Organised crime gangs are offering to pay gunmen thousands of euro for the contract killing of gardaí who are investigating their activities, the annual conference of the Garda Representative Association (GRA) in Westport has been told.
Garda Bernie Connell of Crumlin Garda station, Dublin, yesterday told delegates that recent weapons seizures showed how well-armed gangs were and some were using pipe bombs.
"In my division, gardaí have had a price put on their heads," she said, adding such contracts were worth up to €10,000.
For this reason, the names of serving members should be kept out of the public domain, especially when gardaí had acted properly in their duties and could account for their actions.
Delegates passed an emergency motion seeking legislation that would ban the publication of the names and addresses of any members involved in frontline incidents such as those involving firearms. The GRA also wants its members to be allowed to give evidence in court behind screens to ensure their anonymity.
However, Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy said he was not in favour of the use of screens and believes members of the force should give evidence against them in open court.
Mr Conroy said he would be disappointed if any member of the force feared for their lives. Gardaí would not be intimidated by threats from those engaged in organised crime. The force would "focus totally" on such criminals. He had been made aware of threats in the recent past and the members involved had been given full backing.
"There would have to be a great threat to our members before I would wish to see them giving evidence behind screens. At the end of the day, we like to give evidence in open court, the same as every other member of society," he said.
However, he agreed there may be some cases where such a development was necessary.
Garda Ultan Sherlock of Stepaside Garda station, Dublin, described as "absolutely disgraceful" the naming of gardaí involved in recent high-profile incidents. This was irresponsible at a time when threats were being made against gardaí, he said.
He knew of one case where gardaí investigating the death of a man in a stolen car on the M50 were threatened on a website.
Two other members of the force received threats that their homes would be attacked. Gardaí later came into intelligence that suggested those making the threats knew the addresses of the gardaí targeted. A bullet had recently been left on the bonnet of a garda's car at his home.
