Gardaí not invited to take part in New York St Patrick's Day parade

Memebrs of An Garda Siochana during the St Patricks Day Parade in New York. File Picture: Niall Carson/PA Wire

Gardaí will not be marching in this year's St Patrick’s Day Parade in New York following an apparent disagreement at last year’s event, the Irish Examiner understands.

The committee that organises the parade has not issued an invitation to gardaí for this year’s celebrations.

This has resulted in Garda HQ informing gardaí that they cannot bring their uniform outside the country and wear it at a public event that they are not invited to take part in.

Gardaí are now seeking to clarify the situation. 

It’s understood Gardai were informed via email on Thursday.

The email read: “It has emerged that the organising committee of the St Patrick's Day parade in New York City has not issued an invitation to members of An Garda Síochána to participate in this year's parade.

The wishes of the Organising Committee must be respected. Consequently, no Garda member will be granted permission to bring items of official uniform out of the State for the purposes of marching in the St Patrick's Day parade in New York City. Should that position change, an update will issue full points.” 

Sources said the email also stated that any permission previously granted to Gardai is “hereby rescinded.”

Garda members pay for their own travel to New York and have already paid their fares. They will still be allowed to go to the parade, but they are not allowed to wear their gardaí uniform, sources have explained.

It is understood that the parade committee communicated to An Garda Síochána that they complained after last year’s event, but Garda HQ is not thought to have received the complaint.

It is thought that because the committee did not feel the issue had been resolved that they decided against sending the annual invitation.

Various sources confirmed that there was some issue at last year’s parade, but that it had been “blown out of all proportion”.

It appears to centre around the location the Garda contingent was in at the parade and that it may have not been where local organisers said they should have been and that this may have affected other participants.

However, it is not clear exactly what the disagreement was or how it got to this stage.

In a statement to the Irish Examiner, a Garda spokesperson said it is a matter for the organisers who takes part in the event.

The spokesperson said: "An Garda Síochána is seeking to clarify this particular situation.

"There are regulations in place in relation to Gardaí bringing the Garda uniform outside of the State, which require individual Gardaí to apply for such permission. As there is currently no invitation to take part in this particular event, no such permissions are granted for this particular event.

"Gardaí wishing to take part in other such parades abroad can still apply for this permission to take their uniform outside of the State.

"When permission is granted, Gardaí travel to such events at their own expense."

The Irish Examiner contacted the organising committee of the St Patrick's Day parade in New York.