Garda blames ‘soft touch’ policing for lack of control in Dublin riots

Detective Garda Mark Ferris, who represents the Garda Representative Association’s (GRA) Dublin Metropolitan Region West Division, warned that the country may see similar scenes in the future if there is no review into the gardaí’s use of force.

He criticised the “culture of outright fear” that has developed among rank-and-file officers who fear using force during public order incidents at the risk of prosecution from the Director of Public Prosecutions at the recommendation of GSOC (Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission), and/or fear of internal discipline and the external investigation.

“This has inhibited the use of legitimate force by gardaí, the downstream outcome of which was illustrated to the world on Thursday, November 23,” he said.

“The current soft touch approach now runs through every facet of policing.”

Det. Garda Ferris said that the GRA has highlighted this “ad naeusum” to the Senior Leadership Team, referencing “the ramming of patrol cars, increase in assaults on frontline gardaí” and “funerals where elements of society cause huge anti-social problems” in which gardaí are “assaulted when they try to intervene.”

Garda Commissioner Drew Harris today told politicians at the Oireachtas Justice Committee that last Thursday’s riots, which were sparked following the stabbings of three young children and a creche worker at a school on Parnell Square, were “spontaneous” and “could not have been foreseen”.

Det. Garda Ferris disagreed, arguing: “To say that 23 November’s chaos could not have been anticipated flies in the face of observable reality. Months earlier, Ministers were allocated Garda ministerial drivers due to a rise in anti-political intimidation.

“I can only commend the goodwill, courage and steadfast fidelity to the Irish State that members showed in averting what could have been a much worse breakdown in law and order.

“The ‘lessons will be learned’ mentality has to change or we risk seeing a repeat of these scenes.”

It comes as the Garda Commissioner today announced that all Public Order Unit Gardaí are to be issued with tasers.

Drew Harris said that the senior management team have agreed that all gardaí will now carry pepper spray, while some 200 members of the Public Order Unit will be issued tasers, subject to “successful training and accreditation”.

The commissioner will say the force will be “adding” to 1,000 already public order trained gardaí, as well as 100 gardaí which were added to the public order unit in Dublin this year. Body cams will be rolled out from summer of next year.

“It is very clear we are now facing a different form of disorder than we've experienced before and we at An Garda Síochána must evolve in terms of our tactics and equipment to address this,” he said.