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GARDAI FEAR THEY do not have the equipment or staff to adequately police the visit of the Pope and potential arrival of Donald Trump this year.
Sergeant Will Dempsey of the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) south central proposed a motion that the Garda Commissioner personally ensures that the public order unit is properly equipped on a national basis.
Sergeant Dempsey said that the equipment which the public order unit is currently using is not fit for purpose. For example, the shields which they use are 14 years old – despite the manufacturer only giving a five year warranty. The vans which are used are commercial goods vehicles which have been refitted for use by gardai.
Dempsey said that serious changes are needed with regards to resourcing before big events such as the visit of the Pope, the proposed visit of President Trump and two matches Dublin will host as part of the Euro 2020 tournament.
“As a member of the public order unit there are a number of issues between policy and what is happening in reality. In particular, I want to talk about our equipment and lack of vehicles. Public order units are tasked with carrying out duties where it is unsafe for other units to venture and where normal policing is no longer possible.
Our current issue of protective equipment is not for purpose. In particular body armour and shields are in need of replacement. They were last purchased in 2004 and are only guaranteed for five years. They are still in use 14 years later. In a recent training exercise a shield broke after being hit by a wooden block. But what would have happened if it was a concrete block and in a real situation.
“It is imperative that the national public order unit is retained with a minimum of 12 vans in the DMR and these vans are made available as a matter of urgency especially in light of the European Championships in 2020 and the impending visits of foreign dignitaries such as the Pope and President Trump.”
Sergeant Christy Morrison from the AGSI’s National Executive echoed Demspey’s concerns and described the fact that the protective equipment used by public order gardai is effectively out-of-date as “ridiculous”.
He said: “To use shields which are nine years out of their manufacturing warranty is absolutely ridiculous. Budget cutbacks should not put members’ safety at risk.
Even the vans we use are converted goods vehicles – they are not specifically purposely built public order vans. We at the National Executive are calling on management to buy and equip us with purpose built public order vans not goods vehicles converted.
“When events are pre-planned it is regular for members to traverse the length and breadth of the country to collect vans to set themselves up for the pre-planned incident.
“But when most public order incidents are spontaneous in their nature – that is absolutely ridiculous. To have lads driving from Donegal and Sligo coming down to Dublin to pick up vans – that shouldn’t happen. There should be enough vans in each public order unit in each rural region to equip their own units with vans.”
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Ah well cancel it so, can’t have the head of the church in jeopardy.
Oh hang on a minute, that means the taxpayer will be 20m better off.
Its a win win situation.
If only.
@Trevor Hayden: How would the tax payer be €20m better off? That money is being raised independently by Catholics and has nothing to do with the taxpayer.
@No One: So the catholics are arriving up at garda HQ and paying the guards themselves?
@Trevor Hayden: The Catholic Church is collecting donations which in turn will pay for security and policing amongst other things. They pay for event policing the same as any other event like a concert. Security outside that is covered by the State as we would for any other head of state. If you want to moan about security costs why don’t you send a bill to Buckingham Palace for the time the Queen of England was here our ask the US embassy how much they will contribute if Trump comes here.
@No One: could they use this method also to finally pay for abuse victims?
@No One: the catholic church aren’t paying for security and policing, at all, in any way. They’re basically paying for his room and board and the running of the family whatever event. The cost of the Army securing every manhole or access point in the areas that will be visited comes out of the Army budget. The cost of the Gardaí (regular and overtime) assigned to the events (policing events and setting up cordons in advance) and the inevitable protests comes from the Garda budget.
“The church is paying for the visit, it won’t cost the taxpayer anything” obviously isn’t the worst lie the catholic church has ever told but it is a lie.
@Ian Phillip Creaner: why don’t you ask them? Of course then people would be moaning about them not paying for the popes visit. So how about dealing with one issue at a time?
@No One: The Catholic Church is collecting donations! The assets of the Vatican is approx 10bn.
The queens visit was a relationship building excursion to build closer relationships with the UK and pay respect to the mistakes of the past.
How can the Catholic Church apologise for abusing children? Killing babies? Institutalising young women in laundries?
Would you call that value for money?
And as for trump, he could do 5 terms in office without doing half the harm the Catholic Church has inflicted on this country.
@No One: money being raised independently by Catholics you say..? Hmmm
Pull the other one….
the Catholic Church are the richest organization on planet Earth.. robbing pennies from entire populations for the last two thousand years helps achieve that.
@No One: The Gardai cost will be a fraction of the €20 million cost of hosting the event, but hey, don’t let facts get in the way of your hatred and bile.
@Karen Wellington: You quoted “The church is paying for the visit, it won’t cost the taxpayer anything”
Who said that?
And please provide a link
What does praying not work now or something?
@Johnny Bellew: they’re called scare (or shudder) quotes, a common feature of punctuation. Google it yourself, I’m not here to supplement your severely lacking education.
@Karen Wellington: So you admit that nobody actually said that and that you were just seeking attention?
@Johnny Bellew: no, but your commitment to ignoring what’s actually been said to suit your own agenda is impressive.
@Karen Wellington: Well if the are “shutter quotes” then you inadvertently used them (in their proper use) to defeat your own argument.
@Johnny Bellew: seriously Johnny; you’re wrong and debating punctuation and/or grammar is a waste of time for both of us. Do you have anything to say on the actual issue detailed in the article?
@Karen Wellington: Yes I have. The Catholic Church are raising €20 million to host the event. The State is paying for the Gardai as would be normal in a visit such as this. Which is quite reasonable when you consider some of Michael D’s junkets that we paid for without so much as a whimper.
@No One: “It is ultimately taxpayers money but i believe the majority of taxpayers in the country would want us to meet these costs…” quote from Leo Varadkar on the journal yesterday
@Mark: He was referring to Gardai protection, only. And he does require it as there are plenty of nutcases out there.
@Trevor Hayden: Are Catholics not taxpayers?
@G O’Rourke: Yes they are, but does this mean we have to pay to promote a cult that has brought such misery to this little country of ours?
I was only a child when John paul visited Ireland with his BS of “Young people of Ireland, we love you”, if only we’d have known the true context of them word we would have hung him from that eyesore in the Phoenix Park.
@G O’Rourke: “Are Catholics not taxpayers?”
Some of them are but they are a minority in this country now.
@Rob Cahill: Not according to the latest census. And even allowing for some anomalies it is still a large number. That was wishful thinking on your behalf, I suppose.
@Rob Cahill: Didn’t you know Rob? according to the last census Ireland is a Catholic. That would be a Catholic country with same sex marriage and a referendum in May to see if the majority agree to women having the choice over their own bodies.
The greatest trick the atheists ever pulled was making a catholic country seem secular. Let’s face it, it’s always the atheists fault :-)
@No One: Are you sure about your figures and facts, i sincerely hope you are right for i for one will be very annoyed if any of my taxes are spent on the fairy tale man from Rome coming here. I have no problem with the deluded paying for his visit to see them that is their right and i would defend that to the hilt. .This i a secular Republic and the Churches, and State must be allowed to operate with no preference for any one Religion, or creed.
@Karen Wellington: the Gardai and military will be working anyway,. Fair enough the Gardai could be doing other things but the army? Best out and about and putting their skills to some use if you ask me
The Pope looks worried in the photo! He is probably thinking: “oh God will the Gardaí be able to protect me with their out of date shields and vans?”
@Micheal S. O’ Ceilleachair: can Frankie not do something like Jesus did with the loaves and fishes this time with Gardai and shields?
@Ted Logan: apparently all the miracles stopped happening just as mankind discovered the scientific methods to verify them. What. A. Coincidence. God works in mysterious ways, etc etc
@Micheal S. O’ Ceilleachair:
The Irish government will simply round up the smallest police force per capital in the industrialized world to make up for a shocking lack of equipment.
It’ll be open season countrywide for criminals to do as they please.
What a country.
@Steven Fitzpatrick: the Catholic Church are trying to hang on to the every narrowing gap their god lives in.
@Steven Fitzpatrick: Religions the greatest scam ever thought up, it is also very lucrative. A city with a private bank and an army for the head honcho, Palaces for Bishops + servants, the lesser grand houses and housekeepers for the foot soldiers, now where would anyone get that kind of luxury for telling fairy stories
Would the The Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors conference have anything to do with this article ?
@Martin Sinnott: All articles this week about garda were similar. why do they become garda in the first place. all they do is moan.
@Sean Conway: more importantly, what are they doing with those shields? The last riot in Dublin was the Love Ulster fiasco over a decade ago. Replace every 5 years sounds like a revenue scam from the supplier, unless they’re made from cardboard.
@Sean @114: Around 15.000 garda out there. where are they?
@Sean Conway: less then 12,000 isn’t it? 15,000 Garda employees includes civilian staff.
@Sean Conway: Yeah. Its like they joined up after being told they were joining a well equiped 21st century police force and instead are being expected to deal with every single issue the country has despite obsolete systems, bangers for cars and the smallest workforce per capita in europe
They should take a leaf out of the LUAS drivers and builders books, never hear either of them complaining eh?
@Sean @114: o, that was not the last riot. It was the last one to feature in national news
and in regards the 5 years, they are made of plastic amongst other stuff, it erodes and breaks down over time like kevlar vests and all equipment. 5 years seems short to me as well but Im not an expert
Would god not give the guards a hand for the duration of the visit, no?
Here we go, the moaning and whinging has commenced. If they could muster up 1/2 the resources put into the ploughing championships, we could invite the entire western leadership whilst we’re at it. Ridiculous nonsense coming from the Gardai.
Who cares
@Steve McMahon: Bigots.
Just have all the cult members pray for his safety that should do it.
@Sean O Sullivan: ‘Cult members’?
You mean Catholics?
Catholics who work and pay their taxes?
The reason the bill will be so high is because of the threat to the man’s security from atheists and ultra lefties who wouldn’t work (or pay taxes) in a fit……
@Sean O Sullivan: Could you not save your bile for your own private thoughts? or did it just have to spew out?
@G O’Rourke: What makes toy think Atheist and leftie goes hand in hand?? There are plenty of us in the centre and on the right who don’t believe fairy tales too. And their will be no threat to his life, Protests yes but he will be as safe as he can be.
@Johnny Bellew: this is a comment section i have as much right to comment here as anyone else , just because some people find my comments offensive doesn’t mean i will censor myself.
@G O’Rourke: do you seriously mean atheists dont work and pay taxes haha by the way does the catholic church pay taxes???
@Sean O Sullivan: If that is your attitude then spew away to your hearts content.
@Johnny Bellew: i most certainly will keep speaking the truth even it f it hurts peoples feelings at least all im hurting is feelings not like the hurt the priests and nuns have done to many many people in this country, but ya you keep defending this evil cult.
@Sean O Sullivan: Religions share some of the characteristics of cults it is true but there are also some differences. Golf clubs might be more cult-like in many respects.
https://www.quora.com/Whats-the-difference-between-religions-and-cults
@Sean: the only difference i can see between a cult and an organised religion is the amount of followers
@G O’Rourke: as shocking as it seems but for once I actually agree with you
FYI, Gardai are also people who work and pay taxes. Remember that next time you insult them
@G O’Rourke: Read the Catholic website lifesitenews. The venom he gets from some Catholics who think he does not really believe in Catholicism or care about abortion for he gives awards to abortionists could put him in danger.
Pope = Protector Of Peodophiles Everywhere
It seems that the Gardai are gearing up for violent attacks from the pacifists on the Left. I guess that their intelligence units have them well informed. Lets hope that the placard bearers show some dignity and not let their hatred carry them off.
@Johnny Bellew: Yeah the hatred. Imagine a bunch of people hating an institution that facilitated and covered up the abuse of small children. Imagine making excuses for said institution.
Yeah Johnny you’re good little Catholic.
Bill the catholic church for the Garda time!
Look after your own first
Oh Ye of little Faith, the Lord will provide ..
No mention of this when they got €60million to cover pay rises.
€20m. would be better spent on therapy for the survivors of clerical sex abuse. Or whatever would help them heal. These grandiose visits by dignitaries/diplomats/d.heads are such a waste of money. What do they achieve, other than creating even more media material and overtime for their minders. If the almighty him/herself (gender-fluidity is everywhere, right?) came down it would be a waste of time. Fix the damage and stay where you are…
The catholic church threatened with excommunication any priest who would not cast a veil of silence and secrecy over pedophile priests and their victims with excommunication. This led to major child abuse scandals in the following places (this list is far from complete by the way….):
Albany, NY, Altoona, PA, Anchorage, AK, Anchorage, KY, Baker, OR, Baltimore, MD, Billings, MT, Bridgeport, CT, Briscoe Memorial, WA, Brooklyn, NY, Burlington, VT, Camden, NJ, Cape Girardeau, MO, Charleston, SC, Chicago, IL, Cincinnati, OH, Cleveland, OH, Collegeville, MN, Conway Springs, KS, Covington, KY, Dallas, TX, Davenport, IA, Denver, CO, Detroit, MI, Dubuque, IA, East Greenwich, RI, El Paso, TX, Fairbanks, AK, Fall River, MA, Fargo, ND, Farmington, IA, Fort Worth, TX, Gallup, NM, Goshen, NY, Grand Mound, IA, Grand Rapids, MI, Greenbush, MN, Hannibal, CT, Helena, MT, Honolulu, HI, Indianapolis, IN, Jackson, MS, Joliet, IL, Kansas, City, KS, Kansas, City, MO, Lincoln, NE, Los Angeles, CA, Los Gatos, CA, Louisville, KY, Manchester, NH, Marietta, GA, Marty Indian School, SD, Memphis, TN, Mendham, NJ, Miami, FL, Milwaukee, WI, Mobile, AL, Monterey, CA, Nashville, TN, New Orleans, LA, New York, NY, Oakland, CA, Omaha, NE, Onamia, MN, Orange, CA, Palm Beach, FL, Peoria, IL, Philadelphia, PA, Phoenix, AZ, Pittsburgh, PA, Portland, OR, Providence, RI, Raleigh, NC, Richmond, VA, Rochester, NY, Rockville Centre, NY, Rosebud Reservation, SD, Sacramento, CA, San Antonio, TX, San Bernardino, CA, San Diego, CA, Santa Barbara, CA, Santa Fe, NM, Santa Rosa, CA, Savannah, GA, Scranton, PA, Seattle, WA, Spokane, WA, Springfield, MA, St. Francis, WI, St. Ignatius, MT, St. Louis, MO, St. Michael, AK, St. Paul/Minneapolis, MN, Stebbins, AK, Stockton, CA, Tucson, AZ, Wellesley, MA, Wilmington, DE, Worcester, MA, Yakima, WA, Yuma, AZ, Adelaide, Australia, Akute, Nigeria, Antigonish, Canada, Arapiraca, Brazil, Auckland, New Zealand, Ayacucho, Peru, Ballarat, Australia, Bass Hill, Australia, Bathurst, Australia, Berazategui, Argentina, Berlin, Germany, Bindoon, Australia, Bo, Sierra Leone, Bontoc, Philippines, Brits, South Africa, Bruges, Belgium, Buenos Aires, Argentia, Caen, France, Canberra, Australia, Cape Town, South Africa, Cebu City, Philippines, Chatham, Canada, Chimbote, Peru, Christchurch, New Zealand, Ciudad de México, México, Comillas, Spain, Cottolengo, Chile, Cuacnopalan, Mexico, Curracloe, Ireland, Dandenong, Australia, Dublin, Ireland, Edinburgh, Scotland, Feilding, New Zealand, Flawinne, Belgium, Franca, Brazil, Gortahork, Ireland, Goulbara, Australia, Grenada, Spain, Hamilton, New Zealand, Hobart, Australia, Hollabrunn, Austria, Igloolik, Canada, Kilnacrott, Ireland, Kircubbin, Northern Ireland, Latticefield, Australia, Letterfrack, Ireland, London, England, Lota, Ireland, Maipú, Chile, Manchester, England, Manila, Philippines, Mariana, Brazil, Masterton, New Zealand, Medellín, Colombia, Melbourne, Australia, Melipilla, Chile, Mérida, Venezuela, Middlesbrough, England, Mildura, Australia, Mittagong, Australia, Monageer, Ireland, Morisset, Australia, Morón, Argentina, Mount Isa, Australia, Munich, Germany, Nairobi, Kenya, Naval, Philippines, Neerkol, Australia, Newcastle, Australia, Ngong, Kenya, Ollur, India, Ottre, Belgium, Paraná, Argentina, Perth, Australia, Pilar, Argentina, Poznan, Poland, Preston, England, Quilicura, Chile, Quilmes, Argentina, Rab, Croatia, Reading, England, Frickhofen, Germany, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Rufisque, Senegal, Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne, France, Salta, Argentina, San Luis Potosí, Mexico, Santiago, Chile, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Sherbrooke, Canada, Silverstream, New Zealand, Soni, Tanzania, St. John’s, Canada, Sydney, Australia, Toowoomba, Australia, Trondheim, Norway, Tubay, Philippines, Wagga Wagga, Australia, Wexford, Ireland, Wilno, Canada, Wollongong, Australia
No matter what happens will it not be the will of his god
@David Saunders: I guess you thought that was cool and edgy? No?
@Johnny Bellew: why do these comments bother you. Your god doesn’t seem perturbed.
at the end of the day. thousands and thousands of people are going to show up to these events. which means a lot of people in Ireland want this event to go ahead. the gardaí will be there to provide security. I.e their job. Just because some people have no interest in the event doesn’t mean they should complain about government spending on the event. there will be huge numbers at it. and it needs policing.
I suppose the gov is expecting the private sector to fix this too! Ah well, plenty money for themselves because they’re supposedly entitled to it, no money for anybody else!
Good day to go robbing houses while all the gardaí are up in the park then is it?
Rubbish of course they will
Why does the Pope need protection when he has three gods and the blessed virgin looking after him?
@Eamonn Ferry: One God- three persons. Didn’t u pay attention in school???? One Triune God. Remember the shamrock??? One leaf but 3 parts!!! If u had said that in my day you would have had the sh1* kicked out of ya!!!!
Can they not get the army involved?
It won’t be like the queens visit, not everyone wants to take him out…
Those shields are a bit like the water filtering cartridges..depends on use!! And yogurts. I found an easter egg in the attic last year- it was 2 years out of date. It was yummy-scrummy. I doubt if those shields were ever use in a riot. They are probably still in their wrappers.
Have the church use some of its billions to pay for private security. Sorted.
David Miscavige must be looking forward to coming to Ireland.
Ask the psni to help
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