Gardaí raise threat level for ministers from ‘moderate’ to ‘substantial’

The security threat level to Taoiseach Simon Harris and Cabinet members has escalated from ‘moderate’ to ‘substantial’ in advance of the general election campaign, the Irish Mail on Sunday can reveal.

Mr Harris – whose young family were recently subjected to a bomb threat on their home – will be provided with beefed-up security after a recent Garda risk assessment found Coalition leaders are more exposed to potential attacks than ever before.

The revelation comes as gardaí this weekend confirmed the force has designated ‘liaison inspectors in every Garda division across the country’ to ensure ‘the safety and security’ of all public representatives and general election candidates.

The MoS has learned that Garda personal protection officers carried out an assessment of ministers’ security in advance of the looming election. It recommended raising the threat level from ‘moderate’ to ‘substantial’, the highest danger rating.

Cabinet members’ security has been steadily ramped up in recent years with the restoration of armed, specially trained Garda drivers to all senior ministers, and the provision of high-spec luxury cars.

However, senior security sources this weekend said that extra measures would be put in place to protect Government leaders in light of the enhanced threat identified by Garda experts.

The Taoiseach and Cabinet ministers will have a greater number of armed gardaí assigned to their protection units. A security source involved in providing VIP protection told the MoS: ‘With politicians moving around more as canvassing for a looming general election increases, we feel that they are more exposed.’

‘There is going to be nobody more exposed than the Taoiseach, for he will do the most campaigning. Party leaders and certain Cabinet ministers too [will] have had their threat level increased.’

Gardaí have investigated separate incidents of alleged harassment outside the Taoiseach’s Co. Wicklow home, as well as a bomb threat against the property.

During the summer, the MoS reported how Government security advisers have urged Mr Harris to move to the Steward’s Lodge in Farmleigh for his protection.

Speaking on former Late Late Show presenter Ryan Tubridy’s podcast this week, Mr Harris said he does not intend to move into Farmleigh as it would be ‘very disruptive’ for his children.

However, one senior civil servant said there is ‘unanimity’ among gardaí and Government officials that it is no longer ‘sustainable’ for the person holding the office of Taoiseach not to reside at the Steward’s Lodge, where greater protection can be provided.

A security source told the MoS: ‘It is no longer possible, practical or feasible for An Taoiseach not to live permanently at the Steward’s Lodge. We can’t just keep continually ramping up the numbers of personnel, firearms and vehicles around the Taoiseach. It is too difficult to protect a VIP of such standing in suburbia.’

A senior Government source added: ‘Whoever ends up as Taoiseach, you know, in five years’ time, it’s very hard to say… but they will have to live at the Steward’s Lodge.’

The source said it ‘is no longer practical’ for the leader of the country to live in a private residence given the heightened security risk.

Steward’s Lodge, a four-bedroom house on the grounds of Farmleigh House in Dublin’s Phoenix Park, was refurbished in 2006 for use as a Taoiseach’s residence.

While it was envisaged that the property would become an official residence for the Taoiseach of the day, it has been used rarely over the past 18 years.

However, greater threats posed to politicians by far-right and other extremists have forced a rethink. A source said the location of Steward’s Lodge is far more manageable for specialist security units to protect. ‘You can concentrate your forces on that property in Phoenix Park, it’s been refurbished specifically with the security of An Taoiseach in mind,’ they added.

‘Never mind the practicality, but the cost of constantly increasing security on various politicians’ houses is not sustainable. The rota on the Taoiseach and other Cabinet ministers is now being filled with more Garda personnel. The cost of placing one armed garda on a security rota is high. And, of course, that garda is then removed from other duties.’

The latest security assessment on Cabinet members was carried out by senior officers in the Crime and Security Branch (CSB), the unit responsible for national security, counter-terrorism and serious crime investigations within the force. The CSB is based at Garda Headquarters, a short distance across Phoenix Park from the Steward’s Lodge.

Sources said increased electioneering ahead of the general election – which will have to take place by March at the latest – and the increased instances of bomb threats and other threatening behaviour towards senior politicians were taken into consideration. Increased attacks on politicians in other jurisdictions – there have been two assassination attempts on former US president Donald Trump in recent months – and heightened geopolitical tensions including the widening Middle-East conflict – were also considered by security experts.

A source told the MoS: ‘A senior officer at Crime and Security directed gardaí to carry out a full intelligence-led assessment that involved a widescale sweep of online forums and all online communications. Intelligence gleaned from the surveillance of certain groups and individuals was also collated. Also communications or attempted communications with politicians, online and otherwise were assessed.’

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Irish Garda Commissioner Drew Harris. Credit: RollingNews.ie

The completed report was passed from the head of the CSB to Garda Commissioner Drew Harris, who advises the Government on security matters.

The source added: ‘That communication said that the security status had moved from moderate to substantial in recent weeks.’

Last month, the MoS reported how political parties are braced for increased intimidation and violence from far-right mobs in advance of the election.

Representatives of parties across the political divide expressed concern about threats to political figures, election candidates and even everyday staff spilling over from social media attacks into real-world confrontations.

Speaking about the increased threat, a Fine Gael spokesperson last night said: ‘While election candidates have always faced strong opposition and robust debate in the lead-up to elections, the current climate is different. Some incidents we have witnessed are highly personalised, disproportionally targeting individuals based on their gender, race, or ethnicity. Or those who have worked hard in their communities to support refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants.’

A Fianna Fáil spokesperson said the party offers ‘ongoing workshops, training sessions, and support that cover all aspects of election campaigning. This includes resilience training, canvassing guidance, and strategies for handling negative interactions both in-person and online’.

The Green Party has also warned its candidates of the need for increased vigilance: ‘Green Party reps have been made aware of the need for increased vigilance canvassing and campaigning both in person and online to ensure personal safety, and we continue to explore and implement supports for managing such offensive and threatening behaviours.’

Sinn Féin did not respond to MoS queries about its policies and procedures for keeping its candidates safe. However, other opposition parties confirmed they have taken steps to protect their candidates on the campaign trail.

A Social Democrats spokesperson said: ‘The safety of our candidates and volunteers is something we take very seriously. The party provides mentoring, training, support and advice for all candidates during election campaigns.’

Gardaí this weekend confirmed that ‘liaison inspectors’ have been appointed in every Garda division ‘to ensure the safety of all individuals involved in election campaigns’.

A Garda spokesperson also said that ‘Garda Divisional Crime Prevention Officers are available nationwide to offer support on personal safety concerns’.

They said that security matters – including ‘the safety and welfare of public representatives, members of the Oireachtas, and those contesting local, national, or European elections’ – remain under ‘ongoing review’.

The spokesperson added: ‘The Garda National Community Engagement Bureau has provided input into a new safety guide for election candidates which provides important guidance and advice on how best they can protect themselves and their election teams while out canvassing and engaging within the community.’

* This article was originally published on Extra.ie.