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I was arrested

FaolanFaolan Posts: 60 Boards Initiate
I didn’t really want to talk about this. I was kind of hoping to process it myself but it’s been a couple of weeks now and I still can’t stop thinking about it. So maybe talking will help.

I’m not sure what I want from this post. I guess for someone to understand or at least try to understand . I think that will help me to feel less crazy for not letting this go 🥴 my family aren’t very supportive and are just telling me to get used to it lol.

Right now, im in a position that I swore to myself I’d never be in. Being a traveller is hard for me because I don’t feel like I fit in with the rest of my community. Their beliefs, morals and traditions fill me with rage and I spend so much of my life trying to prove to people that I’m not them . It feels like I’m not just another face to people, I’m the traveller and that comes with all of the things they’ve already decided about me and no matter how polite and kind I am, I can never stop the name calling and the looks I get. But I’ve always tried. Tried harder than anyone else I know.

Now after being arrested, Im sitting here, and it feels like everyone that’s ever doubted me is right here in the room, whispering behind their hands that they told me so.

How do you cope when you’ve spent your whole life trying to prove a point and you’ve just gone and proved everyone right in the matter of a couple hours ? What do I do from here?

I wanted this post to be about how I feel and not what actually happened but I’ve never actually explained my side of the story so maybe it will help. I put it in a spoiler because I waffle a bit and it’s kinda irrelevant to how I’m feeling.

TW for animal cruelty I think
A social worker came to visit our community. They’ve been loads in my lifetime and they always bring police for safety. My family have always been fine with this and we’ve never had any problems until now. It was only me, the women and a couple of my cousins on the site. For context, all traveller communities have a ‘leader’ and whenever people on the outside want to talk to us they do through the leader. For us that’s my uncle. So when the police asked to speak with who’s in charge my cousins said that he’s away. My cousins were being awkward tbh so the police started knocking on trailers.

Not a chance would the women open doors for the police and my cousins were just being really awkward and hostile for no good reason. But it caused shouting and arguing between them and the police .

I have a little goat, like a tiny little fella. He usually does be in the paddocks but he was just out because my cousins goats bully him. So I say the shouting caused my goat to get spooked and he was after head butting the officer. The officer kicked my goat like pure hard and knocked him down and as he was trying to get back up the officer went to kick him again. So I put my hand on the officer like to put something between him and the goat, idk, it was stupid because I’m tiny and your man was a unit but I wanted to stop him hitting my goat again. There was NO force . I was just trying to stop the officer but because my cousins were shouting I say it was just .. idk like it was just an uncomfortable environment

Straight away your man restrained me, this caused basically everyone on the site to start kicking off and the more they kicked off the more the officer was bending my arms and he had his knee on my back. It felt horrible. he basically had me laying on grass like I was a monster or something . I got handcuffed and eventually took to the station and had to wait for my mam to come which felt bad because my sister was in hospital at the time and mam didn’t need the added stress .

I was let off with just a warning. Which is good because the whole situation was pathetic. I think the social worker reported the police because we didn’t. We had a letter that said they were after having an internal investigation which is protocol after a complaint. They said I was a “victim of an unnecessarily intense reaction to an already tense environment” . Duh. I understand and I forgive them like.. but Idk. It’s hard to say how I feel. It probably sounds stupid and like I should move on but it’s hard lol

Their letter was so validating . So idk why I do be feeling this way still

Comments

  • FaolanFaolan Posts: 60 Boards Initiate
    That’s a lot of rambling 😅 I didn’t think it would but I feel better after getting all of that out of my brain.
  • AnonymousToeAnonymousToe Posts: 2,382 Boards Champion
    Omg. Faolan, you tried to protect your pet. The intent was purely to save the goat from being hurt. I promise that you’re not a bad person or anything because of this. You didn’t do anything wrong. I think perhaps the police officer thought you were going to hurt him or stop him dealing with your cousins or something??? Probably because your cousins were shouting and it was just chaos. It sounds like he thought you were trying to cause harm or something.

    I don’t really know what to say but I’m so sorry you had to experience that. They’ve called you a ‘victim’, which I doubt they do lightly. That police officer messed up. I’m so glad somebody at least realised that, but I know it doesn’t make it all ok. Being arrested is not something anyone wants to experience. And it must’ve been very sudden and such a shock when it happened. Plus with your sister being in hospital too, that’s a lot to be dealing with at once.

    You got arrested because the police officer made a mistake and that’s so messed up. This isn’t something that shapes your identity or anything like that. The story is that you tried to protect your pet and then you were (literally in their words) ‘victim’ to that police officer.

    It’s ok to take time to process it all, and it’s ok to feel everything you feel about it. I’m so sorry it happened🫂
    I hope your mam, sister and goat (and you!) are all ok, and well done for reaching out. 💙
  • KatieKatie Moderator, Staff Posts: 120 The Mix Convert
    You're so brave for sharing this with us @Faolan this sounds like such a difficult and upsetting situation. It's completely understandable that you're still thinking about it after such an unnecessary ordeal. It sounds like a situation that got completely out of hand and the officer was absolutely in the wrong. You didn't deserve to be treated like that at all Faolan I hope you know that <3 I'm glad you've had a letter from them about the situation has this been able to provide you with any closure? It's great it was validating for you and that they can see that what happened should've been avoided in the first place! I hope yourself, your family and your goat are all doing okay! Your poor goat I bet he was just so confused and scared - he's just a tiny little fella! I'm sending you hugs Faolan there is no pressure at all for you to move on right now. Thank you for sharing this with us and I hope doing so has helped you even a little bit <3
  • TheNightmareTheNightmare Posts: 2,462 Boards Champion
    Faolan wrote: »
    That’s a lot of rambling 😅 I didn’t think it would but I feel better after getting all of that out of my brain.



    I understand how hard this must be for you. It’s tough when you’ve spent your whole life trying to prove you're different, and then something like this happens. The way things played out sounds really stressful, and it makes sense that you still feel upset, even though you were let off with a warning. Sometimes, even when we hear that we were right, it doesn’t take away the feelings right away. It’s okay to take your time to process everything. Talking about it can help, and you’re not wrong for feeling the way you do.

  • FaolanFaolan Posts: 60 Boards Initiate
    Awk Hey Toe @AnonymousToe


    Thanks so much for that, it all means so much 💚
    I think perhaps the police officer thought you were going to hurt him or stop him dealing with your cousins or something??? Probably because your cousins were shouting and it was just chaos.

    I completely agree here. Sure, my cousins were being such eejits. I was already pure panicked watching it all kick off so I say I probably came across as a bit tense, idk. It’s a shame he thought I was similar to them but I can see why he thought it. I’m not mad at the gardai, I’m mad at my cousins 😂

    Thanks for your kindness Toe. I guess I should stop trying to prove that I’m a decent kid and just be

    Hope you’re doing alright with uni and all 😁
  • FaolanFaolan Posts: 60 Boards Initiate
    Katie wrote: »
    You're so brave for sharing this with us @Faolan this sounds like such a difficult and upsetting situation. It's completely understandable that you're still thinking about it after such an unnecessary ordeal. It sounds like a situation that got completely out of hand and the officer was absolutely in the wrong. You didn't deserve to be treated like that at all Faolan I hope you know that <3 I'm glad you've had a letter from them about the situation has this been able to provide you with any closure? It's great it was validating for you and that they can see that what happened should've been avoided in the first place! I hope yourself, your family and your goat are all doing okay! Your poor goat I bet he was just so confused and scared - he's just a tiny little fella! I'm sending you hugs Faolan there is no pressure at all for you to move on right now. Thank you for sharing this with us and I hope doing so has helped you even a little bit <3

    Hey @Katie Thanks so much there. I hope your new job is treating you well💚

    Thank you for the validation. It means so much. I do feel like the officer probably acted a bit hastily but I understand why. I just hate being perceived as a threat, that’s probably a self esteem issue though and not actually the guards fault 😂

    Yeah, the letter did offer some closure. It was very validating and it was a relief to see that they agreed I wasn’t actually at fault. It’s just a shame it happened in the first place I guess.

    Anyway, ya we are all good. Even the goat, sure he is just a little tiny fella😂

    Thanks again, appreciate ye🙏🏻
  • independent_independent_ Community Champion Posts: 9,040 Supreme Poster
    Different situation entirely, but I do know how you feel. I won't share my full story here because number 1 I think you know and number 2 it's irrelevant, but I too was arrested under circumstances that should, really, have warranted a complaint. I hear you though because it's like you feel the whole world is against your entire character now. I can't really compare as I am from an entirely different background to yours, but I just wanted to acknowledge this
    “Sometimes the people around you won’t understand your journey. They don’t need to, it’s not for them.”
  • FaolanFaolan Posts: 60 Boards Initiate
    Thanks for this brother 💚 @TheNightmare

    It has been tough ya so this situation is rubbish but I’m really grateful for my friends here 😌
    Sometimes, even when we hear that we were right, it doesn’t take away the feelings right away. It’s okay to take your time to process everything.

    That felt good to hear. Thank you so much. Maybe I was rushing myself too much to just get over it 🤔

    Appreciate you🙏🏻

  • FaolanFaolan Posts: 60 Boards Initiate
    Different situation entirely, but I do know how you feel. I won't share my full story here because number 1 I think you know and number 2 it's irrelevant, but I too was arrested under circumstances that should, really, have warranted a complaint. I hear you though because it's like you feel the whole world is against your entire character now. I can't really compare as I am from an entirely different background to yours, but I just wanted to acknowledge this

    Thank you @independent_ . I know your situation was so horrible😭 and the whenever I’ve seen you mention it I always get goosebumps and think I never want to experience anything like that ever. And then I did.. brutal.

    It does feel like the world is against your character and the people everyone tells you to trust the most feel unsafe. I can never see myself turning to a guard for help in the future after this😅

    I hope you’re healing from your ordeal okay💚
  • independent_independent_ Community Champion Posts: 9,040 Supreme Poster
    You’re spot on there @Faolan. My level of trust and respect for the police has gone to almost zero. I would never go to one for help with anything mental health related ever again. At least not willingly.

    It’s like a complete change of how others view (or at least might view) you. That’s how i felt for months. The full situation I have actually never published on the boards because what if someone comes across it and thinks “fucking hell she’s a disgrace” or whatever else people think. So props to you for posting this so soon after, you’re stronger than I ever have been.
    “Sometimes the people around you won’t understand your journey. They don’t need to, it’s not for them.”
  • TheNightmareTheNightmare Posts: 2,462 Boards Champion
    No worries @Faolan
  • FaolanFaolan Posts: 60 Boards Initiate
    edited October 19
    It’s like a complete change of how others view (or at least might view) you. That’s how i felt for months. The full situation I have actually never published on the boards because what if someone comes across it and thinks “fucking hell she’s a disgrace” or whatever else people think. So props to you for posting this so soon after, you’re stronger than I ever have been
    @independent_

    Dead on like. I live in a small village where everyone knows everyone’s business so that’s how I’m feeling right now., . I went to see a woman I met at mass and she asked was it me who was arrested . I asked how she knew and she said they’re saying one of the pups from the community got arrested. Brutal like , the auld ones love the gossip.

    And ah, ya, I was hesitant to post it for the exact reason. It’s mortifying but sure I was distancing myself from everything and I can’t do that forever . If you ever did decide to share it, I don’t think you’ll be judged here 💚

    Thanks for commenting btw , it’s nice to have someone who gets it but at the same time I’m sorry that you do


  • KatieKatie Moderator, Staff Posts: 120 The Mix Convert
    I feel a sense of relief reading this update from you @Faolan thank you for letting us know <3 It does sound like it might be healing having that recognition and apology from the officer who arrested you. It's also brilliant he owned up to his mistakes and big respect to you for forgiving him - that can take a lot. This is a really lovely update to read!

    I'm also glad seeing your social worker went really well. I hear you that it's sad your mam is planning on moving away and this will bring change for you. But it's great to hear you'll still have your uncle and community. Will you be able to still see your mam and sister if you don't mind me asking?
  • FaolanFaolan Posts: 60 Boards Initiate
    Thanks Katie💚

    And yeah, I do get on with my uncle better. Not perfectly like, I still think he’s an eejit but we get on and that’s all that matters for now.

    Im sure I’ll still see them sometimes. They’re moving 3 hours away so I’ll see them a lot less but once in a while is fine too 😊
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