Chief Inspector denies call to arm gardaí

Chief Inspector Kathleen O’Toole tonight moved to quell media speculation that she believes gardaí should carry guns.

The US police officer said her comments about firearms on RTÉ Radio may have been misinterpreted.

She said she respected the current unarmed status and added: “I have a strong sense that the Irish people and, indeed, the Garda Síochana themselves would prefer maintaining a routinely unarmed police service. I genuinely respect that position and hope that it will remain the case.

“Police officer safety must remain a top priority and be kept under continuing review. I see no basis now or in the foreseeable future for a recommendation from the Inspectorate that all members of the Garda Síochana carry firearms.”

The other members of Ms O’Toole’s Garda Inspectorate – former Minneapolis police chief Robert Olson and former Ontario Provincial Police Commissioner Gwen Boniface – began work on September 4.

Ms O’Toole also said she was impressed by the speedy disciplinary process within the Garda compared to the US.

“The Chief Inspector remains struck by the contrast between the pace and decisiveness of the disciplinary process in this jurisdiction as compared to her own experience and knowledge of processes elsewhere,” her spokesperson said.