This afternoon.
Masked members of the Emergency Response Unit (ERU) patrol a Garda checkpoint in Dublin city following the recent spate of gangland shootings.
Everyone stay cool.
Earlier: I Want My MP7
Sam Boal/Rollingnews
Sponsored Link
This afternoon.
Masked members of the Emergency Response Unit (ERU) patrol a Garda checkpoint in Dublin city following the recent spate of gangland shootings.
Everyone stay cool.
Earlier: I Want My MP7
Sam Boal/Rollingnews
why are they wearing masks?
So they can’#t be identified.
“You’re my wife now”.
” Hello Daaave”
It annoys me too but I’d imagine it’s operational reasons. Only so many gardai to go around and there’s no point in giving a fellow a good look at his face if he’s going to go undercover next week.
Also, it means gangs can’t target them
To protect those they care about
The same reason the ARW wear them.
For identification reasons. I’d imagine if their faces were shown, someone they’ve dealt with might look for revenge
One of their tenants?
+1 right here
why are they wearing masks? – Sure Jaysus isn’t it freezin’ out there today, mother of divine it must be minus something degrees!
It occours to me that its really just for show, makes the minister and gardai look like they are doing something. Hopefully there is no more shootings but it could occour anywhere in the city. Keep your eyes peeled .
Because crime stinks!
The state of it.
Like they are in an American movie.
Idiotic stuff.
What exactly is idiotic about it? You’d be complaining if there was no Garda presence.
No, like they’re dealing with real life violent criminals who have left several bodies on the ground in recent days.
Violent criminals bodies if you please. Who cares? If anything we need more of this so they should go home. Im actually certain that should the ERU responded to a live situation there would be innoncent hurt/killed in the crossfire.
Give criminals a license to murder. What a fantastic law and order policy. What a wonderful vision of a just and peaceful society. You really think these things through, don’t you?
Genius Gers. Are you also certain we can rely on the good judgement of the gangsters, that everyone they shoot deserves to be killed?
I care. And you should too. You or someone you care about could be in the next function room they decide to storm with AK47’s, trusting your life to their good nature and good aim. Grow up.
when you absolutely positively got to kill every mother in the room
This series of Love/Hate is the best one yet.
That’s awful (I laughed though, so not sure what that makes me).
If you see them (Gardaí*) with AKs, walk away very calmly but quickly. Then ring 112.
*Gardaí only use these MP7s or UZIs AFAIK, UZIs were retired but might be bringing some back over next while waiting for more MP7s, unlikely but possible.
“why are they wearing masks” – so they can’t be Easily targeted (this is Ireland, it’s pretty easy to find out what someone works as) obviously.
Is this written in English??
You sentencé structure is actually mental.
The ERU guard in the 3rd pic has a HK416 assault rifle.
If the lads with the AKs show up, he’s got it covered.
@Dekkard
Ah, hadn’t spotted the HK416, tbh didn’t know they used them either :P
So the lad with the M4 in the photos isn’t a copper so? :D
God, this is making me hard. Keep talking lads…
No M4 in any of those pics.
They’re wearing masks so that nobody will know what they work at?
Joder, there do be some dumb capullos out today.
There must have been a water protest on, the blushirts and their patsy joan don’t like them water protesters. Why else would they dedicate garda resources for surveillance of water protesters houses and nothing on the drugs gangs.
Spot on Dav!
I’m really looking forward to reading your evidence that there is no garda surveillance of drugs gangs.
well, there’s been 2 shootings and no garda presence at either, whereas a water protest has a an immediate garda presence
Unlike a shooting, a protest is usually advertised in advance making it easy to ensure a garda presence. If there was a garda presence at the shooting then there probably wouldn’t have been a shooting. Instead we’d be reading one of those reports about vehicles stopped and firearms found in the car. Do you think those are just random stoppages?
Are you talking about Garda ‘Intelligence’ ?
http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/media-tipped-off-days-before-regency-hotel-attack-but-gardai-deny-having-information-380833.html
Don’t really care being honest, all I know is more garda resources have been redirected towards the water protests and it has been at the expense of other operational areas including those dealing with the drug gangs.
So you have access to garda budgets which show that the budget for drug gang surveillance has been diverted to water protests?
Some suggest the Guards may also be the Drug Gangs:
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/crime-and-law/mick-wallace-claims-garda%C3%AD-involved-in-drugs-trade-1.2034029
You have nothing to show that you’re correct either, but if people want to make up their own minds:
There’s a disused Garda Station yards from the Regency Hotel, where the incident took place on Friday, about which it is alleged tip offs were given days before. The perpetrators involved got away unhindered.
There’s plenty of footage showing four or five residents of estates impeding the installation of water meters, with Gardaí & detectives whizzing up in several cars in less than 2 minutes of the whole thing starting, telling people they are breaking the law by filming as well as protesting. Followed by Gardaí being heavy handed and making a mess of things.
That’s not top mention dawn raids with 7-10 cops to arrest one man, or operation Mizen.
Those are just the facts. Make of it what you will.
It seems to me that somewhere along the line recently, ordinary people started being treated like criminals by the much diminished numbers in law enforcement staff, while actual criminals went relatively unmonitored.
*^That was in response to Bertie’s most recent, but oft used if you can’t prove it, then you’re wrong comment above.
Garda Intelligence – oxymoron of the day.
There’s always one single called clown to make any issue about water
Maybe the water protestors should wear ski masks?
Those Eirigi folk do in their ‘other’ job
What do you mean by that?
They sell ski masks.
I see the guy in the grey tracksuit so I’m sure there must be a water protest nearby.
lol Jake, so edgy man #pissingonpoorpeopleiseasy
Ah it reminds me of Belfast in the 1970’s.
Man on bike in pic 4 is feeling so real. D8 life 4eva
Looks more like Oriel Street / Seville place i thought
An oul helmet on his little child’s head might be a good investment
Not what the Dutch, German or Scandos might say now!
Don’t guards have to wear individually identifying marks of some kind?
I really wouldn’t be pedantic about it in this case. If I were them I’d have good reason to fear for the safety of my family dealing with the utter scum in the drug gangs.
The Garda emergency response unit members are detectives, so technically they don’t have to wear numbers. Whether they should is, however, another matter, especially in a situation such as this where they’re carrying out “ordinary” policing at a checkpoint, rather than hostage rescue.
Dublin really needs a couple of regional support units, same as the rest of the country. Paramilitary police can have a role in a democracy, but I would suggest it’s not this.
No need to get changed after work before they head to the gimp meet up, handy!
#heyizguards
Why can I only see a small number of comments under this post through the front page shows I should see 44??
I can’t seem to see any replies, this I’d something I noticed yesterday
Take your wooly hat off and you’ll see them.
Did something happen down the docks today? I’m hearing rumours of it
State of Emergency will be declared before the election.
Wait and see.
An army checkpoint at every ATM.
While man with two pints rings Enda to ask if there’s been some mistake because he noticed an extra €1.40 in his wages, on an actual mobile phone to Joan’s horror, instead of buying one pint and asking his boss.
Nothing to see here.
Why, are the IRA going to stage a coup? They see themselves as the legitimate Irish army after all.
No, it’ll be declared on Saturday 20 February, the date of the mass anti – IW/Right2Change protest.
Starsky is next
These events / SCC comments should hopefully knock 2-3% off SF in the polls. Fingers crossed.
Mad, I thought there would be other concerns from people around this issue. Well shure who am I to judge those who wish to parrot the Minister for Justice et al, more power to ya, I suppose.
What is it with people’s obsession with SF? I don’t like them, but then again I don’t like any political party. I don’t moan about it forever at the expense of other peoples misfortunes. This most recent act of gang violence is related to drugs and it’s related to the Irish State’s judicial system, of which Sinn Fein has not had a whiff of influence. So, so many things make me worry about this city, and your first thoughts about this episode of disgusting violence is to be delighted that SF get less seats than Lab, FG or FF.
I think you should get on with your life and forget about SF, there are so many things that are actually a threat to our lives. Ah here who am I kidding, go get em tiger..
Accusations justifiably being made towards SF are one thing.
Constant whataboutery by government and their apostles regarding SF as a tactic to distract from their own inadequacies are another.
Then there’s the recent effort to pin something on them that they likely had nothing to do with (Regency killing), in order to score points/ effect polls, which could have resulted in the right people not being sought/ monitored or whatever, and may have been responsible for the delay in preventative actions & armed units which have now been put in place, allowing for a further killing to take place.
nah bobby Im just a FGer who likes to get a rise (see what i did there) out on the Shinner bots on this website. I also like to stoke up the victim mentality among Shinner Bots (victims…oh the irony) and the sense that this is all one big Free State conspiracy against them getting into power in Leinster House (see fergus comment above).
Please dont be as nieve as to think if roles were reversed the Shinners wouldnt be doing the exact same thing.
following on with your theme of obsession….what is with the obsession on this website for blaming all of society’s ills on Enda kenny? I may not like SF or will ever vote for them but i recognise that sometimes (although i think rarely) they make valid points about policy. The hatred for any utterance of EK on here is just baffling.i think people should just get on with their lives…
Fergus, Steve is a dick.
But seriously, how does EVERYONE not see that this upcoming election is all a load of B*****k*?
No, seriously.
The results will NOT make a Government.
The EX-government will call a re-vote, in an attempt to squeeze the Independents out.
It will back-fire.
Sinn Féin will eventually win.
We will all win.
Ipso fucto.
LEGALISE DRUGS.
Oh sorry was I shouting!? Ahem, legalise drugs. Anyone? No?
*sigh*
Bobby…
I think I agree with you on EVERYTHING.
I support Sinn Féin myself.
They better-aligned with my extreme-left beliefs.
I don’t agree with everything they do or sand for, but my other choice is a minority independent candidate with a personal objective or none worth considering.
I HOPE Sinn Féin have some part in our next government.
Otherwise, we’ll have another election very soon.
They will DECIMATE any shambolic bunch of bolics put before them.
– Oh yes…
The NEXT election will be sooner than you think.
My son will be eligible to vote by then, effectively giving me TWO votes.
We’ll see if that makes a difference.
I think it will.
Legalise drugs.
If you don’t like drugs you will NOT be obliged to take them.
My worries are about price.
It has nothing to do with you, so shut up.
You aren’t helping.
Got any?
They are really doing a great job of protecting that one corner where nothing is happening, the safest corner in Ireland. Shoot outs at boxing events, not so much.
Nobody believes me when I tell them about the night, about 10yrs ago when the same bunch of black-clothed, un-numbered thugs practised their routine on my ‘local’ pub in Jobstown.
– I’ve never been back there since.
10 minutes after arriving I was advised by the bar-staff to leave immediately, to either finish our drinks or leave them.
We had no idea what was going on, and nobody would explain it to us.
(Remember, we didn’t have video recording on our phones back then.
I ran back home to get my digital camera when I realised, but I was too late getting back.
Too afraid too to be honest. Don’t judge me. It was bloody frightening)
Outside, in the carpark, the wall of black-clothed
soldiers‘defenders of freedom’ realigned themselves as a wall and started walking towards us, pushing us to the exit.My friend, who was just as confused as me had the temerity to ask one of these thugs what was going on. He earned himself a whack of a truncheon to the side of the head.
I don’t know what they call themselves.
We don’t need these braindead, brutal thugs patrolling our streets.
Trained to not think.
They hit girls too, with the same severity.
I’ve seen them hit girls.
They’re probably a bit more careful about that nowadays.
They’re still repugnant thugs though.
We still pay their wages.
It’s a job.
It shouldn’t be.
Maybe it was mob control training, or were yous drinking after hours?
OT out the ass on this one. Well played Gardaí. Well played.
Pigeon feet in final pic
Ole pigeon feet
Meh, armed police in Dublin wearing masks, the horror – (RUC/RA morphed into one). Yiz weren’t to worried when it was happening 50 miles up the road when our school buses were boarded every day by an armed teenager from Slough who you wouldn’t trust with a pointy stick.