Garda gear up to prosecute 'cowards' who made threats during fuel protests

Gardaí at the fuel protest at Whitegate, Co Cork. Picture: Larry Cummins

"Anonymous cowards" who threatened gardaí during the fuel protests may soon be prosecuted, with incident rooms now set up across the country to investigate threats made during the fuel protests.

Four incident rooms are being established – one in every region – led by a senior investigating officer to investigate the “appalling behaviour,” Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly said.

“We are certainly looking to see are there any criminal offences that have been committed, particularly during the period of the fuel blockades,” Mr Kelly told media at the Garda Representative Association’s annual conference in Mayo.

“If there are any criminal offences disclosed, we will certainly be prosecuting them as far as we possibly can.

“We have asked members of An Garda Síochána who have worked during fuel blockades if any of them have been subject to abuse, threats or intimidation online or in person – around that period – to contact these incident rooms,” Mr Kelly said.

“This is a very serious issue for me.

“I watched some footage online, absolutely appalling behaviour.” 

Drivers of fuel trucks, transport vehicles and the Defence Forces were also abused and threatened during the protests, he said.

“If any of that behaviour has crossed the criminal threshold we will certainly be looking to prosecute those individuals.

"We have successfully mounted investigations and had successful prosecutions of people who do this.

"People have received terms of imprisonment for offences like threats to kill."

“Potential future legal mechanisms” are being looked at that may be available to the force in targeting threats made against gardaí.

They are now liaising with the Department of Justice on any gaps in legislation that may make it more difficult to prosecute those who threaten gardaí, he said.

Justice minister Jim O'Callaghan spoke of the "anonymous cowards" who abuse gardaí online.

“People who, from an anonymous online platform, make a decision to try to harass or intimidate gardaí will be met with the full force of the law," Mr O'Callaghan said, speaking at the GRA conference for the first time.

“It is totally unacceptable for online anonymous cowards to seek to intimidate members of An Garda Síochána who are representing the public in defending the public from criminal activity.” 

Although gardaí are examining whether new legal mechanisms are needed to tackle abuse of gardaí, Mr O’Callaghan said that he believes the law is currently adequate.

“People have been prosecuted and convicted for harassing and intimidating politicians online. And so that indicates to me that the laws are there in place.

“We have harassment criminal legislation in the Non-Fatal Offences Against the Person Act. Attempts to kill or threats to kill are obviously also criminal acts.

“So the law is there at present, but if there is any further legislative measures that need to be introduced I’ll certainly consider them.”

He said that he hopes that there will be prosecutions of people who have harassed gardaí.

Such prosecutions would send “a very strong message” to what is a “cowardly, small group of people".

Mr O’Callaghan denied that it was a mistake to call in the army during the recent fuel protests.

“Peaceful protest is permitted. People have a constitutional right to assemble," he said. “But once you start blocking critical infrastructure, that's when the line is crossed.

“It was a real success on the part of the Gardaí and it was important that the authority of the state was seen to be effective.

“On the Thursday morning, I announced that the Gardaí would be or had sought the assistance of the Defence Forces to remove large vehicles.

“I think it's important that I'm transparent with the public.” 

He said that he maintained a “very good relationship” with Minister for Defence Helen McEntee throughout the protests.

But Ms McEntee previously told RTÉ that “things at senior level can be improved,” after she was asked if Mr O’Callaghan had informed her about his intention to request the Defence Forces.

Claims have been made that the announcement to involve the army only served to ratchet up tensions and aggravate protesters.

But Mr O’Callaghan said that discussion with “senior levels of government” preceded his announcement about calling in the defence forces.

“Obviously it was a very fast-moving situation. But it was the case that the Gardaí needed the assistance of the Defence Forces. And we can see from last year, that's not something that's that unusual. They requested the assistance of the Defence Forces last year over a hundred times,” he said.