Garda Commissioner Drew Harris arriving at Leinster House  to attend a Justice Commitee hearing last September

Following reports that Garda Commissioner Drew Harris’s unmarked 4×4 with heavily armed PSNI detectives on board was flung into the air at the gates of Garda HQ in Phoenix Park after a Garda on  duty activated a security bollard…

“Gardai and the Irish Defence Forces are the only service permitted to carry fire arms in the republic. That’s where the law is.

There are exceptions in some cases. Regrettably Drew Harris could be a target because of his former membership of the PSNI/RUC and his connections to the British security forces. Every care has to be taken with his protection. Measures for his security must be taken in a legal and proportional and appropriate way.

It is not standard operating procedure that an armed PSNI escort would travel to Garda headquarters to protect the Commissioner of An Garda Siochana. The officers concerned have no authority to carry firearms.”

Retired Detective Chief Superintendent John O’Brien on RTÉ Radio One dismissing the Garda’s explanation that a PSNI jeep with armed police bringing the Commissioner into the Republic was “normal procedure”.

‘Not normal procedure’ for PSNI officers to carry guns into Republic of Ireland, former top cop says after Garda HQ crash (irish Mirror)

PSNI escort for Harris to Dublin ‘most unusual’ decision (Irish Times)

Rollingnews

This afternoon.

Confirmation from the FAI that its representatives will appear before the joint Oireachtas committee on sport to explain anomalies in their accounts. TDs had given the association until midday today to confirm participation.

Meanwhile…

Noel Rock writes:

This paragraph (above) is worth noting – “some comments made by the FAI did not accurately reflect the Board’s level of awareness of the existence of the €100,000 issue in 2017.”

Anyone?

Earlier: Will He, Won’t He

Previously: Defensive Wall

Behold: the 1968 Porsche 911 Soft Window Targa.

A variant of the canvas-topped model introduced the previous year but kitted out with a stainless steel clad roll bar compliant with US safety regulations, this rare short wheelbase version was one of the last made.

Well preserved in its original Sand Beige paint with just 124,000km on the clock, it was sold last month for just under €75,000.

uncrate

This afternoon.

Government Buildings, Dublin

The EU’s Chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier, with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, in Dublin to discuss the Brexit crisis ahead of a summit of EU leaders in Brussels on Wednesday.

Taoiseach meets Michel Barnier in Dublin ahead of EU leaders’ summit (RTÉ)

Leah Farrell/RollingNews

Slyrydes – Mental Health

Ferocious debut single from Galway ‘Punk/New Wave’ outfit featuring Marc O’Reachtaire (top) on lead vocals.

Sez Slyrydes:

“Mental Health”, is an attack on the national scandal that is the “shambolic Irish Health Service and its strength comes in its simplicity.

The song came together in 5 minutes but was born out of prolonged frustration. The lyrics repeat the struggles of a patient simply trying to get an appointment but being only deemed worthy of “a letter from the HSE”.

Slyrydes

Thanks Dwayne Woods

Broadsheet.ie