There must have been one hell of a crime spree in Ballymoney on 24th January. The husband took the dog for a walk and came back in bits. He had found discarded photographs in the verge. The photographs were of two wee red haired, beautiful children. He couldn’t understand why anyone would throw them away. He knew it could not be good though.
He took me back to the spot and I picked up the ones that hadn’t been blown away. I understood why Tiger had been so badly affected.
When we got home I called the police. I explained that although the pictures did not contain anything sexually explicit we were still concerned. As Tiger said … if someone threw them away then it could be a sign of something or someone in trouble. He is a big softy and didn’t take well to the thought that kids may be in danger. Anyway.
At first the police officer was dismissive of the situation. I told him that we could well be overreacting but that I would rather overreact than underreact because of the things we had seen on TV and read in the media about the failures in the cases where children were at risk. We can’t stop thinking of Baby P.
The officer said there wasn’t much they could do but I further explained that the name of the photographer was on the stuff we found so if they could show him the pictures he may well remember the children. The police could then check to see if they were ok. I started having a panic attack because I thought they didn’t want to do anything. He was a nice guy but they don’t seem to take some things seriously. I told him I didn’t want the photographs in my home. I was too upset to drive to the police station to leave them in. He said that he wouldn’t lie to me. It could be half an hour to an hour for them to come to me. After two and a half hours we taped the stuff to the gate.
I often see police cruising around. I meet them in the chip shop and Chinese takeaway. They don’t seem to be that busy then.
I don’t want to frighten anyone but I am a bit concerned about the reaction and response of the police. It’s all very well to wander round with a gun strapped to your waste like a movie hero … but how many are actually interested in the important things in life? It’s easy to make money from sitting on your ass catching people speeding. But not so easy to show an interest in something that requires form filling.
The good thing is that the call was recorded so if anything is amiss we can at least say we tried to do the right thing and made a report. Trouble is … that will not comfort us if there are people out there in trouble who we tried to help and failed … because no one else had time to take an interest. Never mind that! They don’t want to or care to. That’s why things are going wrong. It’s easy to turn your back and pretend it’s all rosy in the garden but it isn’t.
The pope thinks it is acceptable for priests to brutalise children. Why wouldn’t he? It’s gone on for centuries. I wonder how many priests confessed their sins and have been given absolution. The people who have been damaged will never get their lives back. They have been so traumatised. I send them my love. MM
Nice one, Mandy. Years ago I was motoring along Sydenham Road at about 30mph, towards the Odyssey, when an old Ford Fiesta drove past at - I guess - closer to 40 mph.
ReplyDeleteI was indignant, though I caught up with it at the bridge - traffic lights.
A woman was driving it.
I watched the cat and where did it drive to? It turned in to Musgrave St police station!
Need I say any more? They ought to be setting an example but they're as bad as everyone else.