Máiría Cahill: Mattie McGrath has a duty to reduce tension, not inflame it

The first missile thrown at ­gardaí in Newtownmountkennedy was a chair. Then chants of “scumbags” were hurled by angry men with hoods up. A few lumps of wood clattered through the air and connected with helmets. A building had caught fire from a burning pallet pyre, flames also licking around electricity poles. Beside it, a guy waved a Tricolour. Such patriotism. Such bravery. What a potent, toxic mix.