Gardaí ‘open to civil action’ over lack of baton training

Gardaí face the risk of a raft of civil actions as members are not properly trained to use batons and pepper sprays.

The Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors said that about 6,000 gardaí are not certified to use either their asp batons or their pepper spray.

It opened gardaí to a corporate risk of being sued, said AGSI president Tim Galvin.

Speaking at the final day of the AGSI annual conference in Killarney, he said members have to be re-certified every three years to use the weapons, which are often used in serious public order situations.

“You are trained in the use of personal protection equipment, which is the asp baton and pepper spray.

“That has to be certified by the company that issue it. And you must be re-certified in training every three years.”

He said the last time he was certified was in 2010 and that he should have been re-certified last year.

“The force is not protected if someone takes a claim against a guard who uses pepper spray or an asp he or she is not certified to use. Someone could take a claim against the force. If we are all re-certified, the force would be protected against a claim.”

He pointed out that the re-certification process just takes a few hours and effectively goes through the safe and recommended use of either pepper spray or the asp.

“Before you can use pepper spray, for example, there is a language you must get across and there is a distance you have to be from the person to prevent it causing serious harm.”

Mr Galvin said the association had raised the issue at meetings with management and at the Garda Training College in Templemore.

He said the first lot of training was due to restart in June. “If you have 20 centres, you’ll be able to train people fairly quickly. So, it’s only a matter of months but until then, there is a serious corporate risk that could cost the force millions in claims.”

Meanwhile, the Cork North branch called for Garda Reservists to be given a separate uniform to distinguish them from full-time gardaí.

He said similar volunteer members in other countries wear different uniforms.

Brian O’Dea of AGSI national executive backed the motion, saying reservists were not distinguishable to gardaí. The motion was passed.