Garda siege tactics reviewed

Garda siege tactics reviewed
Tuesday, 6 March 2007 22:14
The Garda Inspectorate has ruled out the use of family or any other third party negotiators in siege type incidents under the control of the Garda Emergency Response Unit.

Chief Inspector Kathleen O'Toole has also outlined proposals for new training in the use of Tasers and the circulation of protective ballistic vests to all 14,000 members of the force.

The recommendations follow a review of the findings of the Tribunal of Inquiry into the fatal shooting by gardaí of John Carthy at Abbeylara, Co Longford in 2000.

AdvertisementTánaiste and Minister for Justice, Michael McDowell published the review of garda practices and procedures for 'barricade incidents'.

Recommendations in the review cover issues such as the development of protocols on responding to and investigating barricade incidents, the establishment of a roster of mental health professionals to advise garda negotiation teams and special training for on-scene commanders.

The Garda Síochána Inspectorate review also includes the provision of equipment such as digital radios, protective vests and specialised vehicles, and training in the use of firearms and less lethal weapons.

250 acres of land have been purchased by the Government near the Garda College at Templemore for tactical firearms training and other training purposes.

A firing range will also be built as part of the new Forensic Science Laboratory at Garda Headquarters, and additional firearms training facilities will also be secured in the eastern region.

Second tier response unit proposed

The report recommends the establishment of a second tier garda response unit to deal with such incidents prior to the arrival of the Emergency Response Unit.

In accordance with the inspectorate's recommendations, Mr McDowell has given approval to the Garda Commissioner to extend the use of the approved less lethal weapons to these second tier response teams.

Other proposals in relation to the use of less lethal weapons will be brought by the Tánaiste for the consideration of the Government in the near future.

The report also recommends that protocols should be put in place to provide for the flow of 'appropriate, timely and accurate' information to media organisations and the general public in relation to barricade incidents.

The Carthy family has broadly welcomed the report saying that it was the first visible initiative at any level to ensure that the issues raised by Justice Barr in his report from July 2006 were responded to.

They also said that the gardaí still had a long way to go to ensure that the sequence of events at Abbeylara in 2000 were not repeated.

Source:RTÉ News

Implement Inspectorate report now: AGSI
Wednesday, 7 March 2007 15:19
The Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors has called for all the recommendations in the report of the Garda Inspectorate on the siege at Abbeylara to be implemented without further delay.

The AGSI said anti-stab and ballistic vests, a self defence spray and initial response equipment and training should be provided to all gardaí immediately.

It also wants clear and concise instructions from garda management on how to deal with barricade and armed situations.

AdvertisementChief Inspector of the Garda Inspectorate Kathleen O'Toole's recommendations follow a review of the findings of the Tribunal of Inquiry into the fatal shooting by gardaí of John Carthy at Abbeylara, Co Longford in 2000.

Source: RTÉ News