Opinion

Newton Emerson has PSNI leadership well defined

A NUMBER of sentiments were left by reading Newton Emerson (May 9). One was a genuine cri-de-coeur from Mr Emerson about the sheer ineptitude of senior commanders in the PSNI to comprehend the priorities in policing and their (at best) patchy understanding of the need for the PSNI leadership to take the lead in the "pass the parcel" fiasco in respect to common sense law and order. I mean when is a flag an offence? When it gives offence.

Yes, Mr Emerson has the PSNI leadership well defined. Its chief constable Mr Baggott really has to review his own track record since December 2012. He asserted then free assembly was legal, failing to notice that road blocking wasn't, neither was intimidation. Then he informed us that "if we" (PSNI) took action on the 'flag' issue there could be 20,000 to 30,000 protesters. So no action. What music that must have been to the UDA/UVF/gangsters in unionist areas. A PSNI emasculated by its own commander. The other sentiment from Mr Emerson's piece is Homerian. In Troy there was a prophetess, Cassandra, who was given the gift of prophecy but would never be believed. She said Troy would fall but nobody believed her. I do believe that Newton has his finger on the pulse when looking at the vista of policing. I wonder will others take note?

MANUS McDAID Derry City