Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
GARDAÍ FEEL THAT their lives are being put at risk due to a decision by garda authorities to withdraw the Uzi submachine gun from detective units, TheJournal.ie can reveal.
The decision to withdraw the Uzi was taken in March last year after a review by garda authorities. One of the reasons for the withdrawal of the gun was that it was deemed unsuitable for incidents that might occur in a confined room, like in a bank for example.
At the same time revolvers carried by armed detectives were replaced by Sig Sauer semi-automatic handguns that all detective units now carry holstered to their belt.
A spokesperson for the garda press office said that the Uzi was taken out of service “because it no longer fulfilled the requirements”.
The press office said the Sig Sauer handgun was “identified to best meet the policing needs” of An Garda Síochana and that specialist units such as the Emergency Response Unit and Regional Support Unit have the MP7 submachine gun at their disposal.
Sources said gardaí are not looking to have every person in the force armed with most “happy to do their duty” in the knowledge that they have armed backup if required. However in situations like armed escorts, many gardaí are worried about their lack of fire power.
Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe
A source who knew Garda Detective Adrian Donohoe said they were “bothered about the fact that he was not sufficiently armed” when he was shot dead by armed robbers at a credit union in Dundalk.
“Had this attack on Adrian occurred a year earlier, he would have had the Uzi locked and loaded and resting in his lap as was common practice when escorting cash-in-transit vehicles,” they said.
Previously an armed escort unit of two detectives would have a handgun each and a Uzi machine gun, which the passenger in the car would carry. Now gardaí are asking for these guns to be replaced as they worry about facing criminals with superior firearms.
While the handgun is semi-automatic and has a high rate of firepower, it has a shorter range than the Uzi and sources said the image of an armed garda standing with a larger submachine gun in his hand while performing security duty or at arms checkpoints can work as a “visual deterrent”.
Armed response units
As the garda press office pointed out, the emergency response and regional support units are armed with powerful MP7 submachines but it is understood that there are large area gaps and at times a lack of personnel which leaves gardaí feeling vulnerable.
In a recent attack on a garda in Tallaght, in which he sustained ‘serious facial injuries’, it took nearly half an hour for the armed response unit to arrive as the two responding gardaí waited in the bathroom of the house where they had barricaded themselves.
One garda told TheJournal.ie that colleagues feel they do not have enough armed support “to protect the community and indeed ourselves”.
“I was never an advocate of arming the guards and I’m still proud of the tradition of not having an armed police force but it’s getting ridiculous now,” they said.
The feeling among most members is that we are sitting ducks, and more attacks of this nature are bound to happen. I’m not suggesting that every guard should be armed, but it could be more appropriate to have one uniformed armed response unit for each district. This member would perform all the duties a regular uniformed officer, with the added responsibility for dealing with particularly violent or armed suspects.
When contacted by TheJournal.ie, President of the Garda Representative Association (GRA) John Parker said the failure of the garda authorities to replace the Uzi submachine “has been a serious concern”.
In the same review of firearms last year, a decision was made to cut back on training for firearms cards, which all gardaí carrying a gun must have. Garda authorities decided to downscale the number of cardholders particularly in rural areas and for detectives working mainly on white collar crime.
Parker said this “is another worry and it has left members without adequate resources,” he said. “Members are being exposed to unnecessary risk.”
In a statement the Department of Justice said that Minster Shatter has no direct function in this matter and that the decision to withdraw the Uzi last year was that of the Garda Commisioner.
In that context the Commissioner determines the appropriate measures to be put in place, including the specific firearms to be deployed, without reference to either the Minister or his Department.
The department said that garda authorities “have indicated that at present the armed capability of garda members is provided by district detective units supported by other units”.
“In addition, they have made arrangements to co-ordinate armed response measures throughout the country, it added. “In view of the operational nature of the functions involved, it would not be appropriate to comment on how the relevant resources might be deployed.”
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
I have bulimia, ..without the vomiting.
You can read minds?
Thats binge eating also an eating disorder.. Most sufferers are very overweight :/
Parents must take responsibility for their own kids health until they’re old enough to understand the consequences of poor nutrition.
Would any parent knowingly give their kids diabetes ? Probably No, and yet they do in their 1000′s, due primarily to laziness and habit. The irony is that the good unprocessed food is on average cheaper, and yet some blame low household income for being obese.
Like most problems in life responsibility for the solution must start at home.
That’s the thing though – the processed junk isn’t cheaper – it’s just easier.
Anyone who makes their own meals from scratch knows that this ultimately works out cheaper than buying processed junk. But the rub is knowing what to cook and how to cook it.
While some people will watch cookery programmes, with the exception of the likes of Jamie Oliver very few focus on stuff that is easy to make. And there are some people out there who look at cooking a healthy meal from scratch vs throwing a pizza in the oven and some chips in the deep fat fryer and they really don’t see any reason to put in the effort.
There’s no excuse these days, there’s apps and websites and cookery programmes everywhere you look – it’s about the desire to actually do it. That’s what we need to figure out how to change.
As we speak I’m eating a healthy tasty salad. Prep time – not even 5 minutes.
Exactly – if you know what you’re doing it’s really not hard, and it tastes better.. It’s just getting people motivated to move away from ready made and back to home made.
Actually fresh organic food is much more expensive than processed or “fast” foods, Wherever your finding that information it’s illegitimate.
Eating disorders me hole. It’s vanity with those men. Preening themselves.
I am sure the little bo***x Fistpatrick has no problem feeding his own with good food .
Robert – I am as shocked and appalled as you, but, can you just wait for the trial to finish so you can comment otherwise, you’ll just about everyone to the point that they’ll dismiss you when the correct time comes.
In the interim, there are plenty of discussion boards you can go to to vent your frustration.
Yes I know but I just don’t like censorship , if it was some poor guy lock up for not paying his tv license we could all make a comment because the journal know that the guy could not sue them one law for the big boy and the rest of us can f**k of.
I think its more to do with the fact that the trial is still ongoing. If someone is convicted then there is no issue with commenting.
The problem is that there is a fear that the defence of the others could try to argue that it is not possible for them to get a fair trial due to media coverage, contents etc.
I agree there is a serious chill effect on the irish media arising from our defamation laws but, that won’t change in time for comment on the bollix in question.
I agree but you and I know that the little bo**x Fitzpatrick will walk away with a big smile on his face as he knows to much ,and the powers at be don’t wont the people to know just what happen .
He always had the best chance to get off, based on whistleblower evidence. However he will be back in court this year, which thejournal.ie could easily post on.
http://m.rte.ie/news/touch//2013/0708/461236-sean-fitzpatrick-court/
My two little fellas wont eat fruit nor veggies, apart from chips an bananna sandwiches
They must have an eating disorder *sarcasm
“I don’t make my children eat healthy balanced meals”
Fixed your comment Jacinta.
Ever think to stop feeding them that sh1t and when they’re hungry they’ll soon eat all the fruit and veg you want. Might have a few tantrums but the right thing is rarely easy.
With a name like Jacintha what do you expect?!
I see where you are going with that buckwheat but normal people are also called Jacinta
Takes to long to make veggies, better ta get chipper or frozen pizza
I see what you did there Jacintha – you got me. The profile is good, if a tad un-inventive. The picture is hilarious and, even funnier is the thoughts of her actually saying ‘fruit NOR veggies’ …
Good stuff!
Is bulking and cutting a disorder?. Makingabeast syndrome ?.
If it’s done properly no, but some of these guys are off the wall with the way they bulk and cut. They cut in a way which causes malnutrition and uses massive amounts of caffeine( eh where’s your vegetables) then when they are finished cutting and have no idea as to the damage they are doing to their bodies they go and do a dirty bulk and start wolfing pizza. A lot of them are worried about their hearts and rightly so but it’s just doesn’t seem to be taken seriously.
have your say