Security planning - Gardaí taking no chances after riots

THE security clampdown for US President George W Bush’s stopover at Shannon Airport in the early hours of yesterday morning was in stark contrast with the garda presence at the Love Ulster march which sparked vicious riots in Dublin.

Overall, some 500 gardaí, army and airport personnel were on alert when Air Force One landed at Shannon en route to America from a state visit to India and Pakistan to generate support for the dubious ‘war on terrorism’.

Yesterday’s security operation suggests gardaí were taking no chances following trenchant criticism of their lack of preparedness for street violence in Dublin.