Armed garda units get go-ahead despite concerns of rank-and-file

REGIONAL Garda firearm squads are to be set up despite the reservations of lower and middle-ranking gardaí.

While associations representing both tiers of the force welcome the establishment of Regional Support Units, they have some concerns about the way they are being set up.

The units, announced earlier this week in the Policing Plan for 2008, form a “second tier” firearms response to armed situations, including barricade incidents.