O’Dea rules out using the Army to fight gangland crime

DEFENCE Minister Willie O’Dea and Army Chief of Staff Dermot Earley yesterday effectively ruled out using the Army in the fight against gangland crime.

Both were responding to a statement in the Dáil by Justice Minister Brian Lenihan that he was prepared to discuss, with Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy, the deployment of the Army, in such a way.

But Mr O’Dea said there was no indication from the Garda authorities that they are looking for Army back-up.

“At the moment, the Army is there as a support to the civil power and is already doing that in a number of ways,” he said. “We rely on the judgment of the Garda Commissioner in these matters and, if the gardaí need more support from the Army, we will look at any such request.”

Mr O’Dea, interviewed at the PDFORRA conference, in Tralee, further stated there was “absolutely no guarantee” that the deployment of the Army would prevent crime.

Lt General Earley said the army would consider a request from the Garda authorities for assistance — if it was ever made.

But he added: “I don’t think it will come to that — the members of the defence forces being on the streets in a policing capacity. We’re not trained in policing.”

Gerry Rooney, general secretary of PDFORRA which represents rank-and-file soldiers, said he did not think the Army had the resources to act as a back-up for gardaí. He said there were enough demands on Army resources, including commitments to overseas peacekeeping duties.