Dublin riots - Unheeded warning must be explained

THE Government’s insistence that gardaí had no reason to expect the kind of violence seen in Dublin last Saturday gives credence to the widely-held perception of deficient intelligence gathering.

It has emerged that gardaí were warned as early as last Thursday that violence would erupt during planned protests over the Love Ulster march.

Despite facing vicious thuggery, the gardaí put their lives on the line and deserve the highest praise for their courageous defence of the public.

It is unarguable, however, that an email warning of trouble was delivered to gardaí in the traffic unit and at Pearse Street Station. Garda management must explain why that warning apparently went unheeded.