, I'd say the percentage is very small (of people pulled by cops). Was searched every week (3 to 4 times) heading up the road to the club during the troubles, never complained once nor did I have the hurl taken off me. It seems to me people have a need for publicity and with the instant media out there it's being used to hyperbole everything.

[stew]

Hyperbole my hole! If you cannot see this for what it is you are either named myles or you are an idiot, same thing if you ask me!

[gallsman]

Hyperbole my hole! If you cannot see this for what it is you are either named myles or you are an idiot, same thing if you ask me!

I'm sure life in Wisconsin allows you to relate closely to day to day activities on the streets of Belfast.

[Maguire01]

Amusing that loyalists refer to PSNIRA.

[stew]

Hyperbole my hole! If you cannot see this for what it is you are either named myles or you are an idiot, same thing if you ask me!

I'm sure life in Wisconsin allows you to relate closely to day to day activities on the streets of Belfast.

I lived in the north for thirty years and know full well what way nationalists are treated you smarmy bastard.

Obviously there is only one myles on here, do you always have to be such an arsehole?

[Milltown Row2]

Hyperbole my hole! If you cannot see this for what it is you are either named myles or you are an idiot, same thing if you ask me!

Get a f**king grip. The reality is people are more worried about the price of bread than a peeler telling a lad off for carrying a hurl!!! Who gives a shit ffs?