Gardaí investigating the intimidation of officers at fuel protests

Gardaí on duty as people gathered outside Leinster House, Dublin, during a Dáil confidence motion on Wenesday. Picture: Niall Carson/PA

Garda national units are co-ordinating local investigations into the intimidation of gardaí involved in policing the fuel protests.

The inquiries are aimed at identifying those responsible and establishing whether any individuals or groups encouraged or directed the abuse.

It comes as gardaí concluded there was “no credibility” to a bomb threat made to Garda HQ at the end of last week.

It had been claimed that a station would be blown up if gardaí were “heavy handed” on fuel protesters.

Garda HQ will prepare a briefing document for the Government on the protests and their implications from a policing and security point of view.

Senior sources point out that the vulnerabilities of critical national infrastructure — such as the supply of oil into the country and its further distribution — and their protection is a “much wider issue” that extends beyond An Garda Síochána and involves multiple departments and agencies.

On Monday, Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly said he was concerned at attempts “in person and online” to threaten and intimidate gardaí who are engaged in their duties.

He said he had viewed some of this online material, and was “absolutely appalled”.

Mr Kelly said it would “not be tolerated” and would be fully investigated, with the aim of bringing those involved to justice.

The bomb threat was sent to Garda HQ last Thursday as there was mounting pressure on gardaí to forcibly remove protesters, as well as their trucks and JCBs, from blocking critical oil depots.

The threat claimed that a bomb had been planted at an unnamed garda station and that it would be detonated if officers were “heavy handed” with protesters.

The Garda’s Special Detective Unit — the force’s anti-terrorism unit — is investigating the incident, assisted by the security and intelligence section at Garda HQ.

A garda source said the threat had “no credibility” and was a hoax, but that any threat to Garda facilities, or its personnel, was taken seriously.

The Special Detective Unit is continuing to investigate who was behind the threat.

In relation to the threats — both offline and online — against individual gardaí, full investigations are under-way by local stations.

These local investigations were operating under “national-level co-ordination”, including the assistance of national policing and intelligence units.

Videos circulating online show individuals abusing and threatening gardaí at protests.

While gardaí have encountered such behaviour for decades and it may not always meet the threshold for criminal offences, the current focus is on assessing whether the threats are credible.

Ronan Slevin of the Garda Representative Association said they were extremely concerned by “vile threats” against members and intimidation online which disclosed private information and circulated falsified material.

Garda HQ will also brief justice minister Jim O’Callaghan on the policing of the protests, as well as the vulnerabilities and current security arrangements around critical infrastructure.

There is an expectation that other relevant departments will develop their own briefings on the matter, including defence, transport, and energy.

• Cormac O'Keefe is Security Correspondent.