Page 5 - Irish Examiner USA

newsexaminer 5

Garda Commissioner Iconic Rock Guitarist Eddie Van IRISH

Defends Policing Of Large Halen Dies Aged 65

Gatherings evered rock guitarist cessful and has sold more than this morning. EXAMINER
“He was the best father I
80 million records worldwide.
Eddie Van Halen has
he Garda Commissioner ior by individuals in terms of Rdied at the age of 65 fol- In a statement shared on could ever ask for. Every
has defended the force’s just what was organized,” he lowing a battle with cancer, Twitter, Van Halen’s son, |
Tpolicing of house parties said. his son said on Tuesday. Wolfgang, said his father died on and off stage was a gift.
“My heart is broken and I
and social gatherings in the “But these matters are not Van Halen was part of the on Tuesday. moment I’ve shared with him October
middle of the pandemic. straightforward in the present classic Van Halen line-up He said: “I can’t believe I’m
Drew Harris warned against health regulations.” alongside his brother Alex, having to write this, but my recover from this loss.”
don’t think I’ll ever fully 7th,
the “serious escalation” of garda He said the presence of gar- Michael Anthony on bass and father, Edward Lodewijk Van Wolfgang, who became
powers when it came to break- dai on the scene had the effect David Lee Roth singing. Halen, has lost his long and Van Halen’s bassist, added: “I 2020
ing up house parties in private of “dampening down the whole The band was hugely suc- arduous battle with cancer love you so much, Pop.” C
homes. ambience” of the event and
Video footage of large num- they had encouraged people to
bers of young people gathering return to their residences.
in the streets near Spanish Arch “We do have a regulatory
in Galway and at the Oliver provision in terms of who
Bond complex in Dublin in might organize such an event,”
recent weeks has drawn criti- he said.
cism of the Garda’s enforce- “But when you have in effect
ment of the public health guide- individuals congregating over
lines. social media it’s very difficult to
The Commissioner was point the finger at any one indi-
questioned about the matter by vidual and say ‘you’re the one
the Policing Authority on that organized that’.”
Wednesday. He added that when they
Mr. Harris said it had been could pinpoint a definite event
“difficult” and that there was organizer then gardai are in the
“no simple answer to it” position to investigate and
because people have constitu- report that person to the
tional rights in terms of the pro- Director of Public Prosecutions.
tection of the homeplace. Moling Ryan of the Policing
“We do our best within the Authority said they had
powers available to us to deal received feedback that when it
with the event…..and to bring came to the police’s handling of
the party to an end through per- the gathering at the Oliver
suasion. Bond complex that “a period of
“That may not fulfil some of time had lapsed” from when
the public concern in respect of the issue was reported to gardai
that but to start moving further and when they arrived on
in terms of entering a home to scene.
break up a party that is a serious Commissioner Harris said
escalation in terms of our the Garda’s understanding of
enforcement powers. the Oliver Bond event “was
“It’s a road we should be somewhat different to what
very careful before we step was reported”.
down on.” Deputy Commissioner John
He said members of the Twomey said: “At first the
Garda in Galway had attended behavior did not step across
the scene at Claddagh Basin that divide in to the breach of
across the river from the the legislation and the breach of
Spanish Arch and were a “visi- law.
ble and substantial presence” “It was only a subsequent
but that they also had to deal point and time later in the
with a significant number of evening when the numbers had
house parties in the greater grown …that some of the
Galway area at the same time. behavior became unacceptable
“It was irresponsible behav- and then we dealt with it.” C