There has been talk of the Garda Síochána as an armed force in recent days. On the first occasion, the Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell, speculated on whether we would be able to retain our traditional, unarmed police force if the present trend in the use of firearms by criminal gangs continued. On the second, the general secretary of the Garda Representative Association (GRA), Mr P.J. Stone, criticised plans to use unarmed gardaí in front-line duty during EU enlargement protests in Dublin on May Day.
The tradition of an unarmed police force in this State is a long and honourable one. The first members of the Garda Síochána had to cope with a society in the aftermath of civil war, when their own lives were frequently in danger. But they persevered in a difficult task and gradually secured the trust and confidence of the public. Today, in spite of particular difficulties, that unarmed force enjoys a generally positive relationship with the community that is envied by their colleagues elsewhere. Changing that formula, which ensures a close rapport with the public, would be a great mistake.
The Minister for Justice was unwise to encourage judges to impose heavy prison sentences on criminals for firearms offences by suggesting that a failure to do so could eventually lead to an armed police force. Judges are not noted for responding positively to such advice. And Mr McDowell himself recognised that such a development would be regrettable as it would change the relationship between the force and members of the public.
Mr Stone appeared to have no such qualms when he urged the use of armed gardaí to deal with potential rioters on the streets of Dublin next week. The absence of such lethal force, he suggested, could lead to a very significant number of gardaí being injured.
The general secretary of the GRA is right to be concerned about the welfare and security of his members, especially in light of reports that violent agitators intend to come here. But a show of armed force by the Garda would be unlikely to intimidate such people who have everyday experience of armed police. It would be far better to identify such agitators at ports and airports and detain or repatriate them.
It is dangerous to anticipate large-scale rioting and violence. It could become a self-fulfilling prophecy. That is why crowd control methods should be balanced and moderate on May 1st. In a worst-case scenario, plans have been made by the authorities to use water cannon, riot police and even armed detectives. But let us hope they will not be needed.