Theres Quare and Sinister Things in Dublin by

Catherine Kelly
by Jude Collins on July 2, 2017

In her own words, Catherine Kelly details the events after being questioned about her Twitter
acount by Gardai during the week.
'I was asked if I use social media, which I confirmed. I was asked if I use Twitter, which I also
confirmed. I was shown a small notebook in which the words Sane Politico were written. I
was asked if I used the name Sane Politico, which I again confirmed. I was asked if I had
written an article about Minister Regina Doherty and that too was affirmed. This is the article
in question:
The not guilty verdict in the Jobstown water protest trial in Dublin has raised various
questions about political policing and the political use of law enforcement for corrupt
intent. It has exposed a police force whose sworn testimony was so suspect that it
prompted the judge to instruct the jury to disregard it and unmasked politicians and
their wellpaid advisors who will tell very tall tales directly contradicting video evidence.
What was confirmed throughout the trial, and indeed in the aftermath with media
attacks on the power of social media, is that political power is being wielded through
the instruments of the state to suppress dissent and protest and to cause widespread
fear among the citizenry lest they raise their heads above the parapet.

In view of these matters raised by the Jobstown show trial, I had my own experience
very recently with law enforcement and the political establishment. Leaving Ireland on
June 27, 2017 to return to New York, I was approached by two men in plain clothes who
presented themselves as officers from Pearse Street Garda Station. They asked, Is
your name Catherine Kelly? When I confirmed my name they stated they needed to
speak with me.

I was quickly shown one Garda badge though I did not have time to note any
identification number or name. One of the men did all the talking while the other
looked on.

I was asked if I use social media, which I confirmed. I was asked if I use Twitter, which I
also confirmed. I was shown a small notebook in which the words Sane Politico were
written. I was asked if I used the name Sane Politico, which I again confirmed. I was
asked if I had written an article about Minister Regina Doherty and that too was
affirmed. This is the article in question: http://www.judecollins.com/2017/04/solve-
problem-like-regina-catherine-kelly/
I was then informed that a complaint had been made against me at Pearse Street Garda
Station. There was no information offered about who filed the complaint. I was
informed that I was being cautioned, and that I was not to tweet Regina Doherty, or
any material relevant to her again. I was informed She does not like it. As the Regina
Doherty and Sane Politico accounts have utilized mutual blocks for at least two years, I
explained how I cannot and do not tweet Minister Doherty directly. This explanation
was not understood by the man posing the questions.

I then informed the interrogator that I am a Professor of Political Science at an

American University and that I teach about the use of social media in political contexts.
The man responded Sure half of these ones do not even understand what social media
is.

The man who questioned me then reintroduced a small notebook and I saw a page of
notes that I did not attempt to read. I was asked to sign the page of notes at the
bottom. I did as requested as I was informed I was required to do so before I could
proceed to my gate. I signed the page, Catherine Kelly. As I had an urgent personal
matter to attend to in New York, it seemed like the wisest action to take.

In a country such as Ireland, where much of the media has become just another branch
of what can fairly be characterized as a corrupted government, the power of social
media cannot be overstated. I have used Twitter and other social media outlets to
challenge the powers that be on their activities to do the job that a fair and balanced
media would undertake if they were truly independent.
I have raised issues about Minster Regina Doherty frequently on social media. The
content of my commentary is based on material in the public domain or fair comment
based on that material.

http://www.judecollins.com/2017/07/theres-quare-sinister-things-dublin-
catherine-kelly/