No chief for new Armed Support Unit in Dublin

An elite armed Garda unit for Dublin is being launched today without a dedicated boss at its helm because of persistent vacancies.

The 55-strong Armed Support Unit (ASU) was set up in response to the Kinahan-Hutch feud which erupted this year. It is supposed to be directed by the chief super-intendent of the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) office— but that position is vacant.

Instead, the chief super- intendent of the DMR East Division is double-jobbing as chief for the unit.