Land of the welcomes? That Ireland seems dead and gone

SHE came off the flight from New York into Dublin Airport and was first to board the Aircoach to Cork.

Once her big suitcase was in the luggage compartment under the bus, she boarded and settled back to relax.

Things were looking good. The flight had gone well and she was looking forward to her holiday in Ireland of the Welcomes, the Land of Saints and Scholars; the ‘Ould Sod.

Except. First thing. She opened her phone and read about how 22-year-old Cathal Crotty, a serving Irish soldier, beat a young woman unconscious in a random, unprovoked attack on a street in Limerick.

About how Crotty had grabbed Natasha O’Brien’s hair in one fist while punching her in the face with the other. About the devastating injuries which resulted; severe concussion, a broken nose, severe swelling, and bruising on both arms, shoulders, head, right upper thigh, left eye, cheek and jaw.

About how Crotty had boasted on Snapchat. 

“Two to put her down, two to put her out.”

About how Natasha spent months attending hospital and doctor appointments, and how, due to persistent concussion symptoms, she was deemed a ‘high–risk’ for a brain bleed.

About how Crotty’s army superior stood up in the courtroom and described him as an “exemplary”, “courteous”, “professional”, and “disciplined” soldier.

About how the judge had explained that had Crotty received a custodial sentence, it would have impacted his career in the Defence Forces.

And, finally, about how Crotty had walked free from court after getting a fully suspended sentence while his victim lost all interest in life, experienced nightmares and symptoms of PTSD, and eventually lost her job because of her declining performance.

Her throat rose, the tourist recalled. She felt like gagging. What was happening in this country? More to the point, what was happening to the women in this country?

Horrified, she googled more. She read about the protests in cities across Ireland. About how Edith Busteed, of the socialist feminist movement ROSA, had declared that there was a systematic issue of gender-based violence in Ireland, claiming that this violence was being justified in the Irish court system and the justice system.

As the bus rolled into Dublin city centre, the visitor said, she started to recall the unnerving stories she’d heard about the rise and rise of violent anti-social behaviour in Ireland. The rampant lawlessness and lack of respect for the gardaí, the aggressive, dangerous driving behaviour, and the lack of a police presence on the streets and roads.

She had heard about all of this, she commented, and now she was reading about the results of it.

She read on. Many Irish people believed that what had happened in the Crotty case had sent a clear message to anyone who cared to follow the news: it’s okay to pulverise a woman in this country.

Then the Aircoach made its city centre stop and the tourist glanced out the window. The first thing she saw was the driver of another bus barking at an elderly nun trying to board.

The passenger, in her late seventies or older, was trying, with difficulty, to locate the virtual bus ticket on her phone while struggling with a large heavy suitcase.

The driver, the tourist reported, stood outside the bus bullying and badgering the old lady, snarling at her to hurry up, complaining that he was under pressure and needed her to get a move on. He made no attempt to help her.

By the time the tourist realised what was happening and got to her feet to go to help, the nun had struggled onto her bus, apologising profusely to the ignorant bully who now just ignored her. It seemed to her, the tourist said, that the fabled hospitality of Ireland was gone.

Yet when the Aircoach arrived in Cork and this lady had to transfer to a city bus, the elderly Corkman standing beside her offered to help her with her bags.

Later, when she was struggling to get off the bus with the luggage, she was touched by the offer of help from an old Irish lady.

Was it only the elderly Irish people who were courteous these days, the American tourist wondered.

The day of her arrival in Ireland had utterly changed her perspective on the country, she said.

“This is the country I so desperately wanted to be able to live in one day,” she said. “Now I don’t think it’s such a safe place to retire to after all.

“I’m saddened to think that this is what Ireland has come to. Being honest? I feel safer in America than I do in Ireland.”