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DELEGATES AT THE Garda Representative Association (GRA) have passed a motion calling for firearm incident and familiarisation training to be given to all members of the force.
Members of the GRA speaking in favour of the motion said uniform gardaí currently have no training in how to deal with the various firearms incidents they face.
Alan Cummins from the DMR South Central district also pointed out that officers attending the scenes of improvised explosive devices are not equipped to deal with theses situations.
“There’s an increase in dangers posed to members, not only in relation to firearms but also in attending incidents using IEDs,” he told delegates.
In 2013, there was a total 250 callouts nationwide for bomb disposal. Eighty of these involved viable devices which had the capacity to kill or cause serious injury.
So far this year, gardaí and the Defence Forces dealt with 51 callouts nationwide, 23 viable explosive devices.
“We receive no training no guidelines, nothing from government,” Cummins said.
Most important motion
Ulton Sherlock, also from the DMR South Central division, said of all the motions before the conference today, “this could be the most important”.
Sherlock said he believes training in firearms “will save lives”.
He gave an example of a recent incident whereby four armed men were in a house holding a bank manager hostage. Two officers arrived in a patrol car and “rushed to the door” rather than sealing off the street and calling for backup putting themselves in serious danger.
“Everyone should be trained – there should be no argument about lack of finance,” he told delegates.
Despite their calls, delegates were quick to stress that they were not asking for all gardaí to be armed with guns, nor were they suggesting that the specialist training given to the armed response unit should be rolled out across the force.
We’ll be bringing you the latest news from the conference in Killarney over the next couple of days so keep your eyes peeled. You can also follow @michellehtweet for updates throughout the day.
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The headline is misleading.
It is not firearms training ie how to handle a firearm but training in handling an incident where suspects are armed with a firearm. Different thing.
Surprised that there is no SOPs etc for dealing with a suspected IED.
Maybe a request to the PSNI to allow a couple of Garda to attend a course with them after all doubt if many other police forces have as much experience dealing with IED incidents as they have.
This is not about making IEDs safe rather than how to cordon areas, obtain info and brief ATO when he/she arrives, etc.
Aics not headline article
Don’t need PSNI. Expertise is there, needs to rolled out to all members is what they are calling for
call in the PSNI
Polar Bear,
My suggestion was based on my understanding of the article.
That there is insufficient/inadequate training for the Gada on the ground eg first there.
If as you say the knowledge is within the force then why do rank and file not, as it appears, feel happy with the training they are given?
The article contradicts itself, 2nd last paragraph they want all Gardai trained then last paragraph they say they don’t want specialist training that is given to armed response unit. Which is it?
I agree it’s a poor headline. Are we seriously expected t believe that bomb disposal experts come in off the street, and get on with the job having received no training ?
Bomb disposal ,IED’s are defence forces responsibility …so just put in a cordon and leave the boys in green sort it !
If you kick the bag and it doesn’t go off it’s grand, that’s all ya need to know.
Watching a report on the conference this lunchtime. Talking about the Gardai not being allowed to turn on their sirens or blue lights in squad cars?.
What’s all that about, first I heard of anything like that.
No support for our Gardai as our government don’t want extra prisons or extra Gardai — it would mean the Gardai might be able to do their jobs and judges would be able to do theirs. This of course would lead to politicians and their friends being investigated like Batt O Keeffe involvement with the college and other white collier crime. The situation is exactly as the FG/Laboir parties want it and FF are no different. If we had the Gardai properly funded nobody would be planting bombs as they would be locked up. No wonder he Gardai are demoralised.
Tasers this morning and now fire arms……
Try reading the article first Frank.
Yeah, who do they think they are… Wanting to know how to appropriately deal with potentially lethal situations in the workplace. selfish gits.
have your say