GARDAI have been alerted by the Garda Review to the "imminent dangers" of socialising with "sensitive politicians". This follows the row about an exchange between a garda and a Minister in Cyprus.
The magazine says the incidents raises fears about political interference in the force, and has struck "a devastating blow" to Garda morale.
The incident occurred at a St Patrick's Day reception in Nicosia, where a garda on UN duty encountered the Minister for Defence, Mr Barrett. The Minister became upset when Garda Michael Fitzpatrick asked about overseas allowances paid to gardai and spoke "in jest" about Fianna Fail returning to government.
The garda was recalled from Cyprus after the incident but resisted the move in the High Court in Dublin, and was given leave to apply to the court to have the decision to recall him quashed.
An editorial in the Garda Review says it must be "particularly stressful for our colleague, his young wife and extended family that such a minor, incident, which occurred on what, was a social occasion, should have, attracted such notoriety, immediate sanction and widespread publicity the magazine said the incident has "alerted all gardai to the imminent dangers associated with socialising or conversing with some sensitive politicians, who sensibly never, ever interfere in the internal affairs of the force.
"Are we now perhaps witnessing a return to the `bad old days' of not too long ago when a garda, his wife and young family could be effectively evicted and transferred to the furthest end of the country at the whim of a local politician?
The incident was "perhaps a reflection of our inability as mature professionals to deal meaningfully and humanely with any of our colleagues who may commit a minor indiscretion in the presence of a Minister", the magazine said.
"In this instance, the attraction of the traditional use of the sledge hammer to crack the nut superseded all other considerations."