The Garda Representative Association (GRA) has criticised delays in deploying the Public Order Unit to the violence in Coolock, north Dublin on Monday, which it said left officers exposed "to extremely volatile and dangerous conditions."
Dozens of arrests were made after gardaí were pelted with petrol bombs, fireworks and bricks by rioters opposed to the opening of an asylum centre.
The site has now been sealed off with concrete barriers but over 200 demonstrators returned on Tuesday and the Public Order Unit was on Tuesday night deployed again, with officers in riot gear dispersing people in face coverings.
July 17, 2024: Protestors at the barricades in Coolock, Dublin. (RollingNews.ie)
Speaking on Tuesday, Commissioner Harris flatly rejected claims that there was an issue with the policing response to the violence in Coolock. Asked about the GRA’s concerns over alleged delays in deploying the Public Order Unit, Mr Harris said: "I reject that entirely."
The Garda union, which represents 12,000 rank-and-file members, was heavily critical of the response. GRA president Mark O’Meara said: "There was a clear delay in the deployment of the Public Order Unit which potentially exposed our members at the scene to extremely volatile and dangerous conditions for a number of hours.
"This was an organised operation, however, as a result of the delayed deployment of the Public Order Unit it was extremely fortunate that our members did not suffer more serious injuries than those that were sustained."
He said the body would express "serious concerns on whether lessons were learned from the incidents of last November and demand that we are better prepared for any possible future attacks." "The safety of our members is paramount," he added.
July 15, 2024: Members of the Public Order Unit as they confront protesters in Coolock, Dublin. (RollingNews.ie)
Justice Minister Helen McEntee also defended the policing response, saying that she was "absolutely" satisfied by it.
"Gardaí responded effectively," the Minister said. "This was not legitimate protest. This was criminal behaviour. This was arson. This was assault."
Ms McEntee insisted a water cannon was not required, but said the Government is currently in the process of purchasing one. In the interim, gardaí can borrow one from the PSNI. "It was decided that this was not needed yesterday. If it was needed, it would have been used," she told RTÉ.
July 15, 2024: A digger that was set on fire in Coolock. (RollingNews.ie)
Opposition TDs and local representatives have criticised levels of engagement on the proposed site, which had been blockaded by demonstrators for months.
A total of 21 people have since been brought before the courts since the violence erupted and more arrests and charges are expected in the coming days, security sources told the Mail.
The Malahide Road was closed at the former paint factory where work to host refugees at the site was set to commence this week.
July 15, 2024: Construction workers from the Coolock site being transported from the scene, under garda protection. (RollingNews.ie)
Calls are now growing from within the gardaí for a dedicated public order unit to be operational in the city. The current Public Order Unit is effectively a part-time operation which calls on trained members of the force as they are required.
Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín on Tuesday criticised the "chaotic" mobilisation of gardaí to Coolock.
He said: "Gardaí are telling me that they are still being mobilised by WhatsApp, that there is still no dedicated public order unit within the Gardaí. The gardaí are being deployed from different stations and even different regions in a chaotic fashion. This leaves significant gaps in the stations that they leave."
The people involved in criminal damage need to be jailed.
The government is not in control of Dublin.
Their chaotic immigration policy and the refusal of the government to engage and consult with communities is playing into the hands of extremists.
This is a disgrace. https://t.co/ujzWaE3pJE
— Peadar Tóibín TD (@Toibin1) July 15, 2024
Read more
In April this year, the GRA warned that the force was not prepared for another incident like the Dublin riots due to a lack of training and resources.
When GRA deputy general secretary James Morrisroe was asked if Ireland was ready for another incident on the scale of the Dublin riots, he replied: "Unless they had notice or the resources were there on hand, no they wouldn’t be [prepared]."
Security sources have told the Mail that there are now repeated calls for a full-time public order unit to be operational due to what was described as the "current climate in the capital."
An increase in threatening and intimidatory behaviour towards gardaí, coupled with assaults on members of the force and ongoing anti-migrant protests are adding to an already depleted morale among the ranks of the force.
The source said: "What you have now is people working on overtime or people coming in off their rest days to fill the slots. Then you have training and not enough people getting the training. What we saw in Coolock could have been a lot worse for gardaí."
"There are members who are cut and bruised today and they’re delighted that they’re the extent of their injuries. Right now in Dublin, there’s an increasing almost expectation of getting abused or spat on or threatened by people at these protests."
July 15, 2024: Garda with a cut on his arm at the Coolock site. (RollingNews.ie)
Social Democrats TD for the area Cian O’Callaghan said that Garda management "didn’t seem to be prepared and that did leave rank-and-file gardaí exposed."
He told the Mail: "I would be very concerned about them being put in danger and members of the local community being put in danger. Garda management should be able to see the risk of these events in advance and plan accordingly."
Mr O’Callaghan said that "much stronger community engagement" should have been carried out by the Government, and he warned that it is not too late to ramp up the consultation with locals now. Local Independent councillor John Lyons said there was one meeting with local representatives, and no further engagement.
He said: "The Government’s engagement to date has been severely lacking, the Minister may say there has been engagement, we had one meeting it was three months ago that was it."
July 15, 2024: Scenes in Coolock. (RollingNews.ie)
Taoiseach Simon Harris said while the Government could "do better" on community engagement, it would not have deterred those intent on violence.
He added: "I am worried when we conflate thuggery, lawlessness and the far right with decent people in our democracy asking questions. This is not about Coolock, this is not about communities, and it’s not a reflection on the people of Coolock. This is about people, that many of you know who they are, the guards know who they are and they’re trying to rip communities apart country."
*This article was originally published on Extra.ie.
Comments