Just to be clear. That’s not zero tolerance - that’s just policing. That’s what it looks like. And that looks like a normal enough fight on any given street in Ireland that guards would be dealing with. Just so happens there’s hundreds of guards around.
Big Garda presence this evening on O’Connell Street. Very much looks like a zero tolerance approach tonight. I know it’s not the main story, but the fact that the soup kitchen had to cancel service is maddening.
Early start this morning here in Syria to head out on patrol with the Irish peacekeepers. Fascinating to see the ground here. Will have a report later on
@thejournal_ie
Her party, Fine Gael, voted against legislating for mandatory sentences for assaults on gardaí and other emergency services in 2012.
Plenty of measures brought in to undermine policing though including a model that makes sure there isn’t enough gardaí in Ballyfermot.
This appalling incident will not be treated lightly.
I am already increasing sentences for assault - and I will not hesitate to take further action to protect our Gardaí and front-line workers.
Back to work off leave tomorrow but felt this was an important one to get out tonight.
Irish Naval Service will have just 'two ships full time' to patrol seas for the rest of 2023 (via
@thejournal_ie
)
Extraordinary footage. I was in Cobh tonight and watched large numbers of locals out watching the ship pass the town.
At one location I heard a few young off-duty navy sailors chatting and a newly retired sailor also.
Most of their work goes unseen over the horizon. Not today.
Video filmed from an Irish Air Corps aircraft above the MV Matthew shows the Army Ranger Wing abseiling onto the deck of the container ship off the coast of Waterford. Credit:
@defenceforces
Read more
I spent last week in Brussels working on some national security content which The Journal will be running in the coming days.
I spent a bit of time talking to people in NATO and in other agencies - the idea that Ireland could even think of joining the alliance is farcical.
I wrote these lines in August 2012, shortly after I left An Garda Síochána. It caused so much hassle that AGS officers blocked my reinstatement application.
A great deal of what happened in Dublin this week is a symptom of a policy that started then that has degraded policing.
Good morning from Kyiv 🇺🇦 where I am reporting today on the Foreign Ministers’ meeting here in the city.
I’m hoping to chat to some Irish people living and working here later today also.
Follow the
@thejournal_ie
for updates.
It takes time to build up enough experience as a hack to know not to stand in the way of a skirmish line of police/gardaí as they take a stretch of road and not to stand where you’re a target for incoming rocks etc. Common sense would tell you that-unless that’s what you wanted.
Fairly typical behaviour towards gardaí. Not much changed since I left the job.
This isn’t protest - it is a Public Order Act offence under Section 6 at least.
Always found it maddening that Judges and some Garda managers would tell gardaí that they must put up with such abuse.
A major development in this story:
Elite Army Ranger Wing soldiers have boarded and took control of a cargo ship off the Cork Waterford coast this afternoon as part of their investigation linked to a stricken fishing boat off Wexford.
A photo op won’t solve this one. Helen McEntee and others in leadership know exactly what the problem is & have been told so by operational gardaí but haven’t listened. They’ve doubled down on reasons that have caused it: retention, too much paper & over bearing discipline.
Justice Minister Helen McEntee arrives at Store St Garda station with Minister Paschal Donohoe ahead of meeting with senior Gardai.
Meeting comes following an attack on an American tourist in the area.
Sad to hear of the death of retired Detective Garda Ben O’Sullivan.
Former Henry Street Garda Station member and survivor of the IRA attack that murdered Jerry McCabe.
Cathal Berry’s view on provision of AT weapons to Ukraine makes sense:
“One hour drive from here in the Curragh Camp there are hundreds of anti-tank rockets nearing the end of their shelf life, they would be very easily transferred to the Ukrainian Defence Forces.”
@BerryCathal
A garda who was suspended for three years for allegedly giving an unclaimed bicycle from a garda storeroom to an elderly man during the Covid-19 pandemic has been cleared of any wrongdoing.
The GRA likened the probe to cracking "a nut with a sledgehammer".
Here is the scene at a converted shopping mall in Przemysl which is now a massive refugee holding centre. Drivers offering lifts, food, medical and bedding. Imagine your local Tesco or Dunnes Stores transformed into a place for thousands of displaced war refugees.
@thejournal_ie
10 years today since I finished as a Garda and wrote this article. It of course caused havoc with management.
It was an incredibly tough time but the public deserved to know reality and gardaí deserved to be heard. Hope things are better now for the gardaí I served alongside.
Good to see the Irish Navy’s new multi-role vessel has arrived in Cobh.
Only messing.
It’s the Dutch Navy’s HNLMS Karel Doorman. That is an Irish Air Corps helicopter on the flight deck though.
Second Dutch warship berthed up river at Marino Point.
On a summer's night, at a location in the Wicklow mountains, we watched as Ireland's Special Forces, the Army Ranger Wing, practised missions they could encounter on peace enforcement operations abroad.
A big thank you to all who made this possible.
The Tánaiste is expected to confirm that Ireland is seeking greater co-operation with NATO later today, while also questioning whether the country's current security and neutrality arrangements are fit for purpose in 2023.
Another angle. Don’t have a credit for video.
That is exactly the sort of normal row I dealt with when I was a Garda.
City Centre Beat stuff of a Friday night.
Mules working.
This is the problem when you put opinion writers on a pedestal above journalists who report objectively and actually speak to people.
The column is no more clued in than the average idiotic take on this pox of a platform.
Just talk to gardaí. They’ll explain it to you.
I have checked and despite what people are saying on this pox of a platform - the Army has NOT deployed MOWAGs in Dublin during the ongoing unrest.
Thinking of the gardaí dealing with this situation. Follow
@thejournal_ie
for live updates.
I tried to ask Mícheál Martin yesterday about the naval Patrol Duty Allowance but was told I asked enough questions. There is a pattern here across public sector re allowances.
Garda roster issue is essentially about limiting allowances too.
Wonder is DPER the actual issue?
Some of what Cathal Berry had to say today about the Defence budget - no one else really addressing it substantively in the Dáil today. Says a lot.
My full report on national security here:
The count started this morning at 9am. 220 count staff have not stopped working - only for short breaks. We are now hopefully aiming for the first count at 9pm. There is a team of Nemo Rangers club volunteers helping to keep the show on the road.
@thejournal_ie
A few clear images of the MV Matthew as she passes Cobh.
A large number of ARW and Naval personnel visible and others. Check out
@thejournal_ie
for more.
"There's easier ways of paying the mortgage."
Paul Comerford spent 15 years as a Garda in Dublin. He's one of an unprecedented number of people to leave the gardaí in recent times.
Watch the full report on Prime Time on Thursday at 9.35pm on RTÉ One.
#rtept
|
@rtenews
I am in The Golan for the next few days reporting on Irish troops here.Will have daily reports on the situation on
@thejournal_ie
.
Irish Army Major General begins week-long visit to troops in Syria as Ireland ends UN mission (via
@thejournal_ie
)
I was at the Rafah Border crossing today and spoke to Palestinians from Khan Younis who are trying to get back into Gaza. A confronting scene with a a four kilometre queue of aid stalled waiting to cross into the besieged area.
@thejournal_ie
Here in Tibnine in South Lebanon at the monument to the 47 Irish soldiers killed on the Peacekeeping mission Abdo Haddad the local Mukhtar says Irish troops are considered as family by the residents.
@thejournal_ie
A major security operation is underway off the Wexford coast this evening as the Naval Service, gardaí and the Coast Guard are attempting to search a stricken trawler.
I’ve spent an interesting few days in Brussels chatting to people about defence and national security. First piece here.
'Fair to assume' Russia is mapping cables and pipelines off Irish coast, NATO General says (via
@thejournal_ie
)
I was on a job in Portugal looking at initiatives to protect undersea cables. In a tent I was surprised to find a group of Irish naval divers.
Deep dive: On site with Ireland's undersea drone experts for a major military exercise (via
@thejournal_ie
)
Interesting chat
@alexstubb
-“there are always these moments in history when you realise - now is the best time to have the conversation.”
Former Finnish PM: Neutrality is a thing of the past - now is the time to take sides (via
@thejournal_ie
)
If you want to see a crisis in policing - here it is. I served in compol for the 1st year of my service in Limerick - this will have a profound impact in that great but troubled city. If reform is an effort to degrade the service delivery then it is a success.
When asked if there will be any dedicated community policing unit operating in Limerick City under the roster plans, a senior garda source replied: 'There will be none'
This is going to be a huge project. Ireland is at close to zero in terms of air defence - this is the baseline capability.
New radar project to track jets and drones across Irish airspace could cost €300 million (via
@thejournal_ie
)
It is a real pity that the debate on a more nuanced approach to national security and foreign policy has already descended into an utter frenzy. On the international stage this Irish debate looks completely clueless.
Good morning from Camp Foaur here in Syria where the 133 Irish soldiers of 68 Infantry Group will receive their medals for participation on the last UNDOF mission for the Irish Defence Forces.
Gardaí on work-to-rule threatening strike, firefighters went all the way with their action, Rep bodies for Defence Forces calling for action, garda staff also in midst of issues & now barristers are striking. When will Govt admit they have a problem with the critical services?
It’s been quite a day in South Lebanon with the Irish troops. The Taoiseach and Minister for Defence spent a lot of time talking to the troops which hopefully will help the decision making for the implementation of the Commission on Defence Forces recommendations.
@thejournal_ie
Mick is correct to raise it - there are newsrooms where at best they don’t understand security policy and at worst have a bias against the topic.
@thejournal_ie
covers it intensely because National Security matters in all its complexity and nuance.
Just let me rant for a second. How many news outlets bothered their hoop to write about this? Me and
@NiallJournal_ie
and Sean O’Riordan in
@irishexaminer
- is that it?
Some analysis from one of the number crunchers here at Ireland South. Donnacha Maguire works with Fianna Fáil’s Billy Kelleher in the European Parliament. Here is his view on how the day will likely unfold.
@thejournal_ie
A fine piece of court reporting here from Fiona Magennis. Such a seemingly innocuous interaction made by gardaí everyday.
I’m glad for all that right verdict was reached.
How the jury reached a verdict in the Colm Horkan murder trial (via
@thejournal_ie
)
She finally got there and it took masse violence on the streets of Dublin before she admitted it.
Under-pressure Justice Minister announces review of the use of force for gardaí (via
@thejournal_ie
) Via
@EoghanDalton
Besides all the military and diplomatic chatter this tortoise was rescued from under a Mowag - lucky boy. A new battalion mascot maybe?
@thejournal_ie
@defenceforces
The Central Executive Committee of the Garda Representative Association have voted in favour of a ballot of all members on a vote of no confidence in the Garda Commissioner Drew Harris. Will have a report shortly on
@thejournal_ie
Significant move for
@RACO_DF
-
@pdforra
will no doubt have something to say on this.
'We have lost faith': Military officers vote overwhelmingly for membership of trade union group (via
@thejournal_ie
)
Stunning picture from the Defence Forces of the LÉ William Butler Yeats passing Cobh leaving Cork harbour en route to the Mediterranean for Operation Irini.
Irish naval ship tasked with enforcing Libyan arms blockade is ready to board smuggler vessels
Good to hear
@MichealMartinTD
confirm at the Joint Defence and Foreign Affairs committee this story today following a question from
@BerryCathal
.
New €50m cargo aircraft will enable international troop transport and rescue missions abroad
Not a good look as
@MichealMartinTD
visits troops in Lebanon. Naval Service personnel in his constituency in Cork will be getting this news in coming days.
Two naval ships to be tied up as staffing crisis deepens in Irish Navy (via
@thejournal_ie
)
My work day just finished
@thejournal_ie
but these lads, and plenty of my ex-Emergency services colleagues, particularly in the guards, work on. An awful lot more challenging than writing stories. True public servants. Stay safe lads and happy Christmas.
I am in the High Court today for hearing of case of four gardaí who have been suspended from duty by Commissioner Drew Harris as part of an investigation in Limerick Garda Division into the alleged squaring of penalty point tickets. I'll have a report on the
@thejournal_ie
later.
Here in Camp Foaur there are a number of dogs that the Irish have befriended - here’s one of them joining the medals parade this morning.
@thejournal_ie
Grace O’Sullivan of the Green Party believes she will not retain her seat in Ireland South. The reason? She said that cost of living and “people have other things on their mind”.
@thejournal_ie
The Irish
@dfatirl
has responded to the
@thejournal_ie
report on Russian tests. They are talking to Moscow to express their “concerns”.
Russia to conduct missile tests in Irish-patrolled waters 240km off south-west coast
A good succinct thread here to explain the UNDOF mission.
I’m just back in Ireland today from my visit - really extraordinary insight into the region.
The 68 Infantry Group are a credit to us all here in Ireland.
UNDOF - UNITED NATIONS 🇺🇳 DISENGAGEMENT OBSERVER FORCE
Some background -
On 6 Oct 1973, war erupted in the Middle East between Egyptian 🇪🇬 & Israeli 🇮🇱 forces in the Suez Canal area and the Sinai, & between Israeli 🇮🇱 & Syrian 🇸🇾 forces in the Golan Heights.
a thread 🧵…
Irish aid has arrived here at the Aid Station. Hendricks European all the way from Dublin. 6 trucks.
They were mentioned in this story:
Medics and aid workers bracing for influx of worst affected refugees from Ukraine
@thejournal_ie
Taoiseach said he believes peacekeeping mission like Lebanon should continue. He said triple lock has served Ireland well but he said he expects a citizen’s assembly on neutrality before the end of the current Government. Full report on
@thejournal_ie
This permanent display here in Mykhailivska Square, Kyiv is of Russian tanks, vehicles and a rocket. There is also a display showing images of the bodies of Ukrainian civilians killed by Russians in locations such as Bucha. They are too horrific to share.
@thejournal_ie
A garda who came under sustained gunfire as he rescued a family at a domestic incident has said most gardaí who carry firearms are not trained adequately to protect themselves.
The purchase of the Irish Navy's biggest ship in its history which will respond to humanitarian crises is set to move a step forward as tender documents are to be issued across an EU platform.
Read more here:
Taoiseach: 'No consent sought' by Israeli arms shipment flight which crossed Irish airspace (via
@thejournal_ie
) with
@muirisoc
All of a sudden people really care about the lack of Irish air policing.