Garda go-ahead for non-lethal energy devices

THE Government yesterday authorised the use of non-lethal energy devices to the Garda’s Emergency Response Unit (ERU).

Justice Minister Michael McDowell made the announcement after the Government considered the matter at yesterday’s Cabinet meeting.

The Tánaiste said he also briefed the Government on a decision by Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy to set up regional response teams outside Dublin to initially deal with critical incidents pending any deployment of the ERU.

He said the conductive electric devices, commonly known by the brand name TASER, are the fourth less-than-lethal weapon available to the ERU.

The specialist unit already has three items — bean bag shot, OC (pepper) spray and OC (pepper) spray shot.

The Tánaiste said the new response teams being set up will be equipped with these three items.

“These developments are part of the ongoing enhancement of the capacity of An Garda Síochána’s to respond to critical incidents and to put in practice the lessons learned from the events at Abbeylara that led to John Carthy’s death.”

Mr McDowell said the regional primary response teams will be set up in each garda region outside Dublin.

He said they will act as initial responders to critical incidents pending the deployment of the ERU. He said the teams will be drawn from the regional public order units and will receive additional specialist training.

He said these developments followed from proposals made to him by the Garda Commissioner and take account of recommendations made by the Garda Síochána Inspectorate in its recent report to the Tánaiste on barricade incidents.

The circumstances under which less lethal weapons could legitimately be used are limited to circumstances where this is necessary to avoid the use of firearms.

The use of firearms is permitted only to repel serious attacks on Gardaí, members of the public or property, or in the arrest or re-arrest of persons involved in serious offences.

Strict conditions are laid down, including a requirement in all cases that all other means of achieving the purpose in question have been exhausted, before firearms may be used.