The latest edition of the Garda Guide has been published. The Guide is a compendium of the Criminal law of Ireland.

It is an invaluable book. Alas, it is no longer a book; it consists of two heavy volumes of loose leaf pages, capable of being updated. It is also available on CD.

I was unable to answer the following question by referring to the Guide; what offence, if any, would be committed by the Dog Poop Girl if she were to visit Dublin’s Luas or Dart?

Is this a fair test of the Guide? I don’t think so.

I should be satisfied to discover that if she were to sing a profane, indecent or obscene song or ballad to the annoyance of the passengers, she would commit an offence under Section 14 (12) of the Dublin Police Act 1842 (5 and 6 Vic. C. 24).

According to the Guide, she could be arrested, without warrant, by any Garda, conditional on her committing the offence in view of the Garda.

It would be a feckless offender indeed who would persist in singing despite seeing the Garda (a Garda is in the view of an offender, if the offender is in the view of the Garda?).

The Guide is the kind of production that can be judged only with considerable use and time. It will get the benefit of both; all previous editions have been best-sellers and the time lag between editions has been always too long.