SECURITY STEPPED UP AT ROSSLARE
GARDAI have intensified security and immigration checks at Rosslare Europort in the wake of terror attacks across Europe.
And they are continuing to monitor the activities and movements of those suspected of involvement in ‘extremist behaviour within this jurisdiction’.
Gardai did not provide details on the exact numbers of suspected extremists being monitored, but said it was ‘in double, rather than single figures’.
A spokesperson for Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald says Ireland cannot consider itself immune from terrorism and there are increasing concerns about ‘ lone wolf ’ style attacks carried out by a person or persons radicalised over the Internet.
Chief Superintendent John Roche told this newspaper armed patrols were continuing at Rosslare Europort where immigration and security checks on passengers on all ferry arrivals and departures have been intensified. ‘We are cooperating closely with our police colleagues and security agencies in Britain and France and with the ferry companies,’ said the superintendent. Several months ago a specialist unit of the army carried out a major exercise at Rosslare Europort to test preparedness and logistics in the event of a terror attack there. Ireland raised its terror threat level from low to moderate in the wake of the Charlie Hebdo attacks, however, it has not been raised again in the wake of the latest terror outrages including the horrific murder by Isis ‘soldiers’ of Fr Jacques Hamel during Mass at a church near Rouen in Normandy. Defence Minister Paul Kehoe said Ireland was an island nation, but needed to be ready for every eventuality. ‘ The world is a changing place, but An Garda Siochana and the defence forces are very well equipped to deal with whatevert eventuality may arise,’ he said.
Meanwhile, Irish Ferries is cautioning its passengers travelling to mainland Europe to be mindful of their security following the spate of terror attacks in France and Germany.
However, the company has declined to comment on reports that some would-be passengers had cancelled ferry bookings to France in the wake of the attacks, the latest the murder of an 86-year-priest by two Isis killers in a Normandy village near Rouen.
A company spokesman declined to give ‘passenger volumes for competitive and other reasons,’ a situation which he said was ‘normal in the case of a publicly-quoted company’.
‘As regards advice to passengers in light of recent events in France and Germany, the company would always caution passengers to be mindful of their own individual security whilst away from home and to take special note of any advice that governments here or on the Continent might give,’ he said. Irish Ferries operates two services to France, from Rosslare Europort and Dublin.