Gardaí fear weapons are inadequate

ARMED THREAT:GARDA SERGEANTS and inspectors are concerned about the ability of detectives to deal with criminals with powerful weapons.

The Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) said that since the recent withdrawal of the Uzi submachine gun, plain-clothes detectives now only had access to handguns.

Delegates at the association’s annual conference in Ballymoney, Co Wexford, yesterday expressed concern that the limited range of handguns would put gardaí at a disadvantage when coming up against criminals armed with machine guns.

Garda Sgt Denis Reilly from Roundwood station in Co Wicklow said there appeared to be fewer gardaí licensed to carry firearms in recent years. He believed it was crucial this would not become a long-term trend. He said withdrawing the Uzi submachine gun was a mistake because it had been “a valuable tool in the armoury” against gangs.

AGSI general secretary Joe Dirwan said he shared his members’ concerns. He said criminals would now be more confident when challenged by gardaí during armed incidents if they knew those gardaí were only carrying handguns.

“It allows the criminal to get closer to the gardaí and maybe inflict fatal consequences.”

Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan said more than 3,500 gardaí were licensed to carry firearms.