The Garda Representative Association (GRA) annual conference revealed that a Garda officer lost a toe during the Dublin riots last year, as the standard issue steel toe boots do not provide full foot coverage. Complaints were made about Garda officers being deployed to manage the riots that occurred on November 23rd without sufficient training, equipment, or structured command and control procedures.
John Joe O’Connell, an officer stationed in Naas, was among several others from neighbouring regions who, at short notice, travelled to Dublin to help their colleagues manage the riots. They coordinated their response through WhatsApp messages, deciding to assist without any official order. O’Connell expressed that the officers in Kildare were underprepared for the events of that night due to lack of appropriate equipment.
While experienced officers resorted to using their old riot helmets issued during their training in Templemore, the newer members of the force were deprived of such protective headgear. Another disturbing account came from Karl O’Reilly, from Dublin South Central. He mentioned a public order officer from his district who lost his little toe when a heavy object dropped on it during the riot. Despite the officer wearing the standard issue boots and riot gear, the steel toe boots did not extend coverage to the little toe.
Condemning the deployment of officers into high-risk and unstable situations without complete and proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), O’Reilly called the action unacceptable. GRA President Brendan O’Connor criticised the response to the violence, stating that officers were sent out wearing “soft caps” instead of complete riot gear, a decision he described as a “grievous neglect of duty and care towards employees.”
He also remarked on the irresponsibility of sending out young recruits and students who had not undergone any public order training. If a private company behaved in this manner, he noted, the Health and Safety Authority would most likely initiate an investigation.
At the meeting, a proposal was approved demanding the Commissioner to ensure every police officer has a riot helmet and each public order officer has footwear that protects the whole foot. Additionally, the motion for public order training for all new police officers was accepted. In answer to the criticism, the headquarters of the police department stated that an extra 100 public order officers have been introduced in Dublin in the past year, raising the total nationwide force to 1,000.
“There are plans to further increase the number of officers trained in public order. Three such training courses are set to begin in the Dublin Metropolitan Region next week.” The department has also started providing more durable pepper spray and smaller, more mobile riot shields to the units. Plans are in the works to acquire two water cannons.
The conference also criticised the police management for the early retirement rates and punitive actions implemented by Commissioner Drew Harris resulting in officers being suspended for extended periods. In an unusual measure, Mr Harris was not asked to attend the conference due to complaints over his leadership.
Responding to the criticism, a spokesman for the police stated that the resignation rate is one per cent, significantly lower than the international average. The representative affirmed that currently 96 officers are suspended, a decrease from 115 last year. There have been no suspensions related to on-duty activity this year and 14 suspensions have been revoked, he added.