merrion street

Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald has announced a package of additional measures to tackle gangland crime. Additional resources will be ring-fenced to allow Gardai to sustain and intensify  saturation  policing  in Dublin City, including multiple rolling checkpoints and patrols.

A  dedicated  new  Armed  Support Unit for Dublin will be established, comprising  55  Gardai.  This new Unit will operate in addition to the ERU. The new unit will build on interim armed response measures currently being rolled-out by the ERU and other units.

This package of measures will be supported by an initial allocation of an additional dedicated €5 million.

The Minister this morning met with the Garda Commissioner and senior officers  to  discuss the Garda response to recent high-profile murders in Dublin City. The Minister was briefed by the Commissioner on An Garda Siochána’s assessment of the current situation.

The Minister said:

This violent feud is unprecedented in its audacity. The  gangs  show  no  regard for public safety. The events we have seen are outrageous. They are unacceptable.

An Garda Siochána has the fullest support of the Government and I. Any and all resources will be provided. We  will  sustain  and  intensify  saturation  policing  in  Dublin  City, including multiple rolling checkpoints and patrols. We  will  establish  a  dedicated  new  Armed  Support Unit for Dublin, in addition to the ERU.

Read the full press release here.