Taoiseach says giving more gardaí guns would lead to escalation in armed crimes

Leo Varadkar: 'If we were to arm all of our gardaí, you would then see an escalation in the extent to which people who commit crimes are armed.' Picture: Damien Storan/PA

Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said arming rank-and-file gardaí would lead to an escalation of weapons being used in crimes.

Asked by reporters if he would suggest arming more gardaí to Commissioner Drew Harris, Mr Varadkar said: “No, I won’t be suggesting it.”