Murphy to press ahead with armed gardaí plan

THE Garda commissioner is to press ahead with plans for armed regional support units despite strong opposition from middle-ranking gardaí.

But there will be no universal arming of the force under his watch.

Fachtna Murphy admitted yesterday he did not have the resources to have gardaí waiting on standby for isolated armed incidents. He is planning a “second tier” of armed gardaí who will be able to access firearms in the event of serious incidents such as hostage or barricade situations.

“I can’t afford to have resources sitting waiting for these incidents to happen. That’s why they will be trained in uniform, with a facility to change rapidly into a situation where they can deploy firearms,” he said before addressing the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI).

However, the AGSI yesterday overwhelmingly voted against the plan. AGSI general secretary Joe Dirwan said under the initiative gardaí would have to change out of uniform, put digital signs on patrol cars and access firearms in boots. The proposals were impracticable, would pose a threat to uniformed members as criminals would consider them targets and it would also blur the public’s view about the gardaí as an unarmed force.

“We do not want to see uniformed members carrying firearms in any circumstance,” said Mr Dirwan.

Speaking at his first Garda conference since becoming Garda chief, Mr Murphy said he was awaiting the results of a pilot project on the units being tried in the southern region of Cork. He said the AGSI’s concerns would be considered.

“Let’s deal with this in a common-sensical way. This is the best recommendation which is on my table right now. Everybody has said there is a need for this and we’re putting it in place but we’re putting it in place in a way that allows the associations to have consultation in the pilot that we’re running,” he said.

Mr Murphy also pledged his plan was far from universally arming the force.

“My commitment and that will continue right throughout my commissionership, is to [have] an unarmed Garda Síochána.”

The proposal to arm regional gardaí was put forward by the Garda Inspectorate following the Abbeylara report where John Carthy was shot by gardaí after a siege at his home.

Meanwhile, Mr Murphy called on communities to give up drug dealers.

“The community can play a significant role by telling us who is supplying in their neighbourhoods,” he said.